J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker Presidential Papers

J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker Presidential Papers, 1832-1974 | Luther College Archives

By Alison Sancken

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Collection Overview

Title: J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker Presidential Papers, 1832-1974

ID: LCA/RG02/5th President

Primary Creator: Ylvisaker, J. Wilhelm (1900-1981)

Extent: 8.1 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into four series;

1.) Correspondence and Personal Papers (1832 - 1974)

2.) Administrative Papers (1865 - 1966)

3.) Special Events (1925 - 1963)

4.) Lutheran Organizations (1928 - 1960).

Subjects: Evangelical Lutheran Church, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Administration, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - College Finances, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Faculty and Staff, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students - Organizations, Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Forms of Material: Correspondence, Minutes, Photographs

Languages: English, Norwegian

Abstract

A collection of correspondence, photographs from 1832 to 1974 from the office of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, fifth president of Luther College.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains correspondence and subject files from 1832 to 1974 from the office of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker (1900 - 1981), fifth president of Luther College, during his administration. These materials include personal and official correspondence with family members, students, and college and church associates; administrative papers, docments pertaining to special events, and correspondence and documents concerning Lutheran Organizations such as the Board of Christian Education. Much of the correspondence is in Norwegian.

Biographical Note

Johannes Wilhem Ylvisaker, Luther class of 1921, became president of his alma mater in 1948. Before returning to Luther, he completed a CT at Luther Theological Seminary, an M.Th at Princeton Theological Seminary, married Lucille Torgerson, and worked as a teacher and a pastor. Ylvisaker’s presidency from 1948 to 1962 was marked by growth and development in almost every aspect of the college. Six major buildings were completed, attendance skyrocketed, the endowment grew, and a development plan was created and implemented for the first time. While many changes took place over his fourteen years in office, Ylvisaker tried to work within the traditions of the school to maintain the stability established by his predecessor, O.J.H. Preus. His patience, intelligence, and wit were assets to his office and college. J.W. Ylvisaker resigned in 1962 after developing Parkinson’s Disease and passed away in 1981.

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Johannes Wilhem Ylvisaker, som gikk ut fra Luther College i 1921, ble president ved Luther i 1948. Før hans tid som president, tok han en CT ved Luther Theological Seminary, en M.Th. ved Princeton Theological Seminary, giftet seg med Lucille Torgerson, og jobbet som lærer og prest. Ylvisakers periode som president fra 1948 til 1962 var preget av vekst og utvikling i nesten alle områder av skolen. Seks viktige bygninger ble gjort ferdige, søknadsmassen økte kraftig, tondsmidlene vokste, og en utviklings plan ble laget og satt i verk for første gang. Selv om mye ble forandret i løpet av hans fjorten år som president, prøvde Ylvisaker å ta hensyn til skolens tradisjoner så han kunne opprettholde den stabiliteten som forgjengeren hans, O. J. H. Preus, hadde oppnådd. Ylvisakers tålmodighet, intelligens og klokskap var nyttige egenskaper for stillingen og for skolen. J. W. Ylvisaker gikk av stillingen i 1962. Han døde i 1981.

Subject/Index Terms

Evangelical Lutheran Church
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Administration
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - College Finances
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Faculty and Staff
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students - Organizations
Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 19 Boxes

Access Restrictions: All materials are available for research.

Use Restrictions: Though we may hold the property rights, Luther College Archives does not hold the copyrights for all materials. Individuals may use materials for non-commercial, private use, but commercial users must secure permissions from the copyright holders and/or Luther College Archives to reproduce, publish, or quote protected materials and photographs. For more information about the Luther College Library and Information Services copyright and fair use policy, please visit http://lis.luther.edu/about/policies/copyright.

Original/Copies Note: Some materials in this collection are reproductions and the originals are held by the publishing company that created them.

Preferred Citation:

Cite unpublished materials: J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker Presidential Papers, RG02 Office of the President, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Cite published materials as required by your chosen citation style (Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence and Personal Papers, 1832 - 1974],
[Series 2: Administrative Papers, 1865 - 1966],
[Series 3: Special Events, 1925 - 1963],
[Series 4: Lutheran Organizations, 1928 - 1962],
[All]

Series 1: Correspondence and Personal Papers, 1832 - 1974

Box 1: Correspondence with Norwegian family, 1870-1931

Folder 1: Family Correspondence from Norway, 1870 - 1889: Acquisition Information: 188:; Acquisition Information: Accession 188:4
Folder 2: Family Correspondence from Leipzig, 1882: Acquisition Information: 188:5
Folder 3: Family Correspondence with Grandfather Flugum, 1876 - 1889: Acquisition Information: 188:6
Folder 4: Family Correspondence, 1891-1906: Acquisition Information: 188:7
Folder 5: Family Correspondence from Norway, 1906 - 1931: Acquisition Information: 188:8
Folder 6: Family Correspondence, Undated: Acquisition Information: 188:9

Box 2: Correspondence, Sermons, and "The Secret of his Presence", Undated

Folder 1: Correspondence with brother Nils, circa 1870: Acquisition Information: 188:10
Folder 2: Correspondence with family, 1871 - 1932: Acquisition Information: 188:11
Folder 3: Correspondence with students, 1867 - 1883: Acquisition Information: 188:12
Folder 4: Family Correspondence from Norway, 1871 - 1878: Acquisition Information: 188:13
Folder 5: Correspondence with mother, 1882: Acquisition Information: 188:14
Folder 6: Correspondence with Lars, Ole, and Wilhelm, 1877 - 1883: Acquisition Information: 188:15
Folder 7: Correspondence with Marie, 1877 - 1915: Acquisition Information: 188:16
Folder 8: Correspondence with Missionaries, 1895 - 1922: Acquisition Information: 188:17
Folder 9: Correspondence, 1906: Acquisition Information: 188:18
Folder 10: Correspondence with family, 1894 - 1906: Acquisition Information: 188:19
Folder 11: Illegible Correspondence, 1880 - 1905: Acquisition Information: 188:20
Folder 12: Sermons of N. M. Ylvisaker, 1915 - 1956: Acquisition Information: 188:21
Folder 13: Letters from Tora and her Father, 1901: Acquisition Information: 188:22
Item 1: "The Secret of His Presence", Undated: Acquisition Information: 188:23

Box 3: Scrapbook and Personal Papers, 1832 - 1974

Item 1: Vilhelm Ylvisaker's Scrapbook, 1901: Acquisition Information: 188:24
Folder 1: "Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Almanac", 1905, 1909: Acquisition Information: 188:25
Folder 2: Photographs and Correspondence, 1832 - 1877, 1939, 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:26
Folder 3: Correspondence from the Holy Land, 1906: Acquisition Information: 188:27
Folder 4: Family Photograph, Undated: Acquisition Information: 188:28
Folder 5: Obituaries, circa 1917: Acquisition Information: 188:29
Folder 6: Review of Kristi Ylvisaker's life, Undated: Acquisition Information: 188:30
Folder 7: News Articles and Obituaries, 1945 - 1971: Acquisition Information: 188:31
Folder 8: Geneaology of the Ylvisaker family, May 1974: Acquisition Information: 188:32
Folder 9: "The Secret of His Cross", 1951: Acquisition Information: 188:33

Box 4: Personal Papers, 1859 - 1961, 1974

Folder 1: The Order of St. Olaf, 1912: Acquisition Information: 188:36
Folder 2: Luther College Centennial Programs and Publications, 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:37
Folder 3: Chips Article and Luther College Commencement Program, 7 October 1955 - 3 June 1956: Acquisition Information: 188:38
Folder 4: Church Programs, 1859 - 1944: Acquisition Information: 188:39
Folder 5: Presidential Inauguration Materials, 15 - 17 October 1948: Acquisition Information: 188:40
Folder 6: Guestbook from Family Reunion, 1974: Acquisition Information: 188:41

Box 5: Photographs of Ylvisaker family, Undated

Folder 1: Portrait Photographs of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, Undated
Folder 2: Portrait Photographs of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, Undated
Folder 3: Portrait Photographs of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, Undated
Folder 4: Photographs of Ylvisaker family, Undated
Folder 5: Negative of Ylvisaker family, Undated
Folder 6: Candid Photographs of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, Undated

Box 6: Correspondence, A - Bo, 1940 - 1971

Folder 1: Correspondence with Johan Arnd Aasgard, 1940 - 1954: Acquisition Information: 188:321
Folder 2: Correspondence Alguist, AA, 1952 - 1955: Acquisition Information: 188:322
Folder 3: Correspondence with Durwin Algyer, 1953 - 1971: Acquisition Information: 188:323
Folder 4: Correspondence with the American Association of University Women, 1953 - 1956: Acquisition Information: 188:74
Folder 5: Correspondence with the American Association of University Women, 1957 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:73
Folder 6: Correspondence with the American Association of University Women, 1960 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:72
Folder 7: American Lutheran Church, 1959 - 1961
Folder 8: Correspondence with Arthur Andersen, 1940 - 1946: Acquisition Information: 188:324
Folder 9: Correspondence with Anundsen Publishing Company, 1940 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:417
Folder 10: Correspondence with the Association of American Universities, 1940 - 1942: Acquisition Information: 188:424
Folder 11: Correspondence with the Association of Lutheran College Faculties, 1961
Folder 12: Correspondence with the Augsberg Publishing House, 1941 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:418
Folder 13: Correspondence with Augustana College, 1940 - 1955: Acquisition Information: 188:419
Folder 14: Correspondence with Augustana College, 1959
Folder 15: Correspondence with Harry Bangsberg, 1960 - 1967: Acquisition Information: 188:325
Folder 16: Correspondence with Dr. A. J. Berg, 1948 - 1951: Acquisition Information: 188
Folder 17: A. J. Berg, 1947 - 1951: Acquisition Information: 188:326
Folder 18: Correspondence of Blufton church, 1948-51: Acquisition Information: 188:
Folder 19: Correspondence with the Blufton Church, 1946-60: Acquisition Information: 188:407
Folder 20: Correspondence with the Board of Regents and about the Preus Gymnasium Fire

Box 7: Correspondence, Br - Gr, 1940 - 1967

Folder 1: Letter to President Farwell and the Board of Regents, 8 May 1978
Folder 2: Correspondence with Harold E. Bredesen, 1940 - 1944: Acquisition Information: 188:327
Folder 3: Correspondence with John Nicolai Brown, 1940 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:328
Folder 4: Correspondence with Buena Vista College, 1956 - 1957
Folder 5: Correspondence with Carnegie Corporation, 1942 - 1943: Acquisition Information: 188:71
Folder 6: Correspondence with A. R. Coffeen, 1942 - 1953: Acquisition Information: 188:329
Folder 7: Correspondence with Orville Dahl, 1951 - 1953: Acquisition Information: 188:330
Folder 8: Correspondence with Orville Dahl, 1954 - 1956: Acquisition Information: 188:331
Folder 9: Correspondence with Lida Dahlberg, 1949 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:332
Folder 10: Correspondence with Arthur O. Davidson, 1941 - 1954: Acquisition Information: 188:333
Folder 11: Correspondence with Arthur O. Davidson, 1955 - 1967: Acquisition Information: 188:334
Folder 12: Correspondence with Mrs. J. A. Dillman, 1956 - 1963: Acquisition Information: 188:335
Folder 13: Correspondence with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1955 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 256:1
Folder 14: Correspondence with the Gardner - Cowles Foundation, 1947 - 1963: Acquisition Information: 188:401
Folder 15: Correspondence with the Gardner - Cowles Foundation, 1956: Acquisition Information: 268:80:50
Folder 16: Correspondence with Maurice Gjerset, 1959 - 1964: Acquisition Information: 188:336
Folder 17: Correspondence with M. O. Grangaard, 1940 - 1953: Acquisition Information: 188:337

Box 8: Correspondence, Gu - L, 1933 - 1966

Folder 1: Correspondence with Thaddaeus Franke Gullixson, 1940 - 1942: Acquisition Information: 188:338
Folder 2: Correspondence with Thaddaeus Franke Gullixson, 1933 - 1957: Acquisition Information: 188:339
Folder 3: Correspondence with Arthur Edwin Hanson, 1940 - 1950: Acquisition Information: 188:340
Folder 4: Correspondence with Carroll B. Hanson, 1947 - 1948: Acquisition Information: 188:341
Folder 5: Correspondence with Clifford Hanson, 1943 - 1957: Acquisition Information: 188:342
Folder 6: Correspondence with Karl Hanson, 1922 - 1950: Acquisition Information: 188:343
Folder 7: Correspondence with N. B. Hanson, 1939 - 1951: Acquisition Information: 188:344
Folder 8: Correspondence with Ludvig Hektoen, 1957: Acquisition Information: 188:345
Folder 9: Correspondence with Algo D Henderson, 1958 - 1964: Acquisition Information: 188:346
Folder 10: Correspondence involving Homecoming, 1940 - 1942: Acquisition Information: 188:422
Folder 11: Correspondence with Bernhard A Johnson, 1945 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:348
Folder 12: Correspondence with Bernhard A Johnson, 1959 - 1966: Acquisition Information: 188:349
Folder 13: Correspondence with George Johnson, 1940 - 1952: Acquisition Information: 188:350
Folder 14: Correspondence with Ulrik Vilhelm Koren, 1938: Acquisition Information: 188:351
Folder 15: Correspondence with Henning Larsen, 1954 - 1971: Acquisition Information: 188:347
Folder 16: Correspondence with Einar R Larson, 1940 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:352
Folder 17: Correspondence with Henrietta Larson, 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:353
Folder 18: Correspondence with N. Astrup Larsen, 1935 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:354
Folder 19: Correspondence with Lawrence R. Lunden, 1940 - 1956: Acquisition Information: 188:355
Folder 20: Correspondence with the Lutheran Brotherhood, 1947 - 1959
Folder 21: Correspondence with the Lutheran Ladies Seminary Club of Chicago, 1943 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:421

Box 9: Correspondence, M - O, 1940 - 1973

Folder 1: Correspondence with Olaf Gabriel Malmin, 1940 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:356
Folder 2: Correspondence with Midwest Collegiate Conference, 1951 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:386
Folder 3: Correspondence with Wilhelm Morgenstierne, 1940 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:357
Folder 4: Correspondence with P. O. Nasvik, 1947: Acquisition Information: 188:358
Folder 5: "A History of the College" by David T. Nelson, 1960 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:58
Folder 6: Correspondence with Knute B. Norswing, 1949 - 1960: Acquisition Information: 188:75
Folder 7: Correspondence with the North Central Association, 1937 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:77
Folder 8: Correspondence with Nardal Nustad, 1941 - 1954: Acquisition Information: 188:359
Folder 9: Correspondence with Rudolph A. Oefstedal, 1947 - 1958: Acquisition Information: 188:360
Folder 10: Correspondence with Henry A. Olson, 1953 - 1973: Acquisition Information: 188:361
Folder 11: Correspondence with Louis W. Olson, 1942 - 1955: Acquisition Information: 188:362
Folder 12: Correspondence with Louis W. Olson, 1956 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:363
Folder 13: Correspondence with Pacific Lutheran College, 1953 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:67
Folder 14: Correspondence - Pastors, 1950: Acquisition Information: 188:432
Folder 15: Correspondence with J.C.K. Preus, 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:437

Box 10: Correspondence, S - Z, 1948 - 1966

Folder 1: Correspondence with Schield Bantam Company, 1956 - 1963: Acquisition Information: 188:68
Folder 2: Correspondence with Heinrich Schmid, 1962: Acquisition Information: 188:364
Folder 3: Correspondence scholarships, 1951 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:385
Folder 4: Correpsondence senior, 1956 - 1961: Acquisition Information: 188:69
Folder 5: Correspondence with Hermann W. Siefkes, 1961 - 1971: Acquisition Information: 188:365
Folder 6: Correspondence with Arthur J. Smaby, 1951 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:366
Folder 7: Correspondence with Laurence M. Stavig, 1951 - 1962: Acquisition Information: 188:367
Folder 8: Correspondence Schwardt, Roland L, 1948 - 1959: Acquisition Information: 188:440:1-22
Folder 9: Correspondence with the United States Steel Foundation, 1955 - 1968: Acquisition Information: 188:389
Folder 10: Correspondence, 1957 - 1962
Folder 11: Correspondence with Who's Who in America, 1958 - 1966: Acquisition Information: 188:388
Folder 12: Correspondence with J. M. Wylie, 1956 - 1965: Acquisition Information: 188:368
Folder 13: Correspondence with Johan Wilhelm Ylvisaker, 1948: Acquisition Information: 188:369
Folder 14: Correspondence, Undated
Folder 15: Correspondence with N. M. Ylvisaker, 1949: Acquisition Information: 188:433
Folder 16: Correspondence with Nils Walther Ylvisaker, 1940 - 1957: Acquisition Information: 188:370
Folder 17: Correspondence with Nils Walther Ylvisaker, 1958 - 1972: Acquisition Information: 188:371
Folder 18: Correspondence with B. C. Ziegler and Company, 1948 - 1965: Acquisition Information: 188:387
Folder 19: Miscellaneous, 1937 - 1955: Acquisition Information: 188:372
Folder 20: Miscellaneous, 1956 - 1962: Acquisition Information: 188:373

Box 11: Correspondence and Personal Papers, 1930 - 1964

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1951 - 1958
Item 1: Paulus' forste Brev til Timoteus, 1906

Box 12: Oversized, Bible, Hymnal and Altar Book of J. Wilhelm Ylvisaker, undated