Records of the Founding Congregations

Records of the Founding Congregations, 1844-2013 | Luther College Archives

By Sasha Griffin

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Collection Overview

Title: Records of the Founding Congregations, 1844-2013

ID: LCA/RG13/Series 2

Primary Creator: Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod (U.S.)

Extent: 65.4 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 27 series:

1) Big Canoe Lutheran (1857-1989)

2) Calmar Congregation (1851-1920)

3) East Clermont Lutheran Church (1926-1986)

4) Coon Valley Lutheran Church (1853-2003)

5) Decorah Lutheran Church (1863-1997)

6) First Lutheran Church (1863-1996)

7) Glenwood Congregation (1854-1961)

8) Hesper Lutheran (1865-1986)

9) Immanuel Lutheran (1881-1982)

10) Paint Creek (East and West) Lutheran (1851-1987)

11) Little Iowa Congregation (1851-1930)

12) Madison and Lincoln Lutheran (1866-2001)

13) Orleans Lutheran (1868-1987)

14) Ossian Lutheran (2003)

15) Our Savior's Lutheran Church (1955)

16) Peace Lutheran (1873-1986)

17) The Ridgeway Parish (1951-1976)

18) Saint Benedict of Decorah (1992)

19) Saint Joseph's First Lutheran (1860-1886)

20) Saint Paul Lutheran Church (1863-1988)

21) Stavanger Lutheran Church (1870-2003)

22) Trinity Lutheran (1854-1995)

23) Washington Prairie Lutheran (1854-2003)

24) Waterloo Lutheran (1867-1977)

25) Vangen (undated)

26) Founding Congregation Histories (1885-2001)

27) Other Congregational Records (1844-1996)

Subjects: Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church - History, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Norwegian Synod, Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Forms of Material: Correspondence, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Sound recordings, Video Recordings, Videotapes

Languages: English, Norwegian

Abstract

This collection contains church histories, records, and audiovisual material from the founding congregations of the Norwegian Synod.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This series contains church histories, records, and audiovisual materials from the founding congregations of the Norwegian Synod. Congregational histories and records include correspondence, ministerial and communion records, membership information, scrapbooks, meeting minutes, financial records, brochures and pamphlets, photographs, videocassettes (VHS), reel-to-reel audio recordings, vinyl LPs, and 16mm film. Dates range from 1844 to 2003. Though most information is in English, some early materials are in Norwegian.

Collection Historical Note

The Norwegian Lutheran Synod was organized October 3-7, 1853. This synod organized 18,000 Norwegian immigrants who had immigrated to southeastern Wisconsin since 1825. Pastor A. C. Preus was elected as the first synod president. The synod was founded with the purpose of encouraging the growth of sound, orthodox Lutheranism in America.

The Norwegian Synod grew rpidly after the American Civil War, when Norwegian immigration increasd. In 1903, the synod had 280 pastors serving 900 congregations with 140,000 members. The synod established Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1861. In 1876, it opened a seminary in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 1917, 338 of the 351 synod pastors withdrew to merge with two other Norwegian synods and form the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America. The thirteen remaining pastors reorganized as the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor B. Harstad served as the first president.

In 1958, the synod changed its name to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, as a result of many congregations losing their Norwegian character. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod has been involved in missionary work around the United States and around the world.

Subject/Index Terms

Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church - History
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Norwegian Synod
Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 116 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.

Physical Access Note: Audiovisual materials may require special use copies, which may or may not be available. For further information, please contact the college archivist.

Technical Access Note: Some materials in this collection require the use of a cassette player, 16mm film projector, microfilm reader, reel-to-reel audio player, VCR player, or photographic slide projector or scanner.

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: Records of the Founding Congregations, RG13 Norwegian Synod and Founding Congregations, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

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

Finding Aid Revision History: Updated 4/13/2018 by Hayley Jackson to add Subseries 26 Box 6.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Big Canoe Lutheran, 1857-1989],
[Sub-Series 2: Calmar Congregation, 1851-1920],
[Sub-Series 3: East Clermont Lutheran Church, 1926-1986],
[Sub-Series 4: Coon Valley Lutheran Church, 1853-2003],
[Sub-Series 5: Decorah Lutheran Church, 1863-1997],
[Sub-Series 6: First Lutheran Church, 1863-2013],
[Sub-Series 7: Glenwood Congregation, 1854-1961],
[Sub-Series 8: Hesper Lutheran, 1865-1986],
[Sub-Series 9: Immanuel Lutheran, 1881-1982],
[Sub-Series 10: Paint Creek (East and West) Lutheran, 1851-1987],
[Sub-Series 11: Little Iowa Congregation, 1851-1930],
[Sub-Series 12: Madison and Lincoln Lutheran, 1866-2001],
[Sub-Series 13: Orleans Lutheran, 1868-1987],
[Sub-Series 14: Ossian Lutheran, 2003],
[Sub-Series 15: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1955],
[Sub-Series 16: Peace Lutheran, 1873-1986],
[Sub-Series 17: The Ridgeway Parish, 1951-1976],
[Sub-Series 18: Saint Benedict of Decorah, 1992],
[Sub-Series 19: Saint Joseph's First Lutheran, 1860-1886],
[Sub-Series 20: Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 1863-1988],
[Sub-Series 21: Stavanger Lutheran Church, 1870-2003],
[Sub-Series 22: Trinity Lutheran, 1854-1995],
[Sub-Series 23: Washington Prairie Lutheran, 1854-2003],
[Sub-Series 24: Waterloo Lutheran, 1867-1977],
[Sub-Series 25: Vangen, undated],
[Sub-Series 26: Founding Congregation Histories, 1885-2001],
[Sub-Series 27: Other Congregational Records, 1844-2000],
[All]

Sub-Series 26: Founding Congregation Histories, 1885-2001

Box 1: A-E

Folder 1: Adams Lutheran, 1976
Folder 2: Arlington Lutheran, 1951
Folder 3: Ascension Lutheran, 1970
Folder 4: Aurora Lutheran, 1971, 1975
Folder 5: Barsness Lutheran, 1967
Folder 6: Bergen Lutheran, 1960
Folder 7: Bergen Vangen Gayville Meelding Lutheran Church, 1934, 1964
Folder 8: Bethany Lutheran, 1955, 1970, 1995
Folder 9: Bethel Lutheran (Madison, WI), 1945
Folder 10: Bethal Lutheran (Walker, MN), 1976
Folder 11: Bethlehem Lutheran (Hills, MN), 1952-1972
Folder 12: Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (Morris, IL), 1906
Folder 13: Big Canoe Lutheran, 1923, 1954, 1978
Folder 14: Big Grove Lutheran, 1913, 1914, 1927
Folder 15: Big Grove Lutheran, Crow River Lutheran, 1979
Folder 16: Black Hammer Evangelical Lutheran, 1958
Folder 17: Burke Lutheran, 1951, 1976
Folder 18: Cedar Valley, 1971
Folder 19: Central Freeborn Lutheran, 1986
Folder 20: Central Lutheran, 1996
Folder 21: Chirriney Rock Lutheran, 1936, 1970
Folder 22: Chippewa Lutheran, 1921
Folder 23: Chippewa Falls Lutheran, 1974
Folder 24: Christ Evangelical Lutheran, 1936
Folder 25: Christ Lutheran Church on Capital Hiill, 1968
Folder 26: Coon Prairie Lutheran, 1927, 1937
Folder 27: Coon Prairie Lutheran, 1977
Folder 28: Coon Valley Lutheran, 1928
Folder 29: Crane Creek Lutheran, 1942
Folder 30: Cross of Christ Lutheran, 1980
Folder 31: Crow River Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1911, 1951, 1961
Folder 32: Dekorra Lutheran, 1954
Folder 33: East and West Zion Lutheran, 1971
Folder 34: East Clemont Lutheran, 1966, 2001
Folder 35: East Freeborn Lutheran, 1961, 1985
Folder 36: East Koshkonong, 1944, 1969, 1994
Folder 37: East Lemonweir Lutheran, 1971
Folder 38: East Norway Lake Lutheran, 1975
Folder 39: Elk Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1927, 1952

Box 2: E-L

Note: Histories of First Lutheran in Decorah, IA moved to Subseries 6.

Folder 1: Elstad Lutheran, 1924, 1954, 1979
Folder 2: Elstad Lutheran, 2004
Folder 3: Esthervile Lutheran, 1936
Folder 4: First English Lutheran (Faribault, MN), 1976, 1991
Folder 5: First English Lutheran (Fergus Falls, MN), 1947
Folder 6: First Evangelical Lutheran, 1927
Folder 7: First Lake Hanska, 1969
Folder 8: First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, 1912, 1916,1946
Folder 9: First Lutheran (Alexandria, MN), 1972
Folder 10: First Lutheran (Audubon, MN), 1972
Folder 11: First Lutheran (Blooming Prairie, MN), 1940
Folder 12: First Lutheran (Janesville, WI), 1977
Folder 13: First Lutheran (Lee, IL), 1908, 1933
Folder 14: First Lutheran (Lodi, WI), 1953
Folder 15: First Lutheran (Manitowaoc, WI), 1950
Folder 16: First Lutheran (Northwood, IA), 1914
Folder 17: First Lutheran (Onalaska, WI), 1970
Folder 18: First Lutheran (Portland, ME), 1914, 1924
Folder 19: First Lutheran (Sauk Centre, MN), 1981
Folder 20: First Lutheran (St. Ansgar, IA), 1978
Folder 21: First Lutheran (Taylor, WI), 1982
Folder 22: First Trinity Lutheran, 1978
Folder 23: Five Points Lutheran, 1961
Folder 24: Fountain Lutheran, 1928, 1978
Folder 25: Four Mile Lutheran, 1972
Folder 26: Garness Trinity Lutheran, 1968
Folder 27: Glenwood Lutheran, 1885, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1953, 1973
Folder 28: Grace Lutheran, 1975
Folder 29: Greenfield Lutheran, 1966, 1981
Folder 30: Gol Lutheran, 1964
Folder 31: Halfway Creek Lutheran, 1956
Folder 32: Hauge Lutheran, 1980
Folder 33: Hesper Lutheran, 1965, 1985, 1990
Folder 34: Highland Praire Lutheran, 1914, 1924, 1934
Folder 35: Holden Lutheran (Colfax, WI), 1964
Folder 36: Holden Lutheran (Goodhue, MN), 1906, 1956, 1966
Folder 37: Hollandale Lutheran, 1983
Folder 38: Immanuel Lutheran, 1922
Folder 39: Indherred Lutheran, 1920, 1960, 1970
Folder 40: Jackson Lake Lutheran, 1962
Folder 41: Jefferson Prairie Lutheran, 1979
Folder 42: Jordan Lutheran, 1960, 1985
Folder 43: Lacrosse Norwegian Lutheran, 1912
Folder 44: Lake Park Lutheran, 1890, 1974
Folder 45: Lake View Lutheran, 1973, 1998
Folder 46: Lands-Minneola Lutheran, 1938, 1967
Folder 47: Lemonweir Parish, 1904, 1944

Box 3: L-O

Folder 1: Le-Roy Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1992
Folder 2: Linden Lutheran, 1984
Folder 3: Lisbon Evangelical Lutheran, 1934
Folder 4: Little Cedar Lutheran, 1939, 1954, 1984
Folder 5: Little Elk Creek Lutheran, 1948, 1958, 1983
Folder 6: Little Turkey Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1900
Folder 7: Long Prairie Lutheran, 1919, 1933, 1944
Folder 8: Lower Coon Valley Lutheran Church (Stoddard, WI), 2004
Folder 9: Lyster Lutheran, 1966, 1982
Folder 10: Luther Valley Lutheran, 1969
Folder 11: Manitowoe-Gjerpen-Valders Congregatlions, 1925, 1950
Folder 12: Marion Lutheran, 1951
Folder 13: Moe Morwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1937
Folder 14: Mt. Morris Holden Lutheran, 1944
Folder 15: New Hope Lutheran, 1889
Folder 16: Norseland Lutheran, 1983
Folder 17: North Beaver Creek, 1959, 1984
Folder 18: North Blue Earth Lutheran, 1966
Folder 19: North Cape Evangelical Lutheran, 1930, 1950
Folder 20: North Coon Prairie Lutheran, 1929, 1950, 1975
Folder 21: North Prairie Lutheran, 1956
Folder 22: North Waseca Lutheran, 1978, 1983
Folder 23: Northwood Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1894
Folder 24: Norway Evangelical Lutheran (Wind Lake, WI), 1968, 1993
Folder 25: Norway Grove Lutheran, 1947
Folder 26: Norway Lutheran (St. Olaf, IA), 1976
Folder 27: Old East and Old West Paint Creek Lutheran, 1952
Folder 28: Opdal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1941, 1966
Folder 29: Orleans Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran, 1914
Folder 30: Our Redeemer's Lutheran, 1970
Folder 31: Our Savior's Lutheran (Beloit, WI), 1968
Folder 32: Our Savior's Lutheran (Bloomer, WI), 1966
Folder 33: Our Savior's Lutheran (Brooklyn, NY), 1916
Folder 34: Our Savior's Lutheran (Brooklyn, NY), 1966
Folder 35: Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Calumus, IA), 1961
Folder 36: Our Savior's Lutheran (Callender, IA), 1958, 1971
Folder 37: Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Hartland, WI), 1942
Folder 38: Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church (LaCrosse, WI), 1961, 1986
Folder 39: Our Savior's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran (St. Croix, WI), 1894
Folder 40: Our Savior's Lutheran (Lansing, IA), 1967
Folder 41: Our Savior's Lutheran (Milwaukee, WI), 1933, 1956, 1984
Folder 42: Our Savior's Lutheran (Montevideo, MN), 1979
Folder 43: Our Savior's Lutheran (Minneapolis, MN), 1894, 1909, 1944, 1969
Folder 44: Our Savior's Lutheran (Sacred Heart, MN), 1943, 1968
Folder 45: Our Savior's Lutheran (Spring Valley, MN), 1953
Folder 46: Our Savior's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (Chicago, IL), 1908, 1913
Folder 47: Our Savior's Lutheran (West Salem, WI), 1989

Box 4: P-V

Folder 1: Peace Lutheran, 1987
Folder 2: Pelican Lake Lutheran, 1939, 1969
Folder 3: Perry Lutheran, 1914
Folder 4: Pigeon Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1941
Folder 5: Primrose Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1895
Folder 6: Red Oak Grove Lutheran, 1934
Folder 7: Ridgeway Lutheran, 1976
Folder 8: Ringsaker Lutheran, 1917
Folder 9: Root Prairie Lutheran, 1956
Folder 10: Round Prarie Lutheran, 1940
Folder 11: Rush River Lutheran, 1917, 1955, 1976
Folder 12: Rushford Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1937, 1981
Folder 13: Scandinavia Lutheran, 1954, 1969
Folder 14: South Blue Earth Lutheran, 1971
Folder 15: Stavanger Lutheran, 1923, 1943, 1953, 1969
Folder 16: St. John's, St. Luke's, St. Olaf's (WI), 1944
Folder 17: St. John's Lutheran (Locust, IA), 1931
Folder 18: St. John's Lutheran (Northfield, MN), 1919, 1969, 1994
Folder 19: St. John's Lutehran (Stone Bank, WI), 1969
Folder 20: St. Olaf Lutheran (Austin, MN), 1967, 1992
Folder 21: St. Olaf Lutheran (Bode, IA), 1920
Folder 22: St. Olaf (Grantsburg, WI), 1920
Folder 23: East and West St. Olaf's (Olmstead and Doge County, MN), 1913, 1922, 1926
Folder 24: East and West St. Olaf's (Olmstead and Doge County, MN), 1931, 1948, 1956
Folder 25: St. Paul's Liberty Lutheran (Deerfield, WI), 1931, 1951, 1976
Folder 26: St. Paul's Lutheran (Pontiac, WI), 1983
Folder 27: St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1936
Folder 28: St. Petri Lutheran, 1907, 1932, 1957, 1982
Folder 29: Shell Rock and Northwood Lutheran Parish, 1934
Folder 30: Silver Lake Lutheran, 1958
Folder 31: South Beaver Creek Lutheran, 1948
Folder 32: Spring Grove Church Organizations, 1933
Folder 33: Spring Prairie Lutheran (Columbia, WI), 1901, 1947, 1972
Folder 34: Spring Prairie Lutheran (Columbia, WI), 1996
Folder 35: Springdale Lutheran, 1977
Folder 36: Springfield Lutheran, 1913, 1938
Folder 37: Skien Lutheran, 1993
Folder 38: Soldier Lutheran, 1945, 1969
Folder 39: The Stone Church, 1991
Folder 40: Sugar Creek Lutheran, 1974, 1984
Folder 41: Trempealeau Valley Lutheran, 1907
Folder 42: Trinity Lutheran (Durand, IL), 1969
Folder 43: Trinity Lutheran (Madelia, MN), 1953, 1970
Folder 44: Trinity Lutheran (Spring Grove, MN), 1935, 1980, 1981
Folder 45: Union Prairie Lutheran, 1935, 1965, 1983
Folder 46: United Lutheran, 1958, 1983
Folder 47: Urland Lutheran, 1972
Folder 48: Vang Lutheran, 1962
Folder 49: Vermont Lutheran, 1981

Box 5: V-Z

Folder 1: Vinje Lutheran, 1967
Folder 2: Washington Lutheran, 1950
Folder 3: Waterloo Ridge Lutheran, 1932, 1942
Folder 4: West Clermont, 1965, 1990
Folder 5: West Kosh Konong Lutheran, 1969
Folder 6: West Lake Johanna Lutheran, 1942, 1967
Folder 7: Wilmington Lutheran, 1980
Folder 8: Winnebago Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1925
Folder 9: Wiota Lutheran, 1937
Folder 10: Wood River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1921
Folder 11: Yello Medicine Lutheran, 1968
Folder 12: York Lutheran, 1980
Folder 13: Zion Lutheran (Spring Valley, MN), 1951
Folder 14: Zion Lutheran (Watson, MN), 1976
Folder 15: Zumbro Lutheran, 1965

Box 6: Founding Congregation Histories, 2015

Folder 1: West Clermont 100th Anniversary History, 2015
Folder 2: West Clermont 100th Anniversary Confirmed Members and Pastors Book, 2015