The Papers of Nikolai Astrup Larsen

The Papers of Nikolai Astrup Larsen, 1884-1967 | Luther College Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: The Papers of Nikolai Astrup Larsen, 1884-1967

ID: LCA/RG15/Larsen, N

Primary Creator: Larsen, N. Astrup (1878-1961)

Extent: 9.8 Linear Feet. More info below.

Date Acquired: 03/22/1969

Subjects: Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Alumni and alumnae, Missionaries--China, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Languages: English, Norwegian, Chinese

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Documentation consists of correspondence, 1897-1967 (family and church); diaries,1907-9, 1916; sermons, 1920’s-1950’s; photographs; budget books, 1949-1965; receipts; insurance policy; journals; booklets; bulletins; family information; newspaper clippings; certificates; autobiographies (him and others); papers of N.L.C.A. (minutes and constitution) and other church related papers and articles; programs; papers on the Iowa District; Luther College papers (information, clubs, events, etc.); pocket books; date books, 1898-1916; speeches; political papers (Communism in China); study notes; notebooks; lecture notes; scrapbooks; minutes; resolutions; a few poems; articles by N.A. Larsen and others; papers and materials on China mission work; World Church convention information and conferences materials (World Council of Churches, American Lutheran Church Conference); date books and almanacs, 1918-1954.

Biographical Note

Larsen was born to Luther College president Laur. Larsen and his wife Ingeborg Astrup Larsen on July 13, 1878. He graduated from Luther College in 1896. After graduation, he enrolled at Luther Theological Seminary and graduated from that institution in 1900. He immediately accepted a call as a pastor in Minnesota. In 1902, he moved to North Dakota to serve several congregations there. A year later, he moved again within North Dakota and stayed with a congregation there for eight years. He married his first wife, Tora Ylvisaker in 1904 who died six years later. He married Marie Weltzin, whom he met after accepting a call to Our Savior’s Church in Tacoma, Washington in 1911. Together they performed missionary work in China, and in 1925 he became the president of the Union Lutheran Theological Seminary in China. Upon his return from China, he received a call to First Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1933, Luther conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was elected president of the Iowa District of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1934, serving that position until his retirement fifteen years later. He died in 1961 at the age of 83.

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Larsen ble født 13. juli 1878. Han var sønn av Luther College president Laur. Larsen og Ingeborg (Astrup). Han tok eksamen ved Luther College i 1896. Deretter begynte han ved Luther Theological Seminary og gikk ut derfra i 1900. Kort etter takket han ja til et kall som prest i Minnesota. I 1902 flyttet han til Nord Dakota for å tjenestegjøre for flere menigheter der. Han giftet seg med Tora Ylvisaker i 1904. Hun døde seks år senere og han giftet seg da med Marie Weltzin, som han møtte etter å ha takket ja til et kall fra Our Savior’s Church i Tacoma, Washington, i 1911. Sammen jobbet de som misjonærer i Kina, og i 1925 ble han president for Union Lutheran Theological Seminary der. Da han kom tilbake til USA fikk han et kall fra First Lutheran Church i Sioux City, Iowa. I 1933 mottok han en æresdoktorgrad, Doctor of Divinity, fra Luther. Han ble valgt til president for Norwegian Lutheran Church, Iowa District i 1934, en jobb han hadde til han gikk av med pensjon femten år senere. Han døde i 1961, åttitre år gammel.

Subject/Index Terms

Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Alumni and alumnae
Missionaries--China
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 15 boxes

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 copyright and fair use policy, please visit https://www.luther.edu/library/copyright

Acquisition Source: N. Astrup Larsen Estate

Preferred Citation: Cite unpublished materials: Nikolai Astrup Larsen Papers, RG15 Manuscripts, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Finding Aid Revision History:

6/10/24: Abby Bates updated copyright policy link.

5/10/2023: HRJ updated to include acquisition information from original processing documents, add languages, and add subject headings.

11/20/19: EC updated the preferred citation.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1900-1967],
[Series 2: Writings, 1925-1961],
[Series 3: Sermons, 1920-1959],
[Series 4: China Missions, 1909-1953],
[Series 5: Church Papers, 1927-1968],
[Series 6: Personal Papers, 1884-1965],
[Series 7: Realia, Undated],
[All]

Series 6: Personal Papers, 1884-1965

Box 10: Personal and Church Papers, 1920-1960

Folder 7: Materials on Communism and China, 1958
Folder 6: Notes & Speech Notecards, 1945, 48-60, Undated
Folder 8: Speeches & Events at Luther College, 1929, 31, 36, 46, 52
Folder 9: Chapel Talks at Luther College, Various years 1933 to 1959
Folder 10: Luther College & Alumni, 1934, 1945, Undated
Folder 11: Luther College Donations & Events, 1920, 1936, Undated

Box 11: Personal Papers, 1884-1965

Folder 1: Pocketbook, Undated
Folder 2: Diary, 1907-09, 16
Folder 3: Budget Book, 1949
Folder 4: Budget Book, 1950
Folder 5: Budget Book, 1951
Folder 6: Budget Book, 1952
Folder 7: Budget Book, 1953
Folder 8: Budget Book, 1954
Folder 9: Budget Book, 1955
Folder 10: Budget Book, 1956
Folder 11: Budget Book, 1957
Folder 12: Budget Book, 1958
Folder 13: Budget Book, 1959
Folder 14: Budget Book, 1960
Folder 15: Budget Book, 1961
Folder 16: Budget Book, 1962
Folder 17: Budget Book, 1963
Folder 18: Budget Book, 1964
Folder 19: Budget Book, 1965
Folder 20: Two Unidentified Photos, Undated
Folder 21: Unidentified Photo on Cardboard, Undated
Folder 22: Receipts and Account Books, 1932-1940, Undated
Folder 23: Papers Concerning Laur Larsen, 1884, 1933
Folder 24: Papers Concerning Larsen Family Members, 1957, 60, 61, Undated
Folder 25: NA Larsen Autobiography and Certificates, 1896, 1900, 52, 65
Folder 26: Symra Society 50th Anniversary, 1952-53, 57
Folder 27: Postcards of Norway and North Dakota, Undated
Folder 28: Dr. John Seldon Whale, 1954, Undated
Folder 29: Piney Woods School, 1946, 49, 53-55, 59
Folder 30: Autobiography of Oscar L. Olson, Undated
Folder 31: Biography of Herbjorn Gausta, 1939
Folder 32: Photos of NA Larsen, Undated
Folder 33: Datebooks, 1898-1899
Folder 34: Datebooks, 1900-1901
Folder 35: Datebooks, 1902-1903
Folder 36: Datebooks, 1904-1905
Folder 37: Datebooks, 1906-1907
Folder 38: Datebooks, 1908-1909
Folder 39: Datebooks, 1910-1911

Box 12: Datebooks, 1912-1955

Folder 1: Datebooks, 1912-1913
Folder 2: Datebooks, 1914-1915
Folder 3: Datebooks, 1916-1917
Folder 4: Datebooks, 1918-1919
Folder 5: Datebooks, 1920-1921
Folder 6: Datebooks, 1922-1923
Folder 7: Datebooks, 1924-1925
Folder 8: Datebooks, 1926-1927
Folder 9: Datebooks, 1928-1929
Folder 10: Datebooks, 1930-1931
Folder 11: Datebooks, 1932-1933
Folder 12: Datebooks, 1935-1937
Folder 13: Datebooks, 1938-1939
Folder 14: Datebooks, 1940-1941
Folder 15: Datebooks, 1942-1943
Folder 16: Datebooks, 1944-1945
Folder 17: Datebooks, 1946-1947
Folder 18: Datebooks, 1948-1949
Folder 19: Datebooks, 1950-1951
Folder 20: Datebooks, 1952-1953
Folder 21: Datebooks, 1954, 56
Folder 22: Datebooks, 1925, 55, Undated

Box 13: Notebooks, 1898-1901

Folder 1: NA Larsen's "Encyklopadi" Notebook, 1898
Folder 2: Notebook for Hebrew Class, Undated
Folder 3: Notebook for Seminary, 1900
Folder 4: NA Larsen's Hebrew & Greek Notebook, Undated
Folder 5: Record Book of Bible Passages, Undated
Folder 6: NA Larsen's "Indhold" Notebook, 1901

Box 15: Scrapbook, 1934-1957

Folder 1: Scrapbook, 1934-1957