The Papers of David Theodore Nelson

The Papers of David Theodore Nelson, 1722-1969 | Luther College Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: The Papers of David Theodore Nelson, 1722-1969

ID: LCA/RG15/Nelson, D

Primary Creator: Nelson, David Theodore (1891-1969)

Extent: 14.3 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This collection has been arranged into 12 series:

1) Biographical Files

2) Correspondence

3) Teaching Files

4) Scholarship

5) Service to College

6) Academic Service Files

7) Civic Service Files

8) Awards and Honors

9) Service to Church

10) Scrapbooks

11) Postcards

12) Realia

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Documentation consists of correspondence, 1914-1969; diaries; photographs; translation of Elisabeth Koren diary; materials on Hegge family (Ole Olsen Hegge) and family of Nils Hestetun, 1700’s-1800’s; materials on “Sognalag of America;” Nelson’s personal papers (including reference to or information on Andersen, Klocher, Even Fredriksen); certificates; awards; receipt book; will; biographical files; war ration cards, 1940’s; newspaper clippings; invitations; Luther College teaching files (Debate, Forensics); Luther College Chips poetry, 1884-1935; public speeches, 1925-1969; acting president files; committee papers, records; ‘Service to the College’ materials; Iowa Colleges Conference papers; Norwegian-American Historical Association papers; music; Oslo Summer School, 1947-1960; civic service files (Republican party, peace conference); church paper; scrapbook; articles.

Biographical Note

David Theodore Nelson, a member of the Luther College class of 1912, is probably best remembered for his book, Luther College 1861-1961, published during Luther’s centennial year. Before this, Nelson was a Rhodes Scholar. He went to Oxford in 1914 and went on to receive a B.A. degree there. From 1914-1915, he served in Herbert Hoover’s Commission for Relief in Belgium during World War I. Following this, Nelson served in the American Ambulance Service in France from 1915-1916. In 1922, he came to teach English at Luther College. He remained at Luther until 1963. In 1924 he married Esther Torrison. While at Luther, he emphasized the importance of long-range planning for the college. In general, Nelson thought student rules should be liberalized, although politically he was a conservative and became involved with the Republican Party. He made the motion to allow dancing at Luther, was involved in the decision to permit coeducation, and, along with Oivind Hovde, helped establish the senior paper requirement for graduation. He was the tennis coach at Luther from 1922-1933. He also established the Luther College Forensic Association, and was very involved with debate for several years. On August 1, 1962, Nelson was named acting president between the terms of Ylvisaker and Farwell, a position he served for just under a year. While president, it was decided that the new field house would be built “down the bluff,” rather than on the upper campus. The decision was controversial, but Nelson was a strong advocate of the location. Nelson translated the Diary of Elisabeth Koren, and collaborated efforts with Inga Norstog to translate Peer Stromme’s Halvor into English. Upon retirement he continued to live in Decorah. He was born in 1891 and died October. 9, 1969. This collection contains much of his personal correspondence and other documents related to Luther College.

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David Theodore Nelson var student på Luther College til 1912, og er sannsynligvis best kjent for sin bok, Luther College 1861-1961, som ble utgitt i 1961 i anledning Luthers hundreårs jubileum. Nelson hadde vært Rhodes Scholar. Han begynte som student på Oxford i 1914 og tok til slutt bachelor graden derfra. Under første verdenskrig, fra 1914 til 1915, tjenestegjorde han i Herbert Hoover’s Commission for Relief i Belgia. Deretter arbeidet Nelson i den amerikanske ambulansetjenesten i Franskrike fra 1915 til 1916. I 1922 kom han til Luther College og underviste i engelsk. Han ble ved Luther til 1963. I 1924 giftet han seg med Esther Torrison. På Luther vektla han hvor viktig langsiktig planlegging var for colleget. Generelt syns Nelson at studentreglene burde liberaliseres, selv om han var politisk konservativ og var engasjert i det republikanske parti et. Han gjorde dans lovlig på Luther, var involvert i diskusjonen om å innføre felles under visning for gutter og jenter, og sammen med Oivind Hovde hjelp han til med å innføre kravet om senior paper for å kunne oppnå bachelorgraden. Han var tennistrener ved Luther fra 1922 til 1933. Han etablerte også Luther College Forensic Association. 1. august 1962 ble Nelson fungerende president i perioden mellom Ylvisaker og Farwell, men var ikke president i mer en ett år. Mens han var president ble det bestemt at det nye idrettsbygget skulle bygges nede i dalen i stedet for på øvre del av skoleområdet. Avgjør el sen var kontroversiell, men Nelson var en sterk forkjemper for plasseringen. Nelson oversatte Elisabeth Korens dagbok, og samarbeidet med Inga Norstog for å oversette Peer Stromme’s Halvor til engelsk.

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 41 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

Preferred Citation: Cite unpublished materials: David Theodore Nelson Papers, RG15 Manuscripts, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Finding Aid Revision History:

8/21/24: HJ updated arrangement and added series descriptions from Shan Thomas' original finding aid.

6/15/24: Abby Bates updated copyright policy link.

11/22/19: EC updated the preferred citation.

Updated 6/5/2018 by Hayley Jackson to include arrangement of the European postcards in Box 38.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Files, 1722-1965],
[Series 2: Correspondence],
[Series 3: Teaching Files],
[Series 4: Scholarship],
[Series 5: Service to the College],
[Series 6: Academic Service Files, 1933-1968],
[Series 7: Civic Service Files],
[Series 8: Awards and Honors],
[Series 9: Service to the Church],
[Series 10: Scrapbooks],
[Series 11: Postcards-Europe],
[Series 12: Realia],
[All]

Series 2: Correspondence

Series 2 is made up of Correspondence from 1913-1968. Some correspondence in this series has no date. This is arranged both chronologically and alphabetically by sender.

Box 2: Correspondence and Invitations, 1914-1969

Folder 1: Letters and Correspondence of David Th. Nelson 1914-1919, 1914-1919
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1926-1929
Folder 3: Wedding Invitations and Announcements, Aug 1913- March 1965
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1924
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1920-1923
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1926-1969

Box 3: Correspondence and Invitations, 1931-1968

Folder 1: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1939
Folder 2: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1939
Folder 3: Invitations and Announcements, 1938-1968
Folder 4: Correspondence, March-Dec. 1938
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1937
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1936
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1935
Folder 8: Correspondence, 1934
Folder 9: Correspondence, 1933
Folder 10: Correspondence, 1931-1932

Box 4: Correspondence, Death Announcements, Invitations, and Contribution Receipts, 1939-1964

Folder 1: Death Announcements, Funeral Programs, and Sympathy Thank-you Notes, Dec. 1942-Jan. 1964
Folder 2: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1942
Folder 3: Correspondence, Aug 1942- Dec. 1942
Folder 4: Correspondence, June-Jan. 1941-1942
Folder 5: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1941
Folder 6: Correspondence, May-Dec. 1940
Folder 7: Correspondence, June-April 1940
Folder 8: Contributions Receipts, Announcements, and Invitations- Luther College, 1939-1968
Folder 9: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1944
Folder 10: Correspondence, Jan.-Aug. 1944
Folder 11: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1944
Folder 12: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1943
Folder 13: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1943

Box 5: Correspondence, 1945-1949

Folder 1: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1949
Folder 2: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1949
Folder 3: Correspondence, June-Dec. 1948
Folder 4: Correspondence, Jan.-May 1948
Folder 5: Correspondence, July-Jan. 1947-1948
Folder 6: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1947
Folder 7: Correspondence, June-Dec. 1946
Folder 8: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1946
Folder 9: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1945
Folder 10: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1945

Box 6: Correspondence, 1950-1955

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1955
Folder 2: Correspondence, June-Dec. 1954
Folder 3: Correspondence, Jan.-May 1954
Folder 4: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1953
Folder 5: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1953
Folder 6: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1952
Folder 7: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1952
Folder 8: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1951
Folder 9: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1951
Folder 10: Correspondence, June-Dec. 1950
Folder 11: Correspondence, Jan.-May 1950

Box 7: Correspondence, 1956-1959

Folder 1: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1959
Folder 2: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1959
Folder 3: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1958
Folder 4: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1958
Folder 5: Correspondence, Sept.-Dec. 1957
Folder 6: Correspondence, Jan.-Aug. 1957
Folder 7: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1956
Folder 8: Correspondence, April-June 1956
Folder 9: Correspondence, Feb.-March 1956
Folder 10: Correspondence, 1956

Box 8: Correspondence, 1960-1963

Folder 1: Correspondence, Nov.-Dec. 1961
Folder 2: Correspondence, July-Oct. 1961
Folder 3: Correspondence, June-Dec. 1961
Folder 4: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1961
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1960-1963
Folder 6: Correspondence, July-Dec. 1960
Folder 7: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1960
Folder 8: Correspondence, 1959-1960

Box 9: Correspondence, 1962-1963

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1962-1963
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1963
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1963
Folder 4: Correspondence, Oct.-Dec. 1963
Folder 5: Correspondence, May-Sept. 1963
Folder 6: Correspondence, Jan.-April 1963
Folder 7: Correspondence, Sept.-Dec. 1962
Folder 8: Correspondence, May-Sept. 1962
Folder 9: Correspondence, Jan.-April 1962

Box 10: Correspondence, 1964-1965

Folder 1: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1965
Folder 2: Correspondence, Jan.-July 1965
Folder 3: Correspondence, Sept.-Dec. 1964
Folder 4: Correspondence, June-Sept. 1964
Folder 5: Correspondence, March-May 1964
Folder 6: Correspondence, Jan.-Feb. 1964

Box 11: Correspondence, 1966-1969

Folder 1: Correspondence, undated
Folder 2: Correspondence, Jan.-June 1966
Folder 3: Correspondence, Aug.-Dec. 1966
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1969
Folder 5: Correspondence, 1968
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1968
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1967
Folder 8: Norwegian-American Historical Association Correspondence, 1965-1967

Box 12: Correspondence, 1934-1967

Folder 1: Correspondence to/from Luther-Augustana, Aug.1959-Nov. 1960
Folder 2: Correspondence to/from Theodore Hoelty-Nickel, April 1934-Dec. 1946
Folder 3: Correspondence to/from Theodore Hoelty-Nickel, Feb. 1947-March 1959
Folder 4: Correspondence to/from Theodore Hoelty-Nickel, July 1960-April 1968
Folder 5: Correspondence to/from O.G. Landsverk, Dec. 1961-June 1969
Folder 6: Correspondence to/from Helen Thane Katz, Oct. 1954-Nov. 1967
Folder 7: Correspondence: Herbert Hoover Archives and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Aug. 1955-Aug. 1962
Folder 8: Correspondence to/from Lorraine Carlson, Fred Karlsborg, Jan. 1955-Jan. 1957

Box 13: Correspondence and Articles involving Jonas Oglaend, 1932-1969

Folder 1: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Jan. 1966-Jan. 1965
Folder 2: Articles about jonas Oglaend, 1965
Folder 3: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Jan. 1963-Dec. 1965
Folder 4: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Feb. 1958-Dec. 1962
Folder 5: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Jan. 1953-Dec. 1957
Folder 6: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Jan. 1949-Dec. 1952
Folder 7: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Feb. 1947-Dec. 1948
Folder 8: Correspondence to/from Jonas Oglaend, Feb. 1932-Dec.1946

Box 14: Correspondence, 1924-1968

Folder 1: Correspondence to/from Henry O. Talle, Aug. 1950-March 1958
Folder 2: Correspondence to/from Henry O. Talle, April 1949-Aug. 1950
Folder 3: Correspondence to/from Henry O. Talle, March 1944-March1945
Folder 4: Correspondence to/from Henry O. Talle, Aug. 1926-Nov. 1943
Folder 5: Correspondence to/from Anna Rutt, Feb. 1963-Aug. 1968
Folder 6: Correspondence to/from Jean Rolland, Sept. 1924-Dec. 1945
Folder 7: Correspondence to/from Jean Rolland, Jan. 1956-June 1968
Folder 8: Correspondence to/from Jean Rolland, Jan. 1946-Nov. 1955
Folder 9: Correspondence to/from Louis Olson, June 1952-July 1959

Box 14a: Correspondence with Family, 1914-1919

Folder 1: Correspondence with Family, 1914-1919
Folder 2: Correspondence with Family, 1914-1919