Women's Missionary Federation

Women's Missionary Federation, 1865-1961 | Luther College Archives

By Adam Frei

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Collection Overview

Title: Women's Missionary Federation, 1865-1961

ID: LCA/RG14/Series 1

Primary Creator: Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Extent: 18.8 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 11 sub-series.

1) Historical Reports

2) Church Histories

3) Scrapbooks

4) Conference Reports

5) Convention Booklets

6) Publications

7) Committees

8) Financial Reports

9) School Reports

10) Parsonage Histories and Biographies

11) Realia

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

Languages: English

Abstract

Materials relating to the Women's Missionary Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

These materials relate to the history of the Women's Missionary Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Included are reports, publications, church histories, non-textual material and scrapbooks covering the areas of Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois.

Collection Historical Note

The Iowa "Ladies Aid" which was later on named The Women's Missionary Federation was founded in 1862. By 1865, organized Ladies Aid Societies spread through out the Lutheran Churches. (Reishus, 31-31) The Women's Missionary Federation was born after the merger in 1917 between the Hauge Synod, the Norwegian Synod and the United Church Synod. (Reishus, 43)

The Women's Missionary Federation was a mission organaization. The purpose of The Women's Missionary Federation was to arouse church women to "active consecrated service." (Ronning, 42) The Women's Missionary Federation sponsored home missions in Alaska and also Indian reservations. (Ronning, 42) The aims for the home mission was "To win the unchurched to Christ by witnessing with our life, by word of mouth and by printed word." (Kerr, 22) They were also acitve abroad , in countires such as China, South Afirca, and Madagascar. (Ronning, 42) The aims of the foreign missions were "To creat interest in and stimulate love for the great cause of mission. To pray that more young women and men may face the call to service in foreign missions. To pray for at least one missionary daily." (Soine, 26) According to the 1917 Mission constitution, the purpose of the Federation as a whole was,"To create interest in and stimulate love for the great casue of mission, to unite, if possible all women's societies within Norwegian Lutheran Church in harmonious co-operation for Missions; to promote the organization of separate mission societies and children societies where ever it is found practicable; to disseminate knowledge of missions in general and of the mission of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in particular" (Reishus 46-47)

The Women's Missionary Federation ceased to exist on January 1st, 1961. The ELCA, ALC and UELC women joined together; and as a result this merger , The Women's Missionary Federation was renamed ALCW. American Lutheran Church Women. (Bohn, 34-35) In 1988, the Lutheran church changed its name from ELC to ELCA. The Women's Missionary Federation became WELCA, Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In recent years this organization has put less emphasis on mission work. The organization has turned in ward, and it is focusing on women's issues. (Roger Peterson)

Bibliography

1. Bohn, Biola. "LDR House." Women's Missionary Messenger Dec. 1960.

2. Kerr, T. A. "Home Missions."Women's Missionary messenger Jan. 1960.

3. Peterson, Roger. Director of Church Relations, Interview: Luther College, 1997

4. Reishus, Martha. Hearts and Hands Uplifted: A History of the Women's Missionary Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1958.

5. Ronning, N. N. Our Church At Work. Vol. 2. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1935.

6. Soine, C. M. "Foreign Mission." Women's Missionary Messenger Feb. 1960.

Subject/Index Terms

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

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 58 boxes

Access Restrictions: All materials are available for research.

Use Restrictions: Though we may hold the property rights to the materials, Luther College Archives maynot hold copyright for published materials. Users must secure their own permissions from copyright holders in order to publish, quote, or repordue protected materials.

Preferred Citation:

Cite unpublished materials: Women's Missionary Federation, RG14 Lutheran Missions, 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 Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Historical Reports],
[Sub-Series 2: Church Histories],
[Sub-Series 3: Scrapbooks],
[Sub-Series 4: Conference Reports],
[Sub-Series 5: Convention Booklets],
[Sub-Series 6: Publications],
[Sub-Series 7: Committees],
[Sub-Series 8: Financial Reports],
[Sub-Series 9: School Reports],
[Sub-Series 10: Parsonage Histories and Biographies],
[Sub-Series 11: Realia],
[All]

Sub-Series 2: Church Histories

Box 1: South Central District: Decorah Circuit

Folder 1: Decorah Circuit
Folder 2: Cedar Rapids, IA
Folder 3: Burr Oak, IA
Folder 4: Calmar, IA
Folder 5: Clermont, IA
Folder 6: Cresco, IA
Folder 7: Decorah, IA
Folder 8: Decorah, IA
Folder 9: Dorchester, IA
Folder 10: Elgin, IA
Folder 11: Hesper, IA
Folder 12: Lansing, IA
Folder 13: Lawler, IA
Folder 14: McGregor, IA
Folder 15: New Hampton,IA
Folder 16: Ossian, IA
Folder 17: Ridgeway, IA
Folder 18: St. Olaf, IA
Folder 19: Washington Prairie, IA
Folder 20: Waterville, IA
Folder 21: Waukon, IA
Folder 22: West Union, IA
Folder 23: Harmony, MN (Fremont)
Folder 24: Spring Grove, MN (Highland)

Box 2: South Central District: Eagle Grove Circuit

Folder 1: Badger, IA
Folder 2: Belmond, IA
Folder 3: Bode, IA
Folder 4: Callender, IA
Folder 5: Clarion, IA
Folder 6: Dows, IA
Folder 7: Dancombe, IA
Folder 8: Eagle Grove, IA
Folder 9: Fort Dodge, IA
Folder 10: Hardy, IA
Folder 11: Holmes, IA
Folder 12: Humboldt, IA
Folder 13: Kanawha, IA
Folder 14: Linn Grove, IA
Folder 15: Moorland, IA
Folder 16: Ottosen, IA
Folder 17: Rembrandt, IA
Folder 18: Renwick, IA
Folder 19: Rolfe, IA
Folder 20: Sioux Rapids, IA
Folder 21: Thor, IA
Folder 22: Vincent, IA

Box 3: South Central District: Estherville Circuit

Folder 1: Armstrong, IA
Folder 2: Cylinder, IA
Folder 3: Dolliver, IA
Folder 4: Emmetsburg, IA
Folder 5: Estherville, IA
Folder 6: Fenton, IA
Folder 7: Graettinger, IA
Folder 8: Milford, IA
Folder 9: Ruthven, IA
Folder 10: Spirit Lake, IA
Folder 11: Swea City, IA
Folder 12: Wallingford, IA
Folder 13: Petersburg, MN (Union State Line)

Box 4: South Central District: Kansas Circuit

Folder 1: Concordia, KS
Folder 2: Eureka, KS
Folder 3: Jamestown, KS
Folder 4: Mankato, KS
Folder 5: Norway, KS
Folder 6: Robinson, KS

Box 5: South Central District: St. Ansgar Circuit

Folder 1: Buffalo Center, IA
Folder 2: Carpenter, IA
Folder 3: Clear Lake, IA
Folder 4: Crystal Lake, IA
Folder 5: Fertile, IA
Folder 6: Forest City, IA
Folder 7: Garner, IA
Folder 8: Hanlontown, IA
Folder 9: Joice, IA
Folder 10: Joice, IA
Folder 11: Kensett, IA
Folder 12: Lake Mills, IA
Folder 13: Lake Mills, IA
Folder 14: Leland, IA
Folder 15: Mason City, IA

Box 6: South Central District: St. Ansgar Circuit

Folder 1: Miller, IA
Folder 2: Mitchell, IA
Folder 3: Northwood, IA
Folder 4: Northwood, IA
Folder 5: Osage, IA
Folder 6: Osage, IA
Folder 7: Rake, IA
Folder 8: Si. Ansgar, IA
Folder 9: Scarville, IA
Folder 10: Scarville, IA
Folder 11: Thompson. IA

Box 7: South Central District: Sioux City Circuit

Folder 1: Inwood, IA
Folder 2: Irwin, IA
Folder 3: Onawa, IA
Folder 4: Paullina, IA
Folder 5: Primhar, IA
Folder 6: Sioux City, IA
Folder 7: Sioux City, IA
Folder 8: Sloan, IA
Folder 9: Soldier, IA

Box 8: South Central District: Story City Circuit

Folder 1: Bethel Ladies Aid, 7-Feb-58
Folder 2: Ames, IA
Folder 3: Calamus, IA
Folder 4: Conroy, IA
Folder 5: Des Moines, IA
Folder 6: Dunbar, IA
Folder 7: Ellsworth, IA
Folder 8: Gilbert, IA
Folder 9: Huxley, IA
Folder 10: Jewell, IA
Folder 11: Jewell, IA
Folder 12: Kelley, IA
Folder 13: Marshalltown, IA
Folder 14: McCallsburg, IA
Folder 15: Norway, IA
Folder 16: Randal, IA
Folder 17: Radcliffe, IA
Folder 18: Roland, IA
Folder 19: Slater, IA
Folder 20: Stanhope, IA
Folder 21: Story City, IA
Folder 22: Williams, IA

Box 9: South Central District: Texas Circuit

Folder 1: Arlington, TX
Folder 2: Clifton, TX
Folder 3: Clifton, TX
Folder 4: Cranfills, TX
Folder 5: Dallas, TX
Folder 6: Fort Worth, TX
Folder 7: Graver, TX
Folder 8: Houston, TX
Folder 9: Midland, TX
Folder 10: Normanna, TX
Folder 11: Waco, TX

Box 10: Southern Minnesota District: Fillmore Circuit

Folder 1: Southern Minnesota District
Folder 2: Fillmore Circuit
Folder 3: Hesper, IA
Folder 4: Black Hammer, Crystal Valley, and Rioeford
Folder 5: Caledonia, MN
Folder 6: Chatfield, MN
Folder 7: Fountian, MN
Folder 8: Harmony, MN
Folder 9: Houston, MN
Folder 10: La Moille, MN
Folder 11: Lanesboro, MN
Folder 12: Lanesboro, MN
Folder 13: Mabel, MN

Box 11: Southern Minnesota District: Fillmore Circuit

Folder 1: Peterson, MN
Folder 2: Peterson, MN
Folder 3: Preston, MN
Folder 4: Rushford, MN
Folder 5: St. Charles, MN
Folder 6: Spring Grove, MN
Folder 7: Thief River Falls, MN
Folder 8: Whalan, MN
Folder 9: Winona, MN

Box 12: Eastern District: Atlantic Circuit

Folder 1: Eastern District
Folder 2: Atlantic Circuit
Folder 3: Berlin, NH; Allendale, NJ; Elizabeth, NJ; Hoboken, NJ
Folder 4: Jersey City, NJ; Rockway, NJ; Weehawken, NJ
Folder 5: Brooklyn, NY; East Meadow, NY; Flushing, NY; Glen Head, NY
Folder 6: Long Island, NY; Massapequa, NY; New York City, NY; St. Albans
Folder 7: Staten Island, NY; Uniondale, NY

Box 13: Eastern District: Central Wisconsin Circuit

Folder 1: Centeral Wisconsin Circuit
Folder 2: Amherst, WI
Folder 3: Elderon, WI
Folder 4: Lola, WI
Folder 5: Lola, WI
Folder 6: Lola, WI
Folder 7: Larson, WI
Folder 8: Merrill, WI
Folder 9: Minoqua, WI
Folder 10: Nelsonville, WI
Folder 11: Rhinelander, WI
Folder 12: Rosholt, WI
Folder 13: Rosholt, WI
Folder 14: Scandinavia, WI
Folder 15: Stevens Point, WI
Folder 16: Tigerton, WI
Folder 17: Tomahawk, WI
Folder 18: Wausau, WI
Folder 19: Wautoma, WI
Folder 20: Wittenberg, WI

Box 14: Eastern District: Chicago Circuit

Folder 1: Chicago Circuit
Folder 2: Aurora, IL
Folder 3: Chicago, IL (B-F)
Folder 4: Chicago, IL (G-Me)
Folder 5: Chicago, IL (Moreland)
Folder 6: Chicago, IL (N-Z)
Folder 7: Elgin, IL; Evenston and Stokie, IL
Folder 8: Long Lake, IL; Ingelside, IL
Folder 9: Mt. Prospect, IL; Oak Park, IL; Park Forest, IL; Park Ridge, IL; Villa Park, IL
Folder 10: Cleveland, OH; Rocky River, OH

Box 15: Eastern District: Eau Claire Circuit

Folder 1: Eau Claire Circuit
Folder 2: Bloomer, WI
Folder 3: Boyceville, WI
Folder 4: Chippewa Falls, WI
Folder 5: Colfax, WI
Folder 6: Cornell, WI
Folder 7: Curtiss, WI
Folder 8: Eau Claire, WI
Folder 9: Eau Claire, WI
Folder 10: Eau Claire, WI
Folder 11: Elk Mound, WI
Folder 12: Greenwood, WI

Box 16: Eastern District: Eau Claire Circuit

Folder 1: Menomenie, WI
Folder 2: Menomenie, WI
Folder 3: Sand Creek, WI
Folder 4: Stanley, WI

Box 17: Eastern District: Green Bay Circuit

Folder 1: Green Bay Circuit
Folder 2: Ishpemng, MI
Folder 3: Ellison Bay, WI
Folder 4: Ephraim, WI; Fish Creek, WI
Folder 5: Green Bay, WI
Folder 6: Green Bay, WI
Folder 7: Manitowoc, WI
Folder 8: Manitowoc, WI
Folder 9: Navarino, WI
Folder 10: Navarino, WI
Folder 11: Oconto Falls, WI
Folder 12: Pulaski, WI
Folder 13: Valders, WI

Box 18: Eastern District: Green Bay Circuit

Folder 1: West Sturgeon Bay, WI
Folder 2: West Sturgeon Bay, WI

Box 19: Eastern District: Hudson Circuit

Folder 1: Hudson Circuit
Folder 2: Stillwater, MN
Folder 3: Baldwin, WI
Folder 4: Baldwin, WI
Folder 5: Bbeldenville, WI
Folder 6: Boycoville, WI
Folder 7: Centuria, WI
Folder 8: Clam Falls, WI
Folder 9: Deer Park, WI
Folder 10: Deronda, WI
Folder 11: Ellsworth, WI
Folder 12: Glenwood City, WI
Folder 13: Grantsburg, WI
Folder 14: Hudson, WI
Folder 15: New Richmond, WI
Folder 16: River Falls, WI
Folder 17: River Falls, WI
Folder 18: Spring Valley, WI
Folder 19: Spring Valley, WI
Folder 20: Star Prairie, WI
Folder 21: Woodville, WI

Box 20: Eastern District: Illinois Circuit

Folder 1: Illinois Circuit
Folder 2: Aurora, IL; Creston, IL
Folder 3: Elliot, IL
Folder 4: Gardner, IL; Herscher, IL
Folder 5: Joliet, IL
Folder 6: Lee, IL
Folder 7: Leland, IL
Folder 8: Lisbon, IL
Folder 9: Marseilles, IL
Folder 10: Morris, IL
Folder 11: Newark, IL
Folder 12: Newark, IL
Folder 13: Ottawa, IL
Folder 14: Piano, IL; Plattville, IL
Folder 15: Pontiac, IL
Folder 16: Sandwich, IL
Folder 17: Seneca, IL

Box 21: Eastern District: LaCrosse Circuit

Folder 1: LaCrosse Circuit
Folder 2: Black River Falls, WI
Folder 3: Blair, WI
Folder 4: Ettrick, WI
Folder 5: Galesville, WI
Folder 6: Hixton, WI
Folder 7: Holmen, WI
Folder 8: LaCrosse, WI
Folder 9: LaCrosse, WI
Folder 10: Mindoro, WI
Folder 11: Onalaska, WI
Folder 12: Osseo, WI
Folder 13: Taylor, WI
Folder 14: West Salem, WI
Folder 15: Whitehall, WI

Box 22: Eastern District: Lemonweir Circuit

Folder 1: Lemonweir Circuit
Folder 2: Adams, WI
Folder 3: Arkdale, WI
Folder 4: Big Flats, WI
Folder 5: Elroy, WI
Folder 6: Fountain City, WI
Folder 7: Hustler, WI
Folder 8: Mauston, WI
Folder 9: New Lisbon, WI
Folder 10: Tomah, WI
Folder 11: Wonewoc, WI

Box 23: Eastern District: Lower Michigan Circuit

Folder 1: Lower Michigan Circuit
Folder 2: Alpena, MI
Folder 3: Detroit, MI
Folder 4: East Jordan, MI
Folder 5: Frankfort, MI
Folder 6: Muskegon, MI
Folder 7: Muskegon, MI
Folder 8: New Era, MI

Box 24: Eastern District: Madison Circuit

Folder 1: Madison Circuit
Folder 2: Madison Circuit
Folder 3: Cambridge, WI
Folder 4: Deerfield, WI
Folder 5: De Forest, WI
Folder 6: De Forest, WI
Folder 7: Edgerton, WI
Folder 8: Evansville, WI
Folder 9: Lodi, WI
Folder 10: Madison, WI
Folder 11: Madison, WI
Folder 12: McFarland, WI
Folder 13: Rio, WI
Folder 14: Stoughton, WI
Folder 15: Stoughton, WI
Folder 16: Stoughton, WI

Box 25: Eastern District: Milwaukee Circuit

Folder 1: Milwaukee Circuit
Folder 2: Franksville, WI
Folder 3: Milwaukee, WI
Folder 4: Milwaukee, WI
Folder 5: Milwaukee, WI
Folder 6: Milwaukee, WI
Folder 7: Oconomowoc, WI
Folder 8: Oconomowoc, WI
Folder 9: Oconomowoc, WI
Folder 10: Racine, WI
Folder 11: South Milwaukee, WI
Folder 12: Waterford, WI
Folder 13: Waukesha, WI
Folder 14: West Allis, WI

Box 26: Eastern District: Mondovi Circuit

Folder 1: Mondovi Ciruit
Folder 2: Eleva, WI
Folder 3: Mmodena, WI
Folder 4: Mondovi, WI
Folder 5: Mondovi, WI
Folder 6: Mondovi, WI
Folder 7: Nelson, WI
Folder 8: Osseo, WI
Folder 9: Osseo, WI
Folder 10: Strum, WI

Box 27: Eastern District: Mt. Horeb Circuit

Folder 1: Mt. Horeb Circuit
Folder 2: Argyle, WI
Folder 3: Blanchardville, WI
Folder 4: Boscobel, WI
Folder 5: Dodgeville, WI
Folder 6: Fennimore, WI
Folder 7: Highland, WI
Folder 8: Mt. Horeb, WI
Folder 9: Mt. Horeb, WI
Folder 10: Mt. Horeb, WI
Folder 11: Mt. Horeb, WI
Folder 12: South Wayne, WI
Folder 13: Spring Green, WI
Folder 14: Woodford, WI

Box 28: Eastern District: Rice Lake Circuit

Folder 1: Rice Lake Circuit
Folder 2: Barron, WI
Folder 3: Birchwood, WI
Folder 4: Cameron, WI
Folder 5: Chetek, WI
Folder 6: Dallas, WI
Folder 7: Exeland, WI
Folder 8: Hawkins, WI
Folder 9: Hayward, WI
Folder 10: Ladysmith, WI
Folder 11: Park Falls, WI
Folder 12: Prairie Farm, WI
Folder 13: Rice Lake, WI; Ridgeland, WI
Folder 14: Spooner, WI

Box 29: Eastern District: Rock River Circuit

Folder 1: Rock River Circuit
Folder 2: Capron, IL
Folder 3: Durand, IL
Folder 4: Rockford, IL
Folder 5: Beloit, WI
Folder 6: Beloit, WI
Folder 7: Beloit, WI
Folder 8: Brodhead, WI
Folder 9: Clinton, WI
Folder 10: Elkhorn, WI
Folder 11: Janesville, WI
Folder 12: Orfordvile, WI
Folder 13: Palmyra, WI
Folder 14: Whitewater, WI
Folder 15: Williams Bay, WI

Box 30: Eastern District: Vernon Circuit

Folder 1: Vernon Circuit
Folder 2: Cashton, WI
Folder 3: Cashton, WI
Folder 4: Coon Valley, WI
Folder 5: Coon Valley, WI
Folder 6: Ferryville, WI
Folder 7: Gays Mills, WI
Folder 8: Mt. Sterling, WI
Folder 9: Purdy, WI
Folder 10: Soldier's Grove, WI
Folder 11: Sparta, WI
Folder 12: Victory, WI
Folder 13: Viroqua, WI
Folder 14: Viroqua, WI
Folder 15: Viroqua, WI
Folder 16: Westby, WI
Folder 17: Westby, WI