Records of the Norwegian Synod, 1853-1917 | Luther College Archives

By Adam Frei

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Records of the Norwegian Synod, 1853-1917

ID: LCA/RG13/Series 1

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

Extent: 28.11 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This series is arranged into 14 sub-series:

1) Governance Records (1850-1917)

2) Financial Records (1859-1902)

3) Correspondence (1849-1896)

4) Proceedings and Papers of Synod Meetings (1863-1917)

5) Conference Records (1864-1917)

6) District Meeting Records (1874-1890)

7) Institutional Records (1866-1912)

8) Special Events (1903-1998)

9) Publications (1877-1943)

10) Pastor's Papers (1863-1918)

11) Congregational Records (1849-1947)

12) Missions (1880-1881)

13) Photographs (1878-1910)

14) Lutheran Women's Caucus (1981-1983)

Subjects: Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Norwegian Synod

Languages: Norwegian, English

Abstract

A series of materials relating to the Norwegian Lutheran Synod.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This series contains the Records of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod and its founding congregations, which later became a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Materials include correspondence, meeting records, reports, church histories, and scrapbooks dating 1849-1998.

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 rapidly 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

Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Norwegian Synod

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 46 boxes and 10 books

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.

Technical Access Note: Some materials in this collection require the use of a microfilm reader.

Preferred Citation:

Cite unpublished materials: Records of the Norwegian Synod, 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.).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Governance, 1850-1917],
[Sub-Series 2: Financial Records, 1859-1902],
[Sub-Series 3: Correspondence, 1849-1896],
[Sub-Series 4: Proceedings and Papers of Synod Meetings, 1863-1917],
[Sub-Series 5: Conference Records, 1863-1868],
[Sub-Series 6: District Meeting Records, 1874-1890],
[Sub-Series 7: Institutional Records, 1866-1912],
[Sub-Series 8: Special Events, 1903-1998],
[Sub-Series 9: Publications, 1877-1953],
[Sub-Series 10: Pastors' Papers, 1863-1918],
[Sub-Series 11: Congregation Records, 1850-1982],
[Sub-Series 12: Missions, 1880-1881],
[Sub-Series 13: Photographs, 1867-1910],
[Sub-Series 14: Lutheran Women's Caucus, The Well Woman, 1981-1983],
[All]

Sub-Series 5: Conference Records, 1863-1868

Box 1: Pastoral Conference Records, 1863-1868

Item 1: Journal of Notes for Western and Decorah District Pastoral Conferences, 1863-1868

Box 2: Pastoral Conference Records, 1864-1912

Folder 1: Red Wing, MN, Report, 21-28 August 1912: Includes 90:93
Folder 2: Decorah, IA, Report, 11-13 October 1911: Includes 90:92
Folder 3: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, August 1910: Includes 90:91
Folder 4: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, 18-25 August 1909: Includes 90:90
Folder 5: Decorah, IA, Reports and Papers, 8-15 October 1907: Includes 90:89
Folder 6: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, 15-22 August 1906: Includes 90:88
Folder 7: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, 17-24 August 1904: Includes 90:87
Folder 8: Minneapolis, MN, Reports and Papers, 22-28 August 1901: Includes 90:85
Folder 9: St. Paul, MN, Reports and Papers, 25-31 October 1900: Includes 90:84
Folder 10: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, 18-23 August 1898: Includes 90:82
Folder 11: Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, August 1897: Includes 90:81
Folder 12: Joint Pastoral Conference - Red Wing, MN, Reports and Papers, 15-22 August 1895: Includes 90:80
Folder 13: Albert Lea, MN, Reports and Papers, 22-29 August 1894: Includes 90:79
Folder 14: Decorah, IA, Reports and Papers, 17-23 August 1892: Includes 90:78
Folder 15: Decorah, IA, Reports and Papers, 1891: Includes 90:77
Folder 16: Decorah, IA, Reports, 16-24 October 1890: Includes 90:76
Folder 17: St. Paul, MN, Reports, 9-12 September 1889: Includes 90:73
Folder 18: Decorah, IA, Reports, 22-29 October 1885: Includes 90:68
Folder 19: Decorah, IA, Report, October 1884: Includes 90:67
Folder 20: Chicago, IL, Report, Johannes Tackle, 25-27 March 1873: Includes 90:33
Folder 21: Calmar, IA, Notes, October 1871: Includes 90:30
Folder 22: Lisbon, WI; Chicago, IL; Rushford, MN, Notes, 1870: Includes 90:27
Folder 23: Norway Ridge, 21 June 1869: Includes 90:20
Folder 24: Chicago, IL; Red Wing, MN, Notes, 29 June 1868, 14-21 October 1868: Includes 90:16
Folder 25: Koshkonong, WI; LaCrosse, WI, 19 June 1867, October 1867: Includes 90:13
Folder 26: Report, E. Wischmann, 24 September 1864: Includes 90:7
Folder 27: St. Louis, MO, Sermon for 3rd Sunday in Advent, 1864: Includes 90:7
Folder 28: LaCrosse, WI, Eastern District, Report, 1873
Folder 29: Decorah, IA, Western District, January-February 1875: Includes 90:43
Folder 30: Western District, Proceedings, 1870-1871: Includes 90:28
Folder 31: Decorah, IA, Western District, Report, January-February 1876: Includes 90:46
Item 1: Western District, Reports, 1877-1880: Includes 90:48

Box 3: Pastoral Conference Records, 1857-1880

Item 1: Journal of Notes, J.A. Ottesen, 1857-1865
Item 2: Journal of Notes, 1874-1880

Box 4: Pastoral Conference Records, 1878-1901

Item 1: Reports, 1878-1901
Item 2: Proceedings, 1881-1893

Box 5: Special Conferences, 1881-1915

Item 1: Madison, Chicago Special Conferences, 1881-1915

Box 6: Special Conferences, 1876-1917

Item 1: The Luther Memorial, 1917
Item 2: Fire Hundred Aars Reformationsfest, 1917
Item 3: LaCrosse Special Conference Proceedings, 1889-1910
Item 4: Red River Valley Special Conference Proceedings, 1877-1896
Item 5: Decorah Special Conference Proceedings, 1876-1917

Box 7: Conference Records, 1864-1887

Folder 1: Minneapolis Conference Reports, 9-15 November 1887: Includes 90:71
Folder 2: Decorah Conference Reports, 10-15 January 1884: Includes 90:63
Folder 3: Madison Conference Reports, Enlarking from Professor Schmidt, 1882-1883: Includes 90:62
Folder 4: Decorah Conference Report, 20-25 January 1882: Includes 90:60
Folder 5: Decorah Conference Notes, 20-25 January 1881: Includes 90:55
Folder 6: Decorah Conference Report, 19-20 January 1881: Includes 90:54
Folder 7: Chicago Confeence Report, 2-9 October 1873: Includes 90:34
Folder 8: Norwegian, Danish Conference Documents, 1870-1875: Includes 90:158
Folder 9: Joint Conference, Report, B.J. Muus, undated: Includes item 90:257:14 ; possibly dated 1890s.
Folder 10: Joint Conference with Conference for Norwegian, Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, undated: Includes 90:56
Folder 11: Manitowoc Conference Notes, Madison Conference Notes, 1866: Includes 90:11
Folder 12: Highland Prairie Conference, Decorah Conference, 1865: Includes 90:8
Folder 13: Painted Creek Conference Meeting Notes, 5 October 1864: Includes 90:8
Folder 14: Whitewater Eastern District Conference Proceedings, October 1869: Includes 90:21
Folder 15: Western District Conference Proceedings, 1868-1869: Includes 90:17
Item 1: Eastern District Conference Journal of Notes, 1874-1877: Includes 90:39