Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Collection of the Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1920-1975.LCA Collection 169
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Collection of the Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1920-1975. LCA Collection 169. 1 Records Center Carton and 2 ½ Hollinger boxes.
ABSTRACT:
The Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary collection contains constitutions, evaluations, financial reports, publications, rules, correspondence, building and property materials, Board of Directors minutes, handouts, and correspondence, institute and seminar information, programs and awards. The Seminary was officially started in 1920, though this collection includes some materials that pre-date its official beginnings. Northwest Seminary began in Chicago, Illinois; then moved to Fargo, North Dakota; then to South Minneapolis, Minnesota; then to North Minneapolis, Minnesota; and finally to St. Paul, Minnesota, where it merged with Luther Seminary in 1976.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
The Chicago Lutheran Divinity School opened in Chicago on 14 October 1920 as an “ad interim” school. This occurred after the Synod of the Northwest of the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) ran into administrative problems with the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary in Maywood, Illinois. The seminary had been relied upon to provide ministers for the Church. During a June 1921 Synod meeting it was resolved to create a new Seminary run by the Synod of the Northwest, and to cut ties with the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary.1
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary opened in Fargo, North Dakota on 6 October 1921. In June 1922 the Synod resolved to move the Seminary to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was believed the Seminary could reach more members of the church. Subsequently, the school opened in North Minneapolis on 5 October 1922. Northwestern Seminary moved to a new location in South Minneapolis in 1940, where it stayed until 1967. 1
Many different Lutheran synods ran seminaries of their own throughout the United States. When several synods joined together to form the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1962, they began discussing the possibility of merging existing seminaries, especially when multiple schools existed in a given city. In 1967 Northwestern Seminary began sharing a physical location with Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the 1962 merger, Northwestern Seminary came under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota and Red River Valley synods.2
The two seminaries functionally unified in 1976 by creating a single administration. On 1 July 1982 they established a single seminary named Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was created by merging three national Lutheran bodies on 1 January 1988. The ELCA became the new governing body for the seminary. On 1 July 1994 the name was truncated to Luther Seminary.2
1The Story of the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Northwest, 1891-1941 by Paul Hoerlein Roth.
2 Luther Seminary Wikipedia page, 8 April 2013, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_Lutheran_Theological_Seminary).
SCOPE AND CONTENT:
This collection is divided into six series: Administration; Board of Directors; Convocations, Institutes, and Seminars; Student Body; Merger; and Miscellaneous.
Administration, 1886-1973 includes studies, constitutions, catalogs, financial reports, histories, publications, correspondence, and materials regarding buildings and property. This series contains two sub-series.
Correspondence, 1927-1972 consists of correspondence to and from the seminary, mostly with mission and higher education boards of the United Lutheran Church in America, and the Lutheran Church in America.
Buildings, Property, and Insurance, 1886-1970 contains titles, insurance policies and correspondence, and House and Property Committee materials.
Board of Directors, 1957-1975 holds minutes, handouts, correspondence, committee materials, and reports to and/or from the Seminary’s Board of Directors.
Convocations, Institutes, and Seminars, 1953-1971 has materials related to different events attended by students and faculty of the Seminary.
Student Body, 1911-1962 is composed of materials related to the Seminary students, such as publications, minutes, correspondence, constitutions, and financial materials.
Merger, 1959-1964 consists of correspondence, committee matierals, and studies regarding the merging of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary and Luther Theological Seminary.
Miscellaneous, 1929-1971 contains photographs, programs, awards, certificates, a guestbook, and a research paper comparing Lutheran seminaries.
RESTRICTIONS:
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Lutheran Church Archives, the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, and Gustavus Adolphus College.
COLLECTION CITATION:
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Collection of the Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1920-1975. LCA Collection 169. Gustavus Adolphus College, Lutheran Church Archives, St. Peter, Minnesota.
ACQUISITION:
The bulk of this collection was transferred to the Archives by the Minnesota Synod.
LeRoy Erlandson donated part of this collection during 2006.
PROCESSED BY:
Adrianna Darden processed this collection and developed the finding aid during March 2013.
SUBJECT HEADINGS:
Chicago Lutheran Divinity School (Chicago, IL).
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary (Fargo, ND).
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary (Minneapolis, MN).
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN).
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN).
Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN)
United Lutheran Church in America. English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Northwest.
Lutheran Church in America. Minnesota Synod.
Lutheran Church in America. Red River Valley Synod.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Region 3. Saint Paul Area Synod.
LCA Collection 169 |
Box |
Folder |
Administration, 1886-1973 |
||
An Evaluation Study of the Seminaries of the United Lutheran Church in America, c. 1958-59 |
1 |
1 |
ATLA (American Theological Library Association) Library Development Program, 1961-66 |
1 |
2 |
Catalog, 1946 and Promotional Mailing, 1940s |
1 |
3 |
Constitution, 1971 and undated |
1 |
4 |
Financial, Reports, 1941, 1961, 1966-69, and undated |
1 |
5 |
Financial, Monthly Reports, August 1955 and January 1957-December 1959 |
1 |
6 |
Financial, Monthly Reports, January 1960-April 1963 |
1 |
7 |
History of Northwestern Seminary, undated |
1 |
8 |
Luther–Northwestern Self-Study Affirmations, Descriptive Phase, 1975 |
1 |
9 |
Northwestern Seminary Bulletin, c. 1921, April 1940, January, April, and July 1955, and July 1962 |
1 |
10 |
The Practical Pastoral Training Program, undated |
1 |
11 |
Procedures for Placement of Graduates, 1962 and undated |
1 |
12 |
Report of the Feasibility Study Conducted for Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary by LLM Fund-raising and Counseling Service, 1973 |
1 |
13 |
Report of Visitors Under the Sponsorship of the American Association of Theological Schools, 1961 |
1 |
14 |
Seminary Rules, undated |
1 |
15 |
Staff and Student Directories, undated |
1 |
16 |
Women’s Auxiliary, 1940s |
1 |
17 |
Correspondence, 1927-1972 |
||
Correspondence, 1927-28, 1940-46, 1962, and undated |
1 |
18 |
Correspondence and Research Regarding Mature Students, 1957 |
1 |
19 |
With the Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1958-February 1962 |
1 |
20 |
With the Board of American Missions of the Lutheran Church in America, October 1962-1972 |
1 |
21 |
With the Board of Higher Education of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1956-59 |
1 |
22 |
With the Board of Higher Education of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1960-May 1962 |
1 |
23 |
With the Board of Theological Education of the Lutheran Church in America, June 1962-1964 |
1 |
24 |
With the Board of Theological Education of the Lutheran Church in America, 1965-66 |
1 |
25 |
With the Board of Theological Education of the Lutheran Church in America, 1967-68 |
1 |
26 |
With the Board of Theological Education of the Lutheran Church in America, 1969 |
1 |
27 |
With the Board of Theological Education of the Lutheran Church in America, 1970-72 |
1 |
28 |
Buildings, Property, and Insurance, 1886-1970 |
||
Abstract of Title for Lots on Block 2 of Walker’s Addition, situated at 1912 Fremont Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1886-1956 |
4 |
1 |
Correspondence with Architects, 1959-62 |
1 |
29 |
House and Property Committee, undated |
1 |
30 |
Insurance Correspondence, 1943-49 |
1 |
31 |
Insurance Correspondence, 1950-59 |
1 |
32 |
Insurance Correspondence, 1960-67 and undated |
1 |
33 |
Insurance Policies and Inspection Reports, 1951-70 and undated |
4 |
2 |
Pillsbury Property, Correspondence, Fundraiser Mailing, and Purchase Agreement, 1939, 1952-53, and undated |
4 |
3 |
Board of Directors, 1957-1975 |
||
Instruction and Honors Committee, 1957-61 and undated |
1 |
34 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1935-60 |
1 |
35 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1961-62 |
1 |
36 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1963-64 |
1 |
37 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1965-69 |
1 |
38 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1970-72 |
1 |
39 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1973 |
1 |
40 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, 1974 |
4 |
4 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, January 1975 |
4 |
5 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, February-April 1975 |
1 |
41 |
Minutes, Handouts, and Correspondence, May-December 1975 |
1 |
42 |
[Self-Study Report, 1969] |
1 |
43 |
Convocations, Institutes, and Seminars, 1953-1971 |
||
“Effective Leadership in the Ministry” Seminar by Richard Swanson, 1969-71 |
2 |
1 |
Pastors’ Institute, 1961-64 |
2 |
2 |
Pastors’ Institute, 1965-70 |
2 |
3 |
Seminar on Aspects of the Ministry of the Church in Contemporary Society, 1961-62 |
2 |
4 |
Student–Pastor Convocations, 1953-63 |
2 |
5 |
Student–Pastor Convocations, 1964-66 |
2 |
6 |
Washington Seminar for Lutheran Students, 1958-61 |
2 |
7 |
Student Body, 1911-1962 |
||
The Northwestern Lutheran: A Student Theological Journal, December 1956 and May 1957 |
2 |
8 |
Boarding Club Minute Book (Vol. 1 of 2), 1911-50 |
2 |
9 |
Correspondence, 1959-62 |
3 |
1 |
Meeting Agendas, Reports, and Constitutions, 1959-61 |
3 |
2 |
Minute Book (Vol. 2 of 2), 1950-61 |
3 |
3 |
Treasurer’s Book, 1948-55 |
3 |
4 |
Merger, 1959-1964 |
||
General File, 1959-62 |
3 |
5 |
“A History of Consolidation Proceedings between Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary and Luther Seminar,” undated |
3 |
6 |
Joint Commission on Lutheran Unity (JCLU), 1959-62 |
3 |
7 |
Interseminary Committee, 1960-61 |
3 |
8 |
Relations with Other Seminaries, 1959-64 |
3 |
9 |
Miscellaneous, 1929-1971 |
||
“A Comparison of Lutheran Seminaries” Research Paper by John F. Roth, 19 February 1958 |
3 |
10 |
Athletic Awards, undated |
3 |
11 |
Dedication Greetings Certificates, 8 October 1967 |
3 |
12 |
Guestbook, June 1970-October 1971 |
3 |
13 |
Photographs, 1954-62 and undated |
1 |
44 |
Programs, Christmas Part, undated |
3 |
14 |
Programs, Commencement, 1929, 1931-35, 1938, 1940, 1942-44, 1955-56, and 1966 |
3 |
15 |