Reusch, Richard Gustavovich. Papers of Rev. Dr. Richard Reusch, 1891-1995.LCA Collection 211
Reusch, Richard Gustavovich. Papers of Rev. Dr. Richard Reusch, 1891-1995. LCA Collection 211. 3 Records Center Cartons, 1 ½ Hollinger boxes, and 1 oversize folder.
ABSTRACT:
The Richard Reusch collection contains correspondence, publications, photographs, and ephemera. The majority of the collection consists of sermons, lectures, and manuscripts written by Reusch. Many of the materials are written in different languages, such as German, Russian, and Maasai. These papers reflect the fascinating life of Reusch who was born in Russia, served as a missionary in Africa, and became a religion professor at Gustavus Adolphus College.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:
Gustave Otto Richard Reusch (known as Richard) was born in the Volga German colony of Bettinger (Baratayevka) in the Samara region of Russia on 31 October 1891. His family moved to Pyatigorsk in the Northern Caucasus in 1897, and then to Vladikavkaz in 1904. He was sent to live at the Imperial Cadet Corps in Tiblisi and attended a military high school. Reusch eventually became a Cossack officer in 1911 serving on the Persian border, but he left his military duty to pursue a theology degree at the Imperial University of Dorpat (Tartu), Estonia. He graduated during 1916 and was ordained on Easter 1917. One year later, Reusch fought against the Bolsheviks rising to power in Russia and escaped to Germany.
In 1921, Reusch became a missionary for the British, and by 1923, he was working with the Augustana Synod. While in the Tanganyika territory he climbed Kilimanjaro’s Kibo peak a rumored fifty times, and founded the East African Mountain Club. He is also known for his heroism against “man-eating lions,” getting struck by lightning, and escaping from various sticky situations. Reusch married Elveda Aurora Bonander on 11 December 1927 in Marangu, Tanganyika. They had three daughters: Betty Ruth (Reusch) Anderson (24 September 1929), Ingrid Eleanor (Reusch) Hoerler (19 June 1931), and Dagmar Evelyn (Reusch) Philbrook (27 October 1932). He was accepted into the Augustana Minesterium in 1938.
Reusch began teaching at Gustavus Adolphus College in 1947, and Augustana Theological Seminary awarded him an honorary doctorate degree during May 1948. In 1948 he was granted U.S. citizenship, and served another missionary term with the Maasai people in Tanganyika. During 1954, Reusch returned to Gustavus, and after 1963, he taught as an emeritus associate professor. Reusch died of cancer in 1975 and was buried at Stacy, Minnesota.
*Some material taken from Daniel H. Johnson’s presentation, Rev. Dr. Gustavovich Reusch (1891-1975).
SCOPE AND CONTENT:
The Richard Reusch collection is divided into seven series: Africa Materials, Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Gustavus Materials, Publications, Sermons and Lectures, and Miscellaneous.
- Africa Materials, 1928-1956 and undated: consists of sermons given by Reusch during his missionary efforts in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). It also holds various other materials in the Maasai language.
- Biographical Materials, 1930-1995 and undated: contains various materials documenting Reusch’s life.
- Correspondence, 1906-1979 and undated: includes incoming correspondence from throughout Reusch’s career as a pastor, missionary, and professor.
- Gustavus Materials, 1947-1963 and undated: consists of class schedules, records, syllabi, and exams from Reusch’s time teaching religion at Gustavus Adolphus College
- Publications, 1920s-1976 and undated: holds publications and manuscripts written by Reusch, newspaper clippings, as well as various other booklets and articles that he collected.
- Sermons and Lectures, 1916-1974 and undated: contains typed and written sermons and lectures created by Reusch. Some materials are incomplete, and some are written in foreign languages.
- Miscellaneous, 1891-1979 and undated: consists of photographs, postcards, bulletins, and various ephemera.
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:
Reusch, Richard Gustavovich. Papers of Rev. Dr. Richard Reusch, 1891-1995. LCA Collection 211. Gustavus Adolphus College, Lutheran Church Archives, St. Peter, Minnesota.
PROCESSED BY:
Lacie Micek, student worker, processed this collection and developed the finding aid during May 2014.
RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THE ARCHIVES:
Johnson, Daniel H. Research Materials forLoyalty: A Biography of Richard Gustavovich Reuschby Daniel H. Johnson, 1994-1997. LCA Collection 208.
SUBJECT HEADINGS:
Reusch, Richard, 1891-1975. (Gustav Otto Richard Reusch).
Gustavus Adolphus College -- Faculty.
Missionaries -- Africa -- Tanzania.
Missionaries -- Biography.
Lutherans, Russian German -- Biography.
Lutheran Church -- Clergy -- Biography.
LCA Collection 211 |
Box |
Folder |
Africa Materials, 1928-1956 and undated |
||
Manuscripts, English, 1949 and undated |
3 |
1 |
Materials, Maasai Language, 1949 and undated |
3 |
2 |
Manuscripts, Non-English, undated (1 of 2) |
3 |
4 |
Manuscripts, Non-English, undated (2 of 2) |
3 |
5 |
Memorandum on Female Circumcision, 1931 |
3 |
3 |
Publications, 1953-54 |
1 |
1 |
Reports from Various Organizations, 1928, 1950-56, and undated |
3 |
6 |
Sermon Fragments, 1941-47 and undated |
3 |
7 |
Sermons, 1943-52 and undated |
3 |
8 |
Biographical Materials, 1930-1995 and undated |
||
Memorial Materials, 1975-76 |
1 |
2 |
News Articles, 1930-95 and undated |
3 |
9 |
Various Biographies, 1986, 1994-95, and undated |
3 |
10 |
Correspondence, 1906-1979 and undated |
||
Correspondence, 1927-39 |
3 |
11 |
Correspondence, 1940-49 |
3 |
12 |
Correspondence, 1950-59 |
3 |
13 |
Correspondence, 1960-69 |
1 |
3 |
Correspondence, 1970-79 |
3 |
14 |
Correspondence, Non-English, 1906, 1914, 1921-23, 1931-38, 1947-75, and undated |
3 |
15 |
Correspondence, Non-English, undated |
1 |
4 |
Correspondence, North Branch Elementary School, Thank You Letters, 1969 |
1 |
5 |
Correspondence, undated |
1 |
6 |
Correspondence with Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1933 |
1 |
7 |
Decorated Letter from the Teachers’ Training Scholl in Marangu, Tanzania, 21 May 1938 |
Map Case |
-- |
Gustavus Materials, 1947-1963 and undated |
||
Class Records, 1963 and undated |
1 |
8 |
Class Schedules, 1963 and undated |
1 |
9 |
Faculty Information, 1947-60 and undated |
1 |
10 |
Proposed Syllabi, undated |
1 |
11 |
Religion Exams and Papers, 1960 and undated |
3 |
16 |
Publications, 1920s-1976 and undated |
||
“And Let the Stones Speak,” undated |
3 |
17 |
Articles written by Emeroy Johnson, 1975-76 |
1 |
12 |
Books, Non-English, 1952-54 and undated
|
1 |
17 |
Der Zeitgeschichtliche Hintergrund von Micha IV und V, c. 1920s |
1 |
13 |
Feedback on Manuscripts, 1939 and undated |
3 |
18 |
History of East Africa, 1961 |
1 |
14 |
Manuscript Fragments, undated (1 of 2) |
3 |
19 |
Manuscript Fragments, undated (2 of 2) |
3 |
20 |
Manuscripts, 1974 and undated |
1 |
15 |
Manuscripts, Non-English, undated |
3 |
21 |
Manuscripts, undated (1 of 3) |
3 |
22 |
Manuscripts, undated (2 of 3) |
4 |
1 |
Manuscripts, undated (3 of 3) |
1 |
16 |
World Religions, 1955 |
1 |
18 |
World Religions, Copyright Certificate, 1955 |
1 |
19 |
Sermons and Lectures, 1916-1974 and undated |
||
Lecture Fragments, undated (1 of 2) |
4 |
2 |
Lecture Fragments, undated (2 of 2) |
1 |
20 |
Lectures, undated (1 of 4) |
4 |
3 |
Lectures, undated (2 of 4) |
4 |
4 |
Lectures, undated (3 of 4) |
4 |
5 |
Lectures, undated (4 of 4) |
1 |
21 |
Sermon Fragments, undated (1 of 2) |
4 |
7 |
Sermon Fragments, undated (2 of 2) |
1 |
24 |
Sermons, Non-English, 1916-18 |
1 |
22 |
Sermons, 1947-48, 1954-60, and 1967-74 |
1 |
25 |
Sermons, undated (1 of 11) |
5 |
1 |
Sermons, undated (2 of 11) |
5 |
2 |
Sermons, undated (3 of 11) |
5 |
3 |
Sermons, undated (4 of 11) |
1 |
26 |
Sermons, undated (5 of 11) |
1 |
27 |
Sermons, undated (6 of 11) |
2 |
1 |
Sermons, undated (7 of 11) |
2 |
2 |
Sermons, undated (8 of 11) |
2 |
3 |
Sermons, undated (9 of 11) |
2 |
4 |
Sermons, undated (10 of 11) |
2 |
5 |
Sermons, undated (11 of 11) |
2 |
6 |
Sermons and Lectures, Non-English, undated (1 of 2) |
4 |
6 |
Sermons and Lectures, Non-English, undated (2 of 2) |
1 |
23 |
Miscellaneous, 1891-1979 and undated |
||
Appointment Books, 1954-67 and undated |
2 |
7 |
Booklets, 1920-48 |
2 |
8 |
Booklets, 1954-72 |
2 |
9 |
Booklets, undated |
2 |
10 |
Bulletins, 1956-75 and undated |
2 |
11 |
Business Cards, 1950-68 and undated |
2 |
12 |
Certificates and Licenses, 1928-63 |
3 |
23 |
Doctor of Divinity Diploma from Augustana Seminary, 31 May 1948 |
Map Case |
-- |
Elveda Reusch Materials, 1938, 1949-53, and undated |
2 |
13 |
Ephemera, 1928, 1952, 1965, and undated |
2 |
14 |
Important Documents, 1891 and 1916-44 (including identity and travel documents) |
4 |
8 |
Passports, 1937, 1941-42, 1963, and 1971 |
2 |
15 |
Miscellaneous, 1969, 1979, and undated |
4 |
8 |
Photographs and Negatives, 1918, 1947-74, and undated |
2 |
16 |
Pocket Bibles and Dictionary, 1907, 1918, and undated |
2 |
17 |
Postcards, 1926-74 and undated |
2 |
18 |
Sunday School Class Records, undated |
2 |
19 |
Reports, St. Croix District, 1968-70 |
2 |
20 |
Reports, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1967-69 |
2 |
21 |