Old Main, dated 1900, was built for Augsburg Seminary, the seminary of the Conference for the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, commonly called ""the Conference."" In 1897, after the ""Augsburg Controversy,"" Augsburg Seminary and its supporters formed a new church body called the Lutheran Free Church. Augsburg Seminary and the Lutheran Free Church maintained autonomous existence until 1963 when the church merged into the American Lutheran Church. At that time Augsburg Seminary was merged into Luther Theological Seminary. Ironically, Luther Theological Seminary was the successor to the school formed by the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1893 during the ""Augsburg Controversy."" The four-year college department that remained at this site became Augsburg College. This recent photograph was taken to show Main after a major restoration project returned the building to its original splendour. Back of photograph reads: Augsburg Seminary, Lutheran Free Church until 1963, then w/LTS.
This Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary building was a mansion located at Stevens Avenue and East 24th Street in Minneapolis and was named for the first president of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Joseph Stump. Stump Hall functioned as a single student dormitory and had its own on-site boarding club, in which students shared responsibilities for meals. Back of photograph reads: Stump Hall, Stevens Ave. @ 24th Str., Mpls.
This is a photograph of a residence hall of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. The seminary continued to acquire property as it grew, but by the late 1950s it was clear that another expansion would be necessary. The seminary's ""parent church,"" the United Lutheran Church in America, continued to increase in membership. Eventually Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary's expansion came on the campus of Luther Seminary in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood in St. Paul. In 1955, Luther Seminary purchased the site of the Breck School, an Episcopalian preparatory school, that stood near Luther Seminary. The invitation for Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary to move to this site came several years later, with the actual move happening in 1967. Back of photograph reads: NLTS residence #2404.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary's Reed Hall was named for Harry Bertram Reed, first professor of Old Testament at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Reed Hall served as an apartment building for married students. The seminary remained well supported by the Northwest Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America during the 1950s, the years of its greatest growth. This was also the period of greatest membership increase for the United Lutheran Church in America, the ""parent church"" of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Back of photograph reads: NLTS, Reed Hall, Residence.
Jensen Hall, which included the Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary library, was named for J.K. Jensen, long-time treasurer of the seminary and of the Synod of the Northwest. This mansion, the Alfred Pillsbury family home, was acquired in a second round of property purchases in the South Minneapolis area near the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary now had several buildings in the same area, thus creating a more integrated, cohesive campus. Back of photograph reads: Jensen Hall Library
This Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary building was named for Dr. G. H. (George Henry) Gerberding, first president of the Northwest Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America and one of the four original Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary professors to leave Maywood Seminary, Chicago, in 1920. Gerberding Hall had been one of the Crosby family homes. The Crosby family was involved in the Minneapolis milling industry. Back of photograph reads: Gerberding Hall, late 50's, NLTS residence, [photo] #14.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary was justly proud of its music and arts program including its choral activities. The choir recorded albums and toured regularly. Pictured conducting is Robert Paul Wetzler, director of the choir and noted sacred music composer and publisher. Later, Kathryn Ulvilden Moen, a professionally trained organist and choir director, would take on this dual role with great success. Back of photograph reads: Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary Choir, Minneapolis, Robert Paul Wetzler, director, Ray Hanson, manager.
The daily chapel service at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary was held in the former dining room and solarium of Passavant Hall, the past residence of the Charles Pillsbury family. In keeping with the rest of the Tudor style home, the refurbished chapel retained the original paneling, stained glass, and plank flooring. Seminary students of the period (1940-1967) remember fondly the beauty and uniqueness of these spaces. Back of photograph reads: NLTS chapel at S. Mpls site ca. 1960.
Two presidents of Luther Theological Seminary, Alvin N. Rogness (1954-1974) on the left and T.F. (Thaddaeus Franke) Gullixson (1930-1954) are observing Fredrik A. Schiotz plant a seedling on the campus of Luther Theological Seminary in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul. Fredrik A. Schiotz was the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1954 to 1960. Back of photograph reads: Education, College & Sem, Luther Sem., St. Paul, Minn.
By the late 1930s, Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary had grown, despite the hardships of the Great Depression, and required larger facilities than the Northeast Minneapolis location offered. Fortunately, a group of historic mansions in South Minneapolis, near the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, became available. In 1940, Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary relocated to these homes. Passavant Hall, named for the great Lutheran churchman, W.A. (William Alfred) Passavant, had been the home of the Charles Pillsbury family whose fortune had been made in the milling industry. Back of photograph reads: NLTS, Former Pillsbury Mansion, Passavant Hall, #10, Photo 2 of 8.
In the late 1940s, this second major building was constructed on the Luther Theological Seminary campus to house a library and provide additional classroom and office space. It was later named Gullixson Hall in honor of T.F. (Thaddaeus Franke) Gullixson, president of Luther Theological Seminary, 1930-1954. Back of photograph reads: LTS, Gullixson Hall.
Group photo of adult class inside Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Back notation reads, "First adult class - Our Savior's Church, Moorhead. Dec. 14, 1947. 32 in class - one is absent."
In the years following World War II, great numbers of men enrolled in Luther Theological Seminary seeking to become pastors in the Lutheran Church. This panoramic photograph includes both students and faculty with most of the seminary faculty seated in the center of the front row. The group was posed in front of the new library and classroom building that was in the midst of construction. This building was later named Gullixson Hall in honor of T.F. (Thaddaeus Franke) Gullixson, president of Luther Theological Seminary, 1930-1954.
Luther Theological Seminary Professor Emeritus Gustav Marius Bruce, holding the Bible, and Luther Theological Seminary President Thaddaeus Franke Gullixson, with hands on the shovel, are praying at the 1946 groundbreaking ceremony for the new library and classroom building. This building was later named for T.F. Gullixson. Gullixson's background was in the Norwegian Synod and Bruce's was in Hauge's Synod of the Lutheran church. Professor Emeritus Bruce was also a former Second Vice President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Note attached to photograph reads: Dr. T. F. Gullixson and Dr. G. M. Bruce (holding the Bible) at ground breaking ceremonies for the new library-classroom building at Luther seminary. Dr. Bruce is a former professor at Luther seminary and former second vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Wedding ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church. Photograph is from the back of the church showing the wedding group at the altar with painted altar piece and pipe organ. Back labeled, "Wedding of Merton & Irene Strommen; Attendants: Vollie Huglen? and Cordelia Agrimson, sisters of Irene. Luther Strommen, best man. Officiating: Reverend Peter Strommen, left; Reverend Melvin J. Olson. Soloist: Evelyn (Mrs. Paul G.) Sonnack. Pianist and Organist: Sig Skurdarvold.
Children's choir outside of Little Cedar Lutheran Church. Likely taken in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary observations. Handwritten on front of photograph, "Little Cedar Jr. Choir Adams Minn. Oct-12-13-14-1934."
Portrait of church officials and congregation members with a cake celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Little Cedar Lutheran Church. Back of photo labeled: "In front of the church, left to right 1. unknown, 2. unknown, 3. Dr. C.M. Weswig, Luther Seminary Professor, 4. unknown, 5. Rev. Alfred Breivik [Brevig], pastor, Little Cedar Lutheran Church (holding cake), 6. Mrs. Alfred Breivik [Brevig] (behind Rev. Breivik), 7. unknown, 8. unknown, 9. Rev. C.V. Runsvald, former pastor."
Augsburg Seminary was founded in Marshall, Wisconsin, in 1869 by the Scandinavian Augustana Synod to serve the Norwegian churches in that body. The Norwegians split from that body in 1870 and formed two church bodies: the Norwegian Augustana Synod and the Conference for the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, commonly called ""the Conference."" The Conference gained control of Augsburg Seminary and moved it to Minneapolis in 1872 to a site near the University of Minnesota. The original structure was destroyed by fire and the structure shown here was erected around 1900. This photo appears in the booklet: ""Many members one body"" published for the Lutheran Intersynodical Seminary Conference, Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 27-29, 1931.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary sponsored these occasional days (""Skip Days"") as times when classes would not be held and students, faculty, and staff could enjoy relaxing times together.
This is the main building of Luther Theological Seminary. It was later named Bockman Hall in honor of M.O. (Markus Olaus) Bockman, president of Luther Theological Seminary, 1917-1930. This one building contained dorms, classrooms, faculty offices, a chapel, and a gym. In 1917, three Norwegian Lutheran church bodies, the United Church, the Norwegian Synod, and Hauge's Synod united to form the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Old theological differences on the doctrine of election (predestination) were smoothed over in a document known as the ""Opgor"" (""Agreement""). The seminaries of the three church bodies, the United Church Seminary, Luther Seminary (Hamline Ave., St. Paul), and the Red Wing Seminary, were merged to form Luther Theological Seminary on the United Church Seminary campus on Como Avenue in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood in St. Paul.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary prided itself on the close relationship fostered between faculty and students. Its relatively small size assisted in building this institutional culture. This photograph depicts ""Skip Day,"" a time for fun and recreation that included the entire seminary community. Dr. Joseph Stump and Ellis Jensen are playing a game of chess while others look on. In 1930, Northwestern (as it was more commonly known) was housed in one large building at 1018 19th Avenue North East, Minneapolis. Back of photograph reads: Dr. Stump and Ellis Jensen play chess, Skip Day 1930.
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary prided itself on the close relationship fostered between faculty and students. Its relatively small size assisted in building this institutional culture. This group photograph includes faculty, students, staff, and family members at ""Skip Day"", 1930. In the center row, two professors surround the young boy: Professor J. H. (Jonas H.) Dressler is to the left; Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary President and Professor P. H. (Paul Hoerlein) Roth is to the right. Back of photograph reads: ""Skip Day"" ca. 1930.
This photograph depicts two men shoveling snow at the main building of Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1018 19th Avenue North East, Minneapolis. This was the seminary's location from 1922-1940. Back of photograph reads: Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1018-19th Ave. NE 1929.
Professional portrait of newly remodeled church exterior. Back labeled, "St Olaf Lutheran church Emerson and 29th Avenue North. 50th anniversary Monday and Tuesday."