Augsburg College - Augsburgian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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♦ ♦ loss loosely connected with “Marshall Academy.” In the fall of 1870 it was separated from that institution, and during the summer of 1872 it was moved to Minneapolis. A preparatory curriculum has been maintained from the beginning, consisting at first of a one-year course, but later on devel- oped and enlarged into complete Academic and College Departments. The beginning was quite insignificant; the congregations supporting the school were neither large nor numerous. Dissensions which arose in con- nection with the organization of the Xorwegian-Danish Conference in 1870 made the existence of the new school very precarious and its work difficult. Hence it was no wonder that “when Professor Wecnaas, who was then president, could, in 1872. move his school of nineteen students into a new and commodious building in Minneapolis, the rejoicing was general.” The removal to Minneapolis marks a turning-point in the history of ugsburg Seminary. It was thru the efforts of Rev. Ole Paulson, at that time pastor of Trinity congregation in Minneapolis, that the seminary secured its new home, and he is therefore rightly regarded as one of the greatest benefactors of the school. The subsequent years have been full of struggles, but also full of bless- ings. Often attacked by enemies, and not always as unitedly and strongly supported by its friends as might have been desired, the school has not always had a calm course. Nevertheless it has tried to serve the Kingdom of God and to fulfill the mission of its calling. Professor August Wecnaas, the founder of Augsburg Seminary and its lirst president, will always deserve to be remembered as a man who faith- fully and with great courage laid the foundation of the oldest divinity school among Norwegian immigrants in America and carried the school thru the difficulties of the early years of its existence. But the men who were the greatest factors in the development of Augsburg Seminary, and to whom the school owes the most, are the late Professors George Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal. They were instruments in God’s hand to carry the school thru innumerable trials and difficulties for over thirty years. Augsburg Seminary was incorporated in the year of 1872. the following persons being the incorporators and members of the first Board of Trustees: Rev. T. 11. Dahl, Rev. Anion Johnson. Mr. Knut Olsen. Rev. O. Paulson, and Mr. A. Tharaldsen. In all. twenty-eight persons have from time to time served on the Board of Trustees, the most prominent of the older members being Prof. Sven Oftedal and Rev. Ole Paulson. The five members now serving as trustees are: Mr. Otto Hanson (1901—), Rev. E. E. Gynild (1907—), Mr. Knut Flaa (1909—), Rev. K. B. Birkcland (1911—) and Dr. G. M. Roan (1919—). The school owns one city block, with the exception of two lots, situated between 21st and 22nd Avenues, and 7th and 8th Streets South. On this site five buildings have been erected. The first of these was the old Main Build- ing. the west wing of which was erected in 1871-72. while the central part l AGE SIXTEEN

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Historical. RKV. SVKN OFTKDAL UKV. GKOR(.S SVERDRUP AUGSBURG SKMIXARY. the divinity school of the Lutheran Free Church, founded in 1869. celebrated in 1919 its semi-centennial anni- versary. It is the oldest Norwegian Lutheran school of its kind in America. From its foundation until 1890 it was the Theological Seminary of the Norwegian-1 )anish Conference, and from 1890 until 1893 it served as the divinity school of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. Since the latter date it has been connected with the Lutheran Free Church movement. For several years prior to 1869 the Scandinavian Augustana Synod had maintained a Theological Seminary at Paxton. Illinois. This institution served both the Swedish and the Norwegian churches of that Synod as a union seminary. 'The founding of Augsburg Seminary was the result of a mutual agreement to divide the Paxton school and to establish a separate institution to serve the Norwegian congregations, as it was quite evident that the interests of the Norwegian branch of the Augustana Synod would in that way be served to greater advantage. Augsburg Seminary commenced its work in September. 1869, at Mar- shall. a small village in Dane County. W isconsin, and was at first more or l'AGK KIFTKKX

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 and east wing were erected in 1874-75. The building is 60x120 feet in dimen- sions, with the wings three and the center four stories high, and basement under part of the structure. I'ntil 1602. when the new building was occupied, the old Main served partly for school purposes and partly as dormitory for the students. It was then remodeled and has since been used exclusively for student rooms and boarding club, while the ground floor of the west wing has been arranged for family apartments. The construction is frame and brick veneer. A professors’ residence, accommodating three families, was erected in 1874. and in 1884 a dormitory, three stories high and of frame construction, was erected. The ground floor was for several years used for class rooms and a book store. After being remodeled in 1(H)2. it has been used ex- clusively as a dormitory. In 1888. another professors’ residence, accommodating two families, was built. Like the old Main Building, this is also of frame and brick veneer construction. In 1601 a new and commodious school building was erected. It is of light brown brick and has a very pleasing appearance. The dimensions are 68x108 feet, two stories and basement. Besides class and lecture rooms there are the necessary offices, chapel, gymnasium, library and reading rooms, museum, and laboratory. The central heat- ing plant, which serves all the buildings of the Seminary, is also located in this building. The value of the property, including grounds, buildings, and equipment, may be conservatively placed at about $135,000. An endowment fund was started in 1877 and brought up to about $52,000. This fund was. by mutual agreement, surrendered to the I’nited Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1898. A few years ago a new endowment fund was started, which now amounts to $47.(XX). During the fifty years of its existence Augsburg Seminary has had a large number of professors and instructors, many of whom have, however, served for a short time only, or as substitutes during vacancies. 'The follow- ing list contains only the names of those regularly appointed: In the Theological Department: August Weenaas (1869-76), Sven Ofte- dal (1873-1904), S. R. Gunnersen (1874-83). Georg Sverdrup (1874-1607 , B. B. Gjeldaker (1876-77). M. O. Bdckman (1890-93). F. A. Schmidt (1890-93), E. G. Lund (1891-93), H. A. Urseth (1899-1909), Andreas Holland (1905—). George Sverdrup (1908—), J. O. Evjen (1909—). E. P. Harbo (1909—). Lars RKV. OLE PAULSON PAGE SEVENTEEN