Augustana College - Rockety I Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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3B.e '.P ,.T'T. 7T'f . lilh..iY.'. . ,i--A Q.- V' . l THE PRESIDEIXITS GF AUGUSTAIXIA Rev. Lars paul Esbjorn C1808-18705 The first Augustana president was born in Helsingland, northern Sweden in 1808. At an early age the boy showed an eagerness for study when attending the gymnasium at Gefle. His special interests there in- cluded mathematics, science, astronomy and navigation. After graduation from Gede, Esbjorn entered the University of Upsala, and at 241, he was ordained as a minister. During the following three years we find him as the assistant pastor of the parish of Ostra VVahla in the province of Uppland. Following this he became the chaplain of a large manufacturing establishment, and later a school-teacher in the parish of Hille for fourteen years. During these years in Sweden, Rev. Esbjtirn was an ardent and aggressive worker for the cause of tem- perance. His great activity for this movement aroused enmity among certain factions. VVe find that the great spiritual revival was taking place in Sweden in the 30's, and Dr. Esbjorn became imbued with the spirit of this movement, having held pietistic views despite opposition. ' In 1849 a group of 150 people decided to charter a vessel and sail for America to make their home. At the request of the Swedish Mission, Society, Rev, Esbjorn followed the emigrants in order to look after their spiritualneeds in the new country. They decided to settle in Andover, Henry County, Illinois. There fol- lowed a period of hardship due to the cholera epidemic, economic difficulties, as well as to the scattered and unsegregated state of the Swedish people in America. In spite of the hardships, the minister organized church- es in Galesburg, Moline, Henderson, and Princeton, acting as the visiting pastor. His parish extended over about fifty miles at this time. Rev. Esbjtirn undertook the responsibility of obtaining funds for church buildings, and through his ef- forts, a sum of 552,200 was realized of which 81,500 was contributed by Jenny Lind. The churches at Andover and at Moline were built by this fund. Rev. Esbjiirn remained at Andover until 1856, after which he served the pastorate at Princeton for two years. In 1858, Rev. Esbjiirn was elected professor of theological subjects, Swedish language'and literature, mathematics, and science at Springfield. In 1860 he resigned and left for Chicago. The Conference at Chicago decided to establish an independent Scandinavian Lutheran body which was the beginning of the Augustana Synod. The Lutheran Seminary was opened in Chicago with Esbjorn as the first president, and professor. He was profoundly interested in the sciences, particularly astronomy, phy- sics, and chemistry, and labored diligently for the founding of the school and Synod. Rev. Esbjorn returned to Sweden in 1863 as the pastor of the parish at Ostra Vahla, where he lived until his death in 1870, beloved and respected. i Rev. Tufve Nilsson l-lasselquist, D. D. C1816-18915 Tufve Nilsson Hasselquist was born on March 2, 1816, in the parish of Ousby, in the province of Scania. His life as a student at Kristianstad and Lund was marked by ambition, but little pecuniary backing. He completed his theological studies and was ordained in the State Church of Sweden, following which he served in the parishes of Efverlop and Glemminge. He was influenced by the religious awakening , showing early a pietistic tendency. Hasselquist was active in the temperance movement, touring the country and speaking for the cause. In 1852 a call was extended to him from the congregation at Galesburg, Illinois. Rev. Hasselquist ac- cepted the call although he knew that it would mean hardship and suffering. Indeed, the conditions were un- fortunate, for the Swedes were poor, there was no church building, and many of the settlers had embraced other faiths. Despite these facts, the congregation increased from a mere handful to 360 members. In 1855 he began the publication of I-Iemlandetn which he planned to be both political and religious. Later he published an entirely religious paper called Ratta Hemlandet , and through these two publications he exerted an inestimable influence. He believed in the separation of church and state, and toleration toward other denominations. He was active in the forming of the Augustana Synod, and in 1863 he succeeded Rev. Esbjorn as president of Augustana College. During the twenty-eight years of his presidency, Dr. Hasselquist led an exemplary life of faith, hope, and love. He was vitally interested in the building up and maintaing of a center of religious education, hav- ing for his ideal the realization of complete American collegef' Through his tireless efforts and ceaselcss labor, Augustana College and Seminary came to be well established. Rev. Hasselquist was the editor of .-lfzzyfustaizrl, the leading religious organ of the Swedish Lutheran Augustana Synod. He remained in his position as president until his death in 1891.

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-SYVQ 'W' W 1' an H X3 v 6' Qi, Qrfif qi 'Q' Alia wie' if 'H' ., , A ,f X V ,eff x -'bf 'mxlp-m.,.,:, ' ff- 5 -if j. .l.a F . taiw - : . 4 -' ' 1, E I QA. T P v m. ' 'M jan --i --,1-.,f5.- , -mg ff 'N' vs 5 1.,. an '. 1 1.17 X l g V, 'I .f ' ' 5577?-V '. ' ' iii' A .- if 1 A li m i , 5. A Riff'-', if i' .. .2-55:5 i 1,5 53 3i. - W ' 5 17- -' . - f fV':.g?fT .- i- H' 'f?. ,:' 4:. ?s t I ee 'i 2 ' .. 5 Ja ,L I -.,,4Qr. -, -,A -3 ...mg . pea... -gi - ,WAT 5315s, S ig ., 3. f H Q 1 E, K Y 1 il -1 . ugh. 5 Q., V 7 K X is I ll lg.: ,ITA If-,ag Y , f- h shag, I. - ,sq , U.. 'I .N -i I A.. I pw F ,. V ...JF L W 1- V,-gh . ,-g V5 .1 U xg, a N, 4' , 1- . 5' V s .-,il il FRE if I . -' 1 . ' E ' ' --if ' 1 .D S' ' 'F , v'. . . --'f-' . , , ...V--- -' , N J- ,A i . .-.. - , .. K .Y .- ,a . - A,-,,, . . 3 - , up . . F , '..J pw' Dv: 'Iv ' ISEH ' The old college building which was completed in 1875 is a good sized brick structure situated on Seventh Avenue. It still contains the Cafeteria, Class Rooms for the Department of Com- merce. In the early days it served for living quarters for both professors and students. The Main Building was completed in 1888. It is a stone structure of pure Renaissance style. It has three stories and basement, containing lecture rooms, the chapel, and Cable Hall, which is so called in memory of P. L. Cable who donated a large sum for the completion of this building. It now also contains the offices of the Dean and of the Registrar. The Denkmann Memorial Library, dedicated in 1911, is a gift of the institution from the sons and daughters of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Denkmann of Rock Island. It is one of the most beautiful Library buildings that any college possesses. The ground floor contains a lecture room, a memorial hall, administration offices, etc. The second floor contains the large main read- ing room extending across the whole front, 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. It also has the present offices of the Library Staff. On the third Hoor is a large room which has been set apart for the Museum and for the collection of books donated by Consul G. N. Swan of Sioux City. The rear of the building consists of Stack-rooms for 100,000 volumes. X ' The two Seminary Buildings were dedicated in 1923 at the time that Archbishop Nathan Soderblom of Sweden visited Augustana. The one building is devoted to instruction, administra- tion, library and worship. The chapel on the second story directly above the library, has a. seat- ing capacity for two hundred people. It has a deep chancel with a large art glass window repre- senting the Ascension of Christ. The organ was installed with means furnished by the students as a memorial to the former dean, Dr. C. E. Lindberg. Of the seven classrooms one has been set aside for the library presented to the institution by the late Professor N. Forsander. The cloister, connecting this building with the dormitory is a Gothic arcade about eleven feet wide with seven arches on the north side. The residence building contains rooms for the students. The social room, in which the students may gather for relaxation and pleasure, has a large fireplace and is very comfortably furnished. There is also a dining room in the south end of the building with seating capacity for ninety persons. The adjoining kitchen is well equipped for the preparation of meals. In the second story is a small suite of rooms set aside for the janitor. The large Gymnasium Building, completed in beginning of 1917, is a one story building with basement, of brick and steel construction, size 90 by 1410 feet. There are ample dressing rooms and locker facilities with a swimming pool 60 by 25. The main assembly hall together with the balcony seats 2,300. Above the balcony is a running track, 1413 laps to the mile. The gym- For concert programs there is a stage nasium is equipped with new and ample paraphernalia. which seats 200 people. A good pipe organ is also installed. Many noted speakers and singers have appeared here and the Synod has met in this place on several occasions. The former VVoman's Building, near the East side of the grounds, has been remodeled for use by the School of Music. Thanks to the interest in our Synod and to the efforts of the VVoman's Missionary Society, supplemented by the Appeal made by the college, a New Woman's Building was erected during 1927-28. The structure is built of Bedford limestone with a roof of black Bangor slate. On the first Hoor is the large living room, -My by 22 feet, and 18 feet high, with large arched windows, at either end of the room is a fireplace. In addition the first floor has of- fice room, cloak rooms, quarters for the Dean of lrvomen, guest rooms and students' rooms. In this building we may house more than a hundred women students. Ericsson Hall is a large residence building located in Ericsson Park. It has for many years been used for Chemistry and Physics Laboratories. The Wallberg Hall of Science is now being completed which is located 250 feet south of the Denkmann Library. We feel happy that this splendid building was erected even during times of depression by the generous testamentary gift of Mr. Emil Wallberg and Miss Marie VVallberg of Toronto, Canada. The dimensions are 4-9 x 115, with excellent classrooms and laboratories for the various departments of Science occupying three stories. There is also a full basement for storage and other purposes and a large attic space. This building will be dedicated at the seventy-fifth anniversary of Augustana College on June 7, 1935. G. A. ANDREEN. 44 :Q .44

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He began his ad- vanced studies at a missionary institute in Stockholm in 1858. In order to prepare himself for work in the foreign mission field he spent two years at Leipsiz, Germany. VVhen his intention was not realized he re- turned to Sweden and graduated from the University at Upsala in 1861. Subsequently, he decided to study theology, and in 1863 he was ordained. During the following six years he labored in the State Church of Sweden. In the year 1869 he came to America with a company of friends who hoped to better their condition in America, settling in central Kansas at Lindsborg. Not only was he an able minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of the pioneer settlers, but we Iind that he was sent to the Kansas legislature, and served two terms in this capacity. In the year 1875 he received a call to become a professor at Augustana College, which he declined. How- ever, in the following year he received a second call which he accepted. Thus for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury, except for a few brief periods, he was connected with this institution. Dr. Olsson took a five months' tour through England, Germany and Bohemia in 18'79.Resigning his position at Augustana in 1888, he as- sumed connection with Bethany College in Kansas. Again in 1889 he visited Europe, and upon his return, ac- cepted a call as the minister of the Lutheran Church at Vfoodhull, Illinois. He was elected the president at Augustana College in 1891, and assumed his duties in this capacity in that year. The Board of Directors decided to confer upon him the Degree of Divinity in 1892. In addition to his educational work, he was busily engaged in writing articles, and was an active contributor to the vari- ous church papers of the Synod. He was distinguished also as the author of various works of great value including: At the Cross , Greeting from Abroad , Christian Hopen, and To Rome and Home Again . As a popular orator he was held in high esteem. His sudden death in May 1900, while acting president of Augustana was a shock to his friends and students. Rev. Gustav Albert Andreen CI 864- D The present head of Augustana College is Reverend Gustav Albert Andreen, Ph.D., R.N.O., D.D. He was born at Porter, Indiana, on March 13, 1864, but received his early education at Swedona, Illinois. At the age of 11, he entered the preparatory department at Augustana, and in six years graduated at the head of his class. Following his graduation in 1881 to 1884, Dr. Andreen was a teacher at Augustana, preparing himself to be a lawyer. In the years 1886 to 1893 he served as a teacher in Bethany College, teaching English, German, and Greek. He decided in 1894 to enter Yale University in order to study for the degree of Doctor of Phil- osophy which he received in 1898. While at Yale, he was instructor in German, and in 1898 he was called to the professorship of Norse and Scandinavian languages and literature at that University. In order to prepare himself for this position, Dr. Andreen spent two years at the University of Upsala, Sweden, and Christiania, Norway, besides making a tour through Germany. Dr. Andreen assumed his new duties at Yale in 1900, and this was the same year that Dr. Olsson, the president of Augustana died. During the following year, Dr. Andreen was unanimously elected president of the college, being installed on October 17, 1901. His far-seeing vision ascertained the needs of the insti- tution, and he began to make provisions for putting the school upon a solid financial basis. He journeyed to Sweden to enlist the sympathy of leading men. The result of the campaign was the subscribing of 120,000 crowns for a professorship at Augustana known as Oscar II, in honor of the King who was among the donors. During the subsequent years, Dr. Andreen has been extremely active in raising endowment funds, a Jubilee Fund , and various campaigns. It is his perseverance and enterprise that have brought to reality the erection of the Auditorium, Theological Seminary, XVomen's Building, and the Denkman Memorial Library. - In 1929, Dr. Andreen and wife made a trip to Europe and the Orient. Although these years have been unusually active, Dr. Andreen has found time to study, read and write. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, national honorary scholastic fraternity. In 1933, he attended summer school at the University of Chicago after which he published the volume, Studies in Lutheran Higher Education , During this year, Dr. Andreen has assumed the task of preparation for the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the founding of Augustana. In connection with the Jubilee, Dr. Andreen has published The Story of Augustana College and Theological Seminary? Vast evidence of his success as a leader is shown through the love and sincere admiration of all students, professors, and friends with whom he has come in contact through the years. 448145,