Augustana College Correspondence, 1898-1974 | Augustana College

This collection is a compilation of correspondence relating to Augustana College.

Gustav Andreen was the fourth president of Augustana College, presiding over the College and Seminary from 1901 until 1935. He was instrumental in creating the College’s first endowment fund, as well as raising money for several new buildings on campus. Andreen was the first American-born president of Augustana, and had a large family spread across the country. He kept in touch with his siblings, wife, and children. He also corresponded with a large number of friends, acquaintances, and professional contacts. [See MSS 4 Gustav Andreen papers for further biographical information]

The Augustana Conservatory of Music was established at Augustana College and Theological Seminary in the fall of 1885. For more than three-quarters of a century, the Conservatory was home to a number of prestigious professors, as well as many talented students. Students could pursue courses in voice, organ, and numerous instruments, much like in the current Department of Music. The Conservatory became the Department of Music in the fall of 1962. [See MSS 230 Conservatory of Music records for more information]

The Office of the Registrar supports several main aspects of a student’s academic career at Augustana College and beyond. Historically, the Office distributed information about the College to prospective students. Staff members assist students who are registering for classes. They also release official transcripts after a student has graduated from the College.

The Campaign for the Expansion of Seminary was an effort to raise $500,000 in order to build a Seminary building on the Augustana College campus. President Andreen headed the effort, and along with several other key members, spread the campaign nationwide to Augustana Synod churches, colleges, and organizations. The campaign was mainly conducted in 1921, and was successful in its efforts.

For many years, there were boards and committees on campus devoted to running the extra-curricular activities at Augustana College. Among those with records in this collection are the Athletic Board of Control, the Board of Control of Campus Activities, the Forensics and Drama Committee, the Lectures and Films Committee, the Publications Board, the Religious Board, and the Social Committee. For most of their existence, these groups were sub-groups to the Board of Control of Campus Activities. [See MSS 52 Social Committee records and MSS 245 Board of Religious Activities records for more information on these groups]

Herbert L. Glynn was a former student and administrator for Augustana College. Glynn graduated from the College with his BA in 1926. He returned to Augustana in 1944 as the director of administrations. Glynn also held posts as the director of admissions and records, the director of field services, assistant to the president, financial aid officer, director of non-academic public events, and research associate. In his role as a research associate (which the papers in this collection pertain to), Glynn conducted historical research in scholarship programs and alumni records. [See vertical file for more information about Glynn]

The Board of Directors functioned as the early version of the Board of Trustees at Augustana College and Theological Seminary. Many of its members were ministers from the Augustana Synod. The Board was in charge of college governance, calling faculty and administrators, setting salaries, and some fund raising.