Outgoing members of the CHI Board of Governors are: (front row, from left) Walter Rosin, Gladys Grovender, Joseph Wilson, (back row) James Waltke and Gerald Birkmann. Not pictured are Gilbert Day and Harold A. Olsen. (Photo: CHI)
HISTORICAL FOOTNOTES |
Table of Contents |
THIS ISSUE |
Institute to Say Goodbye to Seven Members of Board of Governors, Greet New |
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Outgoing members of the CHI Board of Governors are: (front row, from left) Walter Rosin, Gladys Grovender, Joseph Wilson, (back row) James Waltke and Gerald Birkmann. Not pictured are Gilbert Day and Harold A. Olsen. (Photo: CHI) |
The Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors will soon have several new faces to help lead the institution into the next century.
In keeping with CHI bylaws, an election was held in April in which two individuals were chosen by the membership to serve six-year terms on the Board. Over 500 ballots were cast in the election, with Barbara L. Cooke of Tryon, N.C., and Vernon C. Guenther of New Haven, Ind., receiving the most votes. There were five candidates in all.
Three additional seats on the Board will be filled when the president of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod appoints three individuals to serve. The appointments will take place after the Synod's presidential election during this summer's convention.
The new secretary of the Synod will also serve on the CHI Board.
Stepping down from their leadership roles on the Board of Governors after many years of faithful service are: Dr. Gerald Birkmann, Mr. Gilbert Day, Mrs. Gladys Grovender, Mr. Harold A. Olsen, Dr. Walter Rosin, Mr. James Waltke, and Dr. Joseph Wilson. A dinner was held in their honor at Concordia Seminary June 24th.
All U.S. Congregation Receive Complimentary Quarterly |
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregations across the country received a free gift from Concordia Historical Institute in February when CHI mailed complimentary copies of its anniversary issue of the CHI Quarterly.
This gift was made possible by a generous donation from AAL, Aid Association for Lutherans. CHI sent the complimentary copies of its Winter 1997 Quarterly to all congregations for two reasons – to celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and also to raise awareness of the assistance CHI provides to congregations in preserving their church history.
"We are grateful to AAL for making this special gift possible to congregations," said Rev. Daniel Preus, director of CHI.
Friedenberg Rememberances Available for Purchase |
Perry
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After many years in the making, Friedenberg Remembrances: A Story of Peace, Faith and Life is now available for purchase.
Friedenberg Remembrances tells many tales from Friedenberg, Mo., with 139 photos and maps.
Included are:
The book is hard bound, 8-1/2 by 11 inches, 357 pages, and printed on acid-free paper. Pre-publication price before July 15, 1998 is $23.95 per book, and $27.95 after July 15th. Checks should be made payable to Concordia Historical Institute. Please add $4.50 per book for postage and handling if you wish to have your copy mailed.
You can also reserve and pick up your copy by contacting one of the following: Wanoma Weber (573/547-3588), Mildred Brickhaus (573/547-2245) or Martin & Kristina Oswald (314/524-7142).
 VOLUNTEERS HONORED |
Summer Brings Staff Changes for CHI |
CHI will be experiencing a number of staff changes this summer, many of them due to vicarage placements and calls extended to Concordia Seminary students of St. Louis.
Laura Braun, secretary to Associate Director Marvin Huggins, and Chris Boshoven, membership secretary, will both be leaving the full-time employment of Concordia Historical Institute this summer as their husbands are placed as vicars in congregations in Nebraska and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Boshoven will continue to write and design the Historical Footnotes newsletter, thanks to the technology of fax, email and telephone.
Likewise, several seminarians who have worked as part-time staff members have left the Institute's employment. They include Dennis Durham (museum assistant), Phil Heuser (archives filing), and Kevin Tiaden (archival grant project).
CHI also said goodbye to Mary Loesch, a master's program student, who assisted with the archival grant project.
Director Rev. Daniel Preus said the change in staff is indicative of the challenges CHI faces from year to year in finding individuals qualified to work in the areas of archives, museum and library.
Credit Card Payments Now an Option |
Renewing memberships in the Institute, ordering books and other products, and paying for special services such as research just got easier.
Concordia Historical Institute now accepts payment by credit card. At this time, both Visa and Mastercard payments are possible.
Patrons have been asking for this option in increasing numbers, said office manager Mary Jo Mulder.
CHI is happy to offer this option for them.
For more information on paying with your credit card, please call the Institute at (314) 505-7900.
Youth Gathering of Past 20 Years Featured in CHI Museum This Summer |
 "Twenty Years of Grace, Growth and Good Times" offers highlights of 20 years of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Youth Gathering. It can be seen in the CHI Museum through August 31. (Photo: CHI) |
In the
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T-shirts, caps, backpacks and water bottles normally are not thought of as historic artifacts. But with the arrival of 1998, The LCMS National Youth Gathering turns "the big 2-0," and that makes its memorabilia historical.
Whether you have participated in past Gatherings or look forward to your first, see the largest and most complete collection of Youth Gathering memorabilia in one location, in the CHI Museum "Twenty Years of Grace, Growth and Good Times" is the title of a summer exhibit featured at Concordia Historical Institute and offers a 20-year retrospective of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering.
From Kansas City to Atlanta, and every site in between, relive the excitement and relish the memories over 20 years. Photos, videos, Gathering books, and more — it's all here! Gathering participants will want to see the exhibit on their way to or from Atlanta this summer.
The exhibition, which was artfully designed by student worker Dennis Durham, is on view at CHI through Aug. 31. Museum hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, closed holidays.
To arrange for a guided tour or for more information on the exhibit, call the museum's curator, Rev. Mark A. Loest, at (314) 505-7930.
For those who can't make the trip in person, "Twenty Years of Grace, Growth and Good Times" can also be seen soon via the Internet on CHI's Web Page. The address is www.chi.lcms.org.
Institute Staff Offers Advise on Your Archives, Planning Anniversary Celebrations |
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When the Northwest District president asked Concordia Historical Institute if someone could travel to Portland, Ore., to take a look at the condition of its district archives and talk about how to best commemorate the district's centennial, the answer was a definite YES.
Rev. Marvin A. Huggins, CHI's associate director for archives and history, said Concordia Historical Institute is happy to lend the expertise of its staff to districts or other similar groups that are interested in preserving their Lutheran history.
He said his trip to the Northwest District "was a good opportunity to work with a district on the development of their archives and planning for observing a historical anniversary." He looked over their district archives, including how it is arranged and the condition of its materials and also offered advice on the district's centennial celebration.
"I think it was especially valuable for the district personnel to have a better idea what the district archives is supposed to have in it and to do," he said. "They were able to ask me directly what kinds of things they should keep, what kinds of things they should send to Concordia Historical Institute, etc." Rev. Huggins said most district archives have concentrated on maintaining collections filled with the individual histories of congregations in their district and biographies on pastors and teachers, rather than preserving records and minutes of the boards and committees connected to the district. His advice for district archives is to send congregational and biographical information to CHI and concentrate on maintaining records more directly connected to the district's business.
Districts that are considering moving the site of their archives, building a new district office or planning district celebrations are invited to contact Rev. Huggins at Concordia Historical Institute for a consultation. His direct telephone number is (314) 505-7921. He can also be reached through email – chi@trucom.com – or by writing CHI at 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis MO 63105.
Institute's Library Cataloging Project Preachers 'Milestone' |
A significant milestone has been reached in CHI's efforts to professionally catalog its library collection. Laura Braun, secretary to the associate director, reports as of May 31, 3,400 books in the CHI library have now been cataloged, contained in 1,878 records, the equivalent of 1.071 percent of the union catalog. (See related story, page 5.)
Mrs. Braun has cataloged more than 2,700 of the books herself on a part-time basis over about 20 months time, in addition to her secretarial duties. About 500 books had already been cataloged at CHI when she began in 1996. CHI is now cataloging its historical library, converting it from an old system by which books were arranged alphabetically by author, or sometimes the editor. Biographies were filed by subject rather than author, and then some things were filed elsewhere under the boards or groups responsible for their authorship. For many years now it has been a goal of CHI to catalog the collection using the Library of Congress classification system, the same one that is used by both LCMS seminaries.
"Cataloging the collection in this manner will allow us to determine quickly whether we have the book, and where it can be located," she said. "It is also helping us to remove surplus copies from the collection and therefore to use our limited space more efficiently."
Memorials Given for Loved Ones & Friends |
Concordia Historical Institute received memorial gifts in March for the following individuals, whose names will now be added to the Institute's Book of Memories:
Memorial gifts may be sent to Concordia Historical Institute at any time. Please be sure to include the name of the deceased and, if possible, birth and death dates.
Gifts to CHI Honor Family & Friends |
Concordia Historical Institute received the following gift in honor of a loved one, during the month of March:
CHI has Travelogues of Lutheran Sites |
Summertime and vacation seem to go together for most individuals. If you're planning a trip to St. Louis or to Perry County, Mo., soon and want to visit some significant Lutheran sites, you should know that Concordia Historical Institute has produced two free travelogues.
Contact CHI and request your copy, specifying which travelogue you would like. You can call (314) 505-7900, write CHI at 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis MO 63105, or email us at chi@trucom.com to make your request.
Experienced Grant Writers Wanted |
Do you have experience in grant writing or professional fund raising? As a not-for-profit agency, Concordia Historical Institute could use your valuable help.
If you have these qualifications – and the time to donate your expertise to Concordia Historical Institute – please send your resume, along with a brief letter indicating how you might be of assistance, to:
Rev. Daniel Preus, DirectorThe Archivist's Corner |
Several Archives Projects are Moving Forward at the Institute |
 Rev. Philemon Hensel continues to aid CHI by helping to arrange and describe the Koehler Family Collection. (Photo: CHI)  Kevin Tiaden, a seminarian at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, sorts for duplicates in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League Records, located in CHI's archives stacks. He provided valuable assistance on the grant project during the 1997-1998 academic year, prior to graduating in May and receiving a call to his first parish. (Photo: CHI) |
by Kristina Gray Perez, Project Archivist
Ed. Note: Here is what's new in the area of archives at Concordia Historical Institute.
The Rev. Philemon Hensel is being assisted by Archives Assistant Brigitte Conkling in the final arrangement and description of the Koehler Family Collection. This collection includes correspondence, sermons, legal documents, and various writings from four members of the Koehler family: Christian, Johann P., Karl, and Kurt.
The Koehler Family Collection adds many documents pertinent to the Wisconsin Synod, including J. P. Koehler's research for his History of the Wisconsin Synod. It contains many documents pertaining to the Wauwatosa Controversy and to the Pro'testant Conference, 1928-1955.
The J.P. Koehler section of the collection is particularly rich due to the inclusion of music which he composed and of sketches and photographs of paintings which revealed his artistic abilities. Rev. Hensel, recipient of the 1996 CHI Distinguished Service Award, was instrumental in getting the entire collection to CHI and he went to great lengths to procure photographs of the J.P. Koehler paintings known to exist.
CHI Volunteers Cookie Brauer, Barbara Huggins, and Bernice Malec continue to pull staples from the Executive Offices Records, which is still being processed. They also assist in labeling and transferring items in the processed collections to archival folders and boxes.
Prior to leaving CHI in May, seminarian Kevin Tiaden and master's program student Mary Laesch were busy arranging and describing collections such as General Literature Board Minutes and Council of Administrators Records. They also provided much needed assistance in interfiling records and in checking collections for duplicates.
Work continues on preliminary inventories for the various collections, particularly the voluminous records from the Board for Missions (its predecessors and its successors). This is possibly the largest collection of LCMS records held by CHI. The preliminary inventory will be invaluable when the decision is made to arrange and describe this record group in more detail.
Finding aids for processed collections recently added to the CHI World Wide Web page include:
Finding aids for processed collections that will be added to the World Wide Web page soon include:
 E. L. Arndt |
The papers of the first LCMS missionary to China, Edward L. Arndt, have been arranged and described and the finding aid is available via the CHI World Wide Web page.
The collection contains materials on the history of the Arndt family, on E. L. Arndt's teaching career, and much correspondence concerning Rev. Arndt's work in China and the subsequent Chinese Term Question. The correspondence also reveals much about the personality of Rev. Arndt and the relationships that existed between him and his family members.
There are many photographs and examples of the translation work that Rev. Arndt did for the benefit of his Chinese congregations and students.
Much explanation has been added to the primary documents by Rev. Arndt's youngest son, Dr. Edward J. Arndt. Dr. Arndt added maps, anecdotes, and further explanation of the topics discussed in letters in order to aid researchers.
Concordia Historical Institute is seeking donors who would be willing to help underwrite the cost of arranging and describing another very important collection – the Francis Pieper papers.
A large number of boxes filled with papers from the late Dr. Pieper, who served as both president of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, can be found in the CHI collection, but the papers are not fully accessible to researchers at this point because of their disarray. For more information on this, please contact Rev. Daniel Preus, director of CHI, at (314) 505-7911, or write to him at 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis MO 63105.
Collections Submitted to the Library of Congress |
by Kristina Gray Perez, Project Archivist
The Library of Congress operates a free-of-charge cooperative cataloging program called the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC). This program provides researchers with access to information on over 72,000 collections in over 1,400 repositories through more than 1,000,000 index entries. CHI has regularly transmitted records about its collections to NUCMC. This will continue and will update the records sent in the past. CHI transmits only basic information found in the collections' finding aids such as title, dates, a brief history of the person/office, and a brief description of the collections' contents.
These brief descriptions are then assigned a unique identifying number and Library of Congress subject headings. NUCMC provides an index to the collections by personal name, corporate name, Library of Congress subject heading, and geographical place. These indices are available in print (v. 1-29, 1959-1993) at most libraries and via the World Wide Web at http://lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/nucmc.html.
The first collections to be submitted to NUCMC are:
CHI Awaits Receipt of Inter-Lutheran Agency Records from ELCA |
Concordia Historical Institute has learned it will be receiving in about a year a microfilmed copy of papers from the Helen Knubel Archives of Cooperative Lutheranism, more than 650 cubic feet of inter-Lutheran agency records dating from 1917 to 1987.
Of particular interest are papers from the archives from the disbanded Lutheran Council in USA (LCUSA).
The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod worked in partnership with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC) as part of LCUSA, from 1965 until 1987 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed. Areas in which LCUSA was active included world relief, theological studies, mission coordination, refugee resettlement, campus ministry and military chaplains work.
Rev. Marvin Huggins, associate director of archives and library for Concordia Historical Institute, said the records will be most helpful to those doing scholarly research into the activities of Lutheran churches in America, especially in studying how Lutheran bodies related to one another during this time. "These records are significant and certainly appropriate for us to have here," he said.
The original archival materials were sent to the ELCA Archives in Chicago in 1987. When LCUSA disbanded, he said, money was set aside to cover the cost of microfilming, with the understanding a microfilm copy would be sent to CHI. However, the materials from the archives were much broader than LCUSA and needed to be processed before they could be filmed.
Elisabeth Wittman, archivist for the ELCA, said this task is now being completed, with the help of a two-year federal grant to the ELCA Archives from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
"We would have liked to begin microfilming immediately, but the collection needed to be organized," she said.
When the processing is completed in July, the next step is to determine what will be put on microfilm. She noted an advisory committee will meet in September to begin making these decisions. CHI officials will have some input in the scope of what is microfilmed. Next, a vendor will be located to do the microfilming.
In all, it will be approximately a year before the microfilm is available at CHI. The Helen Knubel Archives of Cooperative Lutheranism are named after the former archivist for the National Lutheran Council, an organization that preceded LCUSA.
An Archivists's Preservation Tips About Fasteners |
by Kristina Gray Perez, Project Archivist
Ed. Note: CHI Project Archivist Kristina Gray Perez provides some practical tips on removing staples, clips and other fasteners from archival papers.
CHI volunteers have noticed that it can be difficult to remove staples without tearing the papers. This is especially true if there are a small number of onion skin or carbon copies fastened together. Rather than using the staple remover (a.k.a "the claw") in the traditional manner and starting from the front of the pages, turn the pages over and place the prongs through the shanks to straighten them out. Then turn back to the front and pull the staple out.
Paper clips that have been in place for many years also present a problem. They are often rusty and may be physically attached to the papers. Pulling the clip straight from the papers, as we would a newer one, may tear the pages. To prevent this, bend the top and/or bottom portions of the paper clip, opening the ends wide enough to release the papers.
It is obviously not a good idea to remove staples and then replace them with more staples. This is harmful if the pages are photocopied often. By removing the staples permanently during processing, we eliminate this cycle of removal and replacement. For fun, check to see how many of the multi-page documents that you are concerned about keeping together have page numbers or have an identifying header or footer on each page. It was common practice for a multi-page business letter to carry a page number along with the name of the recipient on each page in case the pages did become separated.
Stainless steel paper clips are an option available to archivists. This is a matter of preference for archivists. However, without the rust factor, the clip will still make indentations on the pages and you will still run the risk of tearing the pages when the clips are removed for photocopying. Paper clips (plastic, plastic-coated, or stainless steel) are limited in the number of pages that they can hold together. Why remove one clip just to replace it with another? I find it easier to implement the "no fastener" policy than to allow them in some instances and not in others.
For more information concerning fasteners and other preservation issues, please see Preserving Archives and Manuscripts by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler (Society of American Archivists, 1993), a wonderful source of basic preservation information. It is available for purchase from the Society of American Archivists or consult your local reference librarian. Concordia Historical Institute can also provide detailed information on this and other archival questions.
"Historical Footnotes" newsletter is published quarterly by Concordia Historical Institute, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis MO 63105. The Institute is a not-for-profit organization, serving as the Department of History and Archives for The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.
Editor-in-Chief: Rev. Marvin A. Huggins
Writer and Layout Editor: Chris Boshoven
The following back issues are available on-line:
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: How far in advance should a district plan in order to have a successful anniversary celebration?
: At least a year, probably more ... The Northwest District is planning to start their observance in the fall of 1999 and conclude it with their convention in 2000. So the planning meeting I attended was about a year and a half in advance of the observance. It will take at least a year to research and write a district history. That should suggest how they ought to think of it. -- MAH