Concordia’s Norwegian roots have been celebrated throughout the college’s history. These Norwegian connections were particularly important in the early years of the college when some classes were taught in Norwegian and much of the area’s population was of Norwegian descent.
Concordia College has maintained ties to its Norwegian Lutheran roots throughout its history. At the time of its founding, many immigrant parents found comfort in sending their children to a religious institution that accommodated Norwegian both in casual situations and in some classrooms versus a secular public school. They believed that the use of the Norwegian language would instill values similar to the immigrant’s own values. It was not uncommon to hear the Norwegian language given the ethnicity of the immigrants that lived in the area as well as the majority of the founders own backgrounds. At the formal dedication on October 31st 1891, Reverend G. Hoyme, president of the United Lutheran Church, performed the dedicatory rites in Norwegian.
The first Catalogue for Concordia College specifically mentions the importance of incorporating Norwegian when it states, “Many full grown persons are found who have just come from the old country or for some other reason cannot speak the English language. They experience difficulty in finding schools where they can study advantageously. Special efforts are made to accommodate these.” Of the 27 books referenced to be used in the first year of instruction at Concordia, three were Norwegian. These books were Landstads Salmebog, Erikson & Paulsons Læsebog II, and Hofgaards Grammatik. As early as 1894 a Question and Answer section in Norwegian was added to the Concordia College Catalogue. This included questions such as “Where is Concordia College?” (Hvor er Concordia College), and which books students should bring. Also, The Banner, Concordia’s first publication started in June of 1896 was primarily written in Norwegian.
A question and answer section written in Norwegian in the 1893-94 Concordia Catalog
In the early 1900s, Concordia students believed that retaining Norwegian language and culture was in fact compatible with American loyalty. These Norwegian-Americans therefore celebrated and had campus observances for Washington’s Birthday and Norwegian Independence Day, demonstrating their respect and alliance to both cultures. The language and cultural connections to the homeland have fostered a global perspective at Concordia made manifest in numerous ways such as the Concordia Language Villages, study abroad programs, and cultural events programming on campus. Through these means among others, Concordia lives out its mission of sending thoughtful people into the world.
MARKERS OF NORWEGIAN HERITAGE
Two statues on Concordia’s campus, the Hans Nielsen Hauge and Ivar Aasen monuments, stand as reminders of the college’s Norwegian heritage.
Not only has the Norwegian heritage of the institution been cultivated throughout its 125 years, but also its ties to the Lutheran church. Concordia’s religious heritage has connections to Hans Nilsen Hauge, a Norwegian layman preacher, reformer, and social activist. Hauge inspired a religious revival in Norway, although he was not a pastor. As a lay preacher, he traveled about Norway influencing the country’s lower classes. One reason he was so popular among the common people was his skill with industry and the resulting practices he taught them. While the Church of Norway did eventually adopt some of his ideas, Hauge was feared by the government and imprisoned for his work. Many of Concordia’s founders drew upon these ideals, and established a setting where students and staff could come together to achieve common goals.
Approximately 15,000 people attended the Hauge monument dedication on June 10th, 1912
In attendance at the Hauge monument dedication were Rev. Hans Nielsen Hauge, grandson of the religious reformer, and Bishop Peter W. K. Boeckmann
Ivar Aasen, born in 1813, played a similar role in impacting Norwegian culture. He developed a language, named Nynorsk or New Norwegian, based on the dialects of the common people. Aasen believed the written language should be based on the spoken language of the people rather than the existing language the Danes had used during their rule of Norway. To create this language, Aasen traveled throughout Norway documenting the various dialects of each region. He wrote The Dictionary of Norwegian Dialects in the mid-1800s and lived to see his language recognized and widely utilized.
A close-up look at the Aasen Monument outside of Bishop Whipple Hall
A group of prominent Norwegians and Concordia community members gathering to commemorate the Ivar Aasen Centennial Celebration
Headshot of Peter Reite
Both of these monuments were made possible by a Norwegian immigrant that attended Concordia. Peter Reite came to Concordia in 1910 after emigrating from Norway. Eager to celebrate Norwegian heritage, Reite solicited funds to place a monument of Hans Nielsen Hauge on Concordia’s campus in 1912. After succeeding in this goal, he formed a new committee for the Ivar Aasen monument the following year. Dedication ceremonies occurred for both monuments and were widely attended. The unveiling of the Hauge monument was attended by an estimated 15,000 people including two delegates from Norway: Rev. Hans Nielsen Hauge, grandson of the religious reformer, and Bishop Peter W. K. Boeckmann.