# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S526
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

526 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

[1002] ;
Report of the Concordia Historical Instity

The most important single event for your Concordia
Institute during the triennium of 1950—53 was the erection
‘own archives and museum building on the campus of Co
Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. This building, the first of its kind at
Lutherans in America, was made initially possible through:a ER
bequest by Louis H. Waltke. When plans for the building
presented to Synod’s Board of Directors, they set aside $30.00
the project. Since the Western District makes use of the
as its own historical depository, it contributed $5,000. The:
collected a little over $7,000 from its membership in addifi
the Polack memorial fund of $1,420.50 and a number of
memorials amounted to $450.00.

The new building comprises a museum room, a research
administration offices, a vault, a workroom, and a large
section, in which our valuable collection is housed.

The dedication of this beautiful, yet functional buildin
place in a service of thanks to God on November 16, 19
service also marked the close of our observance of the 25th
versary of the Institute.

The building program created renewed interest thr
Synod so that many valuable items have been added to a1
lection. One of the more significant accessions during
triennium was a valuable collection of coins and medals :
to the Lutheran Church. This collection was a gift of Mr,
Schumm, Oak Park, IIL, who became interested in the‘
the Institute through our exhibit at the Milwaukee C
We are happy to note that we are receiving important i
the libraries and personal effects of our leaders who
called to their heavenly home. Thus we have received ‘in
materials from the Polack, Graebner, Sommer, Dallm
Sieck families. In some instances, synodical and Distri
mittees which have been dissolved, have sent their reco
Institute. Among these was the Army-Navy Commission
War I and the Board for European Missions, which transf
of their records to our archives.

While not all the accessions can be headlined, we.
remind the delegates that we are interested in receivin;
item which in some way bears on the history of the Lug
Church in America, on the various areas where the Chit
active, or on particular congregations and individuals wh¢
made contributions to the Church. Breaking this down, the
are interested in receiving the following congregational mal :