LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 312

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SPECIAL AND SUNDRY MATTERS 311

our new conference room Nov. 7—9, 1979, with 75 regis-
tered participants. The 16th Conference on Archives and
History, open to all congregational, District, and other
archivists and historians, is scheduled this year, Nov.
11—18. If you are interested in attending, inquire about
details.

Special Projects

To better preserve and share the Lutheran heritage in
America, the Institute has various special projects. These
include the following:

A. Microfilm and Photoduplication

Through annual generous grants by the International
Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL), the Institute has been able
to add to its collection of resources microfilm and microfiche
copies of rare and out-of-print periodicals of various Lutheran
bodies and agencies, books, church records, manuscript collec-
tions, theses, and dissertations. In the past biennium the
microfilm collection grew by 11,092 feet to a grand total of
156,092 feet. 1979 marked the 25th consecutive year of financial
support from the LLL, enabling the acquisition of Lutheran
historical resources that are now the largest microfilm collec-
tion of Americana Lutherana in the country.

Two indexes or bibliographies of the institute’s microfilm
collections are currently available in book form, the first
published in 1966 and the most recent in 1978.

B. Publications

The Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, now in its
54th volume, remains the only journal published in our country
that is devoted to the history of Lutheranism in America. It
shares with its readers the results of research into various
phases of Lutheran history. Dr. Hilton C. Oswald has provided
skilled service as editor since 1976. In addition to the Quarterly,
members and subscribers also receive “Historical Footnotes,”
a newsletter covering recent events and publications relating
to Lutheran history and the work of the Institute.

The Institute also publishes a series of bulletins providing
information, guidelines, and counsel on a host of archival and
historical subjects. Copies are available upon request. Also
produced in the past biennium is a volume of essays and
reports from the Lutheran Historical Conference meeting of
1978 and the 14th volume of Archives and History, consisting
of the pages and reports of the Institute’s 1977 Conference on
Archives and History.

The Society of American Archivists in 1980 published
Religious Archives: An Introduction by Dr. August R. Suelflow,
Institute director. Part of the society’s manual series providing
basic guidelines and procedures for archival work, this new
publication provides a wealth of introductory and advanced
“how to do it” information for anyone interested in the theory
and practice of administering religious archives; it is the first
such manual ever produced.

C. Catalogs and Indexes

As part of its ongoing program to make the resources of the
Institute available for research, the staff continued the prepar-
ation of additional finding aids. Inventories of more than 200
manuscript and archives collections are available at the
Institute to help the inquirer locate desired material. Catalogs
for the collections of museum artifacts, coins, medals, Bibles,
hymnals, and devotional literature have been updated.
Another four volume index to the Quarterly, 1976—79, was
published in Vol. 52, No. 4, of the Quarterly.

D. Saxon Lutheran Memorial

The Institute continues to maintain the Saxon Lutheran
Memorial at Frohna, Perry County, Mo., a pioneer farm site
once owned by one of the original Saxon Lutheran families.
The log cabin farm home and barn were placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in January 1980. Each year several
thousand visitors gain fresh appreciation for the faith and
courage of the pioneers so important in the founding of the
Synod 134 years ago. The memorial continues to operate
entirely from voluntary gifts and contributions. Dr. and Mrs.
Martin F. Luebke became the fourth cocurators in November

1980. Dr. Luebke, formerly from the faculty of Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mrs. Luebke
succeed Rev. and Mrs. Theodore C. Predoehl, who had served
since September 1969.

E. Peace Lutheran Church—Friedenberg

In the spring of 1980 the members of Peace Lutheran
Church near Perryville, Mo., voted to dissolve and give their
historic church property, together with a substantial endow-
ment fund, to the Concordia Historical Institute. The begin-
nings of Peace Congregation go back to the summer of 1838,
when the first Bavarian Lutheran immigrants settled along
Cinque Homme Creek in Perry County. The formal organiza-
tion of the congregation took place in 1844. The present brick
church was built in 1885.

The five-acre tract also includes a maple grove and a hall,
which are available to groups planning retreats, family
reunions, youth outings, tours, and camping. The Institute
plans to develop this site as a historic resource similar to the
Saxon Lutheran Memorial nearby.

F. Awards

In order to encourage and recognize significant contribu-
tions to Lutheran historical work in America, the Institute
annually presents awards for important new books, mono-
graphs, periodical articles, congregational histories, and pre-
servation of historic structures. The awards recognize the most
noteworthy accomplishments of the preceding calendar year.
The highest award for distinguished service to Lutheran
history is the Col. Koch-Luther Award. This award was
granted in 1979 to Dr. J. A. O. Preus, president of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, and in 1980 to Robert E. A. Lee of
Lutheran Film Associates and Erwin T. Koch, a long-time
benefactor.

Board of Governors and Staff

Institute policies are established by the Board of Governors.
Of the 10 board members, 5 are appointed by the President of
Synod and 5 are elected by the Institute’s members. The
following have served on the board during the past biennium:
Gerhardt Kramer (president), William A. Kramer (vice-
president), Victor H. Hoemann (secretary), Harry L. Smith
(treasurer), Gerald Birkmann, Harold A. Olsen Jr., Gilbert T.
Otte, Lando C. Otto, Mrs. Joyce Sauer, and Carl J. Stapf.
During this time the terms of Paul A. Finck and Frederick Nohl
expired; Lando C. Otto died; and Gilbert T. Otte resigned for
reasons of health. Harold Olsen Jr., Mrs. Joyce Sauer, and
Robert W. Selle became new members.

Director of the Institute for nearly 33 years has been Dr.
August R. Suelflow. Rev. Roger Moldenhauer began his
services as archivist-librarian on June 1, 1979. On Feb. 20,
1981, Rev. Moldenhauer terminated his service in order to
return to the pastoral ministry, serving a dual parish in Edgar
and Milan, Wis. Because of financial restrictions, the position
of reference and research assistant, vacant since October 1978,
could not be filled.

Other staff members include an administrative secretary,
two office secretaries, a financial secretary, a receptionist, and
15 seminary students who work part-time in specialized areas.

The Institute is also served with counsel] and advice on
programs and policies by several special committees: Awards,
Educational Advisory, Ethnic Archives and History, Histor-
ical Studies and Resources, Parish Records, Promotion, and
Art and Symbolism.

Anniversaries Recommended for Observance

One of the responsibilities assigned to the Institute by the
Synod is to advise on forthcoming anniversaries. One of the
greatest anniversaries of interest to Lutherans that we may
well be privileged to observe during our lifetime will be the
500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth on Nov. 10, 1983.
Preparations for a meaningful, appropriate observance of this
once-in-a-lifetime anniversary should be begun immediately.
The convention is therefore urged to authorize the President of
the Synod to appoint a committee to provide leadership to the
Synod fora God-pleasing, meaningful, and educational observ-
ance of the great Reformer’s birth. Comparable to the American