Eric Norelius papers, 1851-1916
Size: 10.25 linear feet, 25 boxes
Access: The Collection is open for research. A limited amount of photocopies may be requested via mail. Photographs can be reproduced and purchased upon request.
Processed by: library staff
Control Num.: SSIRC MSS P:1
Biographical Sketch
Eric Norelius was born on October 26, 1833 in Hassela parish, Gävleborgs län, Sweden. He received his early education at Hudviksvall's allmänna läroverk. In 1850, at the age of 17, Eric Norelius immigrated to the U.S. and after 11 weeks at sea he landed in New York City. After having worked as an errand boy for a bank in the city, Norelius went to Chicago where he met Gustaf Unonius who encouraged him to attend the Nashotah Seminary in Wisconsin. Instead, Norelius continued west to Andover where L.P. Esbjörn received him. With assistance from Esbjörn, Norelius enrolled at Capital University in Columbus where he spent 4 years studying. Norelius was ordained by the Northern Illinois Synod in 1855 and his first call came from Tippecanoe County in Indiana. From Indiana, he moved to the newly formed congregations in Red Wing and Vasa, Minnesota in 1856. In 1858, Norelius assumed the editor-ship for the Swedish-American newspaper Hemlandet, a position he held for about a year when he was called to serve the Swedish Lutheran congregation in Attica, Indiana. In 1863, he was called back to the Vasa and Red Wing congregations in Goodhue County, where he spent his remaining years. Norelius was one of the founders of the Augustana Synod and he served as its president between 1870-1881 and 1901-1910. Norelius was also the founder of the Minnesota Conference.
Norelius was active in the publishing field and begun the publishing of Minnesota Posten, which after a year was forced to merge with Hemlandet due to lack of finances. Norelius and P. Sjöblom (Swedish pastor in Red Wing) published and edited together Svensk Luthersk Tidskrift, which became Skaffaren after the first year of existence. He was also the editor of Augustana for a brief period of time and the synod calendar Korsbaneret.
He married Inga C. Peterson of West Point, Indiana on June 10, 1855. They had four sons and one daughter. Eric Norelius died on March 15, 1916 in Vasa, Minnesota.
For further detail on Eric Norelius career as a Swedish Lutheran pioneer pastor please see: Early life of Eric Norelius (1833-1862) : Lutheran pioneer / his own story rendered into English by Emeroy Johnson, published by the Augustana Book Concern, Rock Island Illinois, 1934.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the letters in the collection were received during the period 1851-1916 when Norelius served as the Augustana Synod President, served as pastor in various pioneer churches in Minnesota and was active in the publishing field. The letters in this collection are mostly from other pastors and leaders active in the Augustana Synod, but individual Swedish immigrants concerned with the establishment of new Swedish congregations and the administration of the Synod are also represented. Included are also letters from family members.
Arrangement
The letters are arranged in chronological order. A card index arranged by writers' last name exists to each individual letter at the Swenson Center. For further questions please contact sag@augustana.edu
Box 1
Letters received 1851-1864
Box 2
Letters received 1865-1871
Box 3
Letters received 1871-1875
Box 4
Letters received 1875-1877
Box 5
Letters received 1877-1879
Box 6
Letters received 1879-1881
Box 7
Letters received 1882-1886
Box 8
Letters received 1887-1890; Vista, MN Church Speech; Spring Garden, MN history; Draft Constitution for Augustana Synod; Almanack Utgifven af Amerikanska Emigrant Kompaniet, NY 1891
Box 9
Letters received 1890-1893
Box 10
Letters received 1893-1894
Box 11
Letters received 1894-1895
Box 12
Letters received 1895-1896
Box 13
Letters received 1896-1899
Box 14
Letters received 1899-1900
Box 15
Letters received 1900-1901
Box 16
Letters received 1901-1902
Box 17
Letters received 1902-1903
Box 18
Letters received 1904-1905
Box 19
Letters received 1905-1906
Box 20
Letters received 1906-1907
Box 21
Letters received 1907-1908
Box 22
Letters received 1908-1909
Box 23
Letters received 1909-1911
Box 24
Letters received 1911-1916; undated letters, autobiography, "Memoirs of Eric Norelius." West Coast Missionary Journey, 1885-1886. Trs. by Emeroy Johnson (1933-1934). With separate intro. and name index (1983).
