History
Origins
Historical Highlights
Advisors
For two years, publication of literary works by Augustana students was limited to an annual two-page supplement in the Observer . A committee of friends enjoyed reading and discussing papers; so with a little faculty encouragement they organized the Writer’s Club in the fall of 1937. The group met once a week on Monday afternoon for an hour in the Scandinavian room. Original manuscripts were read, criticized, and revised. Works of contemporary writers were read and discussed in regard to technique. Evening meetings were held for lectures, parties, and the reading rehearsal of a one-act play written by one of the members. Dr. Henriette C. K. Naeseth, Dr. Traugott L. Richter, and Professor John W. Ostrom are advisers for the club. When Christopher Morley visited the campus on the lyceum program, he was entertained by the group and accepted honorary membership into the Writer’s Club.
The Board of Student Publications and Forensics voted to finance and encourage the publication of a literary magazine if the Writer’s Club would undertake the project. Manuscripts were received from 26 students, both members and non-members. Thanks to the generosity of its backers, the magazine was and still is distributed gratis to students regularly enrolled at Augustana College. The name of the magazine, originally suggested by Ed Stone at a Writer’s Club meeting, was chosen from several titles by a ballot conducted in the Observer. “Saga,” which means a Scandinavian myth or heroic legend, is intended to suggest creative writing arising from the influence and atmosphere of Augustana with its Scandinavian background. Saga intends to present the best that is being written by Augustana students, alumni, faculty and staff. The bases of selection are originality, interest, clarity, and sincerity. —information found in the first issue of Saga, Spring 19381935 - The Observer publishes all poems and other literary
attempts in an annual two-page supplement until
1937.
1937 - A literary society called the Writer’s
Club begins to meet every Monday afternoon. “Original manuscripts were
read, criticized, and revised. Works of contemporary writers were read and
discussed in regard to technique. Evening meetings were held for lectures,
parties, and the reading rehearsal of a one-act play written by one of its
members.” (Saga, Volume 1, Number 1) Under the guidance of their
advisor, Dr. Henriette C. K. Naeseth, the club decides to produce a
literary magazine. Ed Stone of the Writers Club suggests the name “Saga.” The Observer invites the student body to
vote for one name from a list of several.
1938 - The
first issue of Saga is published. Work is submitted by 26
students, both members and non-members of the Writers Club, although only
members of the Writer’s Club were allowed on the editorial staff. From
1938 until 1985, it is published annually.
1939 -
Saga begins awarding prizes with money from the Consul G.N. Swan
Scholarship. First-place award winners for prose and poetry are each
awarded $10. Second place for prose and poetry are awarded
$5.
1941 - Saga elects a "President" to head its
editorial staff.
1946 - World War II veterans in
school at Augustana contribute many of this edition's
offerings.
1951 - Saga is led by an "Editor" for the
first time.
1959 - The annual edition of Saga
runs 61 pages--arguable the largest addition
ever.
1967 - Art appears in Saga for the
first time.
1982 - Dr. James E. Miller, head of the
University of Chicago English Department, endows Saga on behalf of his
recently deceased wife, Barbara Anderson Miller, who graduated magna cum
laude from Augustana in 1943 where she edited and wrote for
Saga.
1983 - The first Barbara Anderson
Miller prize is awarded to the poem or piece of prose that is "most
completely crafted" and "most promising in imaginiative
power."
1984 - The first Ann Sherrick prize for
children't literature is awarded in memory of Ann Sherrick, a student who
wrote for Saga when she attended Augustana. Sherrick
graduated in 1979.
1985 - Saga becomes a
bi-annual publication when it publishes a winter
issue.
1989 - $1,000 in cash prizes is awarded for
outstanding art an literature.
2002 - Saga celebrates
its 65th annual edition with a new bi-annual tradition: release
parties held in Java 101, Augustana's on-campus
coffeehouse.
2003 - Saga awards over $2,000 in cash prizes at its year-end release party.
Dr. Henriette C. K. Naeseth - 1938-1967
Mr. David Newquist -
1968-1969, 1972
Ms. Ann Boaden - 1973-1974, 1976-1978, 1983
Dr.
Nancy Huse - 1975
Dr. John Lang - 1979-1982
Dr. Don Erickson - 1979,
1984-2000
Dr. Jason Peters - 2001-
