FINDING AID

D. Verner Swanson sermons and other materials, 1905-1981

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Collection Title:    
D. Verner Swanson sermons and other materials

Collection Number:    
MSS P:341 

Dates:            
1905-1981 (bulk 1927-1939) and undated

Size:            
12 boxes (5 linear feet)

Language:        
English (bulk), Swedish

Creator/Collector:    
Swanson, D. Verner

Subject Headings:    
Swanson, David Verner, 1890-1978
Swedish American Lutherans
Luther College (Wahoo, Neb)
Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill)
Preaching
Sermons
Sermons, Swedish

Repository:    
Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.

Abstract:    
D. Verner Swanson was a Lutheran pastor for over 40 years. He attended both Luther College (Wahoo, Nebraska) and Augustana College (Rock Island, Illinois), was ordained in 1916, and serving as a minister until his retirement in May 1957. The bulk of this collection includes sermons written over the course of his career. Also included are a few materials related to Verner and his wife Edith’s time at Luther College in Nebraska such as a valedictory speech, certificates, and portraits.

RIGHTS AND ACCESS

Conditions Governing Access:    
Collection is open for research.

Reproduction and Use:    
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Swenson Center and the copyright holder. 

Preferred Citation:    
[item identification], in MSS P:341 D. Verner Swanson sermons and other materials, Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. 

ACQUISITION AND RELATED MATERIALS

Provenance:    
Collection from D. Verner Swanson estate, transferred to Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center by Robin “Tootie” Swanson Warner and Alan Swanson in 2015.

Source of Acquisition:    
Gift of Al Swanson and Tootie Warner in 2015.

Appraisal, Destruction, and Scheduling Information:    
Duplicate books removed from collection:

• Hemlandssånger. Rock Island, Augustana Book Concern, 1891. 
• Swanson, D. Verner. I Remember-- (pages from a story of my life). 1981.

Publication Note:    
Available in the Swenson Center’s library collection: 

• Swanson, D. Verner. I Remember-- (pages from a story of my life). 1981.
• Swanson, D. Verner. Life’s Crowning Years, a Book of Inspiration. Philadelphia, Fortress, 1966. 

Related Materials:    
Swenson Center:

• MSS P:344 Euphemia Peterson nursing papers
• I/O:50 Luther Academy records

Augustana College Special Collections:

• MSS 391 Swanson family papers

Processed By:    
Processed by Lisa Huntsha, 2015. Finding aid written by Shelby Jensen, 2018.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Administrative/Biographical History:    
D. Verner Swanson was a Lutheran pastor for over 40 years. Verner was born in Kearny County, Nebraska on 13 October 1890. He attended Luther College in Wahoo, Nebraska, and Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, ultimately graduating from Augustana with a Bachelor of Arts (1913), Bachelor of Divinity (1916), Doctor of Divinity (1924), and Master of Sacred Theology (1926). He also studied at the University of Nebraska. Verner was ordained in June 1916, and served as a minister in Iron Mountain, Michigan until 1919, in Lincoln, Nebraska until 1928, in Gowrie, Iowa until 1946, and in Geneva, Illinois until 1957. On 6 May 1957, Verner resigned from the Geneva Lutheran Church and was re-elected for a four-year term as secretary of the Augustana Synod. 

Verner married Edith Peterson on 12 June 1916. They had five children: Ruth, Pauline, Vernon, David, and Alan. Edith died in 1947. Verner married Euphemia Peterson Stewart on 1 February 1950. Euphemia died in 1974. Verner passed away on 26 April 1978 in Rochester, Minnesota.

Scope and Content:    
Collection includes various sermons written over the course of Verner’s career as a pastor. Also includes a few materials related to Verner and Edith’s time at Luther College in Nebraska including a valedictory speech, certificates, and portraits.

System of Arrangement:    
Sermons arranged by subject in original order. Arranged in the following series:
Series I: Sermons and Religious Writings
Series II: Luther College Records and Correspondence

Collection Inventory:    

Series I: Sermons and Religious Writings

Box 1: 

Folder 1: First Sunday in Advent

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 2: Second Sunday in Advent

• Nine sermons, undated, English.

Folder 3: Third Sunday in Advent

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 4: Fourth Sunday in Advent

• Four sermons, undated, English.

Folder 5: Christmas Day

• Seven sermons, 1949, 1950, and undated, English.

Folder 6: Christmas Day (Cont.)

• Five sermons, undated, English (bulk) and Swedish.

Folder 7: Christmas Day (Cont.)

• Eight sermons, 1916, 1927, 1932, and undated, English (bulk) and Swedish.

Folder 8: Christmas Day (Cont.)

• Five sermons, 1927, 1933, 1934, 1939, and undated, English.

Folder 9: Christmas Day (Cont.)

• Six sermons, 1932, 1938, 1941, and undated, English.

Folder 10: Sunday after Christmas

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 11: New Year’s Day

• Four sermons, undated, English.

Folder 12: Sunday after New Year

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 13: Epiphany

• Two sermons, undated, English.

Box 2:

Folder 14: First Sunday after Epiphany

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 15: Second Sunday after Epiphany

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 16: Third Sunday after Epiphany

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 17: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

• Four sermons, undated, English.

Folder 18: Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

• One sermon, undated, English.

Folder 19: Quinquagesima Sunday

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 20:  Sexagesima Sunday

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 21: Septuagesima Sunday

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 22: First Sunday in Lent

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 23: Second Sunday in Lent

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 24: Second Sunday in Lent (Cont.)

• Six sermons, undated, English. 
• New Horizons article, dated winter 1961-1962, English.

Folder 25: Third Sunday in Lent

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 26: Fourth Sunday in Lent

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 27: Fourth Sunday in Lent (Cont.)

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 28: Fifth Sunday in Lent

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Box 3:

Folder: 29: Palm Sunday

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 30: Palm Sunday (Cont.)

• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 31: Good Friday

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 32: Good Friday (Cont.)

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 33: Easter Sunday

• Seven sermons, 1937 and undated, English.

Folder 34: Easter Sunday (Cont.)

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 35: First Sunday after Easter

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 36: First Sunday after Easter (Cont.)

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 37: Second Sunday after Easter

• Nine sermons, undated, English.

Folder 38: Third Sunday after Easter

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 39: Fourth Sunday after Easter

• Ten sermons, 1952 and undated, English.

Box 4:

Folder 40: Fifth Sunday after Easter

• Nine sermons, undated, English.

Folder 41: Sixth Sunday after Easter

•  Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 42: Sixth Sunday after Easter (Cont.)

• Five sermons, 1948 and undated, English.

Folder 43: Whitsunday (Pentecost)

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 44: Trinity Sunday

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 45: First Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 46: Second Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 47: Third Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 48: Fourth Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 49:  Fifth Sunday after Trinity

• Eight sermons, undated, English.
• An Ecumenical Weekly: The Christian Century, 8 May 1968, English.

Folder 50: Sixth Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 51: The Transfiguration of Christ (Seventh Sunday after Trinity)

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 52: The Transfiguration of Christ (Cont.)

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Box 5:

Folder 53: Eighth Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 54: Ninth Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 55: Tenth Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 56: Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 57: Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

• Ten sermons, undated, English.

Folder 58: Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Nine sermons, undated, English.

Folder 59: Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English (bulk) and Swedish.
• “Come unto me all ye that labor” picture of painting by Carl Bloch. 

Folder 60: Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 61: Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 62: Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 63: Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 64: Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, undated, English.

Folder 65: Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

• Four sermons, undated, English.

Box 6:

Folder 66: Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity

• Two sermons, undated, English.

Folder 67: Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 68: Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity

• Six sermons, undated, English.

Folder 69: Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity

• Four sermons, undated, English (bulk) and Swedish.

Folder 70: Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 71: Twenty -sixth Sunday after Trinity

• Two sermons, undated, English.

Folder 72: Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity

• Seven sermons, 1958 and undated, English.

Folder 73: St. Michael’s Day

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 74: All Saints Day

• Six sermons, 1953 and undated, English (bulk) and Swedish.

Folder 75: Confirmation

• Two sermons, undated, English.
• Scripture verses for confirmands.

Folder 76: Baccalaureate

• Five sermons, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, and undated, English.

Folder 77: Funeral

• One sermon, undated, English.
• Eight funeral addresses, undated, English.
• Prose: Soul like a Garden, undated, English.
• Prose: The Voyage of Life, undated, English.

Folder 78: Funeral (Cont.)

• Twelve funeral addresses, undated, English.
• Four funeral sermons, undated, English.
• One memorial address, undated, English.
• Prose: Our Heavenly Citizenship, undated, English.
• Prose: untitled, undated, English.

Folder 79: Funeral (Cont.)

• Six funeral addresses, undated, English.
• Bible verses, typed, undated, English.
• Prose: A Good Look at my Service, undated, English.
• Prose: Life with a Plus, undated, English.
• Prose: If a Man Dies, Shall He Live Again?, undated, English.
• Message at Augustana Seminary Chapel, 12 March 1958, English.

Box 7:

Folder 80: Funeral (Cont.)

• One sermon, undated, English.
• Eight funeral addresses, undated, English.
• Address to confirmation class, undated, English.
• Sunday evening message, undated, English.

Folder 81: Funeral (Cont.)

• Fifteen funeral addresses, undated, English.
• Prose: I Have Kept the Faith, undated, English.

Folder 82: Funeral (Cont.)

• Nine funeral messages, 1930 and undated, English.
• Message at burial service, undated, English.
• Meditation and funeral, undated, English.
• Prose: For to me, to Live is Christ, and to Die is Gain, undated, English.
• Four prose pieces, untitled, undated, English.

Folder 83: Memorial Day

• Three sermons, 1938, 1939, and undated, English.

Folder 84: Memorial Day (Cont.)

• Five sermons, 1929, 1932, 1934, 1941, and undated, English.

Folder 85: Armistice Day

• Three sermons, 1939, and undated, English.

Folder 86: Thanksgiving

• Six sermons, 1947, 1953, and undated, English.

Folder 87: Lent and Holy Week

• Five sermons, undated, English.
• Prose: One Thing More: a Grateful Heart, undated, English.
• Prose: A Prayer for Our Enemies, undated, English.

Folder 88: Lent and Holy Week (Cont.)

• Four sermons, undated, English.

Box 8:

Folder 89: Lent and Holy Week (Cont.)

• Six Lenten bible studies, undated, English.
• One Lenten meditation, undated, English.
• One sermons series: “The Cross in Christian Experience,” undated, English.
• One Lenten week message, undated, English.

Folder 90: Prayer

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 91: Bible Studies

• Meditation: Iowa Conference, undated, English.
• Penitence, undated, English.
• The Book of Jonah, undated, English.
• Sermon Series: “The Church,” undated, English.
• Installation address, undated, English.
• Seven bible study series: “This I Believe,” undated, English.

Folder 92: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Notes on The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, typed, undated, English.
• Sermon series: “The First Pages of my Bible,” undated, English.
• First in series: “I Believe in…The Church,” undated, English.
• Notes on Luke, 16th chapter, undated, English.

Folder 93: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Outline of a study on the letter of Paul to the Philippians, undated, English.
• Contents of a book, untitled, undated, English.
• Four bible studies on Philippians, undated, English.
• Bible conversation group, undated, English.

Folder 94: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Four vespers, undated, English.
• Verses from Hebrews, undated, English.
• Series of sermons on personalities of the book of Acts, undated, English.

Folder 95: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Eight bible conversation groups, undated, English.

Folder 96: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Prose, untitled, undated, English.
• Prose: If Folks of Yesteryears Came Back, undated, English.
• Meditation and Devotions, 1960, English.
• Two studies on Philippians, undated, English.
• Bible conversation group and announcement, 1969, English.

Folder 97: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Five bible studies, undated, English.
• Two bible conversation groups, undated, English.
• Three Character Studies at the Cross, undated, English.

Folder 98: Bible Studies (Cont.)

• Five bible conversation groups, undated, English.
• Two studies, undated, Swedish and English.

Folder 99: Missions

• Urgency in the world mission task, undated, English.

Folder 100: Reformation

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 101: Swedish

• Seven sermons, 1916, 1919, and undated, Swedish.

Box 9:

Folder 102: Swedish (Cont.)

• Twelve sermons, 1915, 1916, 1917, and undated, Swedish.

Folder 103: Swedish (Cont.)

• Eleven sermons, undated, Swedish.

Folder 104: Swedish (Cont.)

• Seven sermons, 1919, 1931, and undated, Swedish.

Folder 105: Swedish (Cont.)

• Ten sermons, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, and undated, Swedish.

Folder 106: Stewardship

• Two sermons, undated, English.
• Commissioning of workers, typed, undated, English.

Folder 107: Presentation of Christ Candlemas

• Five sermons, undated, English.

Folder 108: Youth Assemblies

• Three sermons, 1949 and undated, English.

Folder 109: Communion

• Six messages, undated, English.

Folder 110: Communion Sermons

• Talk: Keep alive!, undated, English.
• Talk at meeting of elderly people, undated, English.
• Eight sermons, undated, English.

Folder 111:  Communion Sermons (Cont.)

• Eight messages, undated, English.
• One address and confirmands, undated, English.

Folder 112: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Seven bible conversation groups, undated, English.

Box 10:

Folder 113: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Twelve sermons, 1942, 1943 and undated, English.
• Prose: His presence at Our Table, undated, English.

Folder 114: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Fourteen addresses, 1953, and undated, English.
• Two sermons, undated, English.

Folder 115: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Eight messages, undated, English.

Folder 116: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Eleven addresses, undated, English.

Folder 117: Communions Sermons (Cont.)

• Twelve addresses, undated, English.
• One tribute to Oscar O. Gustafson, undated, English.

Box 11:

Folder 118: Sermons, Madonna Towers

• Six sections of notes for sermons, early 1970s, English.

Folder 119: Sermons, Madonna Towers (Cont.)

• Five sections of notes for sermons, early 1970s, English.

Folder 120: Ordination Sermon

• Ordination sermon at the convention of the Augustana Synod, 15 June 1947, English.

Folder 121: Convention Sermons (miscellaneous)

• Two sermons, 1 May 1940, 19-23 April 1944, English.

Folder 122: Sermon Series on Paul (miscellaneous)

• Three sermons, undated, English.

Folder 123: Miscellaneous

• Prose: Reconciliation, undated, English.
• Prose: Christ has the Corner, undated, English.
• Prose: Music in the Bible, undated, English.
• Prose: The Upward Book, undated, English.
• Devotions, undated, English.
• Address at a Wedding, undated, English.
• Three miscellaneous, untitled, undated, English.

Folder 124: Miscellaneous: Addresses and Essays

• Two essays, typed, undated, English.
• Two addresses, one typed, undated, English.
• Sermon at the Radio Service, 19 July 1925, English.

Folder 125: Miscellaneous: Addresses and Essays (Cont.)

• Prayers, undated, English.
• Two vespers, undated, English.
• One sermon, 12 June 1966, English.
• Two sermon series: “Witnesses to Faith,” undated, English.
• Five Moments with Favorite Hymns, undated, English.
• Three devotions, undated, English.
• Prose: Friendship, undated, English.

Folder 126: Miscellaneous: “Look at Our Calling.”

• Three notes on Another Look at Our Calling, typed, undated, English.
• Three sermons on Another Look at Our Calling, undated, English.
• Three sermon series: Look at Your Calling!, typed, undated, English.
• Chapel message, typed, undated, English.
• One discussion hour, undated, English.
• Prose: Depth, undated, English.

Box 12:

Folder 127: Miscellaneous Funeral

Folder 128: Miscellaneous Communion

Folder 129:  Miscellaneous Extra

Series II: Luther College Records and Correspondence 

Folder 130: Luther College Records and Correspondence

• Letter to Vernon Swanson from Laura A. Whisnant regarding memories of Verner, 7 October 1981, English.
• Luther Academy postcard “Hör oss Svea,” photo including Verner, circa 1911.
• Valedictory speech, Luther College, likely Edith Peterson Swanson, undated (circa 1910), English.
• Luther Academy/College records/report cards for Verner Swanson, 1908-1910, English.
• Letters of prose to Vernon Swanson from Minnie Kappelin, 1905, 1906, English and Swedish.

Folder 131: Luther Academy notebook belonging to Edith Peterson (Verner Swanson’s first wife), 1909, English/Swedish.

Folder 132: Photo album of Luther College graduates from 1910, English. Verner Swanson and Edith Peterson portraits in album.