Contact Information

Michelle Volkmann
Media Relations Specialist

volkmi01@luther.edu

Phone: 563-387-1417

New anthology explores the history of Luther College and its Norwegian-Lutheran roots

Book cover with a red heart and flower design on a blue backgroundLuther College, the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants, announces the publication of a new anthology that reflects on the college’s roots. The public is invited to two events in October celebrating the book’s release, where free copies of the book will be available. 

Sagas of Luther College: Norwegian and Lutheran Identities Past, Present, and Future is a collection of 21st-century personal stories, published by the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies at Luther College. “The book’s contributors write about how a Luther education shapes you, helps you navigate the challenges of the world, and invites you to serve others and the Earth,” said its editors, Maren Anderson Johnson and Rachel Faldet. “The pieces explore, challenge, and broaden the understanding of Luther College and its Norwegian and Lutheran identities past, present, and future.” 

Maren Anderson Johnson is associate professor of Nordic studies, and Rachel Faldet is assistant professor emerita of English and Luther graduate of 1978. 

The anthology is funded by a Reframing the Institutional Saga grant from the Council of Independent Colleges’ Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (CIC-NetVUE). The grant funding totaled close to $40,000. The leadership team for the grant project included Johnson; Jeanie Lovell, senior director of foundation and government relations; and Brad Chamberlain, provost and professor of chemistry. 

In the anthology’s foreword, Chamberlain explained that Luther has “engaged in an institution-wide campaign to discern and express its institutional identity” since 2018. 

“Luther has a number of published histories, though no recent book focused explicitly on the implications of the college’s Norwegian-Lutheran identity and heritage, and none used tales of identity, ethics, and values — the elements of saga that guide communities — as an organizing framework,” said Chamberlain. “In a time of disruption in U.S. education, … shared stories are increasingly important for an institution as it binds its myriad stakeholders, fully embraces its mission, and makes difficult decisions.” 

The anthology has thirteen personal essays and one intergenerational interview. The authors represent diverse relationships to Luther College — among them alumni, current and emeritus professors, and Lutheran pastors. Each piece showcases its own voice, stands alone as its own story, but contributes to an overarching theme of roots and identity.  

“The power of this collection is that it weaves together a variety of experiences of what Luther College has meant and still means to reveal a certain commonality,” said President Jenifer K. Ward. “Regardless of generation or background, we are touched by threads of the Lutheran intellectual tradition and hints of our Norwegian cultural heritage day in and day out on our campus.”

There will be two official launch events for the book. 

  • 4:30–6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Vesterheim Commons, downtown Decorah, featuring a program at 4:45 p.m. 
  • 1:30-2:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, in Main 112 on the Luther campus during Homecoming.

The public is invited to the events. Free copies of the book will be available at these events or by contacting Maren Johnson at maren@luther.edu.

Note: This story was updated on Oct. 4. All copies of the book are free thanks to the Council of Independent Colleges’ Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (CIC-NetVUE) grant. 

Norwegian Connections

Black and white photo of Pioneer Memorial on tree-lined hillside

The Pioneer Memorial demonstrates Luther’s historic connection to Norwegian immigration. It was built in 1936 to honor the Norwegian pioneers who established Luther College.

Group photo of 10 students and the Norwegian foreign minister

Demonstrating Luther’s ongoing connection with Norway, Luther students majoring in Nordic Studies in fall 2023 meet with Anniken Huitfeldt, who was then Norway’s foreign minister and is now Norway’s Ambassador to the United States.

Nordic Choir in robes stands in front of an old church

In May 2024, Luther's renowned Nordic Choir went on a tour of Norway, along with alumni and friends of Luther.

Contact Information

Michelle Volkmann
Media Relations Specialist

volkmi01@luther.edu

Phone: 563-387-1417