Last updated: 4/22/2016
Rock Island, Illinois
Street Address
639 38th St
Rock Island, IL 61201
Mailing Address
639 38th Street
Attn: Kai Swanson
Rock Island, IL 61201

Staff

Samantha Crisp
phone: 309-794-7317
Description

The Augustana Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization of professional scholars, amateur historians, and above all friends of Augustana College. We’re bound together by our desire to preserve and tell Augustana’s story and stories.

We tell Augustana stories in publications ranging from the scholarly work of distinguished professors such as Conrad Bergendoff, Jules Mauritzson and Fritiof Fryxell, to biographies of outstanding figures in our history, to histories of the college itself. We sponsor lectures and presentations on a variety of topics—most recently, on the Augustana Synod and on living history museums. We have restored historic areas on the Augustana campus and placed monuments, markers, and displays to commemorate these areas. Recent work by one of our members received an award of commendation from the Concordia Historical Society.

Mission

Our mission statement describes our purpose: to preserve the history of Augustana College, and its relation to the Lutheran Church and to Swedish-American immigration and culture. We do these things through publications, presentations, and the collection of written records and artifacts.

History

Since its founding in 1930, the Society has traced the stories of Swedish-Americans who settled in the Midwest, built the Augustana Synod, and organized, taught, and studied at Augustana College and Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois. Like all histories, these stories often intermingle.

In the last decade or so, we have focused more attention on college history, as our upcoming publications indicate.

We have found the Augustana stories to be moving records of vision and courage. Many still remain untold. We’re dedicated to recovering and telling them, believing that the more we know of them, the more fully we can understand who we are and who we want to be.

Educational Programs
By joining us you’ll receive:

A 10% discount on any AHS publication
AHS “premiums” (complimentary or greatly discounted new AHS publications).
AHS Newsletter
The opportunity to attend programs in the fall and spring
Publications

A list of titles published by the AHS is available on our website. Please contact Dennis Norling at 309-794-8796 or dennisnorling@augustana.edu for ordering information.

Some of our titles are also available via the Augustana College bookstore (augustanabooks.com)

Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

RECENT UPDATES

Museums

03/07 Pointe Coupee Parish Museum

New Roads, Louisiana

03/07 Uintah County Heritage Museum

Vernal, Utah

Museum Vendors

03/07 Digiscura

Encino, California

Museum Associations

03/07 Public Lands Alliance

Washington, District of Columbia

03/07 Oregon Museums Association

Portland, Oregon

03/07 Virginia Association of Museums

Richmond, Virginia

03/07 American Association for State and Local History

Nashville, Tennessee

03/07 Small Museum Association

Dover, Delaware