Elections at Gustavus

Students are often passionate about political causes and especially so during presidential election years.  In the modern era, as evidenced by results of a student preference survey in the most recent issue of the Gustavian Weekly, Gustavus students prefer more liberal candidates.  In decades and centuries past, Gusties favored the more conservative contenders.  Although the following link will take you to images of electioneering at Gustavus from years past, these few images document only a sampling of political activity and student election activism.  To learn more about former elections at Gustavus, please visit the College and Lutheran Church Archives.

Images: Election Images

Archives Open House and Free Tour

October is American Archives Month so visit the College and Lutheran Church Archives and take a tour. Tours will feature historical Gustavus treasures and awesome artifacts not usually on public display. Find out what the archives is all about and what it has to offer you.  The archives is located on the library's top floor, directly above the main entrance.

Tours: 

• Wednesday, 17 October, 11:30-noonish
• Thursday, 25 October, 1:30-2:00ish
• Tuesday, 30 October, 3:30-4:00ish

Welcoming Royalty to Gustavus

As Gustavus is busy preparing to welcome Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, check out this new display that showcases their previous visits to our campus.  The “Swedish Royalty Visits Gustavus” display features artifacts and articles from the King and Queen’s last three visits.  Swedish Royalty has visited Gustavus for the United States’ Bicentennial, to unveil a sculpture, and to rededicate Nobel Hall.  Before the King and Queen of Sweden arrive to dedicate the West Mall and celebrate the sesquicentennial, visit this exciting display located on the main floor of the Library near the reference section!

Blast from the Past: Civil War in the Eyes of Union Soldiers

As we celebrate the sesquicentennial of Gustavus Adolphus College, it is important to look back and discover the events that occurred as Gustavus began.  One hundred and fifty years ago, our country was in the midst of a Civil War.  Many interesting facts can be revealed by studying the conflict, and the archives can help!  Check out the Civil War Documents display on the library’s main floor near the reference desk.  You’ll gain a greater understanding by reading what a Union solder’s life was like.  Some letters of Olof Nelson and excerpts from the diary of N.S. Carter are displayed to showcase the experiences of these men as they fought in the war.  This display was created by Lacie Micek, an archives student worker.

Christmas in the Archives

Stop by the Archives and check out our festive new look!  Swedish Christmas magazines along with a few intriguing Swedish bibles are on display.  

The Christmas lights and decorations will bring holiday cheer to your research, so come in and unwrap new knowledge!

Gustavus in a Time of War

Dr. Peterson's Exposition

The United States of America remembers the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that occurred on 7 December 1941, seventy years ago.  You might be wondering how Gustavus responded in the event's immediate aftermath.  Editors of the Gustavian Weekly printed their first post-attack newspaper two days after the bombing.  While the infamous action failed to make the paper's headline, a story about the women participating in St. Lucia served that purpose, it did get a blurb below the fold.  Conrad Peterson, longtime Gustavus history professor, wrote about our need to prepare for war and turn away from pacifism or "soon become another queer little sect along side the Quakers and the Mennonites."  Peterson's comments were from the heart.  He supported the war effort passionately and spent much of his time during this period giving supportive speeches.  

To read additional issues of the Gustavian Weekly from the World War II era, please visit the archives digital collections page.  As might be expected, Gustavus was a very different place in the early 1940s.  In fact and as can be seen in the attached image, only four buildings from that period remain on the campus today.

Gustavus Adolphus College, Summer 1942

Autumn in the Archives

It's autumn in the archives so drop on in and find something fantastic.