Research Topics: Park Region Luther College
Park Region Luther College, a high school/junior college sponsored by the Norwegian Lutheran Synod, was dedicated on October 10, 1892 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. By the end of the first week, there were eighty students in a rented building. Park Region Luther College moved into its own four story building on the top of a hill in Fergus Falls just after the turn of the century. In 1909, PRLC expanded to include a bachelor’s degree program. Students started publishing The Scout, a literary magazine, in 1910. Music and athletics were some of the other activities for students.
In 1916, the Norwegian Lutheran Synod merged with two other Lutheran synods. As a result, Park Region Lutheran College and Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota were both in the same synod. Since the colleges were only about 50 miles apart, changes were made to avoid duplication. PRLC agreed to discontinue its 4-year college department and advise those students to go to Concordia. Several college teachers transferred from PRLC to Concordia. Concordia was to discontinue its normal training, parochial teachers, and special English for newcomers departments. Each college was to continue its music and business departments. By 1925, the enrollment at PRLC was so large that classes had to be held in the dormitory rooms. In spite of accumulated debts, the Board of Directors decided to build an annex. Building was started in August 1926. By May 24, 1928 the college had about $73,000 in debts. However, debts owed to the college and pledges of support totaled almost that amount.
In early December of 1931, the bank where PRLC had money, closed. A special committee was appointed by the president of the college, Rev. E. W. Wulfsberg, to investigate the financial situation. The investigative committee’s report eventually led to the closing of the school at the end of the 1931-1932 school year. Special trustees were called to try to collect on debts owed to the college in order to pay off debts, with priority given to paying the teachers their back wages. Frederick Zilliox sent the last payments in 1938.
Records in the Concordia College Archives document the changes that PRLC went through during its founding, change and eventual closing. These include documents on PRLC history, governing bodies, finances, administration, official publications, and student publications. Also included are artifacts from PRLC, photographs, post cards, and newspaper clippings.
Items and documents can be found in Record Group 25 which is arranged in 11 series based on topic, and in bound volumes of the PRLC catalog and student directory.
In 1916, the Norwegian Lutheran Synod merged with two other Lutheran synods. As a result, Park Region Lutheran College and Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota were both in the same synod. Since the colleges were only about 50 miles apart, changes were made to avoid duplication. PRLC agreed to discontinue its 4-year college department and advise those students to go to Concordia. Several college teachers transferred from PRLC to Concordia. Concordia was to discontinue its normal training, parochial teachers, and special English for newcomers departments. Each college was to continue its music and business departments. By 1925, the enrollment at PRLC was so large that classes had to be held in the dormitory rooms. In spite of accumulated debts, the Board of Directors decided to build an annex. Building was started in August 1926. By May 24, 1928 the college had about $73,000 in debts. However, debts owed to the college and pledges of support totaled almost that amount.
In early December of 1931, the bank where PRLC had money, closed. A special committee was appointed by the president of the college, Rev. E. W. Wulfsberg, to investigate the financial situation. The investigative committee’s report eventually led to the closing of the school at the end of the 1931-1932 school year. Special trustees were called to try to collect on debts owed to the college in order to pay off debts, with priority given to paying the teachers their back wages. Frederick Zilliox sent the last payments in 1938.
Records in the Concordia College Archives document the changes that PRLC went through during its founding, change and eventual closing. These include documents on PRLC history, governing bodies, finances, administration, official publications, and student publications. Also included are artifacts from PRLC, photographs, post cards, and newspaper clippings.
Items and documents can be found in Record Group 25 which is arranged in 11 series based on topic, and in bound volumes of the PRLC catalog and student directory.