Christian Keyser Preus
Encyclopedia
Christian Keyser Preus was an American Lutheran Minister who served as the second President of Luther College
.
parsonage of Wisconsin
to Norwegian immigrants Herman Amberg Preus
and Caroline (Linka) Keyser Preus, he had connections with the Norwegian Synod from childhood through his father’s involvement with the church. Preus was a 1873 graduate of Luther College
, and 1876 graduate of Concordia Seminary
.
The changes to the curriculum and campus under the presidency of Preus were considerable. In 1915, the college was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The physical campus also changed. The gymnasium tripled in size with the addition of an auditorium in 1903. Larsen Hall was built in 1907 providing dormitory, office, and classroom space. In 1909-1910, prominent landscape architect Jens Jensen
, suggested new landscape designs for the campus and in 1921 the cornerstone was laid for the Koren Library and Museum.
Preus was a charter member and the first Iowa District president of the Choral Union of the Synod, which was organized in 1903. Preus was also active in the Norwegian Synod which later evolved into the Norwegian Church in America. In addition, he was vice-president of the Norwegian Synod since 1911, vice-president of the Iowa District of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America since 1917, president of the Winneshiek County Old Settlers' Association in 1913, and the first president of the Educational Association of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
C. K. Preus died in 1921, 40 days after the cornerstone for Koren Library and Museum was laid. His Personal Papers and records are maintained in the Luther College Archives. His son, Ove Jacob Hjort Preus would serve as president of two colleges, Augustana College
in South Dakota and Luther College, serving as Luther’s fourth president from 1932 to 1948.
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
.
Background
Born in the Spring PrairieSpring Prairie, Wisconsin
Spring Prairie is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,089 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Honey Creek, and Voree are located in Spring Prairie.-Geography:...
parsonage of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to Norwegian immigrants Herman Amberg Preus
Herman Amberg Preus
Herman Amberg Preus was an American Lutheran clergyman and church leader. He was a key figure in organizing the Norwegian Synod.-Background:Herman Amberg Preus was born in Kristiansand, Norway...
and Caroline (Linka) Keyser Preus, he had connections with the Norwegian Synod from childhood through his father’s involvement with the church. Preus was a 1873 graduate of Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
, and 1876 graduate of Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
.
Career
Preus first became a minister at the historic Spring Prairie Lutheran Church. In 1898, Preus accepted a teaching job in the preparatory department at Luther College. Preus would become President of Luther College in 1902 and served until his death in 1921.The changes to the curriculum and campus under the presidency of Preus were considerable. In 1915, the college was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The physical campus also changed. The gymnasium tripled in size with the addition of an auditorium in 1903. Larsen Hall was built in 1907 providing dormitory, office, and classroom space. In 1909-1910, prominent landscape architect Jens Jensen
Jens Jensen (landscape architect)
Jens Jensen was a Danish-American landscape architect.-Early life:Jens Jensen was born near Dybbøl in Slesvig, Denmark, in 1860, to a wealthy farming family. For the first nineteen years of his life he lived on his family's farm, which cultivated his love for the natural environment...
, suggested new landscape designs for the campus and in 1921 the cornerstone was laid for the Koren Library and Museum.
Preus was a charter member and the first Iowa District president of the Choral Union of the Synod, which was organized in 1903. Preus was also active in the Norwegian Synod which later evolved into the Norwegian Church in America. In addition, he was vice-president of the Norwegian Synod since 1911, vice-president of the Iowa District of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America since 1917, president of the Winneshiek County Old Settlers' Association in 1913, and the first president of the Educational Association of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
C. K. Preus died in 1921, 40 days after the cornerstone for Koren Library and Museum was laid. His Personal Papers and records are maintained in the Luther College Archives. His son, Ove Jacob Hjort Preus would serve as president of two colleges, Augustana College
Augustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
in South Dakota and Luther College, serving as Luther’s fourth president from 1932 to 1948.
Selected works
- Hvilken Retning og Mod Hvilket Maal Bor Luther College Udvikles for Bedst at Tjene Synoden? (Decorah, IA: Lutheran Publishing House, 1904) Norwegian
Other sources
- Luther College Faculty, Luther College Through Sixty Years, 1861-1921 (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1922)
- Nelson, David Theodore, Luther College, 1861-1961 (Decorah, IA: Luther College Press, 1961)
Other Reading
- Tingelstad, Oscar Adolf and Olaf M. NorlieOlaf M. NorlieOlaf Morgan Norlie , also referred to as O. M. Norlie, was a Lutheran minister, educator and scholar. He was a prolific author who is most remembered as the translator of the Simplified New Testament.-Background:...
Christian Keyser Preus, 1852-1921 (Augsburg Publishing Co. Minneapolis: 1922) Norwegian