NDSU Archives has acquired the Lutheran Social Services Collection.

First founded in 1919 and having closed its doors earlier this year, the non-profit agency provided essential services for North Dakota, including programs for senior citizen support, child trauma treatment, family support, gambling addiction, refugee resettlement and adoption.

The addition of the collection will provide researchers additional insight into the history of social programs in North Dakota and the surrounding region. Included in the collection are materials related to family support and refugee resettlement; case files are not included.

Processing archivist Matt Tallant said, “Lutheran Social Services played such an important part in helping so many people around the state. To be able to preserve and have these materials accessible to the public continues the legacy that they started.”

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed October 2021 as Archives Month in the state. The proclamation states, in part, “Whereas, historical societies, museums, libraries, religious institutions, colleges and universities, businesses and families document and preserve their history; and…whereas, through these archives, future generations of North Dakotans can more accurately study the past, learn from the accomplishments of their predecessors, trace their ancestors and understand their community’s heritage, while celebrating the history of our state.”

NDSU Libraries’ Special Collections include the NDSU Archives and the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection.

As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.