Special Collections: Researching Augustana College History

Published in celebration of the college's 150th anniversary in 2010, this book contains short articles on a wide range of topics pulled from Augustana's history. It opens with a detailed timeline and also includes profiles of each of Augustana's eight presidents. This book is an excellent place to start if you are just beginning your research and need to gain a broad overview of the college's history fairly quickly. If you are looking for inspiration for a topic for a class paper or project, Reflecting on the Past covers many potential jumping off points worthy of further exploration. Physical copies are available in Special Collections, in the main stacks of the Thomas Tredway Library, and at the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center (located in Denkmann Hall). There is also a digital version accessible through the college's Digital Commons (link provided in the catalog record).

This book focuses on the growth and development of Augustana's campus in Rock Island, Illinois. It is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the history of the buildings and grounds of the college. There are two editions, with the primary difference being that the later edition includes developments from 1985-1992. If you are researching a building from 1985 or earlier, you can use either edition. Copies are available in Special Collections, in the main stacks of the library, and at the Swenson Center. There is also a digital version of the 1985 edition available via the college's Digital Commons (link provided in the catalog record).

Same as above, but a later edition. Use this edition if you are researching a building built after 1985. Copies of the 1992 edition are available in Special Collections, in the main library stacks, and at the Swenson Center. At the current time, only the 1985 edition is available online.

Dr. Conrad Bergendoff served as president of Augustana College from 1935-1962. After retiring, he wrote this carefully researched book about the early history of the college. Copies are available in Special Collections, in the main stacks of the library, and at the Swenson Center. This book has a detailed subject index that may help you locate relevant parts of the book efficiently.

This is the same book as above, reprinted in 2010. Listed here to ensure you have access to both catalog records and thus a complete set of call numbers and holdings information.

Dr. Thomas Tredway served as president of Augustana College from 1975-2003. His book traces the development of the college from 1935, where Bergendoff's book leaves off, through 1975, when Tredway's own presidency began. Although it lacks a complete subject index, Tredway's book does have an index of names to help you locate passages about particular people.

Written by former faculty member Dr. Ann Boaden, this book focuses on women, their impact on, and experiences at Augustana during the college's first 100 years. Copies are available in Special Collections, in the main library stacks, and at the Sweson Center.