To pastors, board and committee secretaries and local church historians:

Recently a woman from the state of Washington sent some important historical material to our ELS Archives. It included early memoirs from such synod forefathers as Koren, Ottesen, Brandt and others that apparently had been translated by her grandfather. Though this woman was not a member of our synod, she felt that these papers needed to be preserved and that our Archives would be the natural place for them. She, of course, was right, and we were happy to receive them.

Which brings us to ask, “How about you?” We trust you are making history, but are you preserving it? The following are some suggestions as to what should be preserved in the Archives.

From synod boards:

1. Minutes of Synod boards and committees.
2. Minutes of pastoral conferences (general), circuit and other.
3. Official correspondence of synodical officers and boards.

From congregations and individuals of the synod:

1. Copies of any written history of your congregation, anniversary or centennial histories, including pictures properly labeled and dated.
2. Church bulletins from special events.
3. Old and recent photographs of churches and parsonages. (Please identify and include dates.)
4. Copies of your important church documents.
5. Any available records from abandoned churches.
6. Cornerstone box contents from a discontinued church.
7. Early books that are of interest to Lutherans.

Note: Important church records could be filed in the Archives in case of a local church fire.

In short, your church and synod activity is making history. The Archives needs to preserve it.

Paul Madson is a retired pastor and the Archivist pro-tem at 6 Browns Court, Mankato, MN 56001.