Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn papers
Scope and Contents
The Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn papers, 1838-1941 and undated, contains biographical information about Esbjörn and his family, Esbjörn's writings, newspaper clippings, and files on subjects of interest to him (including Mormonism, patronymics, pacifism, and the League of Nations).
The Biographical Information series, 1862-1936, contains a photograph of C.L.E. Esbjörn, a 60th Anniversary dinner menu, a biography of his father, Lars Paul Esbjorn, written by Carl Esbjörn, two photocopied pages from a published volume containing a biography of his mother, Gustava Albertina Esbjörn (Magnusson), and Esbjörn's 1918 copy of Condensed German Grammar.
The Writings series, 1862 and undated, includes writings and notes concerning Augustana College at Paxton and Rock Island, as well as the Augustana Church. Also included are three of Esbjörn's unpublished manuscripts.
The Correspondence series, 1882-1931, contains letters from Esbjörn's mother, brothers, sisters, Johann August Udden, Carl Aron Swensson, Arthur Wald, and Erland Carlson. Esbjörn's call to a professorship at Augustana College in 1887, signed by S.P.A. Lindahl and Erland Carlsson, is included in this series.
The Mormonism series, 1838-1935, contains correspondence, notes on Mormonism, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets.
The Patronymics series, 1907-1927 and undated, contains correspondence with Lutheran colleges and various state associations, account books for postage, lists of alternative Swedish names, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets.
The League of Nations and Peace series, 1915-1938 and undated, contains correspondence, notes, original peace documents with arguments and summaries, newspaper clippings (including two scrapbooks), and pamphlets.
Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, 1922-1941, contains newsclippings not related to the above series.
Dates
- Creation: 1838-1941 and undated
Creator
Language of Materials
English and Swedish
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.
Historical Note
Born in Chicago, Illinois on 26 November 1862, Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn (also spelled Esbjorn) was the son of Lars Paul Esbjörn, a well-known leader in the Augustana Synod and the first president of Augustana College. Esbjörn was about one year old when his family returned to Sweden, where his father accepted a call to become the rector of Ostervala parish. After the death of his father, Carl returned to America and settled in Swedona, Illinois, with his mother, Gustava Albertina Magnusson Esbjörn, his two brothers, Constantin and Paul, and his two sisters, Maria and Hannah. Both Carl Esbjörn and his brother, Constantin, attended their first year of college at Augustana in Paxton, Illinois. In 1875, Augustana moved to Rock Island, Illinois, and Carl continued his education there. There he continued his education and graduated "Classi Primus" in 1880.
In the fall of 1880, Esbjörn began his teaching career as an assistant teacher in modern languages at Augustana. This appointment was short-lived, and one year later he went to the University of Michigan where he obtained a master's degree in language. In 1883 Esbjörn taught at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Finally, in 1887, he returned to Augustana as a regular professor of language. His 52 years of teaching at Augustana were interrupted only for post-graduate work at the University of Leipzig, the Sorbonne, and the University of Chicago. Esbjörn also became the librarian at Augustana College, taking charge of the Charles XV Collection. These books had been presented to the college by the king of Sweden to form the basis of the library. Academically, Esbjörn was interested in simplified spelling, temperance, patronymics, Mormonism, and pacifism. He established the Esbjörn Fund for international peace at Augustana College.
On 30 December 1939, when he left his home on 34th Street in Rock Island to mail a letter, Esbjörn was struck by a car and killed. He was survived by his wife, Mae Sauerman Esbjörn, whom he had married in 1925.
Extent
1.1 Cubic Feet (/ 3 boxes)
Abstract
Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn (also spelled Esbjorn) was the son of Augustana College's first president, Lars Paul Esbjörn. He attended Augustana College in the 1870s, studying at both the college's Paxton campus and Rock Island campus. He taught at several colleges before taking a permanent position at Augustana as a professor of languages in 1887. He would remain at Augustana for 52 years until his death in 1939, when he was struck by a car while crossing 7th Avenue. Esbjörn was interested in simplified spelling, the temperance question, patronymics, Mormonism, and pacifism. The Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn papers, 1838-1941 and undated, contains biographical information about Esbjörn and his family, Esbjörn's writings, newspaper clippings, and files on subjects of interest to him (including Mormonism, patronymics, pacifism, and the League of Nations).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Michelle L. Leonard, 2001. Revised by Allison James, 2008, Samantha Crisp, April 2015, and Atticus Garrison, October 2016.
Subject
- Esbjörn, Constantin Magnus, 1858-1911 (Person)
- Esbjörn, Gustava Albertina Magnusson, 1833-1925 (Person)
- Esbjörn, L.P. (Lars Paul), 1808-1870 (Person)
- Esbjörn family (Family)
- League of Nations (Organization)
- Udden, Johan August, 1859-1932 (Person)
- Wald, Arthur Anderson (Person)
- Title
- Carl Linus Eugene Esbjörn papers, 1838-1941 and undated.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Atticus Garrison
- Date
- October 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Augustana College Special Collections Repository
639 38th Street
Thomas Tredway Library
Rock Island Illinois 61201 United States
specialcollections@augustana.edu