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Inventory
of the Covenant
Ministers: Karl A. Olsson Papers,
1902-1993 (bulk dates 1933-1993). Record
Series 6/1/2/1/32a 8.9
cubic feet (27 archives boxes)
ABSTRACT: The
Karl A. Olsson Papers (Record Series 6/1/2/1/32a) consist largely of
publishing files, manuscripts, and research notes documenting his careful
research into the history of the Evangelical Covenant Church and his work
as an author. Of note are
correspondence regarding published works, working versions of published
works, detailed research notes and notebooks, and complete manuscripts of Into
One Body . . . By The Cross and The
God Game. In addition,
the correspondence files document his various appointments, tenures, and
resignations, including those of his service as President of North Park
University (previously North Park College and Theological Seminary). BIOGRAPHICAL
HISTORY: Karl A. Olsson was born June 10, 1913 in Renton, Washington
to Nils A. and Mathilda Olsson. Mathilda Olsson died 3 months after his
birth. In 1915 the family moved from Washington to Sweden, where Nils A.
married Viktoria Larsson. The
family returned to the United States in 1922, settling in Pennsylvania.
Olsson attended North Park College and Seminary (later renamed North Park
University) between 1931and 1933. While a student at North Park, Olsson
was called to his first pastoral position at the First Covenant Church in
St. Paul, Minnesota. He later
served Covenant churches in Stillwater, Minnesota and in Chicago,
Illinois. Olsson married Dorothy Sally Carlson on September 14, 1935. His
teaching career began in 1938, when he accepted a position to teach
English at North Park. In
1942 Olsson was ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. In that same
year he enlisted in the Army, where he served as a chaplain with the 11th
Armored Division with the rank of Captain.
Olsson was honored with a Bronze and a Silver Medal for gallantry
in action. He later served as
a Chaplain during the Korean War. After World War II, Olsson returned to
the University of Chicago, teaching and serving as assistant dean of
students. Olsson received his
Ph.D. in English in 1948 from the University of Chicago and then taught
both literature at North Park College and church history at North Park
Seminary. In 1959, he was
elected President of North Park. He
retired from this position in 1970. The
Olssons moved to Columbia, Maryland, where Olsson concentrated on his work
with relational ministries, through Faith at Work, Inc. and through his
own organization, Relational Ministries, Inc. Olsson was a prolific
writer, contributing more than nine hundred and fifty articles to the Covenant
Companion and publishing twelve books.
Karl Olsson died on June 2, 1996.
(Source: Covenant Companion,
September 1996, pp 22-23). SCOPE AND CONTENT
NOTE: The collection includes publishing files, manuscripts,
correspondence files, and research materials.
Of note are correspondence regarding published works, working
versions of published works, research notes and notebooks, and complete
manuscripts of Into One Body . . .
By The Cross and The God Game.
The collection is organized in four different series that reflect
the personal filing system of Karl Olsson.
The Correspondence Series documents his various appointments,
tenures, and resignations, including those of his service as President of
North Park University (then known as North Park College and Theological
Seminary). The Manuscripts Series is so named because it contains draft or
final forms of published works, addresses and lectures, and sermons.
These are found in either hand-written or typed form. In some
cases, the development of ideas and the form of the work can be discerned
through comparison between early drafts and later or final versions.
The Publishing Files include a variety of material, including
versions of a work, correspondence with publishers and commentators,
promotional material, and research materials.
The Research Files document Olsson’s thorough research work on
the history of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Of note are the cards and
notebooks labeled “Centenary History,” for it is believed that these
were created particularly in the research of the 1985 centennial history
of the Evangelical Covenant Church,
Into One Body…by the Cross. Also of note are the sermon and speech
outlines, which are enhanced by details of delivery locations. Use of Quotation
Marks: The titles found on Karl Olsson’s own folders were retained if
they accurately reflected the contents of a folder, or if they added to
the description. In all cases,
these particular folder titles are distinguished from the others by
quotation marks. For
example, a folder title which reads Correspondence,
Presidential, “Suspense File/Unanswered Congratulations,” 1959 reflects
that the contents of this folder were found in a folder labeled
“Suspense File/Unanswered Congratulations” at the time of its transfer
to the Archives. ARRANGEMENT:
The files are organized alphabetically by type of record series,
then alphabetically within each series, and then chronologically.
All files may contain a variety of materials, including
correspondence, manuscripts, and research notes. ACCESS
RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and
the collection is open to all members of the public.
However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming
with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright that may be involved in the
use of this collection. RELATED
COLLECTIONS: Record Series 9/1/ 2/6
- NPCTS: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, KARL A. OLSSON Record Series 9/1/
2/6a - NPCTS: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, KARL A. OLSSON Record Series
6/1/2/1/32 - COVENANT MINISTERS: KARL A. OLSSON ACQUISITION AND
PROVENANCE: Dorothy Sally Olsson donated these papers in 1998.
PROCESSING:
This collection was processed by Jennifer Sullivan, in August – December
of 1999. The inventory was
written by Ellen M. Engseth and Jennifer Sullivan in December 1999 and
January 2000.
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