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Norris Alden Magnuson papers, 1944-1999

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-Bio-9

Scope and Contents

The Norris Magnuson papers date between 1944 and 1999 and span nine cubic feet in six boxes.

The Bethel series contains documents from Magnuson's time as a student at Bethel. The Analysis of Pealism was a paper written for the class Pastoral Counseling with Dean Omark in 1956. The Conversion of St. Paul was a paper written for the class Psychology of Religion in 1960. Three notebooks are filled with class notes from classes, two taught by Dr. Fagerstrom....
The folders mostly hold papers written for various classes at Bethel.

The Alumni Class Rep folder dates to the 1970s. It holds documents from Magnuson as the class representative, much of it fundraising correspondence.

The Writings and Talks folders hold various articles and speeches given by Magnuson. How We Grew was a booklet printed by the Baptist General Conference about its history. Building on a Heritage was an issue of the Bethel Seminary Journal managed by Magnuson. The Missionsskolan folder contains the publishing draft of the his book on Bethel Theological Seminary history.

The Bethel Faculty folders hold documents collected by Magnuson during his time as Bethel faculty. This includes memos, minutes from the Academic Programs Committee, minutes from the Seminary Self Study Committee, minutes from the Faculty Personal and Professional Growth Committee, and an agenda from the Chapel and Lecture Committee.

The Statements of Faith were submitted to Seminary faculty. Those kept by Magnuson include from Donald Bird, Paul Keidel, Ken Bern, and Bryan Jacobson.

The Seminary Newssheet folder dates between 1973 and 1978.

The Notes folders contain mostly handwritten loose notes kept by Magnuson on many topics, such as work, books he was reading, classes, and scripture. Several loose envelopes with notes written directly on them are kept loose from folders. The Sermon notes were taken during sermons at Salem Baptist Church in New Brighton.

The Ministerial Guidance Committee was a committee of the Baptist General Conference that included Magnuson. The binder holds some meeting minutes from the late 1970s, as well as correspondence, notes of the pastoral placement process, and information on church incidents. Several statements of faith for pastors before ordination are included in these folders, including those from Chuck Parker, James Blades, Scott Pearson, Mark Patrick, Ron Blomberg, Randy Swenson, David Nethercott, Dennis Pearson, Frank Evans, Stephen Pike, Lloyd Nelson, John Merritt, and Karl Smith.

The Correspondence folders date between 1944 and 1999. Topics are personal and work related, especially about the Library and Archives. The Thesis folder dates to the 1960s, much of which consists of applications for grants while he was writing his thesis. The Sabbatical correspondence folder dates mostly to the late 1960s, with correspondence with other libraries on their holdings relevant to his research.

The Sabbatical folder dates to the early 1990s, and includes reports and projects Magnuson worked on during sabbatical.

The Library School folder holds Magnuson's notes from his time at library school at the University of Minnesota.

The Library series focuses on Bethel Theological Seminary Library. The General folder contains a variety of information, such as self-assessments, information on audiovisual equipment and other resources, computerization, collection development policies, library guides, minutes from the Minnesota Theological Library Association, and written library histories. The Statistics folder contains library statistics on budgets, collection development, circulation, and ATLA rankings. The Goals and Objectives folder holds documents sent to the Seminary dean on the library's future outlook. The Reports folder hold library reports from 1972 to 1995. The binder labeled Minnesota Governor's Pre-White House Conference on Library and Information Services dates to 1978, and holds information from Magnuson's role as a delegate. A History of Bethel Theological Seminary Library: Past to Present was written by Carol Brice as a thesis for the University of Minnesota in 1973. The Minnesota Library Association put out directories of academic librarians in 1971 and 1972.

The Archives folders involve the archives of Bethel and the Baptist General Conference. They hold logs of activities, reports to the Historical Committee, correspondence, and the library structure. The finance folder holds mostly checks from the Baptist General Conference to fund the archives. The photographs folder contains prints and negatives of historical people and places within the Baptist General Conference, such as F.O. Nilsson.

The Salvation in the Slums series involves the writing and publishing of the book by the same title. Originally his thesis for his doctorate at the University of Minnesota, it was later published as a book. The series contains his research, drafts of the book, his thesis from 1968, publishing information, and advertisements for the book.

The Ph. D. folder contains documents from the University of Minnesota during the 1960s, such as commencement information, correspondence, and application information.

The Courses taught folders were from classes Magnuson taught at Bethel. These include Church Renewal in Modern America and Life of Prayer. A Church History class cassette, possibly taught by Magnuson, is included.

A Bethel Promotional Video VHS is included in this collection, with short interviews by faculty memebers.

The Administrative Committee folders date between 1978 and 1993. They contain mostly meeting minutes from the Administrative Committee at Bethel.

The Advising folders contain information for Magnuson's advisees at Bethel, including thesis information, class schedules, biographical sketches of students, and registration documents. The last folder holds a paper or thesis from 1983, but it is unclear who wrote it.

Two agenda books dating to 1972 and 1973 hold schedules and other written notes.

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Dates

  • 1944 - 1999

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for researcher use.

Biographical note

Norris Magnuson was born in 1932 in Midale, Saskatchewan, to George and Esther Eliason Magnuson. George was a pastor with the Baptist General Conference. Norris attended Bethel College, graduating in 1954, then Bethel Seminary in 1958. He recieved an M.A. in Library Science in 1961 and a Ph.D. in history in 1968, both from the University of Minnesota.

Magnuson began work at the Bethel Library in 1959. In 1972, he became Library Director of the seminary...
library, as well as a full professor at the seminary. He retired from these positions in 1997. Magnsuon also worked as Archivist for the Bethel and Baptist General Conference Archives from 1993 to 1999.

Magnuson married Beverly Carlson in 1956, with whom he had four sons. He died of Parkinson's disease in 2006.

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Extent

9 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

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Arrangement

This collection is primarily arranged topically, with some chronological order within some folders.

Custodial History

This collection was held and housed at the Archives, where Magnuson worked until 1999.

Title
Norris Alden Magnuson papers, 1944-1999
Author
Rebekah Bain
Date
December 2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The History Center: Archives of Bethel University and Converge Repository

Contact:
3900 Bethel Drive
Arden Hills MINNESOTA 55112 United States