Dana and Ruth Larson papers, 1946-1988

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Miss-22

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Dana and Ruth Larson papers span 1.5 cubic feet in three boxes. The collection dates from 1946 to 1988.

The three Newsletters folders contain the newsletters sent by the Larsons to supporters in the United States during their time in both India and Argentina. The newsletters date from 1951 to 1988.

The Articles folder contains several clippings and articles by or about the Larsons.

The Travel folder ranges from 1947 to 1971. They contain some financial information and documents detailing travel to and from the various mission fields (India and Argentina). These documents include ticket stubs, passport information, telegrams, and memos to the mission board.

The Board Meeting Minutes folder holds minutes from the Board of Foreign Missions and the North Bank Field Work. They date from the 1946 to the 1967.

The Christian Life Series Workbook folder is a copy of a workbook from India written by Henrietta Mears that was translated by Ruth Larson in 1953. It was published with permission by Gospel Light Press.

Eight Correspondence folders contain mostly letters sent to and from the Larsons to members of their mission board and close friends during their two periods of mission work - in India from the 1950s-1960s, and in Argentina from the 1970s, including some telegrams.

The four Financials folders contain some correspondence by the Larsons regarding financial needs and details, along with receipts for their work in India and in Argentina.

Dates

1946 - 1988

Creator

Larson, Dana Mason, Rev. (1921-2013) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for researcher use

Biographical Note

Dana Larson was born in 1921 in Akron, Ohio to Axel and Christine Larson, Swedish immigrants. Ruth N. Larson was born in 1926 in Isanti, Minnesota to Andrew and Emma Rask, also Swedish immigrants. Both attended Bethel. Dana graduated from Bethel Seminary in 1946 and was ordained in 1947 at College Avenue in San Diego, California. The couple married in 1946 at Elim Baptist Church in Isanti. Together they had nine children.

The couple served as Baptist General Conference missionaries in Assam, India from 1947 to 1967, when the Indian government removed foreign missionaries. They helped grow churches in Baligaon (now called Gogamukh) where Ruth also helped run a clinic for leprousy. In 1968 they accepted assignment to Catamarca, Argentina until their retirement in 1987.

In 1987, the Larsons moved to back to Minnesota, where they continued to minister to Spanish churches in Minneapolis. In 1997, they became interim leaders in Limon, Costa Rica for a year. Dana died in 2013, and Ruth died in 2023. They are buried in Isanti Union Cemetary.