History of the University
Higher education in the early days of this country was dominated by private colleges originated by religious groups who saw in them a means to provide leadership for their churches, schools, and communities. Scandinavian immigrants to this country were no exception.
The institution which was to become Augustana College began with the foundation of Hillsboro Academy in Hillsboro, Illinois, in 1835. By 1846, a Scandinavian Lutheran group had changed the name to “The Literary and Theological Institute of The Lutheran Church of the Far West.”
The ambitious new name set the pace for the institution as it moved with the tide of immigration into America’s West. The school was moved to Springfield, Illinois, where it became Illinois State University and numbered among its students John Hay, who later became the nation’s Secretary of State, and Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln.
In 1860, due to differences over matters of doctrine, Professor Lars Paul Esbjorn and a group of followers moved to Chicago and established The Augustana Seminary with Esbjorn as the first president. The College has chosen to mark this as its founding date.
The name Augustana is drawn from the origin of the Lutheran Church in the Augsburg Confession in 1530 during the time of the Reformation. The Latin designation of this document was the Confessio Augustana.
During and after the Civil War, the fledgling college was caught up in the westward movement of pioneers. The school moved with its constituents to Paxton, Illinois, in 1863; and then in succession to Marshall, Wisconsin, in 1869; to Beloit, Iowa, in 1881; and to Canton, Dakota Territory, in 1884.
In 1918, following the union of three Lutheran synods, the College was moved to Sioux Falls where it merged with the Lutheran Normal School to form the present institution.
In 2015 the name Augustana College changed to Augustana University.
Twenty-four presidents have served Augustana since its founding: Lars Esbjorn (1860-1863); T. N. Hasselquist (1863-1869); August Weenas (1869-1870); J. Anderson (1870-1876); David Lysnes (1876-1884); M. D. Miller (1884-1889); C. S. Salveson (1889-1890); Anthony G. Tuve (1890-1916); P. M. Glasoe (1916-1918); H. S. Hilleboe (1918-1920); C. O. Solberg (1920-1928); H. J. Glenn (1928-1929); O.J.H. Preus (1929-1932); C.M. Granskou (1932-1943); Lawrence M. Stavig (1943-1965); Charles L. Balcer (1965-1980); William C. Nelsen (1980-1986); Sidney A. Rand (1986-1987); Lloyd Svendsbye (1987-1992); Sidney A. Rand (1992-1993); Ralph H. Wagoner (1993-2000); Bruce R. Halverson (2000-2006); Robert C. Oliver (2006-2017); Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (2017-present).