David T. and Esther Nelson

David Theodore Nelson was born in 1891 at Hillsboro, North Dakota, the fifth child of N.D. and Hannah Nelson. After graduating from Luther College he taught in Bisbee, North Dakota, before leaving for Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He interrupted his studies in December 1914 to serve with the Commission for Relief in Belgium and then the American Ambulance Field Service before entering the U.S. Army. In 1921 David returned to his alma mater, Luther College, and began a life-long teaching career. In 1924 he married Esther Caroline Torrison of Decorah, the daughter of Reverend Isaac B. and Elisabeth (Koren) Torrison. Esther was born in Chicago to Knute and Serine Lindseth and was adopted by the Torrisons before her fifth birthday. She grew up in Decorah and attended the University of Chicago.

Materials included are

• • Compilation of DTN letters and diaries published by John P. Nelson in 1996

  • Pictures, etc., from DTN's service with the Commission for the Relief of Belgium, 1914-1915

  • Pictures, etc., from DTN's service with the American Ambulance Field Service in France, 1915-1916

  • Nelson pictures (mostly from the wedding of David T. and Esther Torrison Nelson)

  • Collection of poetry mostly by DTN

  • Collection of speeches by DTN

  • David T. Nelson obituary from the Decorah Posten, October 16, 1969

  • "A Tribute to David T. Nelson," John C. Bale, delivered at a memorial service at Luther College, October 13, 1969

  • Baptismal certificate for namesake David Theodore Nelson who died as an infant

  • Marriage certificate for David T. and Esther Torrison Nelson

  • Marriage announcement from the Decorah Republican, September 11, 1924

  • Esther Torrison Nelson birth certificate, 1894

  • Esther Torrison Nelson adoption papers, 1899

  • Esther T. Nelson obituary from the Decorah Journal, 1989

  • Esther T. Nelson obituary from the First Lutheran Church bulletin, 1989

  • Letter written to Jonas and Hafe Øglænd by David T. Nelson, June 29, 1934 (includes detailed history of DØN's ancestors)

  • Picture of DTN on the Luther faculty baseball team from the Luther College archives (which holds much material on DTN and the Koren family)

  • Family history documents from Luther College archives provided by Kate: DTN1, DTN2, DTN3