Elwin D. and Helen Farwell Collection
Paul D. Running(1923-)
Elwin D. Farwell
Oil, 1981
LFAC #614
Paul D. Running(1923-)
Helen Farwell
Oil, 1995
LFAC #1995:08:01
Elwin D. and Helen Farwell served as president and first lady of Luther
College from 1963 until 1982. From that time through the present they
have been enthusiastic supporters of Luther College, including being generous
patrons of the College’s Fine Arts Collection. Their gifts form a significant
component of the Fine Arts collection. This
collection is comprised of paintings, both watercolor and oil; prints,
including lithographs, etchings, and woodcuts; and ceramic and fiber art
objects. These donations include traditional and contemporary art works
as well as works representing diverse cultures and traditions.
Elwin Farwell was born May 1, 1919, in Michigan. He was married to Helen
Irene Hill in August, 1942. After he graduated from Michigan State University
in 1943, with a degree in animal husbandry, he served in the US army during
World War II. He then returned to Michigan State where he obtained an
MS degree, also in animal husbandry. In 1955, the Farwells moved to California
where he studied theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and
higher education at the University of California, Berkeley. He received
both his bachelor of divinity and Ed.D degrees in 1959. After a 2-year
pastorate in Andrew, Iowa, Farwell served as academic dean at California
Lutheran University. The Farwells settled in Decorah when he assumed the
presidency of Luther College in 1963. In 1985, Farwell served as interim
president at Dana College in Blair, NE, for several months. Since that
time, he has been an active resident of Decorah, participating in the
many activities associated with Luther College and the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of America. During Farwell’s tenure as president College enrollment
escalated from 1300 in 1961 to 2000 in 1967, where it remained stable;
new majors were created including pre-professional majors; departments
were expanded; a more diverse student body and faculty were encouraged;
and, Luther College became increasingly known as a liberal arts college
of excellence.
Helen Farwell, born in Normal, IL, graduated from the Michael Reese School
of Nursing in Chicago in 1942. She was known as an indefatigable supporter
of Luther College who successfully juggled, "the competing demands
of education, family life, and career." She and her husband raised
four children born between 1944 and 1958: Don, Kay, James and Judith.
She studied at Michigan State University and assumed nursing positions
at East Lansing, MI, and Richmond, Berkeley, and Thousand Oaks, CA. During
her time in Decorah, Helen Farwell helped organize the Faculty Women and
Wives group and served as its advisor for eighteen years. She was also
active with the Luther College Woman’s Club, started the cultural
and educational programs for spouses of Luther College regents, and served
as President of the First Lutheran Church Women. She was a volunteer guide
at the Norwegian-American Museum and a member of the Decorah Nurses Organization
and of the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She received
a Distinguished Service Award from Luther College in 1984.
There are four portraits of the Farwells in the Fine Arts Collection.
Two oil paintings by Paul Running and one photographic portrait by Harland
Nasvik portray Elwin Farwell. In addition, there is one oil painting by
Paul Running of Helen Farwell. An oil portrait by Paul Running of Elwin
Farwell hangs permanently in the foyer of the residence hall, Farwell
Hall, while the portrait of Helen Farwell is installed in the Helen Farwell
Lounge in the same building.
Ref: Jordahl, Leigh D. and Harris Kaasa. Stability and Change: Luther
College in its Second Century. Decorah, IA: Luther College Press,
1986; Nelson, Harland S. Distinguished Service Award: Helen Hill Farwell,
1984.
Elwin D. And Helen Farwell Collection: 1
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Updated
02/11/2005
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