The dormitory called Co Ed, also known as Norelius, is named in honor of the founder of the school, Eric Norelius. Norelius was born on October 26, 1833 in Sweden and emigrated to the US in 1850, at the age of 17. He attended Capital University in Columbus Ohio from 1851 to 1855 and was ordained to the holy ministry in 1856. He became widely acknowledged as a leader of Minnesota’s Swedish Lutherans. He led two small Lutheran congregations one in Vasa and the other in Red Wing. He preached that it is important to be educated especially educated in religion. In the year 1862, Norelius demonstrated his commitment to education by convincing his congregations to set aside $20 for the establishment of a new school in Red Wing. It started off slowly with a single student named Jonas Magny of Chisago Lake, who Norelius welcomed into his home and gave him one-on-one lessons. Norelius was discontent with only one student and spread the word that his developing school was open for young people of both sexes to receive an education. By the December of 1862, Norelius had a dozen students and two months later he had 30.  Norelius’s instructing, though brief, had a huge impact on the youth he was directing it towards. He concluded his teaching at the Red Wing school at the end of the first school year. He handed the position over to the Swedish Lutheran clergyman, Andrew Jackson. After leaving The Red Wing School, Norelius continued to preach to both of his congregations, Vasa and Red Wing. He remained a strong supporter of the school that would eventually be called Gustavus Adolphus College, and weighed in on regular questions pertaining to the schools future as a member on the school’s board. Norelius was also the founder and two time president of the Augustana Synod from the years 1874–1881 and 1899–1911.  He later died in 1816. He will always be remembered for his roles in education, religion, and the founder of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Kenney, D. 2011. Gustavus Adolphus College. St. Peter, Minn.: Gustavus Adolphus College.

The Lutheran Companion. 1916. [Newspaper article]. Eric Norelius collection, Gustavus Adolphus College Library archives, St. Peter.

Norelius, College Founder, Is Dead. 1816. [Newspaper article]. Norelius collection, Gustavus Adolphus College Library archives, St. Peter.

Eric and Inga Charlotta Norelius. Digital image. :: Gustavus Adolphus College Images. N.p., 18 Oct. 2010. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://archives.gac.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15292coll2/id/237/rec/1>.