The Carlson Admin building is named after Edgar M. Carlson the Gustavus president from 1944 to 1968. According to David Kenney the author of Gustavus 150 years of history, Carlson’s life achievements seem endless as well as his roles at Gustavus including student, theologian, educator and president.  Carlson’s time spent as a student at Gustavus was well recognized by both his teachers and classmates who he impressed with his sharp mindedness, strong work ethic, and his deep faith for religion. He also had a knack for forensics, which came in handy when he helped Gustavus win its first Pi Kappa Delta national championship. After graduating in 1930, he went on to Augustana Seminary where he earned his bachelors of divinity. After he received his bachelors of divinity he moved to Minneapolis where he became pastor at the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and did graduate work in philosophy and English at the University of Minnesota. In the year 1937, he moved back to St. Peter pursuing a position on Gustavus’s Department of Christianity. In the year 1944, while on a leave of absence, he finished his work on his Ph.D at the University of Chicago and teaching part time at Augustana seminary when he received the call about becoming the new president at Gustavus, which I am sure he overwhelmingly accepted.

Carlson’s term, lasting over two decades, was beneficial to the foundation of the college’s future. He made many improvements including new facilities, new faculty, and administrators. As noted by Kenney “The teaching staff topped 70 for the first time in 1947.” In the year 1948, the new library was complete and was later dedicated to the memory of the Swedish diplomat Count Folke Bernadotte. It was also one of Carlson’s goals to diversify the college. By the late 1940s Gustavus had enrolled students from many different countries around the world. According to Kenney, “Students from countries such as British Guiana (Guyana), Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Korea, and yes Sweden.” As Kenney puts it, “Gustavus was becoming a touch more cosmopolitan.”  In 1963, the first annual Nobel Conference took place giving Carlson national recognition as the founder. According to the New York Times magazine “Mr. Carlson is nationally recognized as a leader in higher education.”  The article goes on to notice him as the founder of the Alfred B. Nobel conference. In 1968, Carlson’s term ended on what most people would say a high note.  “In his 24 years as president” Kenny writes, “Carlson had guided the college through a period of transformational growth in which enrollment mushroomed from less than 350 to nearly 1,800.” Carlson’s term as president shaped the campus into what it is today. In recognition of other changes on the campus, Kenny writes, “Most of the buildings on campus had been completed under his watch. He had overseen the introduction of the new curriculum, expansion and improvement of the faculty.” If Carlson had not been president Gustavus might not have been the school it is today.

Edgar M. Carlson, 83, Leader in Education. 1992. [online] April 12. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/12/obituaries/edgar-m-carlson-83-leader-in-education.html [Accessed: 28th of January, 2014].

Carlson International Center. Digital image. Gustavus Adolphus College. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"Edgar M. Carlson Administration Building." Edgar M. Carlson Administration Building. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.