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Lutheran Church of Australia

where love comes to life

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      The Lutheran Church is the largest Protestant church in the world, with over 70 million members. This website tells the story of Australian and New Zealand Lutherans, following Jesus Christ – where love comes to life. Whoever you are, whatever your story, you're welcome here with us.
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FILM DIGITISATION APPEAL

Here's your chance to save a film!

Visit the webpage

COMMEMORATING LUTHER

2017 was the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Discover how Lutherans have commemorated significant milestones since Luther nailed his '95 Theses' to the church door at Wittenberg.

Word   PDF

Become our friend!

Interested in history? Enjoy a good story? Want to learn more? Join our enthusiastic group of supporters by becoming a Friend of Lutheran Archives (FoLA). We encourage the collection and preservation of archival material and to promote the work of the Lutheran Archives.

MORE ABOUT FoLA

LCA Ministry Support


Lutheran Archives is a department of the Executive Office of the Church, also known as Ministry Support. It is one of five departments exercising the 'enabling' functions outlined in our Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) Strategic Direction 2015–2018. Working with us are:

  • Church Worker Support
  • Communications
  • Finance & Administration
  • Professional Standards.

Together we provide the support services for LCA and Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) agencies and congregations that enable them to focus on their mission and ministry activities (the 'go' and 'grow' priorities in our LCA Strategic Direction).

Please support us

This link takes you to our LCA online donation site, where you can pay securely via credit card.

Lutheran Archives

Lutheran Archives acknowledges and pays our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the ongoing deep relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs.

Lutheran Archives opening hours

Our public opening hours are weekdays (except Wednesday) from 9.30am - 3.00pm.

COVID Policy: Please note that bookings are essential if planning to visit for research or to deposit records. Face masks may be worn according to personal discretion.

Please ring us on (08) 8340 4009 or email us before a visit to Lutheran Archives to make an appointment.

See our protocols and advice for:

  • research visits
  • depositing or donating records
  • payments, book sales or other reasons.

Please do not drop off or send us deposits without speaking to us first. 

Please do not enter Lutheran Archives if:

  • you are sick, have a cough, fever, sore throat, or any cold or flu symptoms, no matter how mild OR you share a household with someone who is sick or has those symptoms
  • you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or you are awaiting PCR test results
  • you have been told to isolate or quarantine.

About us

Lutheran Archives holds a harvest of stories that show God’s love coming to life – the stories of the congregations, departments and the people of the church. Lutheran Archives gathers and preserves these stories from all over Australia and the Pacific – wherever the church is involved. We share the stories of the LCA/NZ across the church and in the wider public. We enable others to encounter these stories through research, so they can share their stories and experiences of love coming to life.

A wide variety of people access these records: congregations, family historians, academic researchers, creative artists and filmmakers. These records help people to write congregation histories, fill gaps in family trees, understand our cultural diversity, further Aboriginal language research, and restore identity. The power of these records cannot be overestimated.

By depositing records at Lutheran Archives, the stories of your ministries can be encountered by members of the church and public, told and disseminated to a myriad of audiences. We are able to turn your records deposited at Lutheran Archives into new ministries by providing and enabling access to them.

LOVE COMES TO LIFE when we recognise God's faithfulness to generations past, and carefully lay foundations of faith for those who will follow us.

How we serve

As a ministry support department, Lutheran Archives is here to support you in your ministries. We can assist you with:

  • advice on managing your records
  • caring for your permanent records that you no longer regularly access.

Managing your records appropriately enables you to focus on carrying out your current ministries – beginning with records in your possession and continuing into the future when they are deposited at Lutheran Archives.

Lutheran Archives identifies records to be deposited. We make those records accessible through arrangement and description, indexing, translation and digitisation, and we provide contextual understanding for researchers to interpret those records.

Through presentations, exhibitions, publications, seminars and events, we disseminate the harvest of stories throughout the Lutheran community and beyond. Join Friends of Lutheran Archives to feast on these stories.

Partner with us

You and your ministries are the foundation of our ministry.

  1. Ensure you create records within your congregation, mission, auxiliary or department, and of your personal experiences in the church.
  2. Manage those records appropriately while you are using them.
  3. Deposit those records (minutes, correspondence, artefacts, films, photographs) when they are no longer being regularly used.

The fact that people in the past took the trouble to preserve their story means that we are blessed today with their harvest. Take the time today to preserve this generation’s fruit, so that there will be a harvest of stories for our children and grandchildren.

Events

Thursday 25 May - In the Barossa and beyond: George French Angas, artist and naturalist (Philip Jones) Expand

In the Barossa and beyond: George French Angas, artist and naturalist

Speaker: Philip Jones

Thursday 25 May at 7.30pm

Immanuel Lutheran Church, 139 Archer St, North Adelaide SA 5006

LIVESTREAM on FoLA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsoflutheranarchives9644/live

Were it not for his father’s role in establishing South Australia, there would be no Australia Illustrated by George French Angas, and no images of the colony’s early German settlements.

Angas’s Barossa Valley images provide a particular insight into his project, founded on his father’s intentions to promote the colony to prospective immigrants and investors. Angas balanced those obligations with his enthusiasm for fine watercolour images, natural history collecting, and the ideals of a Romantic traveller, steeped in Dissent. This illustrated talk will shine a light on this precocious young artist and naturalist, whose legacy still informs our understanding of colonial South Australia.

Dr Philip Jones is a Senior Researcher at the South Australian Museum and author of the book, Illustrating the Antipodes: George French Angas in Australia and New Zealand, 1844-1845. The book is the culmination of his decades-long research into the life and work of the celebrated artist.

Please consider supporting our public meetings by making a donation for attendance. Thank you!

Thursday 29 June - Missionary Christian Gottlob Teichelmann: a life of patient endurance (Christine Lockwood) Expand

Missionary Christian Gottlob Teichelmann: a life of patient endurance

Speaker: Christine Lockwood

Thursday 29 June at 7.30pm

Immanuel Lutheran Church, 139 Archer St, North Adelaide SA 5006

LIVESTREAM on FoLA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsoflutheranarchives9644/live

Christian Gottlob Teichelmann (1807-1888) is mostly remembered today for co-authoring the Kaurna language grammar and vocabulary which has been the primary basis for the reclamation of Kaurna language and identity in recent times. Teichelmann was a missionary among the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains from 1838 to 1846. His missiological approach and priorities were formed by his Lutheran theological understanding. Commissioned by the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society in Dresden to testify to the heathen of the Gospel of the grace of God, Teichelmann found a people whose world was shattered by the impact of European colonisation. An insightful man, he became the foremost authority on the Kaurna language, a champion of justice for Aboriginal people and critic of colonial policy and practice. By nature a determined, exacting, forthright man, Teichelmann was to demonstrate compassion, humility and patient endurance as he sought to share the love of God while providing for the needs of Aboriginal people. He was finally forced to admit defeat by a lack of financial support and opposition from the colonial government and European settlers. His subsequent work among German Lutheran migrants called for similar patient endurance.

Dr Christine Lockwood completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide in 2014. Her thesis was entitled The Two Kingdoms: Lutheran Missionaries and the British Civilizing Mission in Early South Australia. She has contributed articles, papers and book chapters in her field. Her interest in Christian missions, cultural preservation, change and adaptation, and cross-cultural communications stems from her involvement in mission work in Papua New Guinea for 17 years (initially as a high school teacher), working with foreign students in the USA, teaching English as a foreign language, and raising her children in three countries.

Please consider supporting our public meetings by making a donation for attendance. Thank you!

Congregation records – guidelines

This document provides information on what records congregations should keep and how to protect them. Click here to download.

'Stepping Stones'

Read the stories from one of The Lutheran's most popular columns.

Services

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES Expand

Our records cover significant themes in the history of Australia, including:

  • CHURCH HISTORY congregations, church ministries, departments and organisations
  • FAMILY HISTORY through parish registers of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials
  • ABORIGINAL languages, culture and history in comprehensive and detailed mission records
  • REFUGEE AND MIGRATION HISTORY 19th century and post-WWII
  • SETTLEMENT AND LOCAL HISTORY through congregation records and registers which document the settlement of Lutherans in newly opened rural areas
  • LUTHERAN SCHOOLING in history of education
  • GERMAN-AUSTRALIAN language, traditions, media and cultural life – ‘Deutschtum’.

You can carry out research in person at our archives, or contact our staff by phone or email with your research inquiries.

GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH Expand

The parish registers contain information on births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths and burials of people who were associated with the Lutheran Church. These are extremely valuable for family history research. To assist researchers a Church Records Computer Database Index has been prepared. A printout of the surname provides the researcher with an index to entries with that surname in the parish registers. This enables the researcher to quickly locate those records which may be useful. There is an additional charge for this service.

GERMAN LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION Expand

Up to the 1920s most of the records were written or printed in German. Handwritten German records can be rather difficult to read. Some documents may be available in English translation. Additional translation from German can be undertaken for a fee.

BOOK SALES Expand
Lutheran Archives has a range of new and second-hand books, CDs, DVDs and ephemera for sale. A catalogue of books can be found here: Lutheran Archives Book Catalogue. We aim to update the list every month if possible.
The descriptions in column "Categories" mean:
Book - Archives: Secondhand and remainder stock
  • Book - Commission: New stock from authors
  • Book - FOLA: publications by Friends of Lutheran Archives
  • Book - GHRG: Proceedings of the annual General Heritage Research Seminar
All orders by email to lutheran.archives@lca.org.au. Costs of postage and handling are calculated by weight and dimensions of order and are communicated before finalising orders. Payment must be received before shipping.
We are also happy to take donations of second-hand family and local history books in good condition. Book sales are an important source of funds for Lutheran Archives and necessary for keeping the doors open.
PHOTO REPRODUCTIONS Expand

Photos in the Archives collection can be scanned for a fee.

Scan of photograph: $6 per image

Permission to publish: $10 per image

SCANNING AND PHOTOCOPYING Expand

Researchers may request photocopies or digital scans of published documents and books. This will be done by the Archives staff, subject to the physical condition of the documents, access conditions and copyright legislation.

Scans of Lutheran Archives collection material: $10 set-up fee + 70c/image

Photocopies/scans of transcribed/translated items or published material: A4 page - $1.00  |  A3 page - $2.00

TOURS Expand

Why not organise a tour of Lutheran Archives for your group or organisation? This is a chance to peek behind the scenes and see the treasures we hold. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a tour. Contact us to find out more. ($10 donation per person.)

FEES Expand

While there are no fees to access the collection, Lutheran Archives are grateful for any donations from researchers and others accessing the collection.

  • Archives staff / commissioned research: $70 per hour (e.g. written enquiries)
  • Computer printout of surnames in church records database: $5 per surname searched, plus $1 per page
  • Transcription of church register records: $6 per record (e.g. baptism record)
  • Digitisation of collection material: $10 set-up fee + 70c per image
  • Photocopies/scans of published material: A4 page - 50c; A3 page - $1
  • Photocopies/scans of transcribed/translated document: A4 page - $1; A3 page - $2
  • Scan of photograph: $6 per image
  • Image publication (pending Copyright and Indigenous Copyright and Intellectual Property) : $10 per image

Scope of collection

RECORDS FROM LUTHERAN SYNODS Expand
  • Kavel-Fritzsche Synod (1838–1846)
  • Langmeil-Light Pass Synod (1846–1874)
  • Bethany-Lobethal Synod (1846–1863)
  • Victoria Synod (1856–1921)
  • Tanunda-Light Pass Synod (1860–1874)
  • Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Australia (ELSA) (1863–1944)
  • Immanuel Synod (1874–1921)
  • General Synod (1876–1921)
  • Immanuel Synod a.a.G. (1884–1921)
  • Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Queensland (ELSQ) (1885–1921)
  • United German & Scandinavian Lutheran Synod of Qld (1885–1921)
  • ELSA a.a.G (1904–1926)
  • United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia (UELCA) (1921–1966)
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA) (1944–1966)
  • Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) (1966–)
TYPES OF RECORDS Expand
  • Official histories of the Lutheran churches in Australia
  • Church departmental records
  • Church convention reports
  • Church almanacs and yearbooks
  • Church statistical records
  • Church periodicals (Australian, US, German etc)
  • Congregation histories and records
  • Parish registers
  • Parish papers
  • Biographical records of pastors and Lutheran teachers
  • Family history books
  • Mission magazines
  • Some shipping lists (SA, 1837–1870)
  • Special collections (Bibles, hymnbooks, catechisms, sermon books, devotion books, theology)
  • Photographs (churches, schools, missions, pastors, teachers)
  • Artefacts
  • Maps and atlases

Where to find us

Lutheran Archives
27 Fourth Street, Bowden SA 5007

TRAM RAIL BUS CAR
TRAM

In King William Street or North Terrace, catch the tram to the Entertainment Centre at Hindmarsh. Cross Port Road (walking away from the Entertainment Centre) and walk south to Gibson Street and then north-east to Fourth Street. Note: this is a free service.

RAIL

At the Adelaide Railway Station catch the Grange or Outer Harbour train and alight at the Bowden (the first) station. Walk south to Gibson Street, then north-east to Fourth Street.

BUS

Catch number 150, 155 or 157 in North Terrace in the city and alight at Stop 6. Cross Port Road and walk south to Gibson Street and then north-east to Fourth Street. (Alternate route via Ward Street, North Adelaide: Catch number 250, 251 or 252  in King William Street in the city and alight at Stop 9 on Hawker Street. Walk south-west along Gibson Street to Fourth Street.)

CAR

From Park Terrace, turn into Hawker Street. Turn left into Drayton Street, continue until you come to the Road Closed sign near Fourth Street, then take the entry to the left into the car park.

 

Usual hours of business

Bookings are essential if planning to visit for research or to deposit records. Face masks may be worn according to personal discretion.

The opening hours for Lutheran Archives are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (closed Wednesday) from 9.30am to 3.00pm.

Please contact us to arrange your visit. 

Lutheran Archives

Rachel Kuchel – Director & Archivist
Bethany Pietsch - Reference Archivist (Monday and Tuesday)
Benjamin Hollister - Reference Archivist (Thursday and Friday)
Angela Schilling - Collections Archivist
lutheran.archives@lca.org.au
08 8340 4009

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197 Archer Street
North Adelaide SA 5006

08 8267 7300
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