The Papers of Sigurd S. Reque

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Sigurd Styrk Reque was born on Feb. 26, 1883, in Decorah, Iowa, to Lars S. Reque (1868) and Edel Margrethe Brandt. Reque studied at Esmeyer Institution in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1895 through 1897. Upon returning to the United States, Reque attended Luther College. He was the star and the captain of the Luther baseball team from 1900-1903. While at Luther, Reque also participated in Track. Luther College awarded Sigurd Reque an A. B. in 1903.

Reque’s first job took him to Traill Co., North Dakota, where he taught public school from 1903-1904. In 1904, he moved on to Gale College where he was an instructor and a baseball coach. After a year at Gale, Reque headed back to school at the Theological Student Luther Seminary. By 1906, he was back at Luther as a temporarily appointed teacher in Civics, English, Gym, History, and Mathematics. Once his appointment was finished, Sigurd Reque became an incidental assistance at Luther and moved on to serve as the County Superintendent of Schools in Winneshiek County from 1909 to 1913. Reque, however, was still involved at Luther College as an assistant to the baseball team.

In 1913, Reque began another chapter of his life when he married Caroline Bye Kalvestrand in Decorah. Shortly afterward, Sigurd and Caroline moved to Albert Lea where Sigurd taught at the Luther Academy from until 1919. He also served as President (Principal) of the Academy from 1914 to 1919. Following his term in Albert Lea, Reque returned to Luther College as a temporary appointed teacher until his status became permanent as a professor in 1920. During his tenure, Reque taught Citizenship, English, French, and Norwegian. He also assisted with Luther College Through 60 Years 1861-1921 by writing the eleventh chapter on ‘Attendance’.

While the students of Reque’s classes benefited from his return, so also did the baseball team. The Luther College baseball team had its greatest period under the former Luther star. He left his most well-know legacy in baseball with a 244(W):139(L):9(T) record in 22 seasons. In 1960, Sigurd Reque was honored by being one of the first four people named to the Hall of Fame baseball section of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. His time as coach lasted until 1942 when he retired from baseball to do field work for the department of public services.

During his time at Luther College, Reque served as the Athletic Director, being appointed the position in 1924 by President Olson. He also served as a member of the C.K. Preus Gym Building Committee. From 1940-1947, Reque served as Curator (Director) of the Norwegian-American Historical Museum. In 1948, he assisted with fundraising for the new women dorms. After all of his assistance through the years, Luther College lost Reque to retirement in 1952. Sigurd Styrk Reque died in 1962.

BOX INVENTORY

PAPERS OF SIGURD S. REQUE

SERIES I: BIOGRAPHICAL FILES, 1922-1966, n.d., 0.2 linear foot

BOX 1

Biographical information, 1922, 1962, n.d.

Luther College Library - Microfilming of Reque's Works, 1966, n.d.

Membership card, 1943

Papers of Rolfe Haatvedt

SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE FILES, 1905-1945, 0.2 linear foot

BOX 1

Correspondence, 1905

Correspondence, 1938-1939

Correspondence re: Winneshiek County, 1941

Correspondence, 1941

Correspondence, 1942-1948

Diamond Jubilee Announcement, 1936

Letters to S.S. Reque re: Ft. Atkinson, 1940-1945

SERIES III: RESEARCH FILES, 1825-1947, 3.6 linear feet

SubSeries 1: Excerpts and Transcriptions, 1832-1943, 2.6 linear feet

BOX 1

Maps, 1845-1938

Ft. Atkinson List of Officers & Enlisted Men with mss on military life, 1840-1849

BOX 2

Excerpts re: Winnebago Indians, 1841

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1840

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1839

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1838

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/Winnebago, "Iowa News", Dubuque, 1838

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/Winnebago, "Iowa News", Dubuque, 1837

Excerpts re: Quartermaster General Office on Forts, 1833-1857

BOX 3

Excerpts re: Winnebago, "Patriot", Prairie du Chien, Feb., 1843-May, 1849

Excerpts re: Winnebago Indians, 1843

Excerpts re: Winnebago Indians, 1842

Excerpts re: Winneshiek County, Decorah & Iowa, 1842-1856

Turkey River - Religious Work with Winnebago Indians, 1842-1848

Excerpts re: Account with Dousman Outfit, 1842-1843

BOX 4

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1844

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1845

Trial of Gen. Jonathan Fletcher, U.S. Sub-Agent for Winnebgo, 1845

BOX 5

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1849

Excerpts re: Minnesota Affairs, 1849-1853

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1848

Excerpts re: Winnebago Removal, 1847

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, "Patriot", Prairie du Chien, 1847-1848

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1846

Winnebago Treaty, 1846

BOX 6

Excerpts re: Winnebago, n.d.

Excerpts re: "Telegraph Herald", Dubuque, Iowa, 1929

Excerpts re: Officers attached to Ft. Atkinson, 1886

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1860

Excerpts re: Ft. Atkinson/ Winnebago, 1850-1858

BOX 7

Post Returns - Ft. Crawford & Ft. Atkinson, 1832-1860

Post Returns - Ft. Atkinson, 1840-1849

SubSeries 2: Miscellaneous Notes, 1825-1941

BOX 1

Details on Buildings of Ft. Atkinson, 1941

"Book II. Messages Terr. Governors of Iowa Indian Affairs", n.d.

"A History of Minnesota", n.d.

"Laws of Iowa, etc.", n.d.

Miscellaneous notes, n.d.

Notes, n.d.

Notes on Indians, Army Personnel, Norwegian Immigrants, n.d.

Notes on Minnesota and Iowa, n.d.

Notes and Writings, n.d.

Notes on Early History of Winneshiek County, n.d.

Work Time Records, 1941, n.d.

BOX 2

Indian Treaties, 1825-1837

Statement of Licenses Granted by James McGregor, 1844

Ft. Atkinson Notes, n.d.

S.M. Plummer - Ft. Atkinson, n.d.

"Turkey River File" notes, n.d.

SubSeries 3: Secondary References, 1875-1943

BOX 1

"American History Travel and Exploration, 1943

Autobiography of Frederic Andros, M.D., n.d.

"The Beginnings of Burlington", n.d.

Capt. Nathan Boone's Journal; "Marches of the Dragoons in the Mississippi Valley, n.d.

Clayton County Platbook,n.d.

"Early History" by A.T. Andreas, 1875

"Ft. Atkinson" by Edgar Bruce Wesley, n.d.

"Ft. Atkinson History" by A.L. Goddard, n.d.

Historical Narrative for Ft. Ridgely, 1938

"History of Jefferson Barracks", n.d.

"History of Winneshiek County", by Charles Phil Hexom, n.d.

"Indian Mission in Iowa Still Standing", n.d.

Iowa Historical Department, 1940-1942

Lac Qui Parle Indian Mission - Dedication, 1942

Minnesota History, n.d.

Monographs re: Early Settlement/ Winnebagos, n.d.

"Old Fort Atkinson", by Bruce E. Mahan, n.d.

"Recreational Opportunities in the Tennessee Valley", 1940

"Stories Conflict About Death of Chief Decorah", 1941

"Vanguards of the Frontier", by Everett Dick, 1941

"Winneshiek County Physicians", by J.J. Daly, M.D., 1941

SubSeries 4: Writings By, n.d.

BOX 1

Ft. Atkinson Induction Ceremonies (speech notes, program), n.d.

Photographs - Ft. Atkinson Induction,n.d.

Ft. Atkinson History by S.S. Reque - handwritten and typed copies, n.d.

John Bergh, 1900,1904