Motto | Fram! Fram! Kristmenn, Krossmenn (Nynorsk) |
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Motto in English
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Forward! Forward! Men of Christ, Men of the Cross |
Type | Private liberal arts college |
Established | 1874 |
Religious affiliation
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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
Endowment | $446.2 million (2016) |
Budget | $186.6 million (2016) |
President | David R. Anderson '74, Ph.D. |
Undergraduates | 3,046 (Fall 2015) |
Location |
Northfield, Minnesota, United States 44°27′34″N 93°10′50″W / 44.45944°N 93.18056°WCoordinates: 44°27′34″N 93°10′50″W / 44.45944°N 93.18056°W |
Campus |
Rural 3.72 km2 (1.44 sq mi) or 372 ha (920 acres) |
Colors | Black and Gold |
Athletics | NCAA Division III – MIAC |
Nickname | "Oles" /ˈoʊliːz/ OH-leez |
Affiliations | |
Mascot | St. Olaf Lion, "Ole" |
Website | www.stolaf.edu |
Old Main, St. Olaf College
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Old Main
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Location | St. Olaf College campus, Northfield, Minnesota |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1877 |
Architect | Long & Haglin |
Architectural style | Gothic |
NRHP reference # | 76001073 |
Added to NRHP | June 3, 1976 |
University rankings | |
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National | |
Forbes | 105 |
Liberal arts colleges | |
U.S. News & World Report | 53 |
Washington Monthly | 88 |
Steensland Library--St. Olaf College
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Steensland Hall in 2015
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Location | Off St. Olaf Ave., Northfield, Minnesota |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1902 |
Architect | Omeyer & Thori |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
MPS | Rice County MRA |
NRHP reference # | 82003020 |
Added to NRHP | April 6, 1982 |
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after the King and the Patron Saint Olaf II of Norway and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The seal of the St. Olaf College displays the Coat of arms of Norway, which includes the axe of St. Olaf.
The motto Fram! Fram! Kristmenn, Krossmenn, written in New Norwegian, is adapted from the Old Norse battle cry of King Olaf. It means "Forward! Forward! Men of Christ, Men of the Cross".
Many Norwegian immigrants arrived in Rice County, Minnesota, and the surrounding area in the late 19th century. With nearly all the immigrants being Lutheran Christians, they desired a non-secular post-secondary institution in the Lutheran tradition that offered classes in all subjects in both Norwegian and English. The catalyst for founding St. Olaf was the Reverend Bernt Julius Muus; he sought out the help of the Rev. N. A. Quammen and H. Thorson. Together they petitioned their parishes and others to raise money in order to buy a plot of land on which to build this new institution. The three men succeeded in receiving around $10,000 in pledges, and thus went on to form a corporation and to buy a plot of land and four buildings (old Northfield schoolhouses) for accommodations for the school.