Media Release
March 11, 2008

NDSU Library publishes Church Book: Evangelical Lutheran Hoffnungs Gemeinde 1904-1944

This book is a translation of the original church record books from the Hoffnungs Church. The German script was translated by Dorothea (Bergstedt) Ziegler - Dickinson, ND and compiled by Orion A. Rudolph - Ashley, ND.

The Hoffnungs Church is one of seventeen Evangelical Lutheran Congregations churches in McIntosh County, North Dakota. These rural congregations are now associated with Zion Lutheran Church, Ashley.

The Hoffnungs Gemeinde church book contains baptismal registers, meeting minutes, communion registers, death registers, offerings, member registers, marriages, and burials. As a special enhancement for the book, Rudolph photographed all the tombstones at Hope Cemetery (the cemetery at the Hoffnungs Church site). Rudolph also compiled all dates and had the inscriptions translated.

When asked why he got involved with this large project, Rudolph said, “Spiritual drive...the more I got involved, and with Dorothea's encouragement, the more spiritual drive I had for this project.” He wants the books to be accessible in the English language so future English speaking generations can read these books.

To purchase the $30.00 book, please contact the GRHC at 701-231-6596.

For more information, visit www.ndsu.edu/grhc/order/nd_sd_history/huffnungs.html.