Profiles
File — Box: 3, Folder: 19
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The records of Banner Health System document, through publications primarily, the activities of its predecessor organization, Lutheran Hospitals and Homes Society, which became Lutheran Health Systems in 1984. These records were donated to the Institute just prior to the closing of the offices in Fargo of Banner Health System. The records have been organized into nine series: Board of Directors, Annual reports, Reports, Annual meetings, Financial records, History, Publications, “Merger Announcement and Communication Materials,” and Subject files. In addition there are copies of various constitutions and by-laws, a photocopy of the formation document for Lutheran Health Systems in 1984. There is also a small folder of correspondence, primarily from the 1930s and 1940s, of general manager F.R. Knautz.
The Board of Directors Series contains meeting agendas, correspondence and some reports developed for the board of directors. There is no meeting minutes in this series or in the collection. This series spans from 1962 to 1973 but is very incomplete.
The Annual Reports Series is complete from 1968 to 2000, except 1995 is missing. These formal publications usually include a short report by the executive director, financial report, listing of the board of directors and institutions managed by the society. Each report had a different theme, and the reports for the 1990s became quite extensive publications.
The Reports Series contains a number of reports, none of which were formally printed, and usually are carbon copies. They include “annual” reports, financial reports, reports on reorganization, and also three annual reports of the executive director H.M. Malm for 1957 to 1960.
The Annual Meetings Series span from 1941 to 2000. The society’s annual meeting was held in various cities, usually in the Great Plains. The program issued for each meeting includes the daily schedule as well as reports from key administrators. Some also include employee service recognition and changes in personnel at various institutions.
The Financial Records Series is very fragmentary and includes only two financial reports (1938 and 1974) and two audits (1941 and 1998/1999) for the society. There is also a copy of the offering of Lutheran Health Systems Refunding Revenue Bonds by Merrill Lynch & Co. in 1998.
The History Series includes several company produced historical booklets marking its 25th, 40th and 60th anniversaries. Hiram Drache, retired Concordia College history professor, was contracted to research and write a history of the society. A photocopy of his unpublished manuscript is part of this series. It is not known if this copy is the final manuscript or an earlier version, or whether it is complete. Other files include general historical articles, histories, and a chronology of events. A very informative and important letter is that written by F.R. Knautz on November 22, 1937 in which he details his ideas for the establishment of LHHS.
The Publications Series is the most extensive series of the collection and has been divided into three subseries: Monographs, Serials, and Brochures, pamphlets, etc. Within each sub-series the publications have been organized alphabetically by title. The Monographs sub-series includes items primarily from the 1980s and 1990s. No doubt many other works were published, but not received as part of this donation.
The Serials sub-series is the most complete within this series and contains most, if not all, of the society’s publications from the 1940s to 1990s. Among the major titles published by the society were Lutheran Advocate (1946-1951), Channels (1953-1957), Light of Faith (1962-1981), Update (1984-1988) and The LHS Compass (1990-1998). The periodical Sunshine was actually issued by the Good Samaritan Home at Arthur, a predecessor to the establishment of LHHS. There are only four issues for this title.
The Brochures, pamphlets sub-series contains a wide variety of such publications issued by the society on a wide variety of topics. Those related to a specific institution owned by the society have been placed in a separate file.
The Merger Announcement and Communication Materials Series consists of copies of documents that were originally kept in a large binder, and that document the merger of Lutheran Health Systems of Fargo and Samaritan Health System of Phoenix, Arizona to form Banner Health System in 1999. Included are official press releases and newspaper clippings as well as briefing papers, fact sheets for employees, pamphlets and brochures. The original organization of the binder has been retained.
The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of documents related primarily to the operation of Lutheran Health Systems. There are biographical files on three of the general managers of the society, Frederick R. Knautz, Harry M. Malm and Steven Orr. There are several personnel listings and personnel policy manuals, various mission statements (1922-1984), posters issued by the society, logos, dedication program for the 1977 home office building, and newspaper clippings.
Blanche Jackson instituted a recreation program in the society’s many facilities and documentation on this program is included in the subject files. There is a scrapbook from 1946 that details the capital campaign undertaken by the society to build a hospital at Sheldon, Iowa. The two files concerning Banner Health contain press releases and articles issued by them at the time of the merger.
Dates
- 1937-2002
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Extent
From the Collection: 2.8 Linear Feet (2.8 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Knautz, Frederick R., 1900-1971. (Person)
- From the Collection: Drache, Hiram M. (Person)
- From the Collection: Jackson, Blanche. (Person)
- From the Collection: Banner Health System. (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu