Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1877-1985 (Creation)
Extent
1 box
Name of creator
Biographical history
Harold J. Leraas was born in Barrett, Minnesota on December 30, 1908. He attended Barrett High School in the mid-1920’s. In 1930 he graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. He later attended the University of Michigan in 1932 and 1935, where he received his master’s degree and doctorate, respectively. The same year that he earned his doctorate, he married Helen Stein and joined the Pacific Lutheran University faculty as a biology professor. He is credited for establishing the strong reputation of the university’s pre-med and pre-dental programs. In the 1940’s he began practicing dentistry and maintained a practice in Parkland until 1960. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. He worked at Pacific Lutheran University for 39 years, retiring in 1974. Before his retirement he was presented with an Outstanding Teacher Award by the campus chapter of Blue Key. He died on Tuesday May 7, 1985 at the age of 76. Many of his former students contributed funds to the establishment of the Leraas Lecture Hall in his honor.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Contains the personal items and documents, such as notebooks, scrapbooks, and photographs of Harold J. Leraas, dated from 1877 to 1985. Notebooks include his high school notes from the 1920’s and his father’s notebooks from 1877 to 1890. His scrapbook contains articles, programs, and pictures he accumulated between the years 1928 and 1935. Among the photographs are portraits of classmates from Luther College in the year 1930, as well as images of PLU during the 1950’s. Also included in the collection are his confirmation certificate from the year 1923, essays from a high school English class, and a paper fan.
System of arrangement
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Conditions governing access
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
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Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
- Alphanumeric designations: MSS 291