Clarence H. F. Peters (1903-1984) Papers

Clarence H. F. Peters was born 8 January 1903 at Linn, Kansas, to Nickolaus and Maria (nee Tewes) Peters. He graduated from Saint Paul College (Concordia, Missouri) in 1923 and from Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis, Missouri) in 1927. He earned Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) and Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) degrees from the seminary and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the same institution for exceptional service in the ministry. Peters also earned a master’s degree in education from Washington University, Saint Louis.

Peters was ordained at Saint Paul Lutheran Church (Venus, Nebraska) on 14 October 1928 and served as pastor there until 1936. He was pastor of Saint John Lutheran Church (Scottsbluff, Nebraska) from 1936 until 1939. On 21 May 1939 he was installed as pastor of Saint Luke Lutheran Church (Saint Louis) where he served until his retirement in 1972. Peters served as chair of the Missouri Synod Board for Young People’s Work from 1947 to 1967 and in 1952 represented the Synod at the Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Hanover, Germany. He also served on the National Lutheran Scouting Committee for 27 years, receiving the Gold Lamb and Silver Beaver awards. He was the author of numerous articles on youth work and of a book, The Early Years of the Christian Church (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, c1959).

Peters married Marie E. Grossheim on 23 September 1928, and they were the parents of three children: Ruth (Mrs. Martin Brockmann), Eunice (Mrs. Edwin Albers) and Lois (Mrs. Neil Schmidt). Peters died on 18 May 1984.