William Gustave Polack (1890-1950) Papers

William Gustave Polack was born on 7 December 1890 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He graduated from Concordia College, Fort Wayne in 1910 and Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis in 1914. He was ordained and installed as assistant pastor of Trinity, Evansville, Indiana on August 16, 1914. He served as the primary Pastor from 1921-1925. From 1925 to 1950 he was professor of Church History, Hymnology, and Liturgics at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis. He served as pastor of Clear Lake Chapel in Clear Lake, Indiana from 1938-1950. He chaired the Young People's Literature Board (1926 to 1929) and the Intersynodical Committee on Hymnology and Liturgics (1929 to 1949). He was a charter member of Concordia Historical Institute where he served as secretary (1927-1937) and President (1944-1949). Polack served as a member of the Editorial Committee of the Lutheran Witness from 1925-1950. He was also the Editor in Chief of The Lutheran Hymnal. He authored many books and received an honorary Litt. D. degree from Valparaiso University in 1942. He died on 5 June 1950.