Ernst Eckhardt (1868-1938) Papers

Ernst Eckhardt was born 26 March 1868 in Frankenberg, Saxony. He began preparation for the ministry at Friedrich Brunn's preseminary in Steeden, Germany, then immigrated to the U.S. in 1884 and finished his studies at Concordia College (Fort Wayne, Indiana). He attended Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis, Missouri) where he graduated in 1891. He served parishes near Byron, Nebraska (1891-1904); and at Blair (1904-1911) and Battle Creek (1911-1921), Nebraska. He was called to Concordia Publishing House in Saint Louis in 1921 to serve as statistician for the Missouri Synod, a position he held until January 1938. His most notable work was the multi-volume Homiletisches Reallexikon. He also edited the synod's Statistical Yearbook, The Lutheran Annual and the German-language Amerikanisches Kalender. He died 24 January 1938 in Saint Louis.