DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the story as the official marker tells it — my job is just to do it justice. Now, if you ever wondered how a college ends up with three different names, two mergers, and addresses in three different Texas towns before it finally settles down — well, pull up a chair, because Texas Lutheran College did all of that and then some. It starts back in 1890, when the first German Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Texas authorized the establishment of a college in Brenham.
One year later, in September of 1891, the Evangelical Lutheran College of Brenham opened its doors under the direction of the Reverend G. Langner. They modeled it after the European Gymnasium Schools — the Brenham Academy, they called it — and they taught elementary and secondary courses in both German and English.
That went on until 1906, when the Synod decided to narrow the focus, limiting the school to preparing students for the ministry. Three years after that, in 1909, the name changed to the Evangelical Lutheran Proseminary. Still in Brenham.
Still doing its work. But Brenham wasn't the end of the road. In 1912, the school packed up and moved to Seguin — and here's the thing, the citizens of Seguin had offered land and improvements as a relocation incentive.
A town that wants you badly enough to sweeten the deal is a town worth paying attention to. Re-established in Seguin as a coeducational academy, it took on a new name again: The Lutheran College of Seguin. And in 1928 it earned accreditation from the Texas Association of Junior Colleges.
Then 1929 brought something significant — the Swedish Lutheran Trinity College at Round Rock merged with the Seguin school. Three years after that merger, in 1932, the name changed once more, this time to Texas Lutheran College. The school kept climbing.
It became a senior college in 1948 and attained accreditation in 1953. And one year after that, in 1954, the Norwegian Lutheran Clifton College merged with Texas Lutheran College. Three institutions, two mergers, one school — the kind of story that takes a long road to earn its name, and then holds onto it.
What the marker says
The first German Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Texas authorized the establishment of a college in Brenham in 1890. Directed by the Rev. G. Langner, the Evangelical Lutheran College of Brenham opened in September 1891. Modeled after the European Gymnasium Schools, the Brenham Academy offered elementary and secondary courses taught in both German and English. It continued as an academy until 1906. That year the Synod limited the focus of the school to prepare students for the ministry. In 1909 the name was changed to Evangelical Lutheran Proseminary. The school remained in Brenham until 1912, when it moved to Seguin after citizens here offered land and improvements as a relocation incentive. Re-established as a coeducational academy, it became known as The Lutheran College of Seguin and gained accreditation in 1928 from the Texas Association of Junior Colleges. The Swedish Lutheran Trinity College at Round Rock merged with the Seguin school in 1929, and in 1932 the name was changed to Texas Lutheran College. It became a senior college in 1948 and attained accreditation in 1953. In 1954 the Norwegian Lutheran Clifton College merged with Texas Lutheran College. (1991)