Crossing Jordan chronicles the history of what is now Concordia University Texas. It details its origins as a Lutheran boys school in 1926 to a co-educational university in 2008 within the context of the final academic year at the campus' original location in central Austin. The documentary contains primary source photographs and interviews with current students, alumni, staff, and faculty.

Concordia University Texas was founded in 1926 in Austin as a high school for men intending to teach or join the ministry. It was originally called Lutheran Concordia College of Texas. The school was founded by Texan Wends, a sizable immigrant community from Germany. Concordia’s first building, Kilian Hall, was named for John Kilian, a leader in the local Wend community. The original campus was located north of the University of Texas at Austin, near what is now Interstate 35. It expanded during the 1940s and 1950s, began accepting women in 1955, and converted to a junior college in 1969. In 1980, Concordia began offering a Bachelor of Arts degree. The school has changed its name several times, most recently to Concordia University Texas in 2007. In 2008, the school moved its campus to northwest Austin and the original buildings were demolished.

Travis County Austin

TFC 2000s 2000’s documentary oral history interview archival footage historical footage Austin Travis County Seventy Times Seven Productions Seventy Times Seven Lutheran Concordia College of Texas Lutheran Concordia College Concordia Lutheran College Concordia University at Austin Concordia University Texas Concordia University school college university education higher education campus college campus university campus instructor professor teacher faculty class classroom chapel religion Christianity Lutheran David Goeke Goeke, David Kristen Seals Seals, Kristen Tim Ristow

Ristow, Tim Jonathan Seeger Seeger, Jonathan Kilian Hall Hall, Kilian Henry Studtmann Studtmann, Henry Walter Bielefeldt Bielefeldt, Walter Roland Wiederaenders Wiederaenders, Roland Ray F. Martens Martens, Ray. F Ray Martens Martens, Ray Matt Lee Lee, Matt Bettie Horn Bendewald Bendewald, Bettie Horn Lya Morfitt Morfitt, Lya Sarah Morris Morris, Sarah Elmer Klenk Klenk, Elmer Martin Neeb Neeb, Martin George Beto Beto, George Concordia Informer student newspaper student publication student journal college newspaper college journal college publication Leroy Tschatschula Tschatschula, Leroy Jim Porthro Prothro, Jim

Albert Goeke Goeke, Albert Dedication Day dedication dedication ceremony ceremony Resident Assistant RA student life ministry Concordia Lutheran High School high school worship student Concordia Grove theology study Great Depression Black Tuesday stock market stock market crash depression recession economy sports athletics student athletics student athlete athlete college sports private school business piano church Memorial Gymnasium gym gymnasium Pearl Harbor World War II WWII

war Hirschi Library library building student building university building Kramer Hall Birkmann Chapel Texas Hall Behnken Hall Richard Dinda Dinda, Richard dormitory dorm student housing construction building Marjorie Wilke-Baker Wilke-Baker, Marjorie Jeanette Wagner Wagner, Jeanette Donald Winterrowd Winterrowd, Donald community family Milton Riemer Riemer, Milton Beto Hall gospel Samuel L. Goltermann Goltermann, Samuel L. Samuel Goltermann Goltermann, Samuel Walter Rubke Rubke, Walter Walter Swarthout Swarthout, Walter reunion Vietnam Vietnam War

Paul G. Elbrecht Elbrecht, Paul G Paul Elbrecht Elbrecht, Paul George Elbrecht Elbrecht, George Peter Willie Wille, Peter microscope science Samuel’s Garage Lutheran electronic media Kurt Senske Senske, Kurt Luthern Social Services of the South Phillip Hohle Hohle, Phillip John Frahm Frahm, John Edna Aguirre Rehbein Rehbein, Edna Aguirre Carl Trovall Trovall, Carl Concordia Tornadoes James Keller Keller, James White Hall David Zersen Zersen, David Bokenkamp Student Center student center David Barker Barker, David John Jungemann Jungemann, John Harms Hall Thomas Cedel Cedel, Thomas Lawrence Miessner Miessner, Lawrence

Beto Academic Center Donald Zielke Zielke, Donald David Kluth Kluth, David Schlumberger renovation Martin Luther statue Gerald B. Kieschnick Kieschnick, Gerald B. Gerald Kieschnick Kieschnick, Gerald Lutheran Church Missouri Synod LCMS history junior college coeducation coed integration curriculum demolition