Rev. Raymond Rimbach of Longview, Washington, proposed having a Concordia Day on November 17, 1937, in order to awaken interest in Concordia among the churches. One year later, a group of women from several Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregations in the Northwest founded the Guild informally on September 14, 1938, with some 300 in attendance, to explore ways and means of helping Concordia College. They took as their name the Lutheran Women's League Convention. The group met again on September 13, 1939, and began the process of establishing a more formal organization. On September 11, 1940, a set of standing rules was adopted for the group which now called itself the "Women’s College Day Group." The group met annually in the fall for a Concordia Day. Local chapters were formed in Seattle and elsewhere. The name was changed to "Concordia Academy Guild" on September 27, 1948, and to "Concordia College Guild" in 1956. From the late fifties forward, Concordia College Guild and a shortened form of the name, Concordia Guild, were used interchangeably.
The standing rules received a major revision on October 5, 1960, for the first time since 1938. The Guild collected thousands of dollars for various campus projects over the years and frequently donated food for the commissary. By the early 1990’s attendance at the annual gathering declined to the point where the Guild officially ceased in 1995 in spite of efforts to reorganize and revive it. A newsletter began publication in December, 1960, under the title "Guild Newsletter." The January, 1966, issue was called "Concordia Guild News." Thereafter, until the summer of 1989, the publication was called "Concordia Crusader."
From the guide to the Concordia College Guild Records, 1938-1995, (Concordia University Archives)
