- My Relationship to this Kansas History -
Fran Cochran
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
Research Writer Website Designer
Fran Cochran
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
Research Writer Website Designer
A last-living-link to foundational Lindsborg Bethany College history that began in 1881,
as the:
-- Great grandniece of George Gustaf Sohlberg (1863-1947) who was a "first" Bethany Academy graduate, 1884
--"Last" of the Bethany College 13 Sohlberg family member graduates from 4 generations
-- Great grandniece of Bethany College Biology and Geology Professor Dr. Emil O. Deere (1877-1966)
-At Bethany College for 67 years (1899-1966)
-A colleague and friend of six (6) Swedish American Lutheran Bethany College presidents and the founder
-Bethany College graduate, 1904, Bachelor of Arts Degree; 1907, Master of Arts Degree
-University of Chicago, 1911, Masters of Science Degree and had nearly completed the PhD program there
-Biology Department head for 51 years (1904-1955)
-Bethany College Museum curator for 58 years (1908-1966)
-Dean of the Bethany College of Arts and Sciences for 31 years (1917-1948)
-College Vice President for 3 years (1918-1921), and much more
-A Lindsborg leader in forming and founding the "first" Lindsborg Community Hospital in 1949, and much more
-Honored by a new men's dormitory built in 1957 that was named Deere Hall, which was razed in 2015
-- Great grandniece of Bethany College graduate photographer and artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere (1873-1943)
-Bethany College graduate, 1923, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree; 1925, Bachelor of Science Degree
-Proprietor of the Lindsborg Sohlberg Millinery Company, 1900-1906
-Bethany College Dean of Women/Lady Principal and Matron of Ladies Dormitory, Lane Hart Hall, 1906-1913
-Bethany College Instructor of Swedish/Scandinavian Handwork, 1907-1913; summer art instructor art, 1925-1931
-Founder of the 1912 Bethany Campus Association, to begin "first" college campus landscaping projects, the most important of which still survives today: The 1917 "Gateway to Bethany" at Olsson and North First Streets
-Assisted artist family friend Sandzén to organize the 1913 Smoky Hill Art Club that would grow to 400 members
-- "Last" and fourth generation Sohlberg Deere owner of 1873 Lindsborg Smoky Valley farmland & Swede House, 2011
as the:
-- Great grandniece of George Gustaf Sohlberg (1863-1947) who was a "first" Bethany Academy graduate, 1884
--"Last" of the Bethany College 13 Sohlberg family member graduates from 4 generations
-- Great grandniece of Bethany College Biology and Geology Professor Dr. Emil O. Deere (1877-1966)
-At Bethany College for 67 years (1899-1966)
-A colleague and friend of six (6) Swedish American Lutheran Bethany College presidents and the founder
-Bethany College graduate, 1904, Bachelor of Arts Degree; 1907, Master of Arts Degree
-University of Chicago, 1911, Masters of Science Degree and had nearly completed the PhD program there
-Biology Department head for 51 years (1904-1955)
-Bethany College Museum curator for 58 years (1908-1966)
-Dean of the Bethany College of Arts and Sciences for 31 years (1917-1948)
-College Vice President for 3 years (1918-1921), and much more
-A Lindsborg leader in forming and founding the "first" Lindsborg Community Hospital in 1949, and much more
-Honored by a new men's dormitory built in 1957 that was named Deere Hall, which was razed in 2015
-- Great grandniece of Bethany College graduate photographer and artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere (1873-1943)
-Bethany College graduate, 1923, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree; 1925, Bachelor of Science Degree
-Proprietor of the Lindsborg Sohlberg Millinery Company, 1900-1906
-Bethany College Dean of Women/Lady Principal and Matron of Ladies Dormitory, Lane Hart Hall, 1906-1913
-Bethany College Instructor of Swedish/Scandinavian Handwork, 1907-1913; summer art instructor art, 1925-1931
-Founder of the 1912 Bethany Campus Association, to begin "first" college campus landscaping projects, the most important of which still survives today: The 1917 "Gateway to Bethany" at Olsson and North First Streets
-Assisted artist family friend Sandzén to organize the 1913 Smoky Hill Art Club that would grow to 400 members
-- "Last" and fourth generation Sohlberg Deere owner of 1873 Lindsborg Smoky Valley farmland & Swede House, 2011
Schooling, Work, Travel:
- At home in San Francisco Bay Area since 1968, with work in Australia, Lindsborg, and Washington, DC- 1974-1981
- Lindsborg Rural High School graduate, 1964, Lindsborg, Kansas
- Bethany College graduate, 1968; Bachelor of Arts Degree: Business Economics / History, Lindsborg, Kansas
- Dominican University of California graduate, 1970; California Life Teaching Credential, San Rafael, California
- Veteran world traveler to 70+ countries from 1974 to 2017 which resulted in self-study of cultures, religions, politics
- Worked in corporate and education positions covering a time period from 1968 to 2008
- A research writer website designer of Swedes: TheWayTheyWere, 2011 and SwedishAmericana, 2015
- A research writer website designer of Aussie Trail to London 1976, 2016
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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
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All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated, or obviously concluded it is not.
Copyright © 2022 www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
