Artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere
(Lydia's Lindsborg Photography, 1900-1925)

Sohlberg House with Parents

In 1904 Lydia’s parents, Andews Gustaf  (A.G.) and Ingrid Sohlberg, moved from McPherson, Kansas, fourteen miles due north to Lindsborg to their new retirement home on North College Street (North First Street) near Bethany College.

​- At McPherson home, just before Lydia's parents move to Lindsborg -
​1904

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- A Sohlberg House Family Gathering - 
after settling in to their Lindsborg retirement home
​1904

Thus, this home, later referred to as Sohlberg House, became the gathering place for their eight (8) children, the spouses and their grandchildren, and others, providing many artistic and creative photographic moments for Lydia and her camera.

To vary the viewing experience, sometimes these photographs are displayed individually and then in groupings, or vice versa.

- C o n f i r m a t I o n    D a y s -
 1912
The church, like it still is today, was central to the lives of Smoky Valley Lutheran Evangelical Swedes.

Confirmation days were such important days that professional photographers were hired for the occasion as was the case for the confirmation of Nina and her friends in the above photograph.  Nina is to our right, second from the Lutheran minister of Salina Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

- Lindsborg Confirmation Day Celebrations -
on Sohlberg House porch

Nina is 2nd in row

Lydia is on right, back row with a twin sister Anna Sohlberg who is behind Nina

On Sohlberg House front yard

Nina is third in row

- Ingrid Sohlberg reading Bible in Sohlberg House Front Room -

- After Church One Winter's Day Around Sohlberg House -

- Nina Sohlberg with father Ernest Ossain Sohlberg born in Kosta, Sweden -

- Nina Sohlberg -

- Lydia Sohlberg -

- Selma Sohlberg and the Alma Luise Olson home nextdoor to Sohlberg House -
Selma was Nina's mother, Ernest's wife and Lydia's sister
Miss Olson was "the first American woman" to receive Sweden's highest award for women.
- scroll to end for more information-

- Laundry Day in backyard of Sohlberg House -
One of Lydia's twin sisters:  Anna or Ida

- Fun Times Around Sohlberg House -
Lazy Days I

Lazy Days II

- Sohlbergs and Friends Celebrating "Bethany College's 30 Years Anniversary" at Sohlberg House -
1911

- Swedish American Presidential Candidate and Supporters at Sohlberg House -
Easter 1908
(Note US Flag has 45 Stars)

So far identified is the front and center Swedish American Presidential Candidate Honorable John A. Johnson Governor of Minnesota  and equally imposing celebrated Bethany Lutheran Church Dr. Rev. Alfred Bergin on the right.  Within the gathering are Bethany College President Dr. Rev, Ernst Pihlblad and his brother Arvin Pihlblad MD, art professor Birger Sandzén and his father-in-law, Eric Leksell,  behind the gathering wearing a hat.  (A slightly different composition of the photograph appears at the top of page 133 from 1965 Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas by Ruth Billdt, daughter of Dr. Rev. Alfred Bergin.)

For Our Sohlberg Home and Neighbor Alma Luise Olson,​ "the first American woman" to receive Sweden's highest award for women, go HERE.

For Sohlberg House with Emil 1916 - 1920, go HERE.

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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
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All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
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