SWEDES: TheWayTheyWere
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    • The Bethany Artist & the Bethany Scientist: Lydia & Emil ------------------------- \\// >
      • Lydia's and Emil's Smoky Valley Swedish Immigration Background ​ ~ With a far larger account of why Swedes were leaving Sweden by Mr. Holmquist >
        • Their 1869 Swedish Lutheran Galesburg Colony and Olsson Colony Smoky Valley Arrivals, ~ With a Galesburg account by Mr. Holmquist >
          • Their Värmland Swedes ~ The "First Swedish Agricultural Company" Lindsborg Founders, 1868, ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
            • Swedish Pastor Olof Olsson Emigrating to Lindsborg 1869, June 27th Arrival ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
              • Bethany Lutheran Church and Lindsborg Founder Pastor Olsson, 1869 - 1876 ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist
      • Their 1869 "Bethany Lutheran Church" ~ Accounts by Dr. Lindquist and Mr. Carlson >
        • ​Their 1860-1962 "Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Synod" ~ Gaining and losing its Swedish identity >
          • The 1860 Formation of the Augustana Synod ~ An Account by Mr. Holmquist >
            • Their 1892 "Augustana Women's Missionary Society" ~ An account by Ms. Humphrey >
              • The 2000 - 2016 "Augustana Heritage Association"
      • Their 1879 "Swedish Mission Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members ​ due to the "atonement" issue ​ ~ An account by Mr. Carlson ~ Part 1 of 2 >
        • An account by Dr. Lindquist ~ Part 2 of 2
      • Their 1907 "Bethany Lutheran Home" ~ Link to the Bethany Home Story >
        • 1976 Lindsborg’s Bethany Home’s Swedish King's Visit ~ An account by Mr. Carlson
      • Their 1909 and 1919 Swedish Smoky Valley Community Chronicles ~ Compiled and written by Bethany Lutheran Church Rev. Dr. Bergin, members and others
      • Their 1910 English speaking "Messiah Lutheran Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
        • An account on the 1910 Messiah Lutheran Church formation from Rev. Dr. Bergin's 1909 ​"Pioneer Swedish-American Culture of Central Kansas"
      • Their 1916 Sohlberg House ​ ~ 322 North First [College] Street ~After their honeymoon
      • Their 1919 Lindsborg Historical Society's "Coronado Heights" ~ Emil's 1907 thesis and Lydia's photographs >
        • The ​1919 Formation of the "Lindsborg Historical Society" ~ The Smoky Hills' "Smoky Hill" christened "Coronado Heights" May 8, 1924 >
          • G. N. Malm's role in the development of the Lindsborg Historical Society and Coronado Heights ​~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
            • Lindsborg Historical Society and Coronado Heights History ~ Three (3) accounts by Mrs. Jaderborg, former SVHA secretary >
              • Coronado Expedition Chain Mail and Bethany College Museum History ~ An account from Dr. Lungstrom's book
      • Their 1920 Old Main Apartments of Bethany College ~ Living on campus with the students for 20 years
      • Their 1936 1873 Swedish Homestead," "Our Peaceful Acres" >
        • Their 1873 Swede House ~ A close twin to Lindsborg Founder Rev. Olof Olsson's stone house >
          • Peaceful Acres Smoky Valley descendant friends and helpers ~ Honoring them and remembering them
      • Their 1940 Deere Home to 1943 ​~ 344 North First [College] Street ~ With new occupants after Lydia >
        • Emil's and Nina's 1961Thunderbird on the Bethany Campus ~ Promoting 21st Century Bethany College in Silicon Valley with alumni and students
      • Their 1941 "Svensk Hyllningsfest" and Dr. Holwerda's Role ~ Accounts by Dr. Lungstrom, Mrs. Jaderborg, Dr. Holwerda & Mr. Lundstrom >
        • Their 1964, "Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers" founded by Mrs. Jaderborg ~ An account by Mr. Chris Abercrombie
      • 1943, After Lydia, Emil's part planning Lindsborg's "first" hospital and Dr. Holwerda's role ~ An account by Dr. Lungstrom
    • Their "1881" on . . . Lutheran Bethany Academy 1882 ~ Their 1882 "First Lutheran College Building"
    • Their 1882-1966 "Bethany College Museum" ~ The Natural History and Pioneer Swedish Collections >
      • Fossils Collection ~ From Old Main to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 1966, ~ “The Find” >
        • Taxidermy Collection ~ From Old Main to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 1966 >
          • 900 Item Emil O. Deere Pioneer Swedish Collection ~ From Old Main to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 1966 >
            • Cliff Dwellers' Pottery Collection ~ From Old Main to the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, 1966
      • The 1966 Bethany College Museum Collections Move to the Old Mill Museum ~ Dr. Leon Lungstrom's Role >
        • Articles on the Bethany College Museum Collections Move of 1966
    • Their 1882 on . . . Bethany College Handel’s “Messiah" Performances >
      • "Messiah" Performers, Venues & Audiences, Press and Broadcasts >
        • Special 20th Century "Messiah" Performances >
          • "The Notables, Messiah Week, . . . ~ An account by Mrs. Jaderborg >
            • Handel's "Messiah" & Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" ~ Described for viewers unfamiliar with these oratorios
    • Their “1899 on . . .” Bethany College “Swedish Artists’ Midwest Art Exhibition” ​~ An account by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
    • Their 1903 on . . . Bethany College "Rockar Stockar!" and the 1902 on . . . "Terrible Swedes" ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist
    • Their “1904 on . . .” Bethany College St. Louis World's Fair “Swedish Pavilion”
    • Their "1895 to 1981" Bethany College Anniversary Celebrations ~ 15, 20, 25, 100 years >
      • Their Celebrating 15 Years of Bethany College, 1881-1896. The First "Bethany Annual," 1895-96 >
        • Their Celebrating 20 Years of Bethany College, 1881-1901. The "Forget-Me-Not," 1902 >
          • The King of Sweden's Emissary, 1901 >
            • Yale University's Bethany Club
      • Their Celebrating 25 Years of Bethany College, 1881-1906. ~ "Souvenir of Lindsborg and Bethany College"
      • Their Celebrating 100 Years of Bethany College, 1881-1981 ~ "The Centennial of Bethany College"
    • Their 1937 Bethany College's Introduction to 1638 New Sweden >
      • Deere's Introduction to New Sweden
  • Swedish Immigration Story, 1854
    • "The Story of the Old Spoon" by Ingrid Anderson Sohlberg & Daughter Lydia Sohlberg Deere, 1937
    • Who They Left Behind
    • From Sweden with Love Collections >
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Kosta Portraits, 1867 >
        • The Swedish Sohlberg Kosta Glass >
          • The Swedish Sohlberg Letters
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler (c1890s)
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Post Cards (c1890s)
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Magazines, (c1940s)
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Books, 1819/1886 to 1899
      • The Swedish Sohlberg Albums ~ Late 19th early 20th centuries
      • The Swedish Deere Coins -- 1801-1929
  • Artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere
    • Lydia's Lindsborg Photography, 1900-1925 >
      • The Hats
      • The Smoky River
      • The Smoky Hills >
        • Coronado Heights -- One Winter's Day
      • In and Around Lindsborg
      • Sohlberg House with Parents >
        • Our Sohlberg Home and Neighbor Alma Luise Olson
      • Sohlberg House with Emil 1916 to 1920 >
        • Lydia's Travels with Deere 1916 - 1930s >
          • Lydia's California Photographs for Painting >
            • Lydia's "Palm Springs Pictorial Magazine, 1938-1939 >
              • Lydia's California Pressed Wild Flowers, c1930
      • "LYDIA'S WORLD" Photography Exhibitions in Lindsborg, 2005 - 2011 >
        • ​"LYDIA'S WORLD" Smoky Valley descendant friends caring for her work ​ ~ Honoring them and remembering them ~ 2005-2011
      • 2021 Lindsborg's Lydia Sohlberg Deere ~ Discovered by Palm Springs, former "NY Times" Writer of Lindsborg's Christina Lillian
    • Lydia as Bethany College Lane Hart Hall Dean of Women, 1906 - 1913 ~ Swedish and Scandinavian Handwork Instructor >
      • Lydia's Signatured Black Book of Her Handwritten Sewing Instructions >
        • Nina Sohlberg's Child's Sewing "Little Dots" PICTURE BOOK
      • Lydia Sohlberg Deere's 1927 "Lindsborg Swedish Club's" Handwork and Members >
        • The Lindsborg Swedish Club's "Allers Monster-Tidnings" magazine, 1940
    • Lydia's Art, 1919-1938 >
      • Lydia's Art: The Kansas Collection >
        • The Sketches
      • Lydia's Art: The Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota Collection >
        • The Sketches
      • Lydia's Art: The California Collection >
        • The Sketches >
          • Lydia's "Palm Springs Magazine " 1938-39
    • Lydia's Art Professor Sven Birger Sandzén, 1871-1954 >
      • Lydia's Assignments for Professor Sandzén >
        • Students of Sandzén 2019 Exhibition >
          • Bethany Home ~ Celebrating Artist Birger Sandzén through his students' paintings
    • Lydia's Art Professor Birger Sandzén's "Art Exhibitions" and "Reviews" .. 1893-1940 >
      • Lydia's Art Professor Sandzén's Exhibition at the Babcock Gallery in New York, 1922
      • Lydia's Sandzén's Body of Work Reviewed by N.Y.C, 1984 "American Impressionism," author William H. Gerdts
    • Lydia's and Sandzén's Swedish Artist Friend Charles Edward Hallberg, 1855-1940
    • Lydia's and Sandzén's Swedish Artist Friend Oscar Brousse Jacobson, 1882-1966
    • Lydia’s Sohlberg Family Connection to Sandzén, 1880-1894-1993
  • Scientist Emil O. Deere
    • Deere's & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Bethany Photography, 1906-1925 >
      • Bethany College "Campus from Above"
      • Bethany College "The Gateway," 1917 and "Bethany Campus Association," 1912
      • Bethany College "College Street," today's "North First Street"
      • Bethany College "Campus Life"
      • Bethany College "Field Trips"
      • Bethany College's "Earliest Buildings" >
        • Bethany College "​Ladies Dormitory" / "Lane Hart Hall" 1883 - 1899 - 1983
        • Bethany College "Old Main" 1887-1968 >
          • Lydia's and Emil's Old Main Apartments, 1920 to 1940 >
            • Deere's Bethany College Classes in Old Main
        • Bethany College "Messiah Auditorium" / "Ling Auditorium" / "Ling Gymnasium" 1895 - 1946
        • Bethany College "Swedish Pavilion," 1904
        • Bethany College "​Carnegie Library" / "Bethany Library" 1908 - 1980
        • Bethany College "​Bethany Academy" 1882 -- Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings
    • Deere's 1959 Interview on Rev. Dr. Carl A. Swensson (On YouTube) >
      • Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson, 1857-1904 ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
        • Swensson's "Bethany Lutheran Church" and the "Augustana Lutheran Synod"
        • Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings: "The Bethany Academy of 1882"
        • Olsson's Influence, the Swenssons,' the Musicians' and Singers,' "Messiah," 1882 on … >
          • Mr. Thure Olof Jaderborg, Sr. ~ One Lindsborg "Messiah" Commitment from 1901-1954
        • Swensson's Swedish Artists of the 1890s
        • Swensson's "Bethany College Museum," 1882 - 1966
      • In Memorium**Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson, 1904 ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist
    • Deere's Rev. Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, 1873-1943 ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
      • In Memoriam**Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, 1943
      • Rev. Dr. Pihlblad on Bethany College, 1904 - 1941
    • Deere's Swensson's "Bethany College Museum" 1882-1966 >
      • Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections ~ to 1966
    • Deere's Smithsonian Institution's Souvenir, 1904
    • Deere's 1940 Presidential Address to the Kansas Academy of Science
    • Deere's 1955 Letter to President Eisenhower re Tuttle Creek
    • Deere's Service, 1901-1966 ~ The bullet points >
      • Deere's Education & Degrees
    • The Deere's Library ~ What remains of 2,000 books -- pending project
    • Deere's Old Main Office ​ ~ SVHA member Mrs. Jaderborg in charge of cleaning it out
  • "The Other Swedes"
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers >
      • Rev. Bror Carlsson ~ Tracing Värmland's Rev. Olof Olsson's church life in Sweden and in ​Swedish America with the Augustana Lutheran Synod >
        • 2001 "He Gave God Glory" - "The Story of Olof Olsson" ​~ Alf Brorson's condensed version of his father's, Rev. Bror Carlsson's 1955 manuscript, "Jag Sökte Icke Mitt," "I Did Not Seek My Own" >
          • "He Gave God Glory" ~ The Story of Olof Olsson ~ Contents & Illustrations
      • Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson ~ Prolific writer in America and Sweden from approximately 1879 to 1904
      • Bethany Church, Bethany College, Augustana Lutheran Synod Writers ​~ Remembering Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson and Rev. Dr. Ernst Frederick Pihlblad
      • ​Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin ​~ In Swedish, writing and compiling foundational history of Swedish Smoky Valley Augustana Lutheran settlements, in 1909 and 1919 >
        • 1909 translated to "Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas," 1965 ~ By Mrs. Bergin Billdt
        • 1919 translated to "The Smoky Valley in The After Years," 1969 ~ By Mrs. Bergin Billdt & Mrs. Jaderborg
      • Dr. Emory K. Lindquist ~ "Fourth" President of Bethany College ~ Chronicling Swedish Augustana Lutheran Lindsborg and Bethany College from their earliest years >
        • ​1953, "Smoky Valley People, A History of Lindsborg, Kansas" ~ The Words of Dr. Lindquist and Contents & Illustrations
        • 1975 "Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college" ~ The Words of Dr. Lindquist >
          • "Bethany in Kansas" PART I ~ Contents & Illustrations
          • "Bethany in Kansas" PART II ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master" ~ The Words of Dr. Lindquist >
          • "Hagbard Brase" ~ Contents and Illustrations
        • 1989 "G. N. Malm - A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career" ~ The Words of Dr. Lindquist with chapters by Hasselmo, Holm, Skårdal, & translation by Van Boer >
          • "G. N. Malm" ~ Contents & Illustrations
      • Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg ​ ~ Chronicling the Lindsborg of her day, its early histories, its early citizens [Remarks on Dr. Einar Jaderborg and Messiah Bass Soloist Thure Jaderborg] >
        • 1965 "Lindsborg On Record" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1967 "Living in Lindsborg and Other Possibilities" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1973 "Talk About Lindsborg" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1976 "Why Lindsborg" ~ An introduction: H. M. Carl XVI Gustaf of the Kingdom of Sweden >
          • 1976 "Why Lindsborg?" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • ​1990 "Two Reprints" ~ Contents & Illustrations
      • Mr. A. John Pearson ~ Chronicling the "first" 8 Bethany College presidents, "Messiah" history and much more >
        • 1981 ​On "Bethany College" History for 100 Years ~ The Words of Mr. Pearson
        • ​​1982 On " 'Messiah" Centennial History for 100 Years ​ ~ The Compiler, and the Words of, Mr. A. John Pearson ​
      • Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and the Bethany Home Writers ~ Chronicling the "only known written" story on the beginnings of Bethany Home​ of 1907
      • Dr. Leon G. Lungstrom ​~ Chronicling Bethany College natural science and mathematics, the professors and societies, the Museum, and Old Main, 1881-1990 >
        • ​1990 "History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas" ~ "Table of Contents" >
          • Dr. Lungstrom Chapters >
            • "Introduction"
            • "Bethany College History Concerning the Natural Sciences and Mathematics"
            • Bethany College "Museum" ​
            • "Societies on the College Campus Associated with Mathematics and Natural Sciences"
            • ​"Tabulation of Teachers and Assistants in Natural Sciences and Mathematics"
            • The Old Main Building and Nelson Science Hall"
            • Bethany College Catalogue Cover
          • Dr. Lungstrom's References >
            • "Bethany Messenger" ~ Science and mathematics' headlines ~ 1893 to 1987
            • "Lindsborg News-Record" ~ Science and mathematics' headlines ~ 1901 to 1990
            • "Bethany College Magazine" ~ Science and mathematics' headlines ~ 1954 to 1990
            • "Daisy" and/or "Bethanian" ~ List of Science & Math Faculty Photographs ~ 1908 - 1990
        • Dr. Lungstrom ~ "Master Teacher" "Master Learner" >
          • Dr. Lungstrom ~ His Värmland Swedish ancestry and tough years on the McPherson County family farm
      • Smoky Valley Historical Association Members ~ Chronicling 1993 " Where Did They Live? " "Early Residences of Lindsborg, Kansas"
      • Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist ~ Chronicling Lindsborg's neighbors, the Galesburg Augustana Lutheran Swedes of Salemsborg and Freemount, with a personal connection, 1868 >
        • ​1994 "Pioneer Cross: Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs" ~ The Words of Mr. Holmquist
        • "Pioneer Cross" ~ Contents & Illustrations
      • Mr. Alf Brorson ~ Connecting Lindsborg Swedes to their Swedish Lutheran Christian Founder Rev. Olsson in 2001, and to Sweden with the "Sweden Letter" since 2008
      • Mr. Chris Abercrombie ~ Remembering him as historian, writer, researcher, interviewer and collector of local artifacts - Remembering his legacy >
        • ~The 2006 Abercrombie interview with Ken Sjogren on Bethany's challenging times, 1960s to early 70s
      • Mr. Bill Carlson ~ Chronicling Lindsborg's earliest and later histories with a personal connection, since 1867 >
        • 2011 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" ​ ~ The words of Bill Carlson >
          • "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" ​ ~ The words of Bill Carlson, the "Conclusion" chapter >
            • "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 2016 ~ Mr. Calrson's account of "1976 King of Sweden's Visit to Bethany Home'"
      • Ms. Karen A. Humphrey ~ Chronicling highlights of Swedish Augustana Lutheran Lindsborg and Bethany College culture in the earliest years >
        • 2012 "Grace, Faith and the Power of Singing: The Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story" ~The Words of Ms. Humphrey
        • "Grace, Faith and the Power of Singing" ~ Contents & Illustrations
      • ​​​Mrs. Margaret Dahlquist Eddy ~ Chronicling Lindsborg Photographer Swede B.G. Gröndal Work's >
        • 2013 "Through the Lens of B.G. Gröndal: Keeper of His Time" ~ ​Contents & Photograph Titles ~ Showing Sohlberg Deere Gröndal portraits
      • ​ Mr. Kenneth Sjogren ​~ Saving and serving Bethany College, preserving college and Swedish history and culture, writing college history >
        • ​2019 "6 Decades with 12 Bethany College Presidents"​ ~ The words of Mr. Sjogren
        • "6 Decades with 12 Bethany College Presidents"​ ~ Illustrations and Chapters
      • ​Digitalize the Smoky Valley Writers' Swedish and Swedish American histories ~ For their generations to come and for research accessibility
    • ​Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The ​Smoky Valley History Research Writers Website Designers
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends >
      • ​Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson ~ Remembering Swedish Lutheran Christian Founder of Lindsborg and Bethany Lutheran Church ​~ LINKS to accounts by Rev. Bror Carlsson, Mr. Alf Brorson, and Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
      • ​​Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson ~ Remembering “Founder” and "Second President" of Bethany College ~ LINKS to accounts by Dr. Emory K. Lindquist, and much more
      • ​Mrs. Alma Christina Lind Swensson ~ Remembering her as Mrs. Rev. Dr. Swensson, the “First Lady” of Lindsborg, ~ "Highlights" from Ms. Humphrey’s book
      • ​Rev. Dr. Edward J. Nelander​ ~ Remembering "First" President of Bethany College ~ Accounts by Dr. Lindquist and Dr. Lundstrom
      • Dr. Johan August Udden ~ Remembering "First" Bethany College professor, founder of the Museum and Spanish Chain Mail, led UT to over $300,000,000 ~ An account by Dr. Lundstrom
      • Mr. B.G. Gröndal ~ Remembering him and his photography in the earliest years of Lindsborg and Bethany College >
        • B.G. Gröndal ~ Accounts by Mr. Abercrombie and Mrs. Jaderborg with LINK to Mrs. Eddy, B.G.'s granddaughter's book review
      • ​Mr. Samuel Thorstenberg ~ Remembering him as the "first" earliest internationally acclaimed Bethany College "Messiah Chorus" conductor
      • Dr. Hagbard Brase ~ Remembering him as the "second " earliest internationally acclaimed Bethany College "Messiah Chorus" conductor
      • Rev. Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad ~ "Third" President of Bethany College ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist
      • Miss Alma Luise Olson ~ Remembering her as "First Honored American Woman by Sweden" ~ The 1965 account by ​Mrs. Jaderborg >
        • Miss Alma Luise Olson ~ Remembering her and the extraordinary life she led at home and abroad ~ The 2012 account by Ms. Humphrey
      • Artist Birger Sandzén ~ Remembering him for "sharing his art with the world," starting "first" at Lindsborg's Bethany College >
        • The Greenoughs ~ Drs. Charles Pelham III and Margaret Elizabeth Sandzén ~ Remembering them for their gift of the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and much more
      • Mr. Gustaf Nathaniel Malm ~ Remembering Lindsborg's Swedish Renaissance Man ~ Accounts by Dr. Lindquist >
        • G. N. Malm and all he did for the Lindsborg community ~ An account by Mrs. Jaderborg >
          • G. N. Malm and his Lindsborg's national interior decorating company ​​~ An account by Mrs. Jaderborg​ >
            • G. N. Malm's 1916 Christmas Greetings to His Lindsborg Friends
      • The Swedish Lindsborg Builders ~ Remembering them for the lovely homes they built
      • William Holwerda, M.D. ~ Remembering him as "Doc Bill," a city father and loving citizen ~ Accounts by Dr. Lungstrom and Mrs. Jaderborg >
        • Dr. William Holwerda ~ Remembering their family doctor with Messiah Lutheran Church tributes ~ An account by Dr. Lungstrom
      • Mr. & Mrs. Hilding Jaderborg ~ Remembering them and their “Swedish Crafts Shop” of 65 years and 50 trips to Sweden
      • Artist Lester Raymer ~ Remembering him as the renowned virtuoso artist and "behind the scenes" community supporter
      • Dr. ​& Mrs. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering them and their 29 years of dedication to that Bethany College "Messiah" tradition of excellence >
        • 1976 Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s," Carl XVI Gustaf's, performance >
          • 1981 Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the "Messiah" conductor for the Bethany College "Centennial Celebration" performance >
            • 1986 Dr. Elmer Copley ~ ~Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College televised Holy Easter Week "American Easter"
      • ​Dr. Arvin W. Hahn ​~ Remembering him, Ken Sjogren and others ​ for saving Bethany College from going under! -- "A Miracle in the Making" >
        • Dr. Arvin W. Hahn ~ Remembering him handing me my Bethany College "Bachelor of Arts" Degree on Sunday, May 26,1968
      • Dr. Greta Swenson and Mr. & Mrs. Mark Esping ~ Remembering them for founding Lindsborg's “first” "Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas," 1986 >
        • Mr. & Mrs. Mark Esping ~ Remembering their Lindsborg's Folklife Institute's "Swedish-American Heritage Center," 1996
      • Mr. Claude Koehn ~ Remembering him as restorer and preservationist of Smoky Valley stone farmhouses and other stone structures
      • ​Ms. Rebecca Copley ~ Honoring her as Bethany College's “first” graduate to become an "International Concert and Opera Soprano" >
        • Ms. Copley's International Reviews
      • Mr. Bruce Karstadt ~ Honoring him as a Bethany College graduate for heading up a major national Swedish American institution
      • Dr. Mark Lucas ~ Honoring him as Messiah conductor for bringing the Holy Easter Lindsborg “Oberammergau of the Plains" to a “new” world audience in 2020
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Groupings, including Swedes from Sweden >
      • ​1882-1966 Bethany College Museum Science Professor Curators ​~ Their earliest collectors and the taxidermists
      • 1894-1962 Bethany College Graduates in Augustana Lutheran Synod World Mission Work ~ An account by Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
      • 1901-2014 The ​Bethany College Swedish Knights and Ladies ~ Honored by the Kings of Sweden
      • ​​1919 "Lindsborg Historical Society's" earliest leaders ~ Their mission and preservation projects >
        • 1963 "Smoky Valley Historical Association" (SVHA) later leaders ​~ Some more recent preservation projects
      • ​1962 - 2021 "McPherson County Old Mill Museum Leaders" ~ Detailing ​the Museum's roots to the 1930s ". . . Archeological Society" and more
      • ​1971 - 2020 "American Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains" Leaders ~ Providing cultural history and heritage programs with significant links to Sweden and Swedish America
      • 1976 His Majesty the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf's Visit to Lindsborg April 17th >
        • The Lindsborg & Bethany College "Swedes" ~ Honored by the King of Sweden, June 6, 1976
      • 1977​ Swedish Emigrant Institute Staff from Växjö, Småland, Visits Lindsborg October 16-18
      • 1978 Swedish Documen- tary Film Crew Visits Lindsborg October 2-9 >
        • "Lindsborg News-Record" Clippings of 1978 Swedish Film Crew Visit
  • Contacts
    • For 1869 Lindsborg CONTACT Today > > > > > > > > to Yesteryears > >
      • ​Lydia's Lindsborg Photography​, ​1900 - 1925 >
        • "A Time to Remember" 1882 - 1988 >
          • A Historical Count of Lindsborg Residents ~The Bethany College Presidents & Swedish Kings Honoring Bethany Swedes
    • ​For 1881 Bethany College CONTACT Today > > > > > > > > > to Yesteryears > >
      • Lydia's Bethany Photography, 1906 - 1925 >
        • Their "I WAS THERE" Coin ~ Bethany College 21st Year Celebration, 1902 >
          • "A Time to Remember" 1882 - 1988 >
            • A Historical Count ~The Bethany College Presidents & Swedish Kings Honoring Bethany Swedes >
              • "Bethany Campus Walk”
    • For 1957 Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery CONTACT Today >
      • Sandzén: "Ecstasy of Color" ~ PBS Doucmentary ~ Aired 6/11/21
    • Closing Remarks >
      • ​ The 1941 Smoky Valley "Pioneer Cross Memorial" ​~ ​By Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist >
        • The 2009 "Smoky Valley Swedish People's Virtual Memorial"
    • Traveling through SWEDES ~ The Table of Contents
 Home
<>  Their Legacy "Messiah" Performances  <>
​
Their 1882 on . . . Bethany College Handel’s “Messiah" Performances
More than any other ongoing event in Lindsborg having the greatest impact on Lydia's and Emil's lives as well as their friends and their contemporaries would have to have been the performances by Bethany College Oratorio Society of George Frederic Handel's 1741 Messiah in the early years during Easter (and later on Palm Sunday as well) and that of Johann Sebastian Bach's The Passion of our Lord According to Saint Matthew that became the regular Good Friday oratorio in 1929.   

Since the Messiah performances inception in 1881, this sacred music has continued to be performed since its first performance in 1882.  It was first performed over a period of a week with the help of visiting conductor Joseph E. Osborn and the 
orchestra from Rock Island, Illinois, for the Kansas Smoky Valley choir of about 100 which was composed of farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, and homemakers the majority of which were members of Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church with smaller numbers from neighboring Lutheran and other protestant churches.  Lindsborg at that time had a population of around 470.

Beginning about two weeks before Easter in 1882, the performances consisted of those held at Bethany Lutheran Church on March 28; Salemsborg Lutheran Church on March 29; Salina Opera House on March 30; McPherson Opera House on March 31 and Freemont Lutheran Church on April 2.  This sizeable singing group, just recently formed, was noted then as the Messiah Chorus, and traveled with the orchestra by horse-drawn lumber wagon or train to the venues.

Those to thank and to recognize, for these most wonderful ongoing inspirational performances through 2021, would be former Bethany Lutheran Church Pastor Olof Olsson, founder of the Church and Lindsborg, who at the time was a Theology Professor at Augustana College and Theology Seminary of Rock Island, Illinois, and graduate of the same Rock Island institution Carl Aaron Swensson, second pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, and founder and president of Bethany College.  Most importantly, however, the success for the development of the actual singing of the Messiah and of the performances themselves during these earliest times would go to his wife, Mrs. Alma Christina Lind Swensson, a gifted musician and singer who began her career as an organist at age 12 for the Moline, Illinois, Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church where the Augustana faculty and students worshipped.

Mrs. Alma Swensson, in fact, taught this devout Kansas Smoky Valley choir which would become known as the Messiah Chorus how to sing Handel's greatest oratorio.  This was done by her starting each session with prayer!  Forty years later, she would disclaim any credit for the great national and international acclaim of these performances to a New York Times reporter.  She simply explained to him that "the Christian faith of the people of Lindsborg inspires them to sing."  "The chorus is an expression of the faith of my people.  Without inspiration from God, it would fail.' " **

These annual Messiah performances have continued during Holy Easter Week with few exceptions, when America entered World War I in 1917
 and during the worldwide Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.  Yet, in these two instances, the performances were later held in their respective years at the Messiah Auditorium also known as the Ling Auditorium that had a seating capacity of 4,000.  Even with the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, the Easter Messiah was performed later in October, and in 2021 it was able to be performed on Easter, with both performances following all required pandemic protocols.  The silver lining during this deadly pandemic season has been the creation of a new world stage for a new world audience for the Lindsborg Bethany College Oratorio Society through "live streaming" from the Presser Hall Copley Stage. 

In addition, to their early years of performing the Messiah at Easter, and for decades on Palm Sunday as well, was the founding of the Midwest Art Exhibition in 1899 by Swedish artists Birger Sandzén, Carl Lotav
é and G. N. Malm.  The idea began in the Old Main dorm room belonging to Sandzén.  Now, after various Exhibition venues on the college campus, it is held at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery.   On Good Friday in 1929, Johann Sebastian Bach's The Passion of our Lord According to St. Matthew repertoire was introduced by Conductor Dr. Hagbard Brase at the dedication of the Presser Hall, the new venue then for these performances.  It had a seating capacity of about 1,800.  The combination of these Holy Easter Week performances, other concerts, and the art exhibition is referred to as the "Messiah Festival of the Arts."  This is the most far-reaching Christian and cultural week of the year for Bethany College and Lindsborg, Kansas.  
- The patrons of a Holy Easter Messiah on their way to Messiah Auditorium later referred to as Ling Auditorium -
Picture
Source: Lydia Sohlberg Deere
Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Emory Lindquist gives us the background for these performances of this inspirational emotionally moving music in his book, Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college,  in Chapter 10, The Lindsborg "Messiah" Tradition, pages 151-152 with the following: 

     "The achievement in music and art has identified Bethany College as a unique and distinctive collegiate institution with great cultural resources.  National attention has come to the College and to the Lindsborg community through the annual “Messiah” festival and the Mid-West Art Exhibition during Holy Week.  Thousands of people have made annual pilgrimages to the Smoky Valley of Central Kansas for decades in order to share in these religious and cultural events.  Such designations for the college community as “America’s Bayreuth” and the “Oberammergau of the Plains” suggest symbols that are distinctive historically and currently.  Twin-born with the founding of the College in 1881 was the Handel Oratorio Society which became known as the Bethany College Oratorio Society.  The popular reference to this distinguished organization identifies it as the Lindsborg “Messiah” chorus.  Endowing the music of the oratorio with deep meaning is the great spiritual message based upon the abiding promises of the Holy Scriptures.

     "The threads of that story are associated like so many in the history of Lindsborg with Pastor Olof Olsson.  The day was Friday, April 4, 1879, when the Lindsborg pioneer pastor, then on a trip to Europe, arrived in London.  When reading a newspaper, he learned that Handel’s Messiah under the direction of Sir Michael Costa was to be presented in
Exeter Hall that evening.  Immediately he decided to attend the concert and engaged a room near Exeter Hall.  Olsson had only modest financial resources and purchased the cheapest ticket available, which, however, gave him a good seat on the balcony directly across from the chorus.

     "At 7:30 p.m. Sir Michael Costa picked up his baton and for almost three hours Olsson sat spellbound as the chorus and orchestra of six hundred presented Handel’s inspiring oratorio.  An Englishman seated by Olsson shared his score of the Messiah so the visitor from America could closely follow the rendition.  It was a thrilling experience from the “Overture” to the “Amen” as recorded by Olsson:

           ‘I will not even attempt to describe it all for that is beyond my power.  At times I was so carried away that I scarcely knew myself.  Well, my friends may smile at my childishness.  Let them smile.  But I don’t know what sort of man he would be, who had no feeling for beautiful spiritual music.  Among other things sung were the names of our Saviour given in the ninth chapter of Isaiah:  Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God.  When the great chorus and the full orchestra intoned those words, I was so enchanted that I feared the shock would be too much for me.  That evening in Exeter Hall will stand out, I can well say, as the most beautiful memory of the journey.’

     "Olsson left Exeter Hall that evening with a great song in his heart.  It was more than an episode, because his thoughts came back to it again and again.  When he returned to Augustana College, he communicated his great enthusiasm for the Messiah to friends there.  The response was encouraging.  A small chorus we assembled for rehearsals.  On April 11, 1881, the first rendition was presented at Moline, Illinois.  A splendid oratorio tradition at Augustana College had been launched.

     "Present in the audience, at the rendition of Handel’s great oratorio by the Augustana chorus at the First Congregational Church, Moline, Illinois, during the commencement activities in 1881, was Carl Swensson.  When he returned to Lindsborg following this “Messiah” rendition, he was full of enthusiasm for Handel’s great composition.  Mrs. Swensson, a talented musician, was also eager to bring the Messiah to Lindsborg.  Plans were discussed in the first instance with the choir of the Bethany Lutheran Church, where the Swenssons were dearly beloved by the membership.  The possibility of organizing a chorus was suggested to the pastors and choir members of neighboring congregations.  The response was encouraging although this seemed to be a big venture.  Carl Swensson was accustomed to attempting great things, and plans moved forward with certainty."

For 
Handel's "Messiah" & Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" ~ Described for viewers unfamiliar with these oratorios, go HERE.

For more on "the beginnings" of this incredible story of "sacred music" in Lindsborg and at Bethany College, go HERE to " Olsson's Influence, the Swenssons,'  Musicians,' and Singers,' "Messiah" -- 1882 on …"


For a list of the "world renown" national and international performers beginning in 1899 during the annual Messiah Festival of Easter Holy Week at Lindsborg's Bethany College during Lydia's and Emil's time and beyond to 1997 at New York's Carnegie Hall
, click on Mrs. Swensson's portrait.
Picture
Source: Bethany College Forget-Me-Not 1902
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