"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
<> The Historians, The Preservationists <>
Their Swedish American Kansas Smoky Valley Legacy Listings
Bergin, Swensson, Lindquist, Carlsson, Jaderborg, Billdt, Pearson, Nelson Lungstrom, Holmquist, Brorson, Marshall, Abercrombie, Stewart, Carlson, Humphrey, Eddy, Jorsch, Sjogren, Malm
Bethany Church and Bethany College Augustana Lutheran Synod Writers
The Bethany Home Writers & The Smoky Valley Historical Association Writers
Bethany College History Professor Dr. Thomas F. Jorsch & Sophomore Honor Students
With Editors: Jaderborg, Pearson, Marshall. With Translators: Billdt, Ringstrom, Winblad
--------------------------------------------------------------
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
<> The Historians, The Preservationists <>
Their Swedish American Kansas Smoky Valley Legacy Listings
Bergin, Swensson, Lindquist, Carlsson, Jaderborg, Billdt, Pearson, Nelson Lungstrom, Holmquist, Brorson, Marshall, Abercrombie, Stewart, Carlson, Humphrey, Eddy, Jorsch, Sjogren, Malm
Bethany Church and Bethany College Augustana Lutheran Synod Writers
The Bethany Home Writers & The Smoky Valley Historical Association Writers
Bethany College History Professor Dr. Thomas F. Jorsch & Sophomore Honor Students
With Editors: Jaderborg, Pearson, Marshall. With Translators: Billdt, Ringstrom, Winblad
--------------------------------------------------------------
Without the works of these authors to draw on, SWEDES could have never been as detailed as it is today. In a large or small way, I have used their articles, publications, and books in compiling that foundational and early history on Lindsborg and Bethany College. As old as many of these books are, they are too important to Smoky Valley Swedish cultural history and heritage to be collecting dust, if they are, as their use is timeless and vital for the education of succeeding Smoky Valley generations of leaders and educators, and Bethany College administrations and faculties who are the descendants and academic caretakers upon which the future preservation and promotion of this Swedish and Swedish American cultural history and heritage solely depends, for its survival, as it has in the past.
In the process of their compositions, these Smoky Valley authors have truly become Kansas Smoky Valley historians and preservationists of this regional Swedish and Swedish American Augustana Lutheran history. They have chronicled Swedish cultural life of becoming American pioneers, entering into a new life in a new land of untilled rich soil, where they could worship God freely while thanking Him for the opportunity of creating a good life for themselves that was before them, in the Native American territory of the Kaw Nation tribe in the late 1860s.
This Swedish American Lutheran Kansas Smoky Valley anthology has laid the foundational infrastructure supporting the origins of Lindsborg's and Bethany College’s true identity revealed in their Swedish Augustana Lutheran practices and traditions which created their treasured cultural heritage histories and legacies. Through the decades to present time, the reading of these works created visions and paths for descendant generations to follow, resulting in seamless Swedish American preservation legacy building.
Thus, in turn, strong vibrant colorful Swedish threads have been weaved into the American cultural tapestry of the Central Plains of our nation, establishing, therefore, the thriving Lindsborg, the "Little Sweden," that, in the past, has been a draw for visiting Swedish royalty, Swedish scholars, Swedish folk artists, and Swedish artists, musicians and opera singers. Many of these visits were endeavors to maintain connections with, and provide support to, the last-living-links to this culture that was founded in 1869 by Swedish Lutheran Pietists.
Every effort has been made to pay tribute to these Smoky Valley Writers and to honor their works by sharing selections of their writings with the viewer, especially with Smoky Valley leaders and educators, at all levels, unfamiliar with these books and publications. This is for the benefit of educating the local population and students in this, their, local foundational Swedish and Swedish American community history.
These selections can become "starting points" for local educators to create "lesson plans" for all levels of teaching on the history of Lindsborg and the other Smoky Valley communities. It is certainly for the academic level as well at Bethany College and for other like-minded scholars where the development of a Swedish American Smoky Valley studies program surely would gain traction for teaching this history on this most special and unique community.
In the process of their compositions, these Smoky Valley authors have truly become Kansas Smoky Valley historians and preservationists of this regional Swedish and Swedish American Augustana Lutheran history. They have chronicled Swedish cultural life of becoming American pioneers, entering into a new life in a new land of untilled rich soil, where they could worship God freely while thanking Him for the opportunity of creating a good life for themselves that was before them, in the Native American territory of the Kaw Nation tribe in the late 1860s.
This Swedish American Lutheran Kansas Smoky Valley anthology has laid the foundational infrastructure supporting the origins of Lindsborg's and Bethany College’s true identity revealed in their Swedish Augustana Lutheran practices and traditions which created their treasured cultural heritage histories and legacies. Through the decades to present time, the reading of these works created visions and paths for descendant generations to follow, resulting in seamless Swedish American preservation legacy building.
Thus, in turn, strong vibrant colorful Swedish threads have been weaved into the American cultural tapestry of the Central Plains of our nation, establishing, therefore, the thriving Lindsborg, the "Little Sweden," that, in the past, has been a draw for visiting Swedish royalty, Swedish scholars, Swedish folk artists, and Swedish artists, musicians and opera singers. Many of these visits were endeavors to maintain connections with, and provide support to, the last-living-links to this culture that was founded in 1869 by Swedish Lutheran Pietists.
Every effort has been made to pay tribute to these Smoky Valley Writers and to honor their works by sharing selections of their writings with the viewer, especially with Smoky Valley leaders and educators, at all levels, unfamiliar with these books and publications. This is for the benefit of educating the local population and students in this, their, local foundational Swedish and Swedish American community history.
These selections can become "starting points" for local educators to create "lesson plans" for all levels of teaching on the history of Lindsborg and the other Smoky Valley communities. It is certainly for the academic level as well at Bethany College and for other like-minded scholars where the development of a Swedish American Smoky Valley studies program surely would gain traction for teaching this history on this most special and unique community.
Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin
Great recognition must go to Bethany Lutheran Church and those members in charge of creating the archives from the very beginning of the founding of Lindsborg and the other Smoky Valley Swedish communities, and to those who have carried on the work to this very year of 2023. Their early pastors, Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson (1841-1900), Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson (1857-1904) and Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin (1866-1944) ensured that a standard would be set for the keeping of the most accurate archive records on this most important foundational Smoky Valley American Swedish Lutheran cultural history. Rev. Bergin was the first to write and to gather writers about their experiences as Swedish pioneer immigrants which resulted in the two volumes in Swedish that he had compiled in 1909: Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen, and in 1919: Lindsborg, Efter Femtio Ӓr. These books were translated by Rev. Bergin's daughter Ruth Bergin Billdt: the 1909, in 1965 to Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas, and the 1919, in 1969 to The Smoky Valley in the After Years. The contents of these tomes, no doubt, provided the encouragement needed for future Swedes to follow suit and to write their Smoky Valley stories.
The population of Lindsborg was always very small. Her neighboring Swedish communities of Salemsborg and Freemount were even much smaller (about which author Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist's 1994 classic Pioneer Cross, Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs so devoutly memorializes). In the middle of the 20th century, Lindsborg maintained an average population of around 2,300. Yet, out of this little rural Swedish and Swedish American farming community known for its fine Lutheran churches and college, museum, professors, artists and folkartists, musicians and singers, through the years came a small yet fine group of humble and heartfelt history writers who would publish just enough books covering the most obvious subjects which has turned out to be a Smoky Valley Writers anthology used by SWEDES.
Two of these writers, themselves, would each leave an anthology behind: They were Dr. Emory K. Lindquist (1908-1992) and Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg (1918-2016). Three collectively would leave behind what would become a trilogy on Bethany College: They were Dr. Emory K. Lindquist, Dr. Leon Lungstrom (1915-2000), and Mr. Kenneth Sjogren (1935-2022). In Dr. Lungstrom's book on the fields of science and math from the beginnings of the College, research reveals that it may contain the "only" documented information on the former reputable Bethany College Museum (1882-1966) since the College library reported no file on such a museum, nor had the McPherson County Old Mill Museum (1962-8/2021) promoted the College's natural history collections that it was given in 1966 publicly, since the late 1970s.
Most important authors in Sweden, Mr. Alf Brorson's and his father, Rev. Bror Carlsson's (1901-1967) works have been responsible for maintaining that "connection" of the spiritual Lutheran founder of Lindsborg, Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson (1841-1900) from the 1869 Värmland, Sweden, that connects today's Lindsborg Swedes,' last-living-links to that history, since 1993. In addition, Mr. Brorson's periodic Sweden Letter published since 2008 in the Lindsborg News-Record keeps the Swedes of Lindsborg up to date on topics and activities close to their hearts in Sweden.
Author Mr. A. John Pearson (1938-2023) wrote much about, and for, the community and the College. His writings were wonderful to read, short yet jam packed with facts. His writing on the Bethany College presidents "in a nutshell" for the College's publication, Centennial Celebration of 1881-1981," was one of his finest works!
Then, Ms. Karen A. Humphrey, former Bethany College Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Coordinator of the prestigious 1999 Pearson Distinguished Professor of Swedish Studies Program, authored the first book ever written on a Lindsborg woman, one of great Christian Lutheran faith and leadership whose good works, among other endeavors, resulted in the founding of the Bethany College Oratorio Society, internationally known for the Easter Holy Week Lindsborg George Frideric Handel Messiah performances, that first began humbly in 1882 in a Smoky Valley Lutheran church. To this year of 2023, that Holy Easter Sunday Messiah performance tradition continues.
Retired Lindsborg historian Mr. Bill Carlson (1930-2018) was deeply concerned with the preservation of his city's Swedish and Swedish American history and cultural heritage, so he made writing his avenue to preserve and promote of what he could of this history and culture. He would ask the "hard questions," making one think seriously "if enough" was being done to preserve, restore and promote the unique Smoky Valley community's cultural history and heritage. He starts the Preface of his 2010 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" with:
"For a number of years, we have been waiting for someone to compile, research, and write about the early history of Lindsborg. Waiting, waiting! A good number of long-time residents of Lindsborg have left us, who were very capable of sharing their memories of this fine Scandinavian city."
Most of the time, Mr. Carlson concluded his writings with: "History not recorded, is perhaps history lost!"
His grandparents, Magnus and Maria Carlson, were married in Sweden on April 27, 1867, by the soon-to-be 1869 Lindsborg founder Rev. Olof Olsson of Värmland, Sweden. The next day they sailed to America, to travel west to the Kansas Smoky Valley to join other Swedes involved in the founding of Lindsborg.
Finally, note that author Mrs. Margaret Dahlquist Eddy (1928-2017) in 2013 provided this Smoky Valley community with its "only" historical photography book of 92 professional photographs (out of tens of thousands, no doubt) taken by her grandfather Swede Bror Gustaf Gröndal from 1887-1945. Her thoughtful book, beautifully designed and published professionally by her daughter Cynthia Eddy of New York City, is exceptional and treasured, and reflects a true visual statement of this most unique and special Swedish and Swedish American community from its earliest years!
Two of these writers, themselves, would each leave an anthology behind: They were Dr. Emory K. Lindquist (1908-1992) and Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg (1918-2016). Three collectively would leave behind what would become a trilogy on Bethany College: They were Dr. Emory K. Lindquist, Dr. Leon Lungstrom (1915-2000), and Mr. Kenneth Sjogren (1935-2022). In Dr. Lungstrom's book on the fields of science and math from the beginnings of the College, research reveals that it may contain the "only" documented information on the former reputable Bethany College Museum (1882-1966) since the College library reported no file on such a museum, nor had the McPherson County Old Mill Museum (1962-8/2021) promoted the College's natural history collections that it was given in 1966 publicly, since the late 1970s.
Most important authors in Sweden, Mr. Alf Brorson's and his father, Rev. Bror Carlsson's (1901-1967) works have been responsible for maintaining that "connection" of the spiritual Lutheran founder of Lindsborg, Rev. Dr. Olof Olsson (1841-1900) from the 1869 Värmland, Sweden, that connects today's Lindsborg Swedes,' last-living-links to that history, since 1993. In addition, Mr. Brorson's periodic Sweden Letter published since 2008 in the Lindsborg News-Record keeps the Swedes of Lindsborg up to date on topics and activities close to their hearts in Sweden.
Author Mr. A. John Pearson (1938-2023) wrote much about, and for, the community and the College. His writings were wonderful to read, short yet jam packed with facts. His writing on the Bethany College presidents "in a nutshell" for the College's publication, Centennial Celebration of 1881-1981," was one of his finest works!
Then, Ms. Karen A. Humphrey, former Bethany College Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Coordinator of the prestigious 1999 Pearson Distinguished Professor of Swedish Studies Program, authored the first book ever written on a Lindsborg woman, one of great Christian Lutheran faith and leadership whose good works, among other endeavors, resulted in the founding of the Bethany College Oratorio Society, internationally known for the Easter Holy Week Lindsborg George Frideric Handel Messiah performances, that first began humbly in 1882 in a Smoky Valley Lutheran church. To this year of 2023, that Holy Easter Sunday Messiah performance tradition continues.
Retired Lindsborg historian Mr. Bill Carlson (1930-2018) was deeply concerned with the preservation of his city's Swedish and Swedish American history and cultural heritage, so he made writing his avenue to preserve and promote of what he could of this history and culture. He would ask the "hard questions," making one think seriously "if enough" was being done to preserve, restore and promote the unique Smoky Valley community's cultural history and heritage. He starts the Preface of his 2010 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" with:
"For a number of years, we have been waiting for someone to compile, research, and write about the early history of Lindsborg. Waiting, waiting! A good number of long-time residents of Lindsborg have left us, who were very capable of sharing their memories of this fine Scandinavian city."
Most of the time, Mr. Carlson concluded his writings with: "History not recorded, is perhaps history lost!"
His grandparents, Magnus and Maria Carlson, were married in Sweden on April 27, 1867, by the soon-to-be 1869 Lindsborg founder Rev. Olof Olsson of Värmland, Sweden. The next day they sailed to America, to travel west to the Kansas Smoky Valley to join other Swedes involved in the founding of Lindsborg.
Finally, note that author Mrs. Margaret Dahlquist Eddy (1928-2017) in 2013 provided this Smoky Valley community with its "only" historical photography book of 92 professional photographs (out of tens of thousands, no doubt) taken by her grandfather Swede Bror Gustaf Gröndal from 1887-1945. Her thoughtful book, beautifully designed and published professionally by her daughter Cynthia Eddy of New York City, is exceptional and treasured, and reflects a true visual statement of this most unique and special Swedish and Swedish American community from its earliest years!
|
Lindquist
|
Jaderborg
|
Lungstrom
|
Sjogren
|
Humphrey
|
Carlson
|
Of all the writers, there is one whose books have impacted the life of the Kansas Smoky Valley people most, especially in Lindsborg and at Bethany College. His name is Dr. Emory K. Lindquist, Lindsborg born, Bethany College graduate of 1930, an Oxford University Rhodes Scholar, serving Bethany College as a professor and then president from 1941 to 1953. Following his death, he was honored and remembered by close friends Rev. Emmet E. Eklund and Mrs. Marion Lorimer Eklund when they published their 1998 book, The Difference He Made, A Biography of Emory K. Lindquist. This title, "The Difference He Made," says it all. It is such a fitting epitaph for the person he was, and he was such a role model to follow.
In Dr. Lindquist's life, the opportunities that were given to him were received by him from a spirit of true humility and gratefulness. A demonstration of this posture was at Bethany College when he learned of the Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship honor. On December 12, 1929, after the morning Old Main Chapel service, following with a special Senior Class session of which he was president, his response to this most distinguished honor was:
"There is no personal credit on my own, for we must remember that whatever we ourselves have, God has given us." **
** The Difference He Made, top of page 5, "A Defining Event." see it HERE.
Consistent with his humble attitude are those of the Smoky Valley Writers who were simply answering "the call" in using their God-given gifts of writing, and, in so doing, like Dr. Lindquist, were glorifying God. In that same spirit is the legacy listings of these Writers, Editors and Translators presented.
In Dr. Lindquist's life, the opportunities that were given to him were received by him from a spirit of true humility and gratefulness. A demonstration of this posture was at Bethany College when he learned of the Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship honor. On December 12, 1929, after the morning Old Main Chapel service, following with a special Senior Class session of which he was president, his response to this most distinguished honor was:
"There is no personal credit on my own, for we must remember that whatever we ourselves have, God has given us." **
** The Difference He Made, top of page 5, "A Defining Event." see it HERE.
Consistent with his humble attitude are those of the Smoky Valley Writers who were simply answering "the call" in using their God-given gifts of writing, and, in so doing, like Dr. Lindquist, were glorifying God. In that same spirit is the legacy listings of these Writers, Editors and Translators presented.
<> Their Swedish American Lutheran Kansas Smoky Valley Legacy Listings <>
THE EDITORS
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
(1918-2016)
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 1946 -
Editor of many newly translated early Swedish Lindsborg books to English
An excellent research writer on many topics
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
(1918-2016)
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 1946 -
Editor of many newly translated early Swedish Lindsborg books to English
An excellent research writer on many topics
Mr. A. John Pearson
(1936-2023)
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 1970 -
Founder of "Smoky Valley Historical Publications" and "Bethany College Press"
"Editor-at-Large" for many Swedish American Kansas Smoky Valley Authors
A behind the scenes' excellent writer for the college and community
Mr. John Marshall
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 2001 -
2022, Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame Inductee
Former Lindsborg News-Record editor-owner, 2001-2012,
who composed and published most important stories from
Swedish American last-living-links to foundational and early Smoky Valley history
The Lindsborg News-Record "Valley Voice" columnist
-------
THE TRANSLATORS
Ruth Bergin Billdt
(1897-1976)
1965 Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas
From the 1909 Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen
by Rev. Alfred Bergin
1969 "The Smoky Valley in The After Years."
From the 1919 "Lindsborg Efter Femtio Ӓr”
by Rev. Alfred Bergin
Martha Winblad
(1908-1981)
1978, Anna Olsson, A Child of the Prairie
From the 1917 En Prärieunges Funderingar,
by Anna Olsson
Rev. Martin Ringstrom
(1908-2009)
1984, He Gave God Glory by Bror Carlsson
From the 1955 Jag Sökte Icke Mitt (I Did Not Seek My Own)
Mrs. Dorothy Esping
(1914-2010)
for the research
for Mr. Thomas Holmquist's
1994, "Pioneer Cross: Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs"
-------
THE WRITERS
Note: Clicking the LINK will direct you to the author in most cases
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden
(1884-1965)
~ A one-time Smoky Valley Writer
~ His 1927 article on Lindsborg for the Scandinavian Review
LINK
Rev. Bror Carlsson
(1901-1967)
of Sweden
1955
Jag sökte icke mitt / I Did Not Seek My Own
manuscript
LINK
to the condensed version by
Mr. Alf Brorson
of Sweden
2001
He Gave God Glory -- The Story of Olof Olsson
LINK
translated by
Rev. Martin Ringstrom
(1908-2009)
of Lindsborg
Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
(1857-1904)
"Second" Bethany College President (1889-1904)
1898, 1895-1896, 1902
Again in Sweden Bethany Annual Forget-Me-Not Annual
LINK
Bethany Church and Bethany College and the Augustana Lutheran Synod Writers
"In Memoriams"
1904
In Memoriam -- Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
LINK
1943
In Memoriam -- Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad
LINK
Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin
(1866 - 1944)
Ruth Bergin Billdt*
(1897-1976)
1909 / 1965
Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen /
Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas
1919 / 1969
Lindsborg, Efter Femtio Ӓr /
The Smoky Valley in the After Years
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg shared the authorship of this book with Mrs. Billdt
LINK
Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
(1908-1992)
"Fourth" Bethany College President (1941-1953)
1953, 1975, 1984, 1989, 1993
Smoky Valley People, A History of Lindsborg, Kansas
Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college Hagbard Brase: Beloved Music Master
G.N. Malm: A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career Birger Sandzén, An Illustrated Biography
LINK
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
(1918-2016)
1965, 1967, 1973,
1976,
1990 (1980, 1981)
Lindsborg on Record Living in Lindsborg And Other Possibilities Talk About Lindsborg
Why Lindsborg?
Two Reprints:
1980 Selma Lind and Lindsborg
1981 Swedish Architectural Influence in the Kansas Smoky Valley Community
-----
The Smoky Valley in the After Years
Mrs. Ruth Bergin Billdt shared authorship with Mrs.Jaderborg
LINK
Mr. A. John Pearson
(1936-2023)
1981
The Centennial of Bethany College
&
1982
The Messiah Centennial
LINK
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
(1914-2000)
The Bethany Home Writers
1986
"The Bethany Home Story"
LINK
Dr. Leon Lungstrom
(1915-2000)
1990
"History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas"
LINK
The Smoky Valley Historical Association Writers
1993
(Revised in 1996 and in 2005)
~ Chronicling "Where Did They Live" -- "Early Residences of Lindsborg, Kansas"
LINK
Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist
1994
Pioneer Cross -- Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs
LINK
Mr. Alf Brorson
~ Promoting Lindsborg in Sweden - The "Sweden Letter" since 2008
LINK
Mr. Chris Abercrombie
(1949 - Aug of 2017)
A Lindsborg News-Record contributor of innumerable local history Smoky Valley stories was Smoky Valley Historical Association (SVHA) board president from 2011 to August 2017
having created and authored the
SVHA "first" masterpiece website in 2013
LINK
\/
Mr. Tim Stewart
SVHA board president in August 2017, yet when VP, in 2016, he created the
Vår Historia Newsletter
("Vår Historia" is Swedish for "Our Story")
In 2024, he created the SVHA's "second" masterpiece website!
LINK
Mr. Bill Carlson
(1930-2018)
2011, 2014, 2016
Lindsborg Then And Lindsborg Now The Founding of Lindsborg
Special Visitor to Lindsborg, April 17, 1976, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
LINK
Mrs. Karen A. Humphrey
2012
Grace, Faith and the Power of Singing -- The Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story
2020
Miss Alma Luise Olson
LINK
Mrs. Margaret Dahlquist Eddy
(1927-2017)
2013
Through the Lens of B.G. Gröndal: Keeper of His Time
LINK
Mr. Kenneth Sjogren
(1935-2022)
2019
6 Decades with Twelve Bethany College Presidents
LINK
THE WEBSITE WRITERS
Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Mardel Esping
1992
Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas
Mr. Chris Abercrombie
2013-2024
Smoky Valley Historical Association, Lindsborg, Kansas
Ms. Fran Cochran
2015
Swedes:TheWayTheyWere
Bethany College History Professor Dr. Thomas F. Jorsch & Sophomore Honor Students
2016
Lindsborg During World War 1
Mr. Jim Malm
2020
Swedish American Woodcarvers of Lindsborg, A Family Tradition
Mr. Tim Stewart
2024
Smoky Valley Historical Association
THEIR LINK
Mr. A. John Pearson
(1936-2023)
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 1970 -
Founder of "Smoky Valley Historical Publications" and "Bethany College Press"
"Editor-at-Large" for many Swedish American Kansas Smoky Valley Authors
A behind the scenes' excellent writer for the college and community
Mr. John Marshall
- Arrived in Lindsborg in 2001 -
2022, Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame Inductee
Former Lindsborg News-Record editor-owner, 2001-2012,
who composed and published most important stories from
Swedish American last-living-links to foundational and early Smoky Valley history
The Lindsborg News-Record "Valley Voice" columnist
-------
THE TRANSLATORS
Ruth Bergin Billdt
(1897-1976)
1965 Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas
From the 1909 Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen
by Rev. Alfred Bergin
1969 "The Smoky Valley in The After Years."
From the 1919 "Lindsborg Efter Femtio Ӓr”
by Rev. Alfred Bergin
Martha Winblad
(1908-1981)
1978, Anna Olsson, A Child of the Prairie
From the 1917 En Prärieunges Funderingar,
by Anna Olsson
Rev. Martin Ringstrom
(1908-2009)
1984, He Gave God Glory by Bror Carlsson
From the 1955 Jag Sökte Icke Mitt (I Did Not Seek My Own)
Mrs. Dorothy Esping
(1914-2010)
for the research
for Mr. Thomas Holmquist's
1994, "Pioneer Cross: Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs"
-------
THE WRITERS
Note: Clicking the LINK will direct you to the author in most cases
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden
(1884-1965)
~ A one-time Smoky Valley Writer
~ His 1927 article on Lindsborg for the Scandinavian Review
LINK
Rev. Bror Carlsson
(1901-1967)
of Sweden
1955
Jag sökte icke mitt / I Did Not Seek My Own
manuscript
LINK
to the condensed version by
Mr. Alf Brorson
of Sweden
2001
He Gave God Glory -- The Story of Olof Olsson
LINK
translated by
Rev. Martin Ringstrom
(1908-2009)
of Lindsborg
Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
(1857-1904)
"Second" Bethany College President (1889-1904)
1898, 1895-1896, 1902
Again in Sweden Bethany Annual Forget-Me-Not Annual
LINK
Bethany Church and Bethany College and the Augustana Lutheran Synod Writers
"In Memoriams"
1904
In Memoriam -- Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
LINK
1943
In Memoriam -- Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad
LINK
Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin
(1866 - 1944)
Ruth Bergin Billdt*
(1897-1976)
1909 / 1965
Lindsborg, Bidrag Till Svenskarnas och Den Lutherska Kyrkans Historia i Smoky Hill River Dalen /
Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas
1919 / 1969
Lindsborg, Efter Femtio Ӓr /
The Smoky Valley in the After Years
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg shared the authorship of this book with Mrs. Billdt
LINK
Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
(1908-1992)
"Fourth" Bethany College President (1941-1953)
1953, 1975, 1984, 1989, 1993
Smoky Valley People, A History of Lindsborg, Kansas
Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college Hagbard Brase: Beloved Music Master
G.N. Malm: A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career Birger Sandzén, An Illustrated Biography
LINK
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
(1918-2016)
1965, 1967, 1973,
1976,
1990 (1980, 1981)
Lindsborg on Record Living in Lindsborg And Other Possibilities Talk About Lindsborg
Why Lindsborg?
Two Reprints:
1980 Selma Lind and Lindsborg
1981 Swedish Architectural Influence in the Kansas Smoky Valley Community
-----
The Smoky Valley in the After Years
Mrs. Ruth Bergin Billdt shared authorship with Mrs.Jaderborg
LINK
Mr. A. John Pearson
(1936-2023)
1981
The Centennial of Bethany College
&
1982
The Messiah Centennial
LINK
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
(1914-2000)
The Bethany Home Writers
1986
"The Bethany Home Story"
LINK
Dr. Leon Lungstrom
(1915-2000)
1990
"History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas"
LINK
The Smoky Valley Historical Association Writers
1993
(Revised in 1996 and in 2005)
~ Chronicling "Where Did They Live" -- "Early Residences of Lindsborg, Kansas"
LINK
Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist
1994
Pioneer Cross -- Swedish Settlements Along the Smoky Hill Bluffs
LINK
Mr. Alf Brorson
~ Promoting Lindsborg in Sweden - The "Sweden Letter" since 2008
LINK
Mr. Chris Abercrombie
(1949 - Aug of 2017)
A Lindsborg News-Record contributor of innumerable local history Smoky Valley stories was Smoky Valley Historical Association (SVHA) board president from 2011 to August 2017
having created and authored the
SVHA "first" masterpiece website in 2013
LINK
\/
Mr. Tim Stewart
SVHA board president in August 2017, yet when VP, in 2016, he created the
Vår Historia Newsletter
("Vår Historia" is Swedish for "Our Story")
In 2024, he created the SVHA's "second" masterpiece website!
LINK
Mr. Bill Carlson
(1930-2018)
2011, 2014, 2016
Lindsborg Then And Lindsborg Now The Founding of Lindsborg
Special Visitor to Lindsborg, April 17, 1976, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
LINK
Mrs. Karen A. Humphrey
2012
Grace, Faith and the Power of Singing -- The Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story
2020
Miss Alma Luise Olson
LINK
Mrs. Margaret Dahlquist Eddy
(1927-2017)
2013
Through the Lens of B.G. Gröndal: Keeper of His Time
LINK
Mr. Kenneth Sjogren
(1935-2022)
2019
6 Decades with Twelve Bethany College Presidents
LINK
THE WEBSITE WRITERS
Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Mardel Esping
1992
Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas
Mr. Chris Abercrombie
2013-2024
Smoky Valley Historical Association, Lindsborg, Kansas
Ms. Fran Cochran
2015
Swedes:TheWayTheyWere
Bethany College History Professor Dr. Thomas F. Jorsch & Sophomore Honor Students
2016
Lindsborg During World War 1
Mr. Jim Malm
2020
Swedish American Woodcarvers of Lindsborg, A Family Tradition
Mr. Tim Stewart
2024
Smoky Valley Historical Association
THEIR LINK
* * *
Showing libraries where these books have been found:
Click on the Download File below
Showing libraries where these books have been found:
Click on the Download File below
| the_legacy_smoky_valley_writers_collection_count_--_update_4_27_23.docx |
* * *
For a "preservationist" note
go Here
to learn how to have these authors' works preserved for
generations to come, for online reading and research
For a "preservationist" note
go Here
to learn how to have these authors' works preserved for
generations to come, for online reading and research
* Frederick R. Barnard (1846-1896)
**Rev. & Mrs. Emmet E. Eklund's 1998 book, The Difference He Made, A Biography of Emory K. Lindquist, Chapter 1: " A Defining Event," found at the beginning of page 5: HERE.
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
swedesthewaytheywere.org.
All rights reserved.
