Artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere
(Lydia's Photography, 1900-1925)
(Lydia's Photography, 1900-1925)
2005-2012
Friends of “LYDIA’S WORLD”
Friends of “LYDIA’S WORLD”
- Recognizing and thanking those who stored Lydia's gallery pieces through the years
and until their final transfer of ownership
and until their final transfer of ownership
These persons were artists, writers, farmers, teachers, businessmen, town officials, a former mayor, an attorney, a librarian, college graduates, past and present college professors -- heads of their departments, the academic dean.
Their names appear in alphabetical order: Eugene Bales, Pat and Glenn Bellah, Margarete Dorsch, Larry and Marla Elmquist, Gretchen Esping, Kathryn Frantz, Bill Gusenius, Darlene Handlin, Ryan Holmquist, Marlysue Holmquist, Jill Hubele, Greg and Angie Howe, Linda Lewis, Linda Lundstrom, John and Darlene Magnuson, Phyllis Liljegren Newson, Gretchen Norland, Karen Olson, Kathi Patterson, Erik Peterson, R.D. Rasmusson, Jeanette Rooth-Martin, Mary Swenson, Kathryn Toll, and Cody Whetstone.
Their names appear in alphabetical order: Eugene Bales, Pat and Glenn Bellah, Margarete Dorsch, Larry and Marla Elmquist, Gretchen Esping, Kathryn Frantz, Bill Gusenius, Darlene Handlin, Ryan Holmquist, Marlysue Holmquist, Jill Hubele, Greg and Angie Howe, Linda Lewis, Linda Lundstrom, John and Darlene Magnuson, Phyllis Liljegren Newson, Gretchen Norland, Karen Olson, Kathi Patterson, Erik Peterson, R.D. Rasmusson, Jeanette Rooth-Martin, Mary Swenson, Kathryn Toll, and Cody Whetstone.
* * *
~ The offer of Lydia's Gallery to Bethany College in the end was not accepted ~
~ The offer of Lydia's Gallery to Bethany College in the end was not accepted ~
In late 2005, the free offer of the Gallery to Bethany College for the 125th Anniversary had been accepted as a real possibility and there was great excitement in the air as these emails of that time expressed:
From Bethany College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Karen Humphrey, "This past week I’ve had a better opportunity to review the photos from the Sohlberg-Deere collection [at the Sandzén Gallery]. They are just wonderful, Fran. What a window they give us on life at Bethany College in another generation. Denise Carson, who, in her position as Librarian, is also head of the Archives. She will be communicating with you directly regarding her comments and the possibilities for the collection to find a permanent home at Bethany College." **
(Ms. Humphrey was then, and is now, an expert in Midwest Lutheran Norwegian and Swedish history! In time, in Minnesota she would serve as the president of the Norwegian-American Historical Association and of the Minnesota Historical Society as well as serving as a board member for the Swedish American Historical Society in Illinois. She would become a sought-after speaker on various Scandinavians subjects and the author of Lindsborg's and Bethany's "... Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story" in 2012.)
In December of 2005, from Bethany College Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library Denise Carson, "I had the opportunity to view the photos at the Sandzén Gallery. They are wonderful! It [Bethany College] truly must have been a very unique place during the time of these photos. The past two months I have been creating and putting up the 125th Anniversary Archives exhibit and have been fascinated by the buildings, people, and objects that made Bethany such a great place. So, the Sohlberg-Deere collection brings it even more to life for me. I understand there are possibilities of the collection coming to Bethany on a permanent bases – what a treasure that would be. The students today have no idea what Bethany used to look like. For them to be able to see and appreciate the history of Bethany through the photo collection would help make that connection for them. This is exciting! Let me know what I need to do to help make this a reality."***
In February of 2006, the selection had been made of [58] pieces from the Gallery for the College by Mrs. Carson as expressed in this email: "I do have a list of the photographs that Bethany would like to have in the frames for display on the campus that I will be sending soon..."****
In June of 2006, from Mrs. Carson, " Here is the list--it was very hard to decide. . . "*****
However, the entire process came to a halt during an unexpected top level administration change with the departure of Ms. Humphrey, with a new person in charge of the Lydia's Gallery committee with the decision not to go ahead with placing the pieces in the Bethany buildings.
During the five-year period which followed, the offer was made two more times for the College to have their chosen 58 pieces. This was to ensure that the College Administration was really set on their decision not to share Bethany College's early visual history with anyone. This was to clear the way for 5 other Lindsborg entities to accept pieces from the Gallery, to create their own Lydia's World mini galleries. I was truly grateful in May of 2012 to transfer the ownership to the following as noted below:
From Bethany College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Karen Humphrey, "This past week I’ve had a better opportunity to review the photos from the Sohlberg-Deere collection [at the Sandzén Gallery]. They are just wonderful, Fran. What a window they give us on life at Bethany College in another generation. Denise Carson, who, in her position as Librarian, is also head of the Archives. She will be communicating with you directly regarding her comments and the possibilities for the collection to find a permanent home at Bethany College." **
(Ms. Humphrey was then, and is now, an expert in Midwest Lutheran Norwegian and Swedish history! In time, in Minnesota she would serve as the president of the Norwegian-American Historical Association and of the Minnesota Historical Society as well as serving as a board member for the Swedish American Historical Society in Illinois. She would become a sought-after speaker on various Scandinavians subjects and the author of Lindsborg's and Bethany's "... Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story" in 2012.)
In December of 2005, from Bethany College Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library Denise Carson, "I had the opportunity to view the photos at the Sandzén Gallery. They are wonderful! It [Bethany College] truly must have been a very unique place during the time of these photos. The past two months I have been creating and putting up the 125th Anniversary Archives exhibit and have been fascinated by the buildings, people, and objects that made Bethany such a great place. So, the Sohlberg-Deere collection brings it even more to life for me. I understand there are possibilities of the collection coming to Bethany on a permanent bases – what a treasure that would be. The students today have no idea what Bethany used to look like. For them to be able to see and appreciate the history of Bethany through the photo collection would help make that connection for them. This is exciting! Let me know what I need to do to help make this a reality."***
In February of 2006, the selection had been made of [58] pieces from the Gallery for the College by Mrs. Carson as expressed in this email: "I do have a list of the photographs that Bethany would like to have in the frames for display on the campus that I will be sending soon..."****
In June of 2006, from Mrs. Carson, " Here is the list--it was very hard to decide. . . "*****
However, the entire process came to a halt during an unexpected top level administration change with the departure of Ms. Humphrey, with a new person in charge of the Lydia's Gallery committee with the decision not to go ahead with placing the pieces in the Bethany buildings.
During the five-year period which followed, the offer was made two more times for the College to have their chosen 58 pieces. This was to ensure that the College Administration was really set on their decision not to share Bethany College's early visual history with anyone. This was to clear the way for 5 other Lindsborg entities to accept pieces from the Gallery, to create their own Lydia's World mini galleries. I was truly grateful in May of 2012 to transfer the ownership to the following as noted below:
2012
Dividing
Lydia's World Gallery
- Recognizing with great appreciation those who accepted Lydia's World Galleries -
Bethany Lutheran Church, Pastor Loren Mai
City of Lindsborg, City Administrator Greg DuMars
Evangelical Covenant Church, Pastor Jeff Waugh
Smoky Valley Public Schools USD400, Superintendent Glen Supps
Vision-Tek, Director Marla Elmquist
---------------------------------------------------
Dividing
Lydia's World Gallery
- Recognizing with great appreciation those who accepted Lydia's World Galleries -
Bethany Lutheran Church, Pastor Loren Mai
City of Lindsborg, City Administrator Greg DuMars
Evangelical Covenant Church, Pastor Jeff Waugh
Smoky Valley Public Schools USD400, Superintendent Glen Supps
Vision-Tek, Director Marla Elmquist
---------------------------------------------------
* * *
The Bigger Blessing
from the loss of the
Lydia's World Gallery
for
Bethany College
was
the creation of
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
providing access to all at the College
to see their history in the early days of
Bethany.
* * *
The Bigger Blessing
from the loss of the
Lydia's World Gallery
for
Bethany College
was
the creation of
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
providing access to all at the College
to see their history in the early days of
Bethany.
* * *
** Email November 7, 2005 from Karen A. Humphrey, C.F.R.E., Vice President for Institutional Advancement
*** Email December 14, 2005 from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
**** Email February 23, 2006 from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
(Today: Assistant Professor Director of Wallerstedt Learning Center, Archivist, Denise Carson, M.L.S.)
***** Email June 28, 2006, from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
*** Email December 14, 2005 from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
**** Email February 23, 2006 from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
(Today: Assistant Professor Director of Wallerstedt Learning Center, Archivist, Denise Carson, M.L.S.)
***** Email June 28, 2006, from Denise Carson, Director of Library Services Wallerstedt Library
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* * *
Thanks to the City of Lindsborg
&
City Manager Greg DeMars
Lydia's photos were in the left storefront windows of the Sundstrom building
Go HERE to Lydia's Lindsborg Photography, 1900 - 1925
Go HERE to Deere & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography, 1906 - 1925
Go HERE to Deere & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's Photography, 1906 - 1925
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* * *
"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
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
* * *
"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
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.