Re: Ensuring that Swedes: TheWayTheyWere (SWEDES), a historical website, lives on into perpetuity
Dear Dr. Mason:
First, I hope this letter finds you, your family, and colleagues staying well and still enjoying life during this pandemic season.
I am very near to finishing a Swedish American historical website pertaining primarily to Lindsborg, Kansas founded by Lutheran Augustana Swedes in 1869 and to her Bethany College founded in 1881. This community is located in the Smoky Valley of what was once the Native American territory of the Kaw Nation tribe on the Great Plains where today it is noted as the world’s largest wheat producing region. Early on in its foundational history, the Smoky Valley Lindsborg became known as a community where agriculture and culture thrived.
However, behind these accolades, her Bethany College has experienced many seasons, and documented so, where it was not thriving financially. She has yet to have an endowment for perpetuity! 1967 marked the first time that we thought the College might move to Colorado, and 2017 mark the year that we almost lost her. Since 2015, we have had 4 College leaders at the helm – 2 presidents and 2 interim presidents. (I attended Bethany from 1964 to 1968, a four year period led by 3 different presidents.) Thus, her existence is still very fragile.
Dear Dr. Mason:
First, I hope this letter finds you, your family, and colleagues staying well and still enjoying life during this pandemic season.
I am very near to finishing a Swedish American historical website pertaining primarily to Lindsborg, Kansas founded by Lutheran Augustana Swedes in 1869 and to her Bethany College founded in 1881. This community is located in the Smoky Valley of what was once the Native American territory of the Kaw Nation tribe on the Great Plains where today it is noted as the world’s largest wheat producing region. Early on in its foundational history, the Smoky Valley Lindsborg became known as a community where agriculture and culture thrived.
However, behind these accolades, her Bethany College has experienced many seasons, and documented so, where it was not thriving financially. She has yet to have an endowment for perpetuity! 1967 marked the first time that we thought the College might move to Colorado, and 2017 mark the year that we almost lost her. Since 2015, we have had 4 College leaders at the helm – 2 presidents and 2 interim presidents. (I attended Bethany from 1964 to 1968, a four year period led by 3 different presidents.) Thus, her existence is still very fragile.
A Bethany College Art Student
Richard Bergen
1925- 2020
destined to share his art with the world
to the stars through difficulty
A bronze statue of a Kanza warrior was added to the state capitol dome in 2002. Sculpted by Kansas artist Richard Bergen, the statue is named "Ad Astra" after the state motto ("Ad Astra per Aspera" meaning "to the stars through difficulty"). The warrior's bow points to the north star as a symbol of finding one’s way.
Kansas Motto
"Ad Astra'
"to the stars through difficulty"
SOURCE: State Symbols USA online
