SWEDES: TheWayTheyWere
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    • The Bethany Artist & the Bethany Scientist: Lydia & Emil ------------------------- \\// >
      • 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 1907 "Bethany Lutheran Home" ~ Accounts by Bethany Home Writers >
        • 1976 Lindsborg’s Bethany Home’s Swedish King's Visit ~ An account by Mr. Carlson's
      • Their 1909 and 1919 Swedish Smoky Valley Community Chronicles ~ Compiled and written by Bethany Lutheran Church Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin, members and others >
        • 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
      • Their 1910 Messiah Lutheran Church conducting services in English ~ An account by Dr. Lindquist >
        • ~ An account on the Messiah Lutheran Church formation from Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin's 1909 ​"Pioneer Swedish-American Culture of Central Kansas"
      • 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 >
          • Lindsborg's Coronado Heights History ~ Three accounts by Mrs. Jaderborg >
            • Coronado and Bethany College Museum" History ~ An account from Dr. Lungstrom
      • Their 1916 Sohlberg House ​ ~ 322 North First [College] Street ~After their honeymoon
      • Their 1920 Old Main Apartments of Bethany College ~ Living on campus with the students for 20 years
      • Their 1940 Deere Home to 1943 ​~ 344 North First [College] Street ~ With new occupants after Lydia
      • Their 1936 1873 Swedish Homestead," "Our Peaceful Acres" >
        • Their 1873 Swede House ~ A close twin of Founder Rev. Olof Olsson's stone house >
          • Peaceful Acres Smoky Valley descendant friends and helpers ~ Honoring them and remembering them
      • 1943, after Lydia, Emil's part in the building of the Lindsborg Community Hospital ~ An account by Dr. Lungstrom
    • Their "1881" Bethany Academy 1882 "First Building" in 2022 ~ Its foundational importance to Bethany College ~ Its 1969 move to the Old Mill Museum Heritage Park
    • Their 1882-1966 Deere's Swensson's "Bethany College Museum" >
      • 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
      • Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections ~ to 1966
    • Their “1882 on . . .” Bethany College Handel’s “Messiah" Performances” >
      • "Messiah" Performers, Venues & Audiences, Press and Broadcasts >
        • Special 20th Century "Messiah" Performances
      • 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 “1902 on . . .” Bethany College ‘Terrible Swedes,’ Their “1903 on” ‘Rockar Stockar’ ~ 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 New Sweden ~ Founded in 1638 >
      • 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 as Bethany College Lane Hart Hall Dean of Women, 1906 - 1913 >
      • 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 >
        • 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 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 & Lydia's Bethany -- Lydia's 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 … >
          • Thure Olof Jaderborg ~ 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 Dr. Lungstrom's Bethany College "Museum" Chapter >
        • Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections ~ to 1966 >
          • Cliff Dwellers' Pottery Collection ~ from Old Main to Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery, 1966
          • 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 Collection ~ from Old Main to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 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 >
      • Deere's Education & Degrees
    • The Deere's Library ~ What remains of 2,000 books -- pending project
  • "The Other Swedes"
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers >
      • A suggestion to individuals and entities in charge of these books ~ ​Digitalize for posterity and perpetuity
      • Rev. Bror Carlsson and Mr. Alf Brorson from Sweden ~ Tracing Värmland's Rev. Olof Olsson's church life in Sweden and in Swedish America with the Augustana Lutheran Synod >
        • ​"He Gave God Glory" "The Story of Olof Olsson, ​" 1841 - 1900 ~ By Rev. Bror Carlsson
      • Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson ~ Author of countless Swedish & English publications, newspapers articles & books for local, national & European readers
      • Bethany Church, Bethany College, Augustana Synod Writers ​~ Remembering Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson and Rev. Dr. Ernst Frederick Pihlblad
      • Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin ​~ Compiling foundational Swedish Smoky Valley Augustana Lutheran settlements' histories and more
      • Dr. Emory K. Lindquist ~ 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
      • Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg [Selma Lind] ​ ~ Chronicling the Lindsborg of her day, its early histories, its early citizens >
        • 1965 "Lindsborg On Record" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1967 "Living in Lindsborg and Other Possibilities" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1973 "Talk About Lindsborg" ~ Contents & Illustrations
        • 1976 "Why Lindsborg?" ~ Contents & Illustrations >
          • 1975 Why Lindsborg ~ For the King of Sweden
        • ​1990 "Two Reprints" ~ Contents & Illustrations Lists
      • ​Dr. Leon Lungstrom ~ Chronicling Bethany College's earliest science and math professors, museum curators, collectors and collections, college curriculum, Old Main, and Nelson Science Hall >
        • The Bethany College Museum by Leon Lundstrom ~ The Words of Dr. Leon Lungstrom
        • ​1990 "History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas" ~ The Compilations and the Words of Dr. Lungstrom >
          • "History of Natural Science and Mathematics . . ." The Table of Contents
          • Tabulation of Teachers and Assistants in Natural Sciences and Mathematics
          • References from: Lindsborg News-Record;" "Bethany Messenger;" "Bethany Daisy" &/OR "Bethanian;" "Bethany Magazine" -- pending project
      • Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist ~ Chronicling Lindsborg's neighbors, the Galesburg Swedes of Salemsborg and Freemount, with a personal connection, 1868
      • Mr. Bill Carlson ~ Chronicling Lindsborg's earliest and later histories, with a personal connection, 1867
      • 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
      • Mr. A. John Pearson ~ Chronicling the Bethany College Presidents from 1882 to 1983
      • Mr. Kenneth Sjogren ~ Chronicling the Bethany College Presidents from 1941 to 2016
      • Mr. Chris Abercrombie ~ Remembering him as "The Historian," the SVHA president and his body of work
      • Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and the Bethany Home Writers ~ Chronicling the "only known" Smoky Valley story on Bethany Home since 1907
      • Smoky Valley Historical Association Members ~ Chronicling 1993 " Where Did They Live? " "Early Residences of Lindsborg, Kansas"
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ---- \\// >
      • Mrs. Alma Christina Lind Swensson ~ Remembering her as Mrs. Rev. Dr. Swensson, the "First Lady" of Lindsborg, organizer of the "Messiah Chorus" and much more ~ From ​Ms. Humphrey's Book
      • ​Samuel Thorstenberg ~ Remembering him as the "earliest" internationally acclaimed Bethany College "Messiah Chorus" conductor
      • Dr. Hagbard Brase ~ Remembering him as the second "earliest" internationally acclaimed Bethany College "Messiah Chorus" conductor
      • 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
      • International "NY Times" Correspondent Miss Alma Luise Olson ~ Remembering her as "First Honored American Woman by Sweden" ~ An account by ​Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg* >
        • ​​Miss Alma Luise Olson ~ Remembering her and the extraordinary life she led at home and abroad ~ An account by Ms. Karen A. Humphrey
      • Artist Birger Sandzén ~ Remembering him for "sharing his art with the world," starting "first" at Lindsborg's Bethany College >
        • Dr. & Dr. Mrs. Charles Greenough III ~ Remembering them for their gift of the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery -- pending
      • William Holwerda, M.D. ~ Remembering him as "Doc Bill," a city father and loving citizen, by Dr. Leon Lungstrom and Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg >
        • "Svensk Hyllningsfest" ​ ~ Remembering Dr. William Holwerda as a founder and "the key" organizer in 1941
        • Dr. William Holwerda ~ Remembering their family doctor and Messiah Lutheran Church tributes to him by Dr. Leon Lungstrom
      • Artist Lester Raymer ~ Remembering him as the renowned virtuoso artist and "behind the scenes" community supporter
      • Dr. Arvin W. Hahn ​​~ Remembering him for saving Bethany College from going under!​ >
        • Dr. Arvin W. Hahn ~ Remembering him handing me my Bethany College Diploma on Sunday, May 26, 1968
      • 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 televised "American Easter" conductor of the Bethany College Oratorio Society Holy Easter Week
      • Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg ~ Remembering her as the founder of the 1963 "Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers" ~ An account by Mr. Chris Abercrombie
      • Mr. & Mrs. Hilding Jaderborg ~ Remembering them and their “Swedish Crafts Shop” of 65 years and 50 trips to Sweden
      • The Swedish Lindsborg Builders ~ Remembering them for the lovely homes they built
      • Mr. Chris Abercrombie ~ Remembering him for "first" shining an international light on Lindsborg and Bethany College, via YouTube
      • Dr. Greta Swenson and Mr. & Mrs. Mark Esping ~ Remembering them for founding Lindsborg's “first” "Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas," 1986 >
        • 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 ~ Remembering her as Bethany College's “first” graduate to become an International Concert & Opera Soprano >
        • Ms. Copley's "International Concert and Opera Soprano" ​~ The REVIEWS
      • Mr. Bruce Karstadt ~ Honoring him as a Bethany College graduate for heading up a major national Swedish American institution
      • Dr. Mark Lucas ~ Messiah conductor bringing the Lindsborg “Oberammergau of the Plains" to a "new" world audience
    • 1882 - 1966 Bethany College Museum Science Professor Curators ​~ Their earliest collectors
    • 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 and Members >
      • 1963 "Smoky Valley Historical Association" (SVHA) leaders and members ​~ Some historical and cultural promotion and preservation projects
    • 1961-2021 ​"McPherson County Old Mill Museum" leaders ~ Moving forward in August 2021 as "The Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum"
    • 1971 -2020 "American Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains" leaders ~ Providing cultural history and heritage programs with meaningful 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
    • 1992 - 2020 ​Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ Their ​Smoky Valley History Research Writers Website Designers
  • Contacts
    • For 1869 Lindsborg CONTACT Today >
      • "A Time to Remember" 1882 - 1988
    • ​For 1881 Bethany College CONTACT Today >
      • "Bethany Campus Walk” ~ Remembering the buildings and the "Bethany Family" of their era, 1882 - 2015
      • Their "I WAS THERE" Coin ~ Bethany College 21st Year Celebration, 1902
    • For 1957 Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery CONTACT Today >
      • Sandzén: "Ecstasy of Color" ~ PBS Doucmentary ~ Aired 6/11/21
    • Closing Remarks >
      • Traveling through SWEDES ​~ The Table of Contents ~ The "Outline" "Online"
      • SWEDES' Swedish American Legacy Photographs >
        • ​Lydia's Lindsborg Photography​, ​1900 - 1925 >
          • Lydia's Bethany College Photography, ​1906 - 1925
    • Kansas Smoky Valley Swedish People's Memorial, 2009 ~ The virtual one >
      • In real time, the real 1941 memorial, the "Pioneer Cross" ​~ Created by Messrs. Lindholm and Oberg
Scientist Emil O. Deere
"... although this seemed to be a big venture.  Carl Swensson was accustomed to attempting great things, and plans moved forward with certainty."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              -- Emory Lindquist*
Deere's 1959 Interview on Rev. Dr. Carl A. Swensson
(On YouTube)
Carl Aaron Swensson was born in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, to Swedish parents who came to America in 1856 from Småland, Sweden.  His father, Jonas Swensson, was ordained at Sweden's Växjö Cathedral on October 8, 1851, was one of the pastors responsible for the founding of the Rock Island, Illinois, Augustana Lutheran Synod (the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church) in 1860, and was to become president of its Augustana Lutheran College, also founded in 1860. 

The Augustana Lutheran Synod would eventually become the parent church to Jonas Swensson's son's Carl Aaron's school, Bethany Lutheran College, one of several Swedish liberal arts colleges (
 
Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota; California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California; Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska; and Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey) for which it would become responsible.

While living in Moline, Illinois, from 1870 to 1878, and working as foreman to John Deere, Deere's father, Charles Andrew Deere (Anders Olsson) became very good friends with the-to-be Bethany Lutheran College founder pastor Carl Aaron Swensson who was only a few miles away in Rock Island.  The occasion of the Deere and Swensson meeting for the first time is unknown, except perhaps it could have been on church related business between the Rock Island Augustana Lutheran Synod and the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Moline founded in 1850.  Whatever the case, their friendship was strong enough that Swensson felt comfortable in requesting that Charles Deere take his son Emil out of the Manhattan Kansas Agricultural College (Kansas State University) in 1899, to have him finish his studies at Bethany College.

This began Deere's sixty-seven (67) years at Bethany, and of knowing its founder closely until Swensson's death in 1904.  What Deere would have observed in this short period of time would have been similar to what the other Swedes

- Deere's Class of 1904 25th Bethany College Reunion -
Far right are Lydia and Emil
July 5, 1929
Photograph by Lindsborg's Lindquist Studio
Picture
at Bethany observed in the College's daily activities being overseen and directed by their very powerful charismatic leader of great Christian conviction and vision who was guiding his Swedish American Bethany College to its destined place in the world of America! 

On page 38 of fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Emory Lindquist's 1975 book, Bethany In Kansas, the history of a college, we find the following:


     "A contemporary described Dr. Swensson:  'The doctor has a magnificent physique, a sonorous voice, animated delivery, and majestic presence.'  Another observer refers to Dr. Swensson as 'An interesting person with an imposing figure, high and broad forehead, and an open countenance.  There was something magnetic about his whole personality.  He inspired confidence.  His great optimism was a source of strength in the great burdens he carried.'..."

In 1959, fifty-five (55) years after Swensson's death, found Dr. Emil O. Deere being interviewed by artist co-director of the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery Carl William Peterson, Bethany Lutheran Church member and archivist, on his church's second Pastor, C. A. Swensson, founder of Bethany College.

Below, now in YouTube form, is that interview made possible by the late great Smoky Valley Historical Association President Chris Abercrombie (1949-2017). 
1959
THE INTERVIEW
Dr. Emil O. Deere on Dr. Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson, Bethany College Founder and 2nd President
by Carl Wm Peterson of the Bethany Lutheran Church Archives

​THE TRANSCRIPT
Carl Wm Peterson:
 
Bethany Church and Bethany College have been bound together through unique circumstances since Dr. Swensson was both pastor of our church from 1879 to 1904 as well as founder and president of Bethany College for some 20 years. You, Dr. Deere, for many years have been closely connected with both church and college through active participation in each. We feel that it is a privilege to have this interview. And we are certain you can give us some interesting sidelights to Dr. Swensson and his devotion to the Lindsborg community.
 
Dr. Deere:
 
The cultural pattern for the community life in Lindsborg and the surrounding area in the Smoky Valley was designed and developed during pioneer days by two young men. The first was the Reverend Dr. Olof Olson from Sweden, age 27, and he was followed by the Reverend Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson, from Illinois, age 22. Both men displayed their Swedish cultural background and this in turn left a deep impression on the life pattern among the pioneers.
 
In a sense, Dr. Olson supplied the seed and the young plants for the founding of the community which Dr. Swensson under his wide vision, dauntless courage, dynamic energy, and supreme faith in the future, developed into our splendid community with Bethany College as the center of the cultural influence. The founding of the school developed into Bethany College was consummated under the private initiation of Dr. Swensson. However, from the very beginning, the undertaking was confronted with difficulties, opposition, lack of funds, no buildings, small or no constituency. The struggle became exceedingly severe and only a man like Dr. Swensson with his supreme optimism, his magnetic personality, sincerity of purpose, and faith in the future could have made the sacrifice necessary for final victory.  When days look their darkest, Dr. Swensson would always say, “I morgon blir det bättre” – Tomorrow it will be better!
 
His optimism sometimes did deliver him into the hands of unscrupulous promoters.
 
Carl Wm Peterson:
 
I believe Dr. Deere that most historians in writing about Bethany’s early days state that no student enrolled on the first day.  What do you say about this?
 
Dr. Deere:
 
The late Dr. O. W. Hubbard of Batavia, Illinois, told me and others during the Synodical meeting in Lindsborg that he and nine other persons enrolled in Bethany Academy, and paid the fee of $5 tuition on October 15th 1881.  This is the first day of school.
 
The account books at the College substantiate his contention.  From the very beginning, Swensson was able to secure high class teachers, including many from Sweden.  He had a wonderful ability for speaking and writing in superlatives and due to the glowing terms in which he describe Lindsborg and Bethany College, he attracted many fine citizens and excellent teachers, many of them I stated from Sweden. The author of this article was a student under many of these teachers and later served as their colleague.
 
 An atmosphere of university culture was manifested among the staff and in the halls of learning.   Dr. Swensson was an excellent teacher and a dynamic speaker.  My work under him as a student and in other areas was stimulating and cultural.  He was democratic in his association with people.  He greeted and spoke to everybody, young or old, rich or poor, and regardless of station in life.  He was a quick thinker and always ready with a right answer or criticism, humorous or serious.  As students and faculty, we held him in the very highest esteem.  However, due to his many interests and super busy life, as pastor of his church, college president, politician – rock red republican, of course—traveler, speaker at many meetings and on a vast variety of subjects, he often had to make snap decisions that frequently had a dictatorial color.  There were times, however, when a matter of rebellion did arise.  Yet a solution was always amicably arrived at.
 
Carl Wm Peterson:
 
Well, Dr. Deere, how did you come in contact with Dr. Swensson?  Were your folks pioneers in the Valley? 
 
Dr. Deere:
 
During his student days at Augustana College, Dr. Swensson made the acquaintance with my father who was an employee of the John Deere Plow Company in Moline, Illinois.  After my father moved his family to the Blue Valley Swedish settlements in 1878, Swensson made frequent visits to the settlement in the Blue Valley and surrounding area. 
 
Among the homes he visited, he included the Deere home and insisted that the boy, EOD, must prepare himself for attending Bethany College.   And, in like manner, he enlisted students for Bethany from among the various settlements. 
 
At a certain meeting, I remember that someone in the audience asked Dr. Swensson the question: “At what age should one attend your school?”  He answer that, "The whole life is a learning process."  None is too young and none too old.  Yes, we will accept them anywhere, between the cradle and the grave."
 
Naturally, I enrolled in Bethany and in the fall of 1901 Dr. Swensson sent me to Washington University and Manual Training School in St. Louis, Missouri, for one year to specialize in Studies Preparatory to head a Department of Manual Arts and Pre-engineering.  I performed my part of the agreement.  But due to the hard times that followed and lack of resources, the project was carried out only in a very minor degree.
 
Dr. Swensson was a dreamer.  He visualized the development of a great educational institution here in the Smoky Valley.  Under his direction, I prepared a sketch map of the proposed land area.  The present campus would be augmented by the addition of a large farm to the north.  In addition to pre-engineering, there would be agricultural training.  The farm would afford work for needy students and the produce there-from would help fill the larder and the coffer of the College.  And, in addition, he stated: “Who knows but that a real fortune may be sometime found below the surface!”
 
Carl Wm Peterson:
 
This has been so interesting Dr. Deere.  I wish we could talk about this great man for an hour.  But, it can’t be so.  However, in conclusion, what would you like to add?
 
Dr. Deere:
 
In summing up the significant contributions made by Dr. Swensson as churchman, educator, citizen and as a leader in the social and cultural life in our country, he may be ranked as one of our most prominent men of Swedish American descent.  Dr. Swensson’s magnetic personality and his powerful gift of speech had a stimulating effect for positive action in all who chanced to come under his influence.  Without Dr. Swensson’s presence in this area, there very likely would not have been a Bethany College and Lindsborg would certainly not be the fine city it is today. 
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Naturally, a man of his great activity and dynamic personality would, in addition, to his host of friends, also have a few enemies.  He abhorred sham, scheming and false doctrine.  He had a quick answer whether it be humor, factual, irony or sarcasm.  He let the axe fall where it belonged.  We always enjoyed his beaming facing and the sparkle in his blue eyes.  However, in case an antagonist became too severe and covered him with unjust criticism, he could reply with his stinging oratory while from his steel gray eyes one could vision forthcoming of a stream of fiery darts.  Nevertheless, he did not harbor an enmity but to extend the hand of friendly friendship, a quality that signified greatness of character and of positive fairness.

​Carl Wm Peterson:
 
Thank you Dr. Deere.  We certainly have appreciated this interview and it gives us a much keener insight to the life of Dr. Carl Swensson.
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To learn more about this larger-than-life Lindsborg Swedish American leader and founder president of Bethany College, click on the Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson Statue in front of Old Main which will take you to Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson (1857 - 1904).
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Note the Bethania Plaque on the Old Main façade above the Swensson Statue.  It was fortunately salvaged at the time of the razing of Old Main in 1968, and was then displayed appropriately in various areas on the campus to its latest location when this photograph captured it in 2011.
- Bethania Plaque -
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