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 1879 "Swedish Mission Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members ​ due to the "atonement" issue ​ ~ An account by Mr. Bill Carlson ~ Part 1 of 2 >
        • Their 1879 '"Swedish Mission Church" formation due to the "atonement" issue ​~ An account by Dr. Lindquist ~ Part 2 of 2
      • 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
      • 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 English speaking "Messiah Lutheran Church" formation by former Bethany Lutheran Church members ~ An account by Dr. Emory K. 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 >
          • 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. Elizabeth Jaderborg, former SVHA secretary >
            • Coronado Expedition Chain Mail and Bethany College Museum History ~ An account from Dr. Lungstrom's book
      • 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 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
      • 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" Bethany Academy 1882 "First College Building"
    • Their 1882-1966 "Bethany College Museum" ~ The Natural History and Pioneer 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 Collection ~ from Old Main to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum, 1966 >
        • Cliff Dwellers' Pottery Collection ~ from Old Main to Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery, 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 “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'S WORLD" Smoky Valley descendant friends caring for her work ​ ~ Honoring them and remembering them ~ 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'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 … >
          • 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 >
      • 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
    • 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 >
      • ​Digitalize the Smoky Valley writers' Swedish and Swedish American histories ~ For their generations to come and for research accessibility
      • 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 Lutheran 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
        • 1989 "G. N. Malm - A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career" ~ The Words of Dr. Lindquist: Part 2 >
          • "G. N. Malm" ~ Contents & 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
        • ​1990 "Two Reprints" ~ Contents & Illustrations Lists
      • 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 >
        • 2011 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" ~ The words of Bill Carlson in the first 5 chapters >
          • 2011 "Lindsborg Then and Lindsborg Now" ​ ~ The words of Bill Carlson in the last chapter: "Conclusion" >
            • "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
      • 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 ~ The ​Smoky Valley History Research Writers Website Designers
    • Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ Lindsborg Smoky Valley People >
      • Revs. Drs. Swensson and Pihlblad ~ The founder and the presidents of Bethany College respectively
      • 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
      • Dr. Johan August Udden ~ "First" Bethany College professor, founder of Bethany College museum and Spanish chain mail, lead UT to $300,000,000+ ~ Account by Dr. Lungstrom
      • ​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
      • G. N. Malm ~ Lindsborg's Swedish Renaissance Man ~ Accounts by Dr. Lindquist >
        • G. N. Malm and all he did for the Lindsborg community ~ An account by Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg >
          • G. N. Malm and his Lindsborg's national interior decorating company ​​~ An account by Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg​
      • 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. 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
      • 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
    • “Honoring Them and Remembering Them" ~ The Groupings and the 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 projects >
        • 1963 "Smoky Valley Historical Association" (SVHA) later leaders ​~ Some more recent preservation projects
      • ​1961 - 2021 ​"McPherson County Old Mill Museum" ~ A chronological historical summary
      • 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 >
        • "A Time to Remember" 1882 - 1988 >
          • Their "I WAS THERE" Coin ~ Bethany College 21st Year Celebration, 1902 >
            • "Bethany Campus Walk” ~ Remembering the buildings, the "Bethany Family" of their era, 1882 - 2015
      • A Historical Count ~The Bethany College Presidents & Swedish Kings Honoring Bethany Swedes
    • 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"
    • The 1941 "Smoky Valley 'Pioneer Cross Memorial' " ​~ ​By Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist
    • The 2009 "Smoky Valley Swedish People's Virtual Memorial"
"The Other Swedes"
​~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~
​
On Dr. Greta Swenson: "She used her intellect and rapier wit to guide the Folklife Institutes future."

                                                                                                                                                                               -- Mark and Mardel Esping, 2020

Dr. Greta Swenson and Mr. & Mrs. Mark Esping
~ Remembering them for founding Lindsborg's "first" 
​"Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas" 1986

(Dr. Swenson was, and the Espings are, Swedish Augustana Lutheran Christians.)
​
Lindsborg, already historically known for its music and art culture through its Bethany Lutheran Church and College, starting at the end of the 19th century and continuing through the 20th century in America, was certainly more than ready for a turnkey institution like the Swedish-American Folklife Institute to shine a professional and broader light on its Swedishness, on its folklife and folk art cultural heritage.

And, for a long season, that is just what the Institute did for Lindsborg and for Bethany College, as it drew folklife experts from around the country and Sweden to visit Lindsborg, while its members traveled within the United States and to Sweden to share and to teach the Swedish folk art found in this Kansas community and its neighboring Smoky Valley communities.  


The Institute, established in 1986, successfully showcased the Swedishness of Lindsborg and Bethany College and accomplished much such as hosting three (3) renowned, internationally known, and well credentialed lifelong American experts in the folklife field.  They were Dr. Alan Jabbour, Director of the Library of Congress Folklife Institute; Dr. Michael Owen Jones, Director of the Department of Mythology and Folklore at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Dr. Robert Teske, Director of the Cederburg Center at Cederburg, Wisconsin, author of the 1998 
Wisconsin Folk Art : A Sesquicentennial Celebration.

From Sweden, the Institute hosted, the also renowned, internationally known, and just as well credentialed, Dr. Barbro Klein, scholar and professor of Folklife at the University of Stockholm, a professor emerita of ethnology and a director emerita and permanent fellow at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study. She served on the American Folklore Society Board and was a member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy in Sweden.  Much later, she would return in 2012, not as the Institute's guest but that of Bethany College, as that year's Pearson Distinguished Professor of Swedish Studies. 
Swedish Costumes from the 2019 Svensk Hyllningsfest
Provided by Mrs. Marla Ann Elmquist and the Hyllningsfest Costume Ladies
The Projects and Programs
Funded by many grants including being awarded two National Endowment for the Arts Grant, one to document Wood Working and the other for slide presentations and exhibition development of several previously unstudied areas of folk art,  some of the Institute projects and programs included: ​​​​​
  1. ​​​"Folklife in the Schools Seminars" which provided presenters from Florida, Mississippi, Iowa and the Amana Colonies for Teachers in the State of Kansas.  (Among those attending were Kansas teachers from Pratt, Wichita, Hays, Manhattan, and Kansas City, Kansas.)
  2. Three years of presentations and/or workshops on "Immigrant Culture for Bethany College Elderhostel," including topics of Metalwork, Woodworking, Ljuskröna, Apples Trees, Storytelling, Swedish Costume, Swedish Dancers and History at the Old Mill Museum.
  3. The weeklong Folk Art Intensive Workshop taught by 12 Master Folk Artists, including Kepka Belton on Czech Eggs; Sonia Domsch on Bobbin Lace; Margaret Pitzer on Cherokee Basket making; and Beth Walker on Inkler loom.
  4. Swedish Folk Craft Workshops in knifemaking and woodworking by renown Kenneth Bengtsson from Varby, Sweden who also teaches chip carving, Tine Box making and slojd knifemaking.
  5. The sponsored storytelling contest with a trip to Sweden as a prize.
  6. A handmade traveling exhibition that included ten photograph panels and ten Ljuskröna for destinations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and several locations in Kansas including presentations, and, at most stops, lessons on making Ljuskröna.
  7. ​The ongoing weeklong "Swedish American Culture as it exists in the Midwest" program.
  8. The 1992 fieldwork entry at the Smithsonian Institution's annual National Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. in the "Family Farm" section of a Lindsborg farm representing "Kansas Agriculture and Swedish Culture."  
  9. Travel to Sweden for:  A research and presentation trip, hosted by Dr. Barbro Klein at the University of Stockholm, to deliver a speech at Stockholm's Nordiska Museet on the Ljuskröna family collections from Lindsborg and other Swedish American regions, and to further research and photograph the Ljuskröna in twelve museums throughout Sweden; also, the presentation with slides of "A Remnant Folk Art Object" at the Institutet for Folklivsforsking, Nordic Museum, Stockholm; and, as well, for the “Jubilee Year" of 1996, the presentation of exhibited works of local Lindsborg artists at the Leksand Sweden Cultural Center.
  10. The ongoing projects:
  • Creating a research and resource library on folklife and folk art
  • Collecting stories from rural Kansas areas
  • Acquiring slides, negatives, video and audio tapes and objects that reflect the folklife of central Kansas
  • Reprinting books
  • Publishing research conclusions
  • Providing direction to those applying for Kansas Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grants
  • Acquiring Lindsborg Svensk Hyllningsfest Swedish costumes worn at each biennial celebration honoring Swedish immigrants
  • Passing on Lindsborg Svensk Hyllningsfest Swedish costumes to Mrs. Marla Ann Elmquist and the ladies who are restoring and preserving them
The Team

Those responsible for the Institute were Swedish American Lindsborg resident and Minnesota's Gustavus Augustus College graduate American Folklorist Dr. Greta Swenson, President; and Kansas' Bethany College graduates -- artists, crafts makers and teachers -- Mark Esping, Director, and Mardel Esping, a "Master Weaver," whose weavings have hung in the Governor's Mansion in Topeka, Kansas, and in the Saline County Offices in Salina, Kansas, and many of which are in private collections. 

​The early endeavors of these three (3) devoted Lindsborg Folklife Institute pioneers resulted with the Institute receiving a not-for-profit status in 1989.  In the first year each of them held Board of Directors' positions and were employed on the grants as field workers. 

Before the forming of the Swedish-American Folklife Institute for Central Kansas, Dr. Swenson held the position of the State Folklorist for North Dakota.  Here, some of her research for the State included "exploring cowboy poets and Indian culture."  However, due to kidney failure, she was forced to return home to Lindsborg to be with her family and to receive kidney dialysis.

All three were Augustana Lutheran Christians.   

Dr. Greta Swenson, a National Scholar graduate from Lindsborg High School, graduated from Lutheran Gustavus Augustus College on May 27, 1973, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major of Russian Studies and History and with a minor in Political Science.  While there, she spent a semester in Yugoslavia to continue further study of the Russian language which at the same time brought her face-to-face with Gypsy culture and folklore.  Thus, this was her introduction to folklore studies.  As a result, in 1980, she was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Folklore at the University of Indiana at Bloomington where many of the nation's experts in folklife and folklore studies received degrees as well, one being the current Director (since April 2013) of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage American Folklorist Dr. Michael Atwood Mason who was also awarded a Doctorate Degree in Folklore.  
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Mr. Mark Esping graduated from Lutheran Bethany College in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major of Business and Sociology, and with a minor in History.  He continued his studies at Flagstaff's Northern Arizona University where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Art Education with "glass blowing" being the area of study.  He later earned a Master of Science Degree in Educational Media at Manhattan's Kansas State University.  Of his varied career experiences, Mr. Esping was an international wholesale jewelry buyer traveling to Europe and Asia, while then Stateside setting up wholesale international jewelry shows across the country.  His extended non-tour travels have included Mexico, Europe, Tunisia, Nepal, China, Thailand and Japan where he taught conversational English for four months.  Together, he and his wife, Mardel, are the former owners of the Kansas City, Missouri crafts store, "The Tomtegubbe,"  and the art gallery, "Sven & Me."

Mrs. Mardel Esping graduated from Lutheran Bethany College in 1968 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and continued her studies at Dine College which serves the Navaho Nations in Arizona and New Mexico.  Here, she studied "weaving" under master Navaho artist Mable Burnside Myers and "basket making" under master Navaho artist Alah Chee Yellow Hair.  Her study of basket making continued at Mills College, Oakland, California, with American curator, fiber artist, Virginia I. Harvey, who would later author the 1987 The Techniques of Basketry.  At Flagstaff's Northern Arizona University, she would earn a Master of Arts in Art Education, and would continue on with additional studies at Manhattan's Kansas State University.  Mrs. Esping taught at Lindsborg High School; Fort Wingate Bureau of Indian Affairs High School; throughout Kansas City, Missouri Elementary Schools; and privately, providing workshops on Navajo weaving and on Swedish Ljuskröna making.  She is a charter board member of the Kansas Alliance of Weavers and Spinners; and she was a key player in the establishment of the Smoky Valley Fiber Guild.  Together, she and her husband, Mark, are the former owners of the Kansas City, Missouri crafts store,  "The Tomtegubbe"  and the art gallery, "Sven & Me." 
The Plan
Early on, before the Institute was established, as Dr. Swenson was receiving kidney dialysis treatments she began to mentor Mr. and Mrs. Esping on knowledge she acquired through her folklore studies at the University of Indiana.  The Espings absorbed it all, and, in time, the Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas was born.  Together, these three had a good five years of setting the Institute on a firm foundation with a future promise of permanently serving the various Swedish cultural heritage and folklife needs of Central Kansas.
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Paraphrased from an Esping email, the following sums up why the Institute start-up and future were so successful:
​"Greta passed on her knowledge to us. 
She faithfully taught us how to interview. 
She used her intellect and rapier wit to guide the Folklife Institutes' future."

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                                           President Dr. Greta Swenson
              Swedish-American ​Folklife Institute of Central Kansas
                                                  1986 - 1992

     
        "... Folklife Institute ... [she] worked long and hard to establish ..."       
  (The photograph and article were submitted by Institute member historian author Elizabeth Jaderborg.)            
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  " Greta Swenson, 1951-1992: . . .  This photograph was taken last week in the office of Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, an organization which Greta had worked long and hard to establish and maintain.  In spite of the many physical problems Greta had to bear she continued to work hard at retaining the heritage and folklife history of this area. 
  "Through her efforts and others, nationally known folklife experts found out about Lindsborg, many visiting or participating in seminars here.  She was also instrumental in bringing folk artists to Bethany College for Elderhostels last summer.   
  "At the time of this photo, Greta had just wrapped up the details on the 2nd Annual Lindsborg Composer’s Showcase’ held Sunday afternoon.  Dr. Pelz and his music were very important to Greta and her presence was felt in Presser during the concert.

   "We lost an expert resource person, a hard worker and most of all a friend Saturday evening when Greta succumbed to the illnesses which ravaged her body for so many years."


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​In the saddness of that 1992 year, Dr. Swenson would have been delighted that the Institute's Kansas Family Farm project had been accepted by the Smithsonian Institution to enter it into the National Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.; and that 1992 would be the year to first publish the Institute's website (just following the year before when the world's first website was published by an Englishman working in Geneva, Switzerland).

The "Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas" website stated on the "History" page the following: 
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     "The Folklife Institute of Central Kansas has provided many outstanding educational activities in the fields of folklife and folk art. The Institute is a research organization that acts as a presentation umbrella for persons interested in traditional arts and culture. Programs are centered around an oral history collection, folk art classes and exhibit preparation. The Institute encourages apprenticeship in the traditional arts. Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts have provided funds for research, slide 
presentations and exhibition development of several previously unstudied areas of folk art."

Go HERE, to the Folklife Institute's website.
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Four years after Dr. Swenson's passing, in 1996, steps were taken by Director Mark and Mardel Esping to establish the Swedish-American Heritage Center. 

Go HERE to Recognizing t
heir Lindsborg's Folklife Institute's Swedish-American Heritage Center, 1996
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