Artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere
Lydia as Bethany College Lane Hart Hall Dean of Women, 1906 - 1913
In 1906 Lydia left the millinery business in Lindsborg to become the "Dean of Women and Matron," also referred to as the "Lady Principal and Matron," to the Bethany College ladies at Lane Hart Hall, a job which would last into the year 1913.
This was before her marriage to Emil O. Deere which would take place in San Jose, California, August 9, 1916. She must have known of him as soon as she started working at Bethany or even before as they both attended Bethany Church. Yet, perhaps they had more time together when she founded the Bethany Campus Association, and she was president, and he was vice president in 1912.
It was at Lane Hart Hall that Lydia began to take photographs of dorm and campus life, the compositions of which reflected a fun spirit, and a love for the students and the life she lived on the Bethany College Campus.
During this period of time, she also taught Swedish and Scandinavian handwork at Bethany.
The following photographs reflect her loving nature with the students of Bethany College.
This was before her marriage to Emil O. Deere which would take place in San Jose, California, August 9, 1916. She must have known of him as soon as she started working at Bethany or even before as they both attended Bethany Church. Yet, perhaps they had more time together when she founded the Bethany Campus Association, and she was president, and he was vice president in 1912.
It was at Lane Hart Hall that Lydia began to take photographs of dorm and campus life, the compositions of which reflected a fun spirit, and a love for the students and the life she lived on the Bethany College Campus.
During this period of time, she also taught Swedish and Scandinavian handwork at Bethany.
The following photographs reflect her loving nature with the students of Bethany College.
- Lydia's ladies on the fire escape of Lane Hart Hall -
- The visiting Bethany College men at Lane Hart Hall -
Carl Swenson from the Class of 1912 described Lydia as ". . . the charming matron at the girls' dormitory. She was a favorite of all the girls who lived there, as well as the aspiring young men who were privileged to visit Lane Hart Hall." *Source: Swedish American Bethany College Professor Dr. Leon Lungstrom's 1990 book, History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas.
- Dress-up and Cross-dressing at Lydia's Lane Hart Hall -
a pastime of fun and frivolity
Lydia with her Lane Hart Hall Ladies
Other Fun Photos Taken by Lydia
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"Let Us Celebrate Them"
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Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
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All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
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