"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Mr. A. John Pearson
~ Chronicling the "first" 8 Bethany College presidents, Messiah history and much more
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Mr. A. John Pearson
~ Chronicling the "first" 8 Bethany College presidents, Messiah history and much more
A. John Pearson
A Bethany College PR Professional
Smoky Valley Editor-at-Large, Publisher
A Bethany College PR Professional
Smoky Valley Editor-at-Large, Publisher
A Swede, Mr. A. John Pearson was born in 1936 in Illinois. He and his wife Carol arrived in Lindsborg in 1970, with their two children, Clay and Jay, whose sister Candance was born in Lindsborg. The family worshiped in Swedish Augustana Lutheran churches. Mr. Pearson was hired at Bethany College to first work as the Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs in that year under the Dr. Arvin W. Hahn presidency during a very challenging and awarding era in college history.
For his career and into retirement he has shared his many gifts with the Smoky Valley people, especially in Lindsborg and at Bethany College. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were to become behind-the-scenes goodwill ambassadors for visiting dignitaries and officials from Sweden and other related dignitaries, entertaining them during the time in the area. These gathering provided opportunities for strengthening Bethany College's ties to Sweden.
Mr. Pearson's writing skills were put to work at Bethany College and in Lindsborg in behind-the-scenes project, publishing a myriad of educational historical articles specializing in highlighting the Swedish historical and cultural events and traditions from the earliest time which were published in the Lindsborg News-Record, and the historical events of the college in the seasonal Bethany Magazine, of which he was the editor for some time. These various articles he would continue to write for certain events and occasions for now over 50 years.
There certainly is much more that one could write about Mr. Pearson talents, however his gift of writing and publications ability takes precedent here. Two fine pieces of his writing are shared in the next two sections. Go HERE for the 1881 "Bethany College Centennial" history where he chronicles the "first" eight Bethany College presidents describing there presidency, and HERE for the "Messiah Centennial" history, which gives a great history from the time it started in 1881.
This is where you will find the most important foundational Bethany College history in an interesting and well-written, concise and accurate format!
For his career and into retirement he has shared his many gifts with the Smoky Valley people, especially in Lindsborg and at Bethany College. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were to become behind-the-scenes goodwill ambassadors for visiting dignitaries and officials from Sweden and other related dignitaries, entertaining them during the time in the area. These gathering provided opportunities for strengthening Bethany College's ties to Sweden.
Mr. Pearson's writing skills were put to work at Bethany College and in Lindsborg in behind-the-scenes project, publishing a myriad of educational historical articles specializing in highlighting the Swedish historical and cultural events and traditions from the earliest time which were published in the Lindsborg News-Record, and the historical events of the college in the seasonal Bethany Magazine, of which he was the editor for some time. These various articles he would continue to write for certain events and occasions for now over 50 years.
There certainly is much more that one could write about Mr. Pearson talents, however his gift of writing and publications ability takes precedent here. Two fine pieces of his writing are shared in the next two sections. Go HERE for the 1881 "Bethany College Centennial" history where he chronicles the "first" eight Bethany College presidents describing there presidency, and HERE for the "Messiah Centennial" history, which gives a great history from the time it started in 1881.
This is where you will find the most important foundational Bethany College history in an interesting and well-written, concise and accurate format!
Even as important as his writing and editorial gifts as a Smoky Valley writer are, his gift to publish the Smoky Valley writers books through one of two of his publishing companies was more important to the community. His first published work of which he was the editor was to be the classic Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college. He published this in 1975 under his founded Bethany College Press, with six more published books to follow. In 1984 under his Smoky Valley Historical Publications, he first published God's People in a New Land: Memorial Volume of Manuscript by Johan Augustin Pihl, A Swedish Immigrant. Here, as well, 6 more books were published under this company.
Mr. Pearson's work was and continues to be indispensable to the education, preservation, and promotion of the Swedish Lindsborg and Bethany College history and cultural heritage for generations to come.
Here are some of the books Mr. Pearson published under his two companies:
The Lindsborg Publisher of the Bethany College Press
Sponsored by Bethany College with A. John Pearson as founder and manager, here are some of the works that he published:
The Authors and Their Books
1975 Emory Lindquist
Bethany In Kansas: The History of a College
A. John Pearson, editor
Hardbound
1984 Emory Lindquist
Hagbard Brase: Beloved Music Master
Hardbound O.P.
1993 Robert G. Lundgren
A Century of Bethany Football 1893-1993
Paperback O.P.
1993 Emmet E. Eklund and Marion Lorimer Eklund
He Touched the Whole World: The Story of Carl E. Lund-Quist
Hardbound
1999 Emmet E. Eklund and Marion Lorimer Eklund
The Difference He Made: A Biography of Emory K. Lindquist
Hardbound
2003 Ylva Eggehorn
"Manual for the Art of Loving Trees: Poems by Ylva Eggehorn
published with a second section
“The Academy of Joy: Pages from the Novel, One of These Hours” Paperback
2005 Linda M. Lewis, editor,
Images Across the Sea: Sweden and America 2025
Paperback.
Sponsored by Bethany College with A. John Pearson as founder and manager, here are some of the works that he published:
The Authors and Their Books
1975 Emory Lindquist
Bethany In Kansas: The History of a College
A. John Pearson, editor
Hardbound
1984 Emory Lindquist
Hagbard Brase: Beloved Music Master
Hardbound O.P.
1993 Robert G. Lundgren
A Century of Bethany Football 1893-1993
Paperback O.P.
1993 Emmet E. Eklund and Marion Lorimer Eklund
He Touched the Whole World: The Story of Carl E. Lund-Quist
Hardbound
1999 Emmet E. Eklund and Marion Lorimer Eklund
The Difference He Made: A Biography of Emory K. Lindquist
Hardbound
2003 Ylva Eggehorn
"Manual for the Art of Loving Trees: Poems by Ylva Eggehorn
published with a second section
“The Academy of Joy: Pages from the Novel, One of These Hours” Paperback
2005 Linda M. Lewis, editor,
Images Across the Sea: Sweden and America 2025
Paperback.
The Lindsborg Publisher of the "Smoky Valley Historical Publications"
Sponsored by Smoky Valley Historical Association with A. John Pearson as manager, here are some of the works that he published:
The Authors and Their Books
1984 Vernon C. F. Holm, editor
God's People in a New Land: Memorial Volume of Manuscript by Johan Augustin Pihl, A Swedish Immigrant Paperback
1989 Emory Lindquist
G. N. Malm: A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career
A. John Pearson, editor
Hardbound
1989 Elston L. Flohr
The Farmers State Bank, Lindsborg, Kansas: The First One Hundred Years, 1886-1986. 1989
Paperback O.P.
1992 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Dugouts and Daisies: A Novel about Early Lindsborg, Kansas, and the Smoky Valley
Hardbound
1993 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Swedish Mecca of the Plains: A Novel About Lindsborg, Kansas, and the Smoky Valley in the Middle Years,
1904-1928
Hardbound
1995 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Still Pioneers: A Novel About Lindsborg, Kansas and the Smoky Valley in Modern Times, 1929-present
Hardbound
2001 Bror Carlsson
He Gave God Glory: The Story of Olof Olsson
Alf Brorson, revisionist and editor
Paperback
Sponsored by Smoky Valley Historical Association with A. John Pearson as manager, here are some of the works that he published:
The Authors and Their Books
1984 Vernon C. F. Holm, editor
God's People in a New Land: Memorial Volume of Manuscript by Johan Augustin Pihl, A Swedish Immigrant Paperback
1989 Emory Lindquist
G. N. Malm: A Swedish Immigrant's Varied Career
A. John Pearson, editor
Hardbound
1989 Elston L. Flohr
The Farmers State Bank, Lindsborg, Kansas: The First One Hundred Years, 1886-1986. 1989
Paperback O.P.
1992 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Dugouts and Daisies: A Novel about Early Lindsborg, Kansas, and the Smoky Valley
Hardbound
1993 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Swedish Mecca of the Plains: A Novel About Lindsborg, Kansas, and the Smoky Valley in the Middle Years,
1904-1928
Hardbound
1995 Robert E. Segerhammar. Illustrated by Norman Malm.
Still Pioneers: A Novel About Lindsborg, Kansas and the Smoky Valley in Modern Times, 1929-present
Hardbound
2001 Bror Carlsson
He Gave God Glory: The Story of Olof Olsson
Alf Brorson, revisionist and editor
Paperback
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More Work On This
- A. John Pearson -
In Summary
More Work On This
- A. John Pearson -
In Summary
~ Lindsborg publisher, editor, cultural and history writer, chronicling the "first" 8 Bethany College presidents, entertainer of Swedish visitors, behind-the-scenes goodwill ambassador . . .
He is an Augustana Lutheran Christian
Historian, Author, Publisher, Smoky Valley Writer, Editor-at-Large
Public Relations Professional, Promoter of Smoky Valley History
Founder of "Smoky Valley Historical Publications" and "Bethany College Press"
Bethany College, F.S. Alumnus, 1956
Gustavus Adolphus College, A.B., 1959
(a Bethany sister college)
Boston University, M.S. in Public Relations, 1962 -- Master Thesis on "University Presses"
Illinois College Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs: 1962 - 1970
Bethany College Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs: 1970 - 1992
Bethany College Director of Archives and Heritage Center and Sports Information: 1992 - 2004
Bethany College Volunteer Director of Archives: 2004 - 2006
Specialty: History writer on the Bethany College Oratorio Messiah Performances
American-Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains Vice President for Communications
-------
He is an Augustana Lutheran Christian
Historian, Author, Publisher, Smoky Valley Writer, Editor-at-Large
Public Relations Professional, Promoter of Smoky Valley History
Founder of "Smoky Valley Historical Publications" and "Bethany College Press"
Bethany College, F.S. Alumnus, 1956
Gustavus Adolphus College, A.B., 1959
(a Bethany sister college)
Boston University, M.S. in Public Relations, 1962 -- Master Thesis on "University Presses"
Illinois College Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs: 1962 - 1970
Bethany College Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs: 1970 - 1992
Bethany College Director of Archives and Heritage Center and Sports Information: 1992 - 2004
Bethany College Volunteer Director of Archives: 2004 - 2006
Specialty: History writer on the Bethany College Oratorio Messiah Performances
American-Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains Vice President for Communications
-------
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"Let Us Remember 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 Remember 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.
