SWEDES: TheWayTheyWere
  • Home
    • The Bethany Artist & the Bethany Scientist: Lydia & Emil >
      • ​"First Swedish Agricultural Company" Lindsborg Founders, 1868 >
        • Swedish Pastor Olof Olsson Immigrating to Lindsborg 1869, June 27th Arrival >
          • Church and Lindsborg Founder Pastor Olsson, 1869 - 1876 >
            • ​"He Gave God Glory" The Story of Olof Olsson, ​1841 - 1900
      • Their "Bethany Lutheran Church" 1869 >
        • Their "Augustana Lutheran Synod," 1860 - 1962 >
          • The Augustana Heritage Association, 2000 - 2016
        • Their "Augustana Women's Missionary Society," 1892
      • Their "Bethany Lutheran Home" Since 1907
      • Their Lindsborg's "First" Swedish Smoky Valley Community Chronicle 1909 and Their "Second" 1919 >
        • "Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas," 1965 >
          • "The Smoky Valley in The After Years," 1969
      • Their 1920s Coronado Heights Photographs and their Smoky Valley Historical Association (SVHA)
      • Their 1936 1873 Swedish Homestead, "The Old Deere Farm," The Peter J. Larson Farm, etc. >
        • Their 1873 Swede House
        • A Smoky Valley Swedish Virtual Memorial - ​"Dedicated to the Memory of the Smoky Valley Swedish Settlements" >
          • Recognizing & Thanking >
            • - Claude Koehn -- The Before and After
      • Their 1940 Deere Home >
        • Emil's and Nina's 1961 Thunderbird
      • 1943, After Lydia--The Building of the Lindsborg Hospital
    • Their Bethany College Handel's "Messiah" Performances, 1882 on... >
      • "Messiah" Performers, Venues & Audiences, Press and Broadcasts
    • Their Bethany College 1899 Swedish Artists' Midwest Art Exhibition
    • Their Bethany College 1902 "Terrible Swedes," Coach Bennie Owen, Their 1903 "Rockar Stockar"
    • Their Bethany College 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Swedish Pavilion
    • Their 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 "I WAS THERE" Coin ~ Bethany College Celebration, 1902
    • Their Bethany College's 1937 Introduction to New Sweden, founded in 1638 >
      • Deere's Introduction to New Sweden
    • Their friend, Emory Lindquist, and his 1975 "Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college" >
      • Their friend, Emory Lindquist, and his 1953, "Smoky Valley People, A History of Lindsborg, Kansas"
    • Their friend, Leon Lungstrom, and his 1990 "History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas"
  • 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
    • Lydia Sohlberg Deere's 1927 "Lindsborg Swedish Club's" Handwork >
      • Lydia's Signatured Black Book of Her Handwritten Sewing Instructions >
        • Nina Sohlberg's Child's Sewing "Little Dots" PICTURE BOOK >
          • The Lindsborg Swedish Club's "Allers Monster-Tidnings" magazine, 1940
  • Artist Lydia Sohlberg Deere
    • Lydia's Lindsborg Photography, 1900-1925 >
      • The Hats
      • The Smoky River
      • The Smoky Hill Bluffs
      • 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 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 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" ... 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 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'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 >
        • Swensson's "Bethany Lutheran Church" and the "Augustana Lutheran Synod"
        • Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings: "The Bethany Academy of 1882"
        • Swensson's Musicians' and Singers' "Messiah", 1882 on ... >
          • Thure Olof Jaderborg
        • Swensson's Swedish Artists of the 1890s
        • Swensson's "Bethany College Museum," 1882 - 1966
      • In Memorium**Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson, 1904
    • Deere's Rev. Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, 1873-1943 >
      • In Memoriam**Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, 1943
      • Rev. Dr. Pihlblad on Bethany College, 1904 - 1941
    • Deere's Swensson's "Bethany College Museum" 1882 - 1966 >
      • Bethany College Museum Collections' New Location,1966 >
        • Articles on the Bethany College Museum Collections Move of 1966
    • Deere's Bethany College Field Trips -- Lydia's Photography, 1906-1925 >
      • Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections >
        • Cliff Dwellers' Pottery Collection
        • Fossils Collection, "The Find"
        • Taxidermy Collection
    • Deere's Dr. Leon Lungstrom on the "Bethany College Museum"
    • Deere's Dr. Leon Lungstrom on "Three Pioneer Scientists of Swedish Descent"
    • 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 Other Swedes"
    • Honoring them and their works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \\/ >
      • Mrs. Alma Christina Lind Swensson ~ Remembering her as Mrs. Rev. Dr. Swensson, the First Lady of Lindsborg
      • Miss Alma Luise Olson ~ Remembering her as Sweden remembers her as "First Honored American Woman by Sweden," and more
      • Swedish 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
      • American Artist Lester Raymer ~ Remembering him as the renown 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 (1923-2017) ~ Remembering him handing me my Bethany College Diploma on Sunday, May 26,1968
      • Dr. ​Elmer Copley ~ Remembering Bethany College's Oratorio Society Conductor who carried on "that" "Messiah" traditional excellence for 26 years, taking it to new levels >
        • Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the “Messiah” conductor for the Bethany College "Swedish King’s" performance, 1976 >
          • Dr. Elmer Copley ~ Remembering him as the "Messiah" conductor for the Bethany College "Centennial Celebration” performance, 1981
      • Ms. Rebecca Copley ~ Honoring her as Bethany College's “first” graduate to become an International Opera Singer
      • Mr. Bruce Karstadt ~ Honoring him as Bethany College's "first" graduate tohead a national Swedish American institution
      • Dr. Greta Swenson & Mr. and Mrs. Mark Esping ~ Honoring them as Bethany College’s “first” graduates who founded Lindsborg's "first" "Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas." 1986 >
        • Recognizing their Folklife Institute's "Swedish-American Heritage Center," 1996
      • Dr. William Holwerda ( MD) ~ Remembering him at the founder of "Svensk Hyllningsfest"
      • Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg ~ Remembering her as the founder of the "Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers"
      • Mr. & Mrs. Hilding Jaderborg ~ Remembering them and their “Swedish Crafts Shop” – 65 years and 50 trips to Sweden
      • The Swedish Lindsborg Builders
    • The Smoky Valley Writers on "The Other Swedes" ​ ~ Their Swedish American Legacy Collection >
      • Mr. Bror Carlsson and Mr. Alf Brorson from Sweden ~ Chronicling Founder Pastor Olof Olsson's missionary journey to Lindsborg from Värmland, Sweden
      • Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson ~ An author of countless Swedish & English publications, newspapers, articles and books ...
      • Rev. Dr. Alfred Bergin ​~ Compiling foundational Swedish Smoky Valley Augustana Lutheran settlements' histories and more
      • Dr. Emory Lindquist ~ Chronicling Swedish Augustana Lutheran Lindsborg and Bethany College
      • Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg [Selma Lind] ​ ~ Chronicling the Lindsborg of her day, its early histories, and more
      • Dr. Leon Lungstrom ~ Chronicling college professors and providing the "only known written" account on the Bethany College Museum
      • Ms. Karen A. Humphrey ~ Chronicling highlights of Swedish Augustana Lutheran Lindsborg and Bethany College society and culture in the earliest years
      • Mr. A. John Pearson & Mr. Kenneth Sjogren ~ Chronicling the Bethany College Presidents
      • Mr. Bill Carlson ~ Chronicling Lindsborg's earliest and later histories with a personal connection
      • Mr. Chris Abercrombie ~ Remembering him as the "historian," the SVHA president and his body of work
      • Mr. Thomas N. Holmquist ~ Chronicling key Swedish Augustana Lutheran Smoky Valley settlements other than Lindsborg
      • Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and the Bethany Home Writers ~ Chronicling the "only known written" story on the beginnings of Bethany Home
      • Smoky Valley Historical Association Members ~ Researchers, compilers and writers of " Where Did They Live? "
    • ​Smoky Valley History Research Writers Website Designers ~ Their Swedish American Legacy Websites
    • Bethany College Swedish Knights and Honored Ladies ~ Their Swedish Royal Legacy Listing
    • His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden ~ Honoring him in Lindsborg and at Bethany College, 1976 >
      • Mr. Bill Carlson's Lindsborg's Bethany Home & the Swedish King's Visit
  • Contacts
    • For Lindsborg, 1869, CONTACT Today >
      • 2020 Christmas: "Ljuskröna and Apple Tree Exhibit" online presentation
      • 2020 Christmas; 'Welcome to Annandag Jul Worship from Sunnemo & Lindsborg"
    • ​For Bethany College, 1881, CONTACT Today
    • Traveling through SWEDES & Closing Remarks >
      • The Swedish American Legacy Photographs >
        • ​Lydia's Lindsborg's Photography​, ​1900 - 1925
        • Lydia's Bethany's Photography, ​1906 - 1925
The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Her and Her Works ~

Mrs. Alma Christina Lind Swensson
 ~ Remembering her as Mrs. Rev. Dr. Swensson, the First Lady* of Lindsborg
(1859 - 1939)

Ms. Karen A. Humphrey, in her book, Grace, Faith, and the Power of Singing: The Alma Christina Lind Swensson Story, has done an incredible job of profiling Mrs. Rev. Dr. Swensson, as she was referred to in her day.

Ms. Humphrey's book so personally and skillfully takes the reader into the life of this First Lady of Lindsborg, Mrs. Swensson, along with her 
dynamic and renown husband Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson.  She describes the major events and achievements of their twenty-four years together, and, then those of Mrs. Swensson's, when living as a widow for 35 years.  Her widowhood began when Rev. Dr. Swensson, who was two years older than she, died suddenly in Los Angeles on February 16, 1904, while he was there on college business. 

In their season of life together in the Midwest, this couple, Carl and Alma Swensson, would be numbered among Swedish America's most important leaders who would still have strong ties with Sweden, so strong indeed that in June of 1897 while traveling to Europe, the British Isles and Sweden with their party of four Bethany College professors, the Swenssons had to part their company for a while to joined the honored guests of His Majesty King Oscar II at his summer home on Marstrand, located on Sweden's southwest coast.  Here the King was hosting a more intimate 
Jubilee celebration reception.  Rev. Dr. Swensson himself was to have a few precious moments of conversation alone with the King, who had earlier announced the Jubilee commemorating his 25th anniversary reign on May 15, 1897, when he opened the General Art and Industrial Exhibition in Stockholm (aka Stockholm Exhibition or Stockholm World's Fair) with his speech to the nation.

(1897 was the year in which King Oscar II was to be recognized and congratulated from foreign royalty, leaders, common persons and his subjects.  As Mrs. Swensson's husband describes so well, later on in that year, in his book, Again in Sweden, on page 615 in his chapter titled, "King Oscar's Jubilee," Rev. Dr. Swensson starts out, "Oscar II had been King of Sweden twenty-five years the 18th of September, 1897, and this occasion was duly celebrated by a jubilee in Sweden, and everywhere else where the Swedish tongue is spoken and Swedish hearts are beating.  For the fame of this king has gone far, and his name as well as himself is loved and revered everywhere.  What he is and what he has been for his native land and its people cannot properly and adequately be described in this book, the purpose of which is quite a different one besides.  However, the festivities witnessed all over the world in honor of King Oscar show beyond doubt that he is considered and respected as one of the superior men of his time.)
​ 
It had been my wish to showcase some of Mrs. Swensson's achievements and highlights of her life found in Ms. Humphrey's book which 
unfortunately I discovered and read late when I was nearly finished with SWEDES.  Therefore, I can share only a few comments. 

Lindsborg's "Frist Lady," as a role model


It is quite apparent that Mrs. Swensson can be remembered as a moral example of Christian womanhood.  Married or single, the Swedish American Lutheran women of today do not have to look far for a role model to emulate as they travel through life's moments of highs and lows, nor do Christian women from other denominations.


Committed, first, to her God and His Word and to her husband and their two daughters, Bertha and Annie, providing for their needs, Mrs. Swensson was, yet still, in a balanced and reserved manner, able to utilize and share her God given gifts found in music, writing, hospitality, and to hone her teaching, organizational, collaboration, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.  Thus, in so doing, she glorified God through her service to Him and to her Lindsborg and far-reaching world with love and compassion that resulted in a life well lived.

Lindsborg's "First Lady," as Bethany College's "First Lady"  -- the helpmeet of Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson

Without Mrs. Alma Christina Lind's love and devotion for her husband, and her support for his visions and goals for his Christian school, Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson would not have accomplished what he did for Lindsborg, for Bethany Church and for Bethany College.  With his wife by his side for 24 years, go 
HERE to learn more about him and the events of their times.

Lindsborg's "First Lady," as an 
Augustana Women's Missionary Society 
top-level leader

Thus, as a widow, her most "behind the scenes" contribution of compassion would be that of her tireless work for the Augustana Women's Missionary Society, "WMS," an organization of the Augustana Lutheran Synod that was founded in the Swensson home, the Bethany Church Parsonage, on June 6, 1892, by Mrs. Emmy Carlsson Evald (wife of Rev. Carl Evald, and daughter of Rev. Erland Carlsson, well known pastor of Chicago's Immanuel Lutheran Church and fourth president of the Synod) and by Mrs. Swensson (whose husband's father, Rev. Jonas Swensson, had been the second president of the Synod).

At this Lindsborg meeting of 50 or so Synod ladies, Mrs. Evald was elected president and Mrs. Swensson was elected Secretary whose duties would also include the editing of the WMS journal/newspaper, Missions-Tidning that Mrs. Evald founded several years later.  The WMS membership would grow to nearly 70,000 as would its budget to nearly one million dollars ($1,000,000).  This influential ladies' society would have an astounding impact on "the underprivilege" in America and abroad, found in such locations as the Middle East, the African continent, China, India and several European countries.  It would send out its WMS missionaries to these foreign locations, many of whom would spend decades of their lives in God's service there.  In these foreign lands and at home, the WMS would, also, be responsible for the building of churches, hospitals, schools, and homes for women, orphans and the aged, and for staffing them. **

Lindsborg's "First Lady," as the George Frideric Handel's Messiah performance organizer

As a married woman, Mrs. Swensson's most lasting cultural contribution, which began as an idea from her husband that they worked on together for a while, would find her owning the project.  This project would be referred to as Lindsborg's and Bethany College's Handel's Messiah performances which have continued into the second decade of the 21st century.  This was due to Mrs. Swensson's using her gifts of becoming a most accomplished organist very early in life, as well as a singer, and her steadfast and meticulous groundbreaking work of organizing a church choral group and patiently teaching its members to sing Handel's sacred music.  Hence, because of her persistent efforts, in 1882, Lindsborg's Bethany Lutheran Church first performed Handel's Messiah in the Smoky Valley on the Great Plains of Kansas. 


In the early years, the choral group grew into a chorus of hundreds which at its peak was over 500 members.  In its growth and development, the chorus would be named the Bethany College Oratorio Society, which for a very long season would attract world renown national and international guest musicians and opera singer soloists to perform for Handel's Messiah's audiences of thousands at Lindsborg's annual Bethany College Holy Easter Week performances, many of which were written about in glowing terms by national newspapers and magazines.  Becuase of the growing crowds, Rev. Dr. Swensson had an auditorium that could hold 4,000 persons built in 1895.  This auditorium was known by a variety of names including the Messiah Auditorium,  the Ling Auditorium, and the Ling Gymnasium.

Lindsborg's "First Lady," emanating genuine, and kind hospitality to all

Yet, the everyday contributions of Mrs. Swensson are those that are simply found in her welcoming countenance of genuine kind hospitality, not just witness by her friends, but by the unknown, the stranger,  who her husband would invite over to their home, not just by a formal invitation, but by bringing company over without any notice!

First and foremost visitors would be new faculty members that she and her husband would entertain.  For the Swenssons, as Ms. Humphrey writes, "shared with them the early vision of making this a college for young people seeking the American dream."  Ms. Humphrey's continues that
Sandzén observed that " 'there was beautiful Christian fellowship in the Swensson home.  Mrs. Swensson was a good wife, mother, and hostess.  Her clear and practical understanding and her good judgment were often an invaluable help to her sanguine husband.  Her abilities, patience, and hospitality were often tested, we may be sure of that.  The benevolent and hospitable Dr. Swensson often brought home unexpected guest to dinner .  . .  Sandzén noted that he witnessed some of these surprises himself, ' and I will testify that Mrs. Swensson was always able to make the best of the situation with cheerfulness and cordiality.  A visit in the parsonage was an unforgettable pleasure, whether one was invited or not.' " ***

Thus, Mrs. Swensson can be remembered as one with "a servant's heart" that shown out to all those who were entertained and spent special moments in the parsonage, such as those students, farmers, pastors, churchmen and church members, Lindsborg citizens and officials; Augustana Synod leaders and Women's Missionary Society members, Swedish American College presidents from other Augustana colleges and Swedish Americans from other states, Swedish ambassadors and top level officials; U.S. governors, senators and representatives; Church of Sweden and Augustana Lutheran Bishops; architects for college building projects and philanthropists for supporting Bethany College.

Of the countless planned gatherings at the Bethany Lutheran Church parsonage hosted by the Swensson with Lindsborg's "First Lady" in charge, these are my favorites: 

That of :

>   the Bethany College president's a
nnual graduates' graduation celebrations with refreshments and farewell wishes finishing with Rev. Dr. Swensson's favorite hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," which would become the unofficial Bethany hymn;

>   the 
June 6, 1892, Augustana Women's Missionary Society founding meeting; 

>   the November 9, 1901, one hundred and fifty (150) guests' dinner for Bethany College's
Jubilee (20th Year) Celebration.  Here the honored guests would be the 
Emissary of His Majesty King Oscar II, Church of Sweden's Right Reverend Bishop and Lady Von Scheele.  Before their 4 day visit was over, the Bishop, on behalf of the Swedish King, would surprisingly decorate Rev. Dr. Swensson with the "Knights of the North Star."****  (This was a very significant and historical moment for the Lindsborg community, and especially for its college, as later years and decades would reveal such Royal Swedish decorations would occur 13 more times with Lindsborg citizens who were part of the Bethany College family.)

(In 1901, Lindsborg had a population of 1,500, according to a Topeka State Journal article on November 14, 1901. Also, according to a
 New York Evening Post article of November 15, 1901, in its report on the Bethany College Jubilee, the college, then, consisted of 40 professors, 800 students, 5 buildings and property valued at $175,000.  The Salina Union, reported "... It [Bethany College] now stands recognized the world over, wherever civilization reigns as the largest school of its kind in the land.  Its diplomas are recognized by Yale, Harvard, Chicago and other leading American and European universities..."  Found in The Yale Alumni Weekly of 1902:  "There are now more graduates from Bethany College in the Yale Graduate School than from any other college [in the nation], Yale excepted) *****

​Other comments on Lindsborg's "First Lady"

More glimpses of who Mrs. Swensson was will now come from
Swedish American Bethany College graduates Mr. Bruce Karstadt and Mrs. Kathleen S. Hurty who read Ms. Humphrey's book.  Their reviews are found on the back of the book cover and are shown below.

>  Minnesota's American Swedish Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Karstadt:

   "Presented here in rich detail is the life of one of Swedish America’s most important leaders, whose contributions have long been overshadowed by those of her more well-known husband. We often overlook the role of women in partnership with their husbands in building communities. This is a striking testimonial to one such remarkable woman – Alma Swensson – without whom Lindsborg, Kansas, would not be what it is today."

>  Pacific Theological Seminary Graduate Teaching Fellow Kathleen S. Hurty:

   "The power of music, the power of storytelling, the power of hospitality – all are the leadership tools used by the creative and competent Alma Lind Swensson. This talented immigrant woman motivated others for cultural enrichment by starting a choral group in the tiny prairie community where she lived. She inspired global commitment and understanding by cofounding a national women’s organization and used her multi–linguistic skills to edit a lively woman’s journal reaching thousands with stories of women in global church leadership. An organist, soloist, teacher, partner in institution – building, mother, gracious home – builder, woman of faith, Alma Lind Swensson is someone you will want to meet through Karen Humphrey‘s delightful story – telling in this well-researched tale –a must read for all who honor and seek to learn from women’s community – building achievements, organizing skills, and generous gifts of hospitality."

Mrs. Humphrey's book on Lindsborg's "First Lady" is still available at Amazon.com.


​Sources:
*     "First Lady" has become my other name for Mrs. Swensson after learning all about her in Ms. Humphrey's book.
​**    Additional information other than from Mrs. Humphrey's book has come from these internet sources:
         -Augustana College news article "Evald Hall: new name, stunning
transformation," September 29, 2008;
         -Rev. Lennart Johnsson's, "The Global Impact of Emmy Evald and the Women’s Missionary Society," Copyright                 2006;
         -Biblia.work:  Encyclopedic
Dictionary of Bible and Theology, "Evald, Emmy Carlsson" (1857-1946)
***   From: Grace, Faith and the Power of Singing, Chapter, "Where Hospitality is Golden," top of page 44
****  
Forget Me Not Annual 1902 [Bethany College yearbook/annual report], pages 107-110 from the chapter
        heading, "Kind Words from the Press." 
         
*     *     * 
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~ restoring lost local histories ~
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