"The Other Swedes"
Recognizing their Folklife Institute's "Swedish-American Heritage Center," 1996
Recognizing their Folklife Institute's "Swedish-American Heritage Center," 1996
Nearly finishing a decade of successful endeavors, Swedish-American Folklife Institute of Central Kansas Director Mark Esping and Mardel Esping made plans for a much needed "public space" of its own which they would name the Swedish-American Heritage Center.
Their plan was laid out in an article of the Spring-Summer 1996 Destination Lindsborg found on page 30 as presented below.
It was prefaced first with:
A black and white illustration of planted fields of Kansas farmland
with accompanied text which reads:
Folklife Institute of Central Kansas then In the business of preservation of all forms of folklife!
Their plan was laid out in an article of the Spring-Summer 1996 Destination Lindsborg found on page 30 as presented below.
It was prefaced first with:
A black and white illustration of planted fields of Kansas farmland
with accompanied text which reads:
Folklife Institute of Central Kansas then In the business of preservation of all forms of folklife!
The article:
"The Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, located in Lindsborg, has been instrumental in the re-awakening of the importance of folk art and folklife in the Smoky Valley region.
"They have sponsored internationally known experts in a variety of arts and crafts to either lecture, hold classes or exhibit their works in the community. Their first woodworking exhibition brought about a renewed interest in the local craftsmen who had heretofor been known only to their family or friends.
"Their research into the different types of ljuskrona, or paper wrapped candelabra used by the early Swedes in the area, was a huge success. A traveling exhibit displayed not only those made in the U.S. but others from Sweden.
"Most recently the Institute has been instrumental in collecting works of local artists, living and dead, to be exhibited in the Leksand, Sweden Cultural Center in keeping with the “Jubilee 1996” being observed both in Sweden and America. It is a celebration of the ‘immigrants and emmigrants.
"Folklife Institute of Central Kansas has purchased an historic building in Lindsborg, Kansas for the purpose of folklife and art preservation. The Institute has provided successful programs on folklife in schools, for teachers, and students; elderhostels, workshops taught by master artists, traveling exhibitions and Swedish folk craft workshops in knife making and woodworking, collections of oral histories and much more. The time has come for them to expand their efforts and move into permanent housing.
The building will provide space for:
This project will require:
"Built in 1906, the Folklife’s building has been a U. S. Post Office, City Hall and jail. Most recently it was headquarters for a rural electrification business. $53,000 for 6,000 sq ft. of space is fair market value… but the renovations will be extensive and expensive.
"To date, the Institute has depended upon volunteers, grants and donations to keep the many and varied programs provided to the public. Folklife Institute of Central Kansas is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, founded in 1989, dedicated to research, preserve and present the Folklife of Kansas.
"For information on how to assist in this first-ever fundraising effort for the Folklife Institute of Central Kansas write: Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, 118 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS. 67456 or call (913) 227-2007 and leave a message. Your call will be returned by our volunteers."
"The Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, located in Lindsborg, has been instrumental in the re-awakening of the importance of folk art and folklife in the Smoky Valley region.
"They have sponsored internationally known experts in a variety of arts and crafts to either lecture, hold classes or exhibit their works in the community. Their first woodworking exhibition brought about a renewed interest in the local craftsmen who had heretofor been known only to their family or friends.
"Their research into the different types of ljuskrona, or paper wrapped candelabra used by the early Swedes in the area, was a huge success. A traveling exhibit displayed not only those made in the U.S. but others from Sweden.
"Most recently the Institute has been instrumental in collecting works of local artists, living and dead, to be exhibited in the Leksand, Sweden Cultural Center in keeping with the “Jubilee 1996” being observed both in Sweden and America. It is a celebration of the ‘immigrants and emmigrants.
"Folklife Institute of Central Kansas has purchased an historic building in Lindsborg, Kansas for the purpose of folklife and art preservation. The Institute has provided successful programs on folklife in schools, for teachers, and students; elderhostels, workshops taught by master artists, traveling exhibitions and Swedish folk craft workshops in knife making and woodworking, collections of oral histories and much more. The time has come for them to expand their efforts and move into permanent housing.
The building will provide space for:
- Archives
- Folk art classes
- Seminars
- Presentations
- Genealogy information
- Apprenticeships
- Folk art classes
- Oral histories
- Exhibit preparations
- Meeting rooms
This project will require:
- Concrete archival area below ground
- Water impervious
- Temperature control
- Sewer, water, wiring plumbing and roof brought up to code.
- Acquisition of video, audio and up-to-date desktop equipment.
"Built in 1906, the Folklife’s building has been a U. S. Post Office, City Hall and jail. Most recently it was headquarters for a rural electrification business. $53,000 for 6,000 sq ft. of space is fair market value… but the renovations will be extensive and expensive.
"To date, the Institute has depended upon volunteers, grants and donations to keep the many and varied programs provided to the public. Folklife Institute of Central Kansas is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, founded in 1989, dedicated to research, preserve and present the Folklife of Kansas.
"For information on how to assist in this first-ever fundraising effort for the Folklife Institute of Central Kansas write: Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, 118 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS. 67456 or call (913) 227-2007 and leave a message. Your call will be returned by our volunteers."
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Later, in early 1997, this article appeared in the LNR.
Later, in early 1997, this article appeared in the LNR.
The Swedish-American Heritage Center Building Fund continues to grow. Dean Anderson (right) is shown presenting a check in the amount of $640 to Mark Esping, director of the Folklife Institute of Central Kansas, to add to the fund for purchasing the former REC Building, which they plan to turn into a Swedish-American Heritage Center.
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In time, both the programs at the Institute and work on establishing the Swedish-American Heritage Center ceased unfortunately due to outside issues requiring long-term commitments. From the cultural side of looking back on these developments, although not apparent then, the losses for Lindsborg and for Bethany College may have been significant regarding cultural sustainability concerns which would only multiply in the future.
In the late 1980s, through the Institute's and Center's founding members, Lindsborg had been on the cutting edge of meeting some of these concerns head-on. In this rural setting, they were way ahead of the pack. For Dr. Swenson and Mr. and Mrs. Esping could be looked upon there as pioneers and scholars in this new discipline. In 2020, the study of cultural sustainability issues and the solutions to resolving them is now a well-established discipline that is being utilized all over the world from diverse ethnic groups, found in both rural and metropolitan populations. Many of these groups have been taken under the wing of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage where ethnic advocacy can be found. This, in turn, provides guidance for solutions to each of the dire cultural sustainability issues at hand.
Headquartered in Swedish Lindsborg, the Swedish-American Folklife Institute was a one-of-a-kind rural Institute serving a rural ethnic population that distinguished itself by having such a significant national and international reach. It had not only become a hub for Swedish folklife endeavors in Central Kansas, in a broader sense it could have possibly served some of the folklife cultural needs of Swedish Americans living in the bordering states of Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma and the "almost" bordering states of Wyoming, Iowa, Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico.
The works of the Institute will not be forgotten as they had made themselves known across the country and in Sweden. Their seeds had been planted in good soil which produced an abundant harvest in the past! They may very well produce another abundant harvest in the future!
Finally and appropriately are these closing words by the Director:
"I believe that the fact that we received two National Endowments for the Arts Folklife Grants has never been accomplished by another venue with a population of 3000 people. Other than specific jobs to fulfill the requirements of the grants there was NO remuneration for any of The Folklife Institute’s staff or directors.”
--- Mark Esping
In the late 1980s, through the Institute's and Center's founding members, Lindsborg had been on the cutting edge of meeting some of these concerns head-on. In this rural setting, they were way ahead of the pack. For Dr. Swenson and Mr. and Mrs. Esping could be looked upon there as pioneers and scholars in this new discipline. In 2020, the study of cultural sustainability issues and the solutions to resolving them is now a well-established discipline that is being utilized all over the world from diverse ethnic groups, found in both rural and metropolitan populations. Many of these groups have been taken under the wing of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage where ethnic advocacy can be found. This, in turn, provides guidance for solutions to each of the dire cultural sustainability issues at hand.
Headquartered in Swedish Lindsborg, the Swedish-American Folklife Institute was a one-of-a-kind rural Institute serving a rural ethnic population that distinguished itself by having such a significant national and international reach. It had not only become a hub for Swedish folklife endeavors in Central Kansas, in a broader sense it could have possibly served some of the folklife cultural needs of Swedish Americans living in the bordering states of Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma and the "almost" bordering states of Wyoming, Iowa, Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico.
The works of the Institute will not be forgotten as they had made themselves known across the country and in Sweden. Their seeds had been planted in good soil which produced an abundant harvest in the past! They may very well produce another abundant harvest in the future!
Finally and appropriately are these closing words by the Director:
"I believe that the fact that we received two National Endowments for the Arts Folklife Grants has never been accomplished by another venue with a population of 3000 people. Other than specific jobs to fulfill the requirements of the grants there was NO remuneration for any of The Folklife Institute’s staff or directors.”
--- Mark Esping
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SOURCES:
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.
~ 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.
