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 ~
​

Remembering their Lindsborg's 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 to be named 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!
Picture
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:
  • 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.  
Picture
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 community setting for 3000, they were way ahead of the pack.  For, in retrospect, Dr. Swenson and Mr. and Mrs. Esping could be looked upon today as pioneers and scholars in this new discipline.  We live in a world now where 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 and support is 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 grown into providing guidance to some of the folklife cultural needs of Swedish Americans living in the bordering states of Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma, and even "the almost" bordering states of Wyoming, Iowa,  Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico, had there been the needed funding and professional support and guidance behind it.
​
The Swedish cultural heritage contributions 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 and it may still, in some form and some way, 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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Picture
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.
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