"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Dr. Leon G. Lungstrom's
"Societies on the College Campus Associated with Mathematics and Natural Sciences"
[AKA "Natural Science and Mathematics Clubs]
chapter transcription
pages 39-46
"Societies on the College Campus Associated with Mathematics and Natural Sciences"
[AKA "Natural Science and Mathematics Clubs]
chapter transcription
pages 39-46
"The Linnean Society of Science was formed in 1900. It probably had a connection with an earlier organization formed during the early existence of the Bethany Academy, known as the Linnean Association, which was closely linked with the early development of the school museum.
"During the fall of 1900 a number of students and the faculty from the scientific department of Bethany College met for the purpose of discussing the advisability of effecting an organization specifically adapted to the needs of those devoting their efforts towards gaining a scientific education. The results of the deliberations of those present at the meeting was the organization of the Linnean Society of Science, and the weekly meetings of this society were filled with activity and interest from the very beginning. During its years of existence this society was active in its purpose of promoting a love for science, scientific thought and literature, as well as developing the scientific departments and collections at Bethany. A number of members did much good work from year to year, both individually and collectively. The efforts have been instrumental in the preservation of and addition to the scientific collections, and in stimulating interest in science and scientific progress in general.
"Membership in the Linnean Society of Science was open to all instructors and students who were interested in any phase of science. The society held regular meetings weekly during the school year for years after its formation. At each of these meetings a program was rendered consisting of one or two papers or discussion on some scientific subject, and for shorter reports on scientific topics of the day. Several of the papers and discussions presented on these programs were on original topics and research. Alumni and former students who had engaged in scientific work were on several occasions featured on the programs and gave interesting and instructive reports of their work. The Linnean Society of Science was an integral part of the department of sciences and, to those who had a love for science, it served as a medium for communication and mutual incentive to the students who were devoting their time and energy to different phases of a common cause. Entertainments with popular as well as more technical lecturers were sometimes given under the auspices of the Linnaean Society of Science.
"This organization played an important role for many years in the natural sciences at Bethany College. Perhaps the greatest cause of its decline in later years was the establishment of other science organizations limited to more specific areas of natural science and mathematics. The Linnean Society without question achieved its greatest importance under the leadership and influence of two dedicated scientists, Dr. John Eric Welin and Dr. Emil O. Deere. No doubt some evidence of apathy towards clubs among faculty and students that followed these two outstanding men could also have been a contributing factor in the decline and death of the Linnean Society of Science on the Bethany campus.
"In more recent years attempts to resurrect this organization to its former importance were not successful. Failure to maintain this honorable society, named after this great Swedish botanist Carl Von Linnaeus, was a loss. This organization should have continued as a valuable forum for interesting and educational seminars and presentation of research by members and visiting scholars presented to all, whether they be biologists, chemists, physicists or whatever. Interdisciplinary contact is very important, and the Linnean Society should have continued for added opportunity for such contacts.
"The mathematics club was organized in 1921. The purpose of the organization was to promote interest in the study of mathematics, to aid in obtaining more definite ideas of the meaning and uses of mathematics in modern life, to determine the relationship of mathematics to other fields of learning, and to show the great scope of future development of mathematics. At meetings, questions and problems not ordinarily discussed in the classroom were studied together with papers concerning mathematics and its related fields.
"During 1964, the organization was expanded to include students and faculty from the Physics Department, and became known by the name "Mathematics and Physics Club." Greater emphasis upon the teaching of physics became apparent by the mid 1950s. The teaching of physical sciences, which affected physics, declined at Bethany during World War II due to loss of faculty to the war and decline in student enrollment. This trend reversed itself after the war with the return of faculty and an increase in student enrollment. A physics major was offered in 1955. However, a national trend of fewer students going into physics followed, which also affected Bethany and resulted in the major in physics being discontinued in 1975. Later the students had an option of getting a contract major in physics. Due to the leadership and capability of Christian Swenson and S. N. Devanathan, stability and enhanced quality of instruction in this area has continued to this present day. [1990]
"In 1984 the Mathematics and Physics Club expanded to include computer science, and the name was again changed to become Von Neumann Club. This change in name was carried out to honor a man, a professional mathematician and physicist who also dealt with computers. The area of computer science has grown rapidly within recent years, with a degree program in computers now offered at Bethany. The Von Neumann name was adopted because of the new edition of computer science in the Bethany College curriculum.
"The Beta Chapter of the national honorary chemical fraternity, Theta Chi Delta, was established on the Bethany College campus January 12, 1925. The Bethany chapter was a charter member of the organization. The purpose of this fraternity was to promote continued study of chemistry as presented in the college curriculum and to encourage high scholarship. Membership was open to students pursuing credible work in advanced chemistry and to members of the faculty and alumni who applied their knowledge of chemistry in their work.
"In time other organizations such as the American Chemical Society were competing with this organization for membership. Due to a continued decline in membership, a meeting on the national level was held at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, on May 1, 1953, to discuss this problem. At this meeting Bethany College was represented by Verlyn Lindell, Bill Swenson, Ivan Nordin and Leon Lungstrom. All representatives at the meeting agreed that if the decline within the organization could not be corrected that it would be dissolved in one year as a national organization. After Theta Chi Delta ceased to function as a national organization, it continued on the Bethany campus as a local honorary society in chemistry for a number of years.
"A chapter of the American Chemical Society was established on the Bethany campus during the 1954-1955 academic year, and continued co-existing with Theta Chi Delta, which now existed only as a local organization. During 1986 the Biology Club joined with the chemists to form a new combined club called the Bio-Chem Club, which is now a fairly large organization. This club meets on an informal basis and plans fieldtrips which are both educational and enjoyable.
"The Home Economics Club, called Omicron Omicron Sigma as recorded in the college catalogue, existed during the 48th through 50th academic years (1928-1931). It was a club for fellow workers in home economics and was an organization for students and home economics with the purpose of creating an interest in the application of art and science to the home. The organization held meetings twice a month.
"The Kansas Eta Chapter social science honor society of the Pi Gamma Mu National Science Honor Society was formed on the Bethany campus in 1931 with a membership of students, alumni and faculty members. The purpose and objective of the organization was to cultivate high scholastic attainment and development of a high sense of responsibility for the application of scientific method to the study of society and social problems in the fields of sociology, economics, political science, law, history, ethics, religion, philosophy, psychology, education and biology. This organization is no longer in existence on the Bethany campus.
"The Beta Chapter of Lambda Sigma, a national biological honorary society, was established Saturday evening, March 27th, 1937, in the banquet room in the basement of Old Main at a dinner served by Mrs. John Altenborg. The Bethany chapter was a chapter member of this organization, whose object was to promote interest in the study of biological science and to perpetuate the memory of the great biologist Carl Von Linnaeus. Membership was open to students doing creditable work in advance biology and to members of the faculty and alumni engaged in biological work.
"The students initiated at this first meeting where George Lann, Phranea Boline, Harold Edberg, June Lorre, Wendell Holt, Margaret Norlin, Ruth Gibson, and Leon Lungstrom. This established this club remained the official biological club until the establishment of a chapter of the American Institute of Biological Science on the Bethany campus, which had a membership fee. Membership provided certain professional privileges, including a bulletin issued several times a year with information and references important to both the students and faculty. However, students objected to the membership fee which they felt was more than many of them could afford. A new club called the Biology Club was formed which had no outside affiliation or fees other than the fees imposed by the club members themselves. This club continued until it merged with a similar organization in chemistry during 1986 and became the Bio-Chem Club.
"Faculty members of the six ACCK schools, (Sterling College, Bethel College, Tabor College, McPherson College, Bethany College and Kansas Wesleyan University) who were members of the Sigma Xi chapter in a state university held a meeting and agreed that they would request the national office of Sigma Xi Research Society for permission to organize a Sigma Xi Club. This request was granted, and an organizational meeting was held October 4, 1967, on the Bethany College campus, with a charter granted by the national office. The Bethany College faculty members who transferred their membership from the state university too this newly organized club were Arvin Hahn, Joe L. Hermanson, and Leon Lungstrom.
"After maintaining this club for several years, the members realized that their professional responsibilities were demanding to the extent that it was difficult to continue this organization with the high standards the members wanted to maintain. At a meeting called to determine the feasibility of continuing this club as an ACCK organization, the members voted to disband and return the charter to the national office. After the club was dissolved, each member became free to join one of the chapters of the Sigma Xi in a state university.
"During the fall of 1900 a number of students and the faculty from the scientific department of Bethany College met for the purpose of discussing the advisability of effecting an organization specifically adapted to the needs of those devoting their efforts towards gaining a scientific education. The results of the deliberations of those present at the meeting was the organization of the Linnean Society of Science, and the weekly meetings of this society were filled with activity and interest from the very beginning. During its years of existence this society was active in its purpose of promoting a love for science, scientific thought and literature, as well as developing the scientific departments and collections at Bethany. A number of members did much good work from year to year, both individually and collectively. The efforts have been instrumental in the preservation of and addition to the scientific collections, and in stimulating interest in science and scientific progress in general.
"Membership in the Linnean Society of Science was open to all instructors and students who were interested in any phase of science. The society held regular meetings weekly during the school year for years after its formation. At each of these meetings a program was rendered consisting of one or two papers or discussion on some scientific subject, and for shorter reports on scientific topics of the day. Several of the papers and discussions presented on these programs were on original topics and research. Alumni and former students who had engaged in scientific work were on several occasions featured on the programs and gave interesting and instructive reports of their work. The Linnean Society of Science was an integral part of the department of sciences and, to those who had a love for science, it served as a medium for communication and mutual incentive to the students who were devoting their time and energy to different phases of a common cause. Entertainments with popular as well as more technical lecturers were sometimes given under the auspices of the Linnaean Society of Science.
"This organization played an important role for many years in the natural sciences at Bethany College. Perhaps the greatest cause of its decline in later years was the establishment of other science organizations limited to more specific areas of natural science and mathematics. The Linnean Society without question achieved its greatest importance under the leadership and influence of two dedicated scientists, Dr. John Eric Welin and Dr. Emil O. Deere. No doubt some evidence of apathy towards clubs among faculty and students that followed these two outstanding men could also have been a contributing factor in the decline and death of the Linnean Society of Science on the Bethany campus.
"In more recent years attempts to resurrect this organization to its former importance were not successful. Failure to maintain this honorable society, named after this great Swedish botanist Carl Von Linnaeus, was a loss. This organization should have continued as a valuable forum for interesting and educational seminars and presentation of research by members and visiting scholars presented to all, whether they be biologists, chemists, physicists or whatever. Interdisciplinary contact is very important, and the Linnean Society should have continued for added opportunity for such contacts.
"The mathematics club was organized in 1921. The purpose of the organization was to promote interest in the study of mathematics, to aid in obtaining more definite ideas of the meaning and uses of mathematics in modern life, to determine the relationship of mathematics to other fields of learning, and to show the great scope of future development of mathematics. At meetings, questions and problems not ordinarily discussed in the classroom were studied together with papers concerning mathematics and its related fields.
"During 1964, the organization was expanded to include students and faculty from the Physics Department, and became known by the name "Mathematics and Physics Club." Greater emphasis upon the teaching of physics became apparent by the mid 1950s. The teaching of physical sciences, which affected physics, declined at Bethany during World War II due to loss of faculty to the war and decline in student enrollment. This trend reversed itself after the war with the return of faculty and an increase in student enrollment. A physics major was offered in 1955. However, a national trend of fewer students going into physics followed, which also affected Bethany and resulted in the major in physics being discontinued in 1975. Later the students had an option of getting a contract major in physics. Due to the leadership and capability of Christian Swenson and S. N. Devanathan, stability and enhanced quality of instruction in this area has continued to this present day. [1990]
"In 1984 the Mathematics and Physics Club expanded to include computer science, and the name was again changed to become Von Neumann Club. This change in name was carried out to honor a man, a professional mathematician and physicist who also dealt with computers. The area of computer science has grown rapidly within recent years, with a degree program in computers now offered at Bethany. The Von Neumann name was adopted because of the new edition of computer science in the Bethany College curriculum.
"The Beta Chapter of the national honorary chemical fraternity, Theta Chi Delta, was established on the Bethany College campus January 12, 1925. The Bethany chapter was a charter member of the organization. The purpose of this fraternity was to promote continued study of chemistry as presented in the college curriculum and to encourage high scholarship. Membership was open to students pursuing credible work in advanced chemistry and to members of the faculty and alumni who applied their knowledge of chemistry in their work.
"In time other organizations such as the American Chemical Society were competing with this organization for membership. Due to a continued decline in membership, a meeting on the national level was held at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, on May 1, 1953, to discuss this problem. At this meeting Bethany College was represented by Verlyn Lindell, Bill Swenson, Ivan Nordin and Leon Lungstrom. All representatives at the meeting agreed that if the decline within the organization could not be corrected that it would be dissolved in one year as a national organization. After Theta Chi Delta ceased to function as a national organization, it continued on the Bethany campus as a local honorary society in chemistry for a number of years.
"A chapter of the American Chemical Society was established on the Bethany campus during the 1954-1955 academic year, and continued co-existing with Theta Chi Delta, which now existed only as a local organization. During 1986 the Biology Club joined with the chemists to form a new combined club called the Bio-Chem Club, which is now a fairly large organization. This club meets on an informal basis and plans fieldtrips which are both educational and enjoyable.
"The Home Economics Club, called Omicron Omicron Sigma as recorded in the college catalogue, existed during the 48th through 50th academic years (1928-1931). It was a club for fellow workers in home economics and was an organization for students and home economics with the purpose of creating an interest in the application of art and science to the home. The organization held meetings twice a month.
"The Kansas Eta Chapter social science honor society of the Pi Gamma Mu National Science Honor Society was formed on the Bethany campus in 1931 with a membership of students, alumni and faculty members. The purpose and objective of the organization was to cultivate high scholastic attainment and development of a high sense of responsibility for the application of scientific method to the study of society and social problems in the fields of sociology, economics, political science, law, history, ethics, religion, philosophy, psychology, education and biology. This organization is no longer in existence on the Bethany campus.
"The Beta Chapter of Lambda Sigma, a national biological honorary society, was established Saturday evening, March 27th, 1937, in the banquet room in the basement of Old Main at a dinner served by Mrs. John Altenborg. The Bethany chapter was a chapter member of this organization, whose object was to promote interest in the study of biological science and to perpetuate the memory of the great biologist Carl Von Linnaeus. Membership was open to students doing creditable work in advance biology and to members of the faculty and alumni engaged in biological work.
"The students initiated at this first meeting where George Lann, Phranea Boline, Harold Edberg, June Lorre, Wendell Holt, Margaret Norlin, Ruth Gibson, and Leon Lungstrom. This established this club remained the official biological club until the establishment of a chapter of the American Institute of Biological Science on the Bethany campus, which had a membership fee. Membership provided certain professional privileges, including a bulletin issued several times a year with information and references important to both the students and faculty. However, students objected to the membership fee which they felt was more than many of them could afford. A new club called the Biology Club was formed which had no outside affiliation or fees other than the fees imposed by the club members themselves. This club continued until it merged with a similar organization in chemistry during 1986 and became the Bio-Chem Club.
"Faculty members of the six ACCK schools, (Sterling College, Bethel College, Tabor College, McPherson College, Bethany College and Kansas Wesleyan University) who were members of the Sigma Xi chapter in a state university held a meeting and agreed that they would request the national office of Sigma Xi Research Society for permission to organize a Sigma Xi Club. This request was granted, and an organizational meeting was held October 4, 1967, on the Bethany College campus, with a charter granted by the national office. The Bethany College faculty members who transferred their membership from the state university too this newly organized club were Arvin Hahn, Joe L. Hermanson, and Leon Lungstrom.
"After maintaining this club for several years, the members realized that their professional responsibilities were demanding to the extent that it was difficult to continue this organization with the high standards the members wanted to maintain. At a meeting called to determine the feasibility of continuing this club as an ACCK organization, the members voted to disband and return the charter to the national office. After the club was dissolved, each member became free to join one of the chapters of the Sigma Xi in a state university.
Dr. Lungstrom's informative narrative is a rare work and very important for the cultural history of Bethany College's earliest history. To add to its rareness, the Bethany College Archives reports that it has only two (2) copies in a September 25, 2017, email.
**Courtesy of Mrs. Leon (Linda) Lungstrom to share her husband's work, January 31, 2016.
**Courtesy of Mrs. Leon (Linda) Lungstrom to share her husband's work, January 31, 2016.
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate 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 Celebrate 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.
