Scientist Emil O. Deere
Swensson's "Bethany College Museum," 1882 - 1966
First Swedish teacher professor of Bethany College Johan August Udden founded the Bethany College Natural History Museum in 1882. [For those who do not understand what a "Natural History Museum" is, go HERE to the Smithsonian's National Musuem of Natural History]
Two years later he founded the Linnean Association in 1884. Later it was referred to as the Linnean Society of Science. It was named after the famous Swedish botanist, Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778) and its purpose was to promote interest in scientific knowledge among its members and to encourage them to collect specimens for the museum. First college president Dr. Edward Nelander (1855-1915) was the leader of the Society, and founder professor Udden was the corresponding secretary.
A self-taught geologist and gifted scientist, this first Museum curator would lay a firm and visionary foundation for that institution's growth to be ensured by its successor curators. These were the curators during the Swensson era of the college from 1881 to 1904.
Two years later he founded the Linnean Association in 1884. Later it was referred to as the Linnean Society of Science. It was named after the famous Swedish botanist, Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778) and its purpose was to promote interest in scientific knowledge among its members and to encourage them to collect specimens for the museum. First college president Dr. Edward Nelander (1855-1915) was the leader of the Society, and founder professor Udden was the corresponding secretary.
A self-taught geologist and gifted scientist, this first Museum curator would lay a firm and visionary foundation for that institution's growth to be ensured by its successor curators. These were the curators during the Swensson era of the college from 1881 to 1904.
Udden Westlund Welin
1882 - 1888 1888 - 1891 1891 - 1908
Deere
1908 - 1966
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- Bethany College Museum Earliest Collectors - *
Johan August Udden, Dr. John Rundstrom, Professor Lindholm, Otto Hawkinson, George Sohlberg,
Luther Dahlsten, A. Agrelius, Oscar Hubbard, Luther Swenson, Hugo Jacobson, David Bjorn, J. A. Anderson
- Bethany College Museum Earliest Collectors - *
Johan August Udden, Dr. John Rundstrom, Professor Lindholm, Otto Hawkinson, George Sohlberg,
Luther Dahlsten, A. Agrelius, Oscar Hubbard, Luther Swenson, Hugo Jacobson, David Bjorn, J. A. Anderson
Four years after Swensson's death in 1908, Emil O. Deere, became the curator for 58 years until his death in 1966, the year of which he was preparing the College Museum natural history and pioneer collections for their move to the Old Mill Museum. His former student and taxidermist, Dr. Leon Lungstrom, took over Deere's duties and helped the other two science professors Dr. Glenn Bellah and Christian Swenson move the collection later on in 1966.
At its end, in its preparation for the move, the Bethany College Museum inventory was over 5,000 items which would be added to the 500 items at the McPherson County Old Mill Museum. The College Museum contribution would be substantial for the County Museum, for a future opportunity for it, to "stand out," to become, in the words of County Museum Director Tib Anderson, "...one of the finest museums of this kind in the mid-west!"
Dr. Lungstrom continued to help at the Old Mill Museum into the mid 1980s when his, another professor and Lindsborg citizen co-directorship positions were taken over by a new director in 1984. In 2019, questions were asked of the director and curator/archivist in an email and a repeat email, if there had been any "college interest" meaning from college staff and or professors, in the Museum since the mid '80s. There was no answer to these emails.
Therefore, the assumption is that there has not been any substantial interest in the College collections, by the College, especially in the natural history collection, for about 2 1/2 decades. Of that collection, it is important to note that since 1966, most of the taxidermy exhibits remained intact in the main room of the museum until 2021. In August of that year due to a transfer of ownership from McPherson County to a nonprofit, these taxidermy exhibits were all removed in the fall by the new owner of the now, "Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum."
In 1926, after Swensson, a pioneer history collection was added to the natural history museum, --- more to come
At its end, in its preparation for the move, the Bethany College Museum inventory was over 5,000 items which would be added to the 500 items at the McPherson County Old Mill Museum. The College Museum contribution would be substantial for the County Museum, for a future opportunity for it, to "stand out," to become, in the words of County Museum Director Tib Anderson, "...one of the finest museums of this kind in the mid-west!"
Dr. Lungstrom continued to help at the Old Mill Museum into the mid 1980s when his, another professor and Lindsborg citizen co-directorship positions were taken over by a new director in 1984. In 2019, questions were asked of the director and curator/archivist in an email and a repeat email, if there had been any "college interest" meaning from college staff and or professors, in the Museum since the mid '80s. There was no answer to these emails.
Therefore, the assumption is that there has not been any substantial interest in the College collections, by the College, especially in the natural history collection, for about 2 1/2 decades. Of that collection, it is important to note that since 1966, most of the taxidermy exhibits remained intact in the main room of the museum until 2021. In August of that year due to a transfer of ownership from McPherson County to a nonprofit, these taxidermy exhibits were all removed in the fall by the new owner of the now, "Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum."
In 1926, after Swensson, a pioneer history collection was added to the natural history museum, --- more to come
As of August 1, 2021,
there is a new owner of these College collections,
the "Natural History" one including the large taxidermy collection
was placed in storage,
per Executive Director, November 18, 2021*
there is a new owner of these College collections,
the "Natural History" one including the large taxidermy collection
was placed in storage,
per Executive Director, November 18, 2021*
* * *
Rev. Dr. Swensson was very proud of this Professor's Udden collection
and had its story included in the
1902 Bethany College Annual, "FORGET-ME-NOT."
* * *
Bethany College Museum Professor Udden's
American Indian Cliff Dweller Pottery Collection
- part of his collection of 300 items -
Rev. Dr. Swensson was very proud of this Professor's Udden collection
and had its story included in the
1902 Bethany College Annual, "FORGET-ME-NOT."
* * *
Bethany College Museum Professor Udden's
American Indian Cliff Dweller Pottery Collection
- part of his collection of 300 items -
Source: "FORGET-ME-NOT," The Annual of Bethany College, 1902
Article from the 1902 Forget - Me - Not,
written by
Bethany College
Founder President Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
written by
Bethany College
Founder President Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson
Source: "FORGET-ME-NOT," The Annual of Bethany College, 1902
"The museum, which was largely the result of his [Deere's] efforts, has no peer among the mid-western Liberal Arts colleges."
-- Carl Swenson's, January 11, 1966
-- Carl Swenson's, January 11, 1966
Dr. Lungstrom's Book with a chapter on the Museum
For that chapter click below:
dr._leon_lungstrom_on_the_bethany_college_museum.pdf
Download File
or
go HERE
to its transcription.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the total story on this Swedish American Bethany College Museum, go HERE to
Their 1882-1966 "Bethany College Museum" ~ The Natural History and Pioneer Collections.
Go HERE for The 1966 Bethany College Museum Collections Move to the Old Mill Museum ~ Dr. Lungstrom's Role
Go HERE for Articles on the Bethany College Museum Collections Move of 1966 & 1976
Go HERE for Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections to 1966
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For that chapter click below:
dr._leon_lungstrom_on_the_bethany_college_museum.pdf
Download File
or
go HERE
to its transcription.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the total story on this Swedish American Bethany College Museum, go HERE to
Their 1882-1966 "Bethany College Museum" ~ The Natural History and Pioneer Collections.
Go HERE for The 1966 Bethany College Museum Collections Move to the Old Mill Museum ~ Dr. Lungstrom's Role
Go HERE for Articles on the Bethany College Museum Collections Move of 1966 & 1976
Go HERE for Deere's Swensson's Bethany College Museum Collections to 1966
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* * *
"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.
