Scientist Emil O. Deere
Miss Lucy J. Osgood Mrs. Hannah Swensson Mrs. Marie Swensson Miss Addie Covell Olof Grafström Carl Lotavé Birger Sandzén
Swensson's Swedish Artists of the 1890s
<> Their Legacy Art Community <>
Lindsborg to this day is a draw for artists to settle there and practice their craft. Due to Swedish American Bethany College founder and second president Dr. Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson, a decade after the founding of Bethany College, he ensured that his students would have the opportunity to freely express themselves through art if they so desired.
Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Dr. Emory Lindquist writes on Swensson's art program in its infancy, in his 1975 book, Bethany In Kansas, the history of a college, on pages 175 and 177 with the following:
"Art in the Bethany curriculum traces its origin to the academic year 1890-91. A statement in the catalogue introduced it as follows: 'In this department scholars may obtain instruction in drawing, crayon work, oil and watercolor painting . . . . It will be the aim of the teacher to give a critical knowledge of the principles of light and shade, accuracy in outline, and the use of color. A class in sketching can be organized, if any demand is made for it, also composition from original subjects for advanced pupils.' Miss Lucy J. Osgood was the first art teacher. Twelve students were enrolled. The classes in art attracted forty-four students in three classes during the next year. Mrs. Hannah Swensson, teacher in painting, and Mrs. Marie Swensson, teacher in crayon work, joined Miss Osgood. In 1892-93 Addie Covell is listed as the only art teacher for forty-seven students.
"An art exhibition was held at commencement in 1892. The enthusiasm of Carl Swensson for this new department is reflected in an article in Hemlandet, June, 1892, the weekly Swedish newspaper published in Chicago: 'We must say some words about the art department at Bethany College. The exhibition is indeed excellent. Miss Lucy Osgood's exhibits consist of no less than twenty-five [25] splendid oil paintings. Mrs. Hannah Swensson and Mrs. Marie Swensson show in the other departments forty-two [42] beautiful proofs of crayon work and oil and we may add that the results seem surprising.'
"The art program had been so well established that Olof Grafström, a well-known artist, joined the faculty in September, 1893. Grafström had achieved a good reputation as a painter on the West Coast. Swedish born, he had studied painting at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm. He emigrated to the United States in 1886, living in Oregon, Washington, and California. He became known for his landscape and altar paintings, creating about 200 of the latter. He was a fine teacher and painter at Bethany until he resigned in 1897 to join the faculty of Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. Birger Sandzén, after describing Grafström's excellent work as a painter, observed: 'Anyone who knows Grafström personally cannot but like him for he is a true friend, a generous colleague and a fine gentleman.' "
Following Grafström, Swensson's chosen art professors for Bethany College would be Swedish born Carl Gustafson Lotavé and finally Sven Birger Sandzén. For more on these artists, go HERE to Lydia's Art Professor Sandzén, 1871-1954, or for information on Lydia's Art, 1919-1938, go HERE.
Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Dr. Emory Lindquist writes on Swensson's art program in its infancy, in his 1975 book, Bethany In Kansas, the history of a college, on pages 175 and 177 with the following:
"Art in the Bethany curriculum traces its origin to the academic year 1890-91. A statement in the catalogue introduced it as follows: 'In this department scholars may obtain instruction in drawing, crayon work, oil and watercolor painting . . . . It will be the aim of the teacher to give a critical knowledge of the principles of light and shade, accuracy in outline, and the use of color. A class in sketching can be organized, if any demand is made for it, also composition from original subjects for advanced pupils.' Miss Lucy J. Osgood was the first art teacher. Twelve students were enrolled. The classes in art attracted forty-four students in three classes during the next year. Mrs. Hannah Swensson, teacher in painting, and Mrs. Marie Swensson, teacher in crayon work, joined Miss Osgood. In 1892-93 Addie Covell is listed as the only art teacher for forty-seven students.
"An art exhibition was held at commencement in 1892. The enthusiasm of Carl Swensson for this new department is reflected in an article in Hemlandet, June, 1892, the weekly Swedish newspaper published in Chicago: 'We must say some words about the art department at Bethany College. The exhibition is indeed excellent. Miss Lucy Osgood's exhibits consist of no less than twenty-five [25] splendid oil paintings. Mrs. Hannah Swensson and Mrs. Marie Swensson show in the other departments forty-two [42] beautiful proofs of crayon work and oil and we may add that the results seem surprising.'
"The art program had been so well established that Olof Grafström, a well-known artist, joined the faculty in September, 1893. Grafström had achieved a good reputation as a painter on the West Coast. Swedish born, he had studied painting at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm. He emigrated to the United States in 1886, living in Oregon, Washington, and California. He became known for his landscape and altar paintings, creating about 200 of the latter. He was a fine teacher and painter at Bethany until he resigned in 1897 to join the faculty of Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. Birger Sandzén, after describing Grafström's excellent work as a painter, observed: 'Anyone who knows Grafström personally cannot but like him for he is a true friend, a generous colleague and a fine gentleman.' "
Following Grafström, Swensson's chosen art professors for Bethany College would be Swedish born Carl Gustafson Lotavé and finally Sven Birger Sandzén. For more on these artists, go HERE to Lydia's Art Professor Sandzén, 1871-1954, or for information on Lydia's Art, 1919-1938, go HERE.
- By Hilding Jaderborg, Student of Birger Sandzén -
Source: Bing Images
* * *
"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.
