VÄLKOMMEN TO SWEDISH AMERICANA!
SwedishAmericana is a Swedish American educational resource which by its very contents should challenge and encourage Swedish Americans to continue their endeavors to restore, preserve and promote their Swedish American histories and cultures, thus providing a greater and clearer picture of the American Swedish tapestry to future Swedish American generations and to the world-at-large.
The website of SwedishAmericana evolved as a result of an inheritance from a Smoky Valley, Lindsborg, Kansas, Swedish American estate in 1996. As a teenager, I lived in Lindsborg from 1962 to 1968 when fluent Swedish was still spoken there. Here, I was immersed in the Swedishness of the community and was introduced to their Swedish past -- to their Swedish pioneers and to those who followed to build the great little Swedish American city that it continues to be today, known since the early 1960s as "Little Sweden, U.S.A."
As an adult living in my birth state California, I was the fourth, and last, Swedish American generation to own our beautiful Kansas family farmland producing rich abundant crops of wheat and milo complete with its abandoned homestead and ruins of an 1873 stone farmhouse built by Swedes. Soon after the inheritance of 1996, I became a member of the Swedish Club of San Francisco and the Bay Area where many members were, and are, fluent in Swedish. Immersed in their Swedish past -- active in their Swedish traditions, activities and conservation projects, they are also immersed in their Swedish present -- many keeping current with Swedish news, summer travel to Sweden as well as warmly welcoming the Swedish immigrant of today to America.
From these rural and metropolitan Swedish American exposures, I was led to write about my own Kansas Swedish Lindsborg family roots including the "early exciting days" of my Alma Mater -- Lindsborg's Bethany College founded in 1881. Travel to other Swedish American lands occurred in 2009 to Philadelphia and in 2010 to Chicago. In 2016 and 2017 I traveled to Sweden to explore the lands and towns of my maternal great great "Sohlberg" grandparents, and was able to gift the Växjö Swedish Glass Museum with the restored and preserved Sohlberg Portraits painted in Kosta, Sweden in 1867. They were of my great great grandfather Ulric Sohlberg, his wife Antoinette, and children Ernest and Alma when Ulric was the Superintendent of the Kosta Glasbruk Factory, today known as Kosta Boda.*
In 2015 my curiosity further led me to compile a listing of Swedish American institutions, organizations, and establishments found in America. Today, that listing, "a partial list," has become the central focus, the mission, of this website as found in the next section titled “Swedish American Entities,” as it delivers a smorgasbord of Swedish activities found in the United States to browse through for both the established Swedish American and for the Swedish immigrant of today. The sections to follow it are the “Swedish American Stories,” “Swedish News,” “Sweden,” "Contact" and “Other Settlements & Cities.” The "highlighting" of a few key Swedish American cities and small communities appears throughout the website.
May SwedishAmericana expand your knowledge of the early Swedish influence in America and of its influence today; and may it be useful to you, bring you joy, and "shine a light" on Swedish America!
Fran Cochran -- June 6, 2019 -- National Day of Sweden
Research writer website designer of SwedishAmericana and Swedes TheWayTheyWere.
Last Sohlberg Deere family owner in 2011 of the "Old Deere Farm" with its Swede House ruins of 1873, Lindsborg, KS.
5th generation Swedish American Sohlberg descendant of Lindsborg, Kansas, resident from 1962-1968
San Francisco Bay Area resident since 1968
The website of SwedishAmericana evolved as a result of an inheritance from a Smoky Valley, Lindsborg, Kansas, Swedish American estate in 1996. As a teenager, I lived in Lindsborg from 1962 to 1968 when fluent Swedish was still spoken there. Here, I was immersed in the Swedishness of the community and was introduced to their Swedish past -- to their Swedish pioneers and to those who followed to build the great little Swedish American city that it continues to be today, known since the early 1960s as "Little Sweden, U.S.A."
As an adult living in my birth state California, I was the fourth, and last, Swedish American generation to own our beautiful Kansas family farmland producing rich abundant crops of wheat and milo complete with its abandoned homestead and ruins of an 1873 stone farmhouse built by Swedes. Soon after the inheritance of 1996, I became a member of the Swedish Club of San Francisco and the Bay Area where many members were, and are, fluent in Swedish. Immersed in their Swedish past -- active in their Swedish traditions, activities and conservation projects, they are also immersed in their Swedish present -- many keeping current with Swedish news, summer travel to Sweden as well as warmly welcoming the Swedish immigrant of today to America.
From these rural and metropolitan Swedish American exposures, I was led to write about my own Kansas Swedish Lindsborg family roots including the "early exciting days" of my Alma Mater -- Lindsborg's Bethany College founded in 1881. Travel to other Swedish American lands occurred in 2009 to Philadelphia and in 2010 to Chicago. In 2016 and 2017 I traveled to Sweden to explore the lands and towns of my maternal great great "Sohlberg" grandparents, and was able to gift the Växjö Swedish Glass Museum with the restored and preserved Sohlberg Portraits painted in Kosta, Sweden in 1867. They were of my great great grandfather Ulric Sohlberg, his wife Antoinette, and children Ernest and Alma when Ulric was the Superintendent of the Kosta Glasbruk Factory, today known as Kosta Boda.*
In 2015 my curiosity further led me to compile a listing of Swedish American institutions, organizations, and establishments found in America. Today, that listing, "a partial list," has become the central focus, the mission, of this website as found in the next section titled “Swedish American Entities,” as it delivers a smorgasbord of Swedish activities found in the United States to browse through for both the established Swedish American and for the Swedish immigrant of today. The sections to follow it are the “Swedish American Stories,” “Swedish News,” “Sweden,” "Contact" and “Other Settlements & Cities.” The "highlighting" of a few key Swedish American cities and small communities appears throughout the website.
May SwedishAmericana expand your knowledge of the early Swedish influence in America and of its influence today; and may it be useful to you, bring you joy, and "shine a light" on Swedish America!
Fran Cochran -- June 6, 2019 -- National Day of Sweden
Research writer website designer of SwedishAmericana and Swedes TheWayTheyWere.
Last Sohlberg Deere family owner in 2011 of the "Old Deere Farm" with its Swede House ruins of 1873, Lindsborg, KS.
5th generation Swedish American Sohlberg descendant of Lindsborg, Kansas, resident from 1962-1968
San Francisco Bay Area resident since 1968
Go HERE to "Swedish American Entities"
(and to a Philadelphia Swedish American story)
(and to a Philadelphia Swedish American story)
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" H I G H L I G H T I N G "
Lindsborg
(a Swedish American story)
In the midst of the beautiful Smoky Valley located on the Great Plains of Kansas was established a little Swedish American settlement known as Lindsborg in 1869 by a small group of pietistic Christian immigrants from the Värmland region of Sweden who were led there by twenty-eight-year-old Pastor Olof Olsson, who in that same year would found the Lindsborg Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethany Church.
In 1881, the Bethany Lutheran Academy, today's Bethany College, was founded by twenty-four-year-old Swedish American Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson; and, with his wife Alma Christina Lind, in 1882, they would commence the annual (ongoing) Easter performance of the Messiah. This sacred music was destined to attract thousands of patrons, international opera stars and musicians to Lindsborg. To that was added an 'art movement' begun by Swedish artists, the art professors of Bethany College including Sweden's renown Artist Anders Zorn's student Sven Birger Sandzén, which would create a unique Swedish American cultural mecca.
A sister city to the Swedish Värmland city of Munkfors since 1991, Lindsborg celebrated its 150th Founding Anniversary along with its first church, Bethany Lutheran Church, which was also celebrating its founding of 1869. There, their faithful Swedish American descendants, the churches, the College, the schools, and others continue to carry on the Swedish legacy and traditions so well established in the early years by Swedes with surnames like Anderson, Bergin, Brase, Carlson, Olsson/Deere, Dahlsten, Elmquist, Esping, Grafstrom, Gröndal, Jaderborg, Johnson, Larson, Lindquist, Lotave, Lungstrom, Malm, Nelson, Olson, Olsson, Palmquist, Peterson, Pihlblad, Sandzén, Soderstrom, Sundstrom, Swenson, Swensson, Thorsen, Thorstenberg, and Udden; and, also, by non-Swedes with surnames like Abercrombie and Shields; and much later Holwerda.
As the Bethany College Swedish and Swedish American leaders and professors' imperative from those early years was "Framåt" for "Forward," so, too, have we heard decades later familiar and confident words in the lagom manner like this in 2012 from former Mayor Don Anderson, "Lindsborg has found balance between the past and the future, yet is always striving forward and never forgetting where we began." **
For A Story of the Founding of Lindsborg, 1869, go HERE.
For "LINDSBORG'S 150TH CELEBRATION during 2019 Hyllningsfest see the photographs below. This biennial Swedish pioneer festival was originally organized by Dutchman Dr. William Howerda in 1941.
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In 1881, the Bethany Lutheran Academy, today's Bethany College, was founded by twenty-four-year-old Swedish American Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson; and, with his wife Alma Christina Lind, in 1882, they would commence the annual (ongoing) Easter performance of the Messiah. This sacred music was destined to attract thousands of patrons, international opera stars and musicians to Lindsborg. To that was added an 'art movement' begun by Swedish artists, the art professors of Bethany College including Sweden's renown Artist Anders Zorn's student Sven Birger Sandzén, which would create a unique Swedish American cultural mecca.
A sister city to the Swedish Värmland city of Munkfors since 1991, Lindsborg celebrated its 150th Founding Anniversary along with its first church, Bethany Lutheran Church, which was also celebrating its founding of 1869. There, their faithful Swedish American descendants, the churches, the College, the schools, and others continue to carry on the Swedish legacy and traditions so well established in the early years by Swedes with surnames like Anderson, Bergin, Brase, Carlson, Olsson/Deere, Dahlsten, Elmquist, Esping, Grafstrom, Gröndal, Jaderborg, Johnson, Larson, Lindquist, Lotave, Lungstrom, Malm, Nelson, Olson, Olsson, Palmquist, Peterson, Pihlblad, Sandzén, Soderstrom, Sundstrom, Swenson, Swensson, Thorsen, Thorstenberg, and Udden; and, also, by non-Swedes with surnames like Abercrombie and Shields; and much later Holwerda.
As the Bethany College Swedish and Swedish American leaders and professors' imperative from those early years was "Framåt" for "Forward," so, too, have we heard decades later familiar and confident words in the lagom manner like this in 2012 from former Mayor Don Anderson, "Lindsborg has found balance between the past and the future, yet is always striving forward and never forgetting where we began." **
For A Story of the Founding of Lindsborg, 1869, go HERE.
For "LINDSBORG'S 150TH CELEBRATION during 2019 Hyllningsfest see the photographs below. This biennial Swedish pioneer festival was originally organized by Dutchman Dr. William Howerda in 1941.
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Endearing Photographs of the 2019 Hyllningsfest
"Courtesy of the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau"
The Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Director and the 2019 Svensk Hyllningsfest Queen and King
Memorializing Lindsborg's Swedish Immigrants
is
Lindsborg's Järnkors
(Lindsborg's Iron Cross or Life Tree).
is
Lindsborg's Järnkors
(Lindsborg's Iron Cross or Life Tree).
"When we speak of it in English, we say 'singing leaves.' " -- Alf Brorson
Used in place of headstones, this Scandinavian tradition was very common in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was used in Värmland, Sweden, home to many Lindsborg Swedish immigrants.
The "singing leaves" of Lindsborg was forged from iron and designed by Lindsborg local artist and blacksmith Brian Holdsworth.
Find a Järnkors information source HERE.
Used in place of headstones, this Scandinavian tradition was very common in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was used in Värmland, Sweden, home to many Lindsborg Swedish immigrants.
The "singing leaves" of Lindsborg was forged from iron and designed by Lindsborg local artist and blacksmith Brian Holdsworth.
Find a Järnkors information source HERE.
END OF
Endearing Photographs of the Festivities
"Courtesy of the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau"
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Endearing Photographs of the Festivities
"Courtesy of the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau"
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2017 Svensk Hyllningsfest -- Courtesy of Emily Writer of Kansas University
Lindsborg: "Where Culture and Agriculture Meet"
Quote from Howard Lincoln in "The Spur" -- Source: "Pioneer Swedish-American Culture in Central Kansas" by Ruth Billdt, 1965.
Swedish Folk Art by Lindsborg's Shirley Malm of the 2009 Lindsborg "Old Iron Bridge" over the Smoky River
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go below to
Lindsborg's
" A Destination for all Seasons "
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Narrated in 2012 by former Mayor Don Anderson, 1989-2001
go below to
Lindsborg's
" A Destination for all Seasons "
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Narrated in 2012 by former Mayor Don Anderson, 1989-2001
Bethany Lutheran Church
Founded August 19, 1869
Celebrating 150 Years
Courtesy: soloroadtrip.com
For information on the founding of Bethany Lutheran Church in 1869, go HERE.
Church Founder Pastor Olof Olsson
Värmland Swedish immigration party leader to settle in Lindsborg and founder of the Bethany Lutheran Church in 1869. Recognized as the Founder of Lindsborg but in actuality the Chicago-based Swedish Agricultural Land Company founded the town and gave it the name of Lindsborg on February 20, 1869. Pastor Olsson arrived on June 27, 1869.
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For Lindsborg's "14" -- Go HERE to Bethany College Swedish Knights & Honored Ladies
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For Lindsborg's "14" -- Go HERE to Bethany College Swedish Knights & Honored Ladies
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Remnants of Lindsborg's Perishing Way of Swedish American Life
Remnants of Lindsborg's Perishing Way of Swedish American Life
1882 Swedish Bethany College Academy Building
- This was Bethany College's most significant building. For the story, go HERE.
Today, it is identified as Lindsborg's "First School House" -- the Bethany Academy sign was removed in 2013.
Moved from the Bethany College Campus in 1969 to the McPherson County Old Mill Museum Heritage Park.
For the 1882 Swedish science professor curators' Bethany College Museum
Pioneer Life, Natural History, and Taxidermy Collections since 1966, go Here.
The Lindsborg McPherson County Old Mill Museum housing Bethany College collections since 1966.
For the 1904 Swedish Pavilion gift from Sweden to Lindsborg and Bethany College, go HERE.
For early 20th century photographs of Bethany College buildings and more, start HERE.
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** Source: Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Emory Lindquist's 1975, "Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college"
** Source: Fourth Swedish American Bethany College President Emory Lindquist's 1975, "Bethany in Kansas, the history of a college"
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SwedishAmericana
~ restoring, preserving and promoting Swedish American histories & cultures ~
~ sharing the Swedish American tapestry with all ~
All color photography throughout SwedishAmericana is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since 2015 to 2023 www.swedishamericana.org All rights reserved.
SwedishAmericana
~ restoring, preserving and promoting Swedish American histories & cultures ~
~ sharing the Swedish American tapestry with all ~
All color photography throughout SwedishAmericana is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since 2015 to 2023 www.swedishamericana.org All rights reserved.
