CHRISTINE CLAUSEN WRAPPING COLLECTION
When we reopen in our new space, we will have a room dedicated to the care, management and registration of the Collection. We will also have space to exhibit pieces and rotate what can be viewed - so we all can enjoy the amazing work we have been storing away in flat files. We are super excited to expand our Collection and to have the space to research and exhibit our amazing pieces. But September is still a while away, so in the meantime, I wanted to share a highlight from our Collection, The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler, generously donated by Fran Cochran and Melinda Cochran O’Leary.
IMAGE OF SAMPLER
The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler, circa 1890, was stitched by Fran and Melinda’s great grandaunt, Nina Solberg. Nina was the aunt of their grandmother, Nina Solberg Fry, who inherited the work in 1955. The mystery of where and why the sampler was stitched has been a multiyear investigation for Fran. In fact, investigating and researching this and other items coming from their Lindsborg, Kansas, family home where the sampler was mail to, from Stockholm, Sweden, led to the creation of an entire website of this Swedish American community, a cultural mecca well-known for its artists and internationally acclaimed Bethany College Messiah performances of its early days. It is absolutely fascinating and the Sampler is stunning. You can follow Fran’s journey down the rabbit hole here.
CLOSE UP OF SAMPLER
There has been considerable research concerning this type of needlework from the palaces of Sweden to the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm and to the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) at Hampton Court in England. Browsing the website, you can read email threads from experts, learn the story of Swedish family migration and the history of Fran’s family, an artist and a scientist, and of their contemporaries, in this community founded by Swedes in 1869. This website is a fabulous example of the rabbit hole that collecting can take you down - and the complicated job it is to research, document, and authenticate items. Pure joy for the collector!
JULY NEWSLETTER ARTICLE:
COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT: The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler
One of the unique aspects of SNAD is our very special Collection. The Collection sets us apart in several ways: collection pieces are resources in their own right as well as being valuable for the information they provide about the history and culture they represent; they can be used as teaching tools and are important to research; they create an opportunity for sharing and for experiencing objects from all over the world. The care and maintenance of a Collection can also provide unlimited opportunities for learning: cleaning, mending and preservation is the reason ancient textiles and embroidery exist today.
PRINT DRAWER SHOT
The SNAD Collection consists of handiwork spanning decades, eras, techniques and countries. Most of the items in our collection were donated by folks just like you, people with a love for stitching, embroidery and hand stitched textiles who came by some great examples of a technique, an artist/designer’s work, a beautiful garment or some other treasure, and wanted to share it with others. Collecting is personal, and even with institutional collecting, each collection is unique.
PRINT DRAWER SHOT
Managing and maintaining an institutional collection requires plenty of hard work and a very specific strategy. SNAD has a Collection Committee whose task is to decide what to collect, how to care for the collection and how to manage it. Similar to managing your personal collection, there are all sorts of things to consider: loaning to other institutions, insurance values, database and registration, and how to exhibit the collection or identifying what can be used for teaching and what needs to be protected.
CHRISTINE CLAUSEN WRAPPING COLLECTION
When we reopen in our new space, we will have a room dedicated to the care, management and registration of the Collection. We will also have space to exhibit pieces and rotate what can be viewed - so we all can enjoy the amazing work we have been storing away in flat files. We are super excited to expand our Collection and to have the space to research and exhibit our amazing pieces. But September is still a while away, so in the meantime, I wanted to share a highlight from our Collection, The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler, generously donated by Fran Cochran and Melinda Cochran O’Leary.
IMAGE OF SAMPLER
The Swedish Sohlberg Royal Gold Thread Embroidery Sampler, circa 1890, was stitched by Fran and Melinda’s great grandaunt, Nina Solberg. Nina was the aunt of their great grandmother, Nina Solberg Fry, who inherited the work in 1955. The mystery of where and why the sampler was stitched has been a multi year investigation for Fran. In fact, investigating this became somewhat of a holy grail for her, culminating in an entire website of research of her family, the pieces, and the search. It is absolutely fascinating and the Sampler is stunning. You can follow Fran’s journey down the rabbit hole here.
CLOSE UP OF SAMPLER
There has been considerable research concerning this type of needlework from the palaces of Sweden to the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm and to the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) at Hampton Court in England. Browsing the website, you can read email threads from experts, learn the story of family migration and the history of Fran’s family of artists and scientists. This website is a fabulous example of the rabbit hole that collecting can take you down - and the complicated job it is to research, document, and authenticate items. Pure joy for the collector!
MORE SAMPLER IMAGES
Fran’s provenance research certainly made our work easier, but after we receive a donation, we access it into our collection and do our own version of documentation in our database. This is also the job of our Collection Committee - and a well deservedThank You is in order for all the time they spend with the details of each piece. In an effort to make our Collection accessible to all, we archive our Collection on a public database. Here is a link to the archive on Swedish Sampler.
CLOSE UP OF SAMPLER
Donations to SNAD come in many forms. Some donations are monetary or materials we can repurpose for community outreach projects. We also receive book donations for our Library or to resell in our Shop. But some of our favorite donations are pieces we can add to our Collection. Like The Swedish Sampler, oftentimes these pieces are not just beautiful examples of a bygone era, but carry the legacy of a culture and a family. But don’t be fooled by the age of the Sampler, history is made every 5 minutes and Contemporary pieces are just as important to our Collection. If you are interested in making a Collection donation or in learning more about the Collection Committee, please contact Lisa Coscino.
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RUTH
Before the couple arrived in Lindsborg in 1960, some of her performances as a pianist included the major concert halls in Boston at Symphony Hall; in New York City at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, in Washington, D.C. at Constitution Hall, where the Washington Post's critically acclaimed Paul Hume wrote in 1950, “No better proportions or support has attended choral work on this stage for some time. Her anticipation for the singing is nearly wizardry, and her ability to merge background and interlude without jar or shock, was unusually satisfying." She was also pianist for the choirs at Augustana College and Bethany College and for the visiting soloist during the Easter Holy Week Messiah Festival.
As an accomplished organist, Mrs. Copley served as organist in Illinois at Moline's Calvary Lutheran, First Evangelical Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran Churches and at Rock Island's Saint Johns Lutheran Church; in Minnesota at Minneapolis' Mount Olivet Lutheran Church; in Kansas at McPherson's Trinity Lutheran Church, at Salina's Saint John's Lutheran Church and at Lindsborg's Messiah Lutheran Church.
Dr. Elmer Copley
“a man of gigantic proportion,
Lynnsburg, Kansas Dash 04/03/2012 Dash from the Lynnsburg CBP press announcement
Lynnsburg is host to the longest running performance of handles Messiah in North America. The longest continual conductor of Messiah for all right I’m just wiped out
The longest continual conductor of Messiah for the Bethany oratorio was Dr. Elmer Copley – not true it was Brasi. In a literal sense in a figurative sense, Copley was a large man, standing at 6 feet 6 1/2 inches tall with a colossal wing span which was useful when conducting a grand style oratorio. Beginning in 1960 with the untimely death of Alvin Raymer our EIMER, who was recently selected as a Bethany oratorio society music conductor. Copley agreed to step in just weeks before rehearsal started. With Copley as an emergency replacement, no one believed the legend would be born. New paragraphElmer was born on August 4, 1925. As he grew up in Davenport Iowa, music was not considered part of the equation. He joined the Army at the end of World War II. After serving in the military, he attended Augustana college in Rock Island, Illinois. He did not excel as a business major, but then a change came about; Copley decided to take a risk and become a musician. The rest is artistic and musical history, even though it did take a while to get there.
Copley studied with Dr. Harold veiled at Augustana. He credited valid with the influence in making him the musician he became. Copley also met Ruth Anderson on a choir tour. This was a start of a family family of musicians. After graduating from Augustana he returned to the army for 13 months. During this time, Elmer and Ruth were married on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951 they packed up after his military discharge and move to New York for Copley study at Juilliard school of music from 1952 to 1953 with Bernard Taylor. By then Rebecca, their daughter was born, and Copley was called to teach at Augustana as an assistant to Dr. veiled, his former teacher. He conducted the Augustana seminary chorus from 1953 to 1960.
After the death of Reimer WEIMER, the president of Bethany College contacted Copley and offered him the challenge bringing together a widely very group of talented and person of talent and personalities almost instantaneously. Copley directed the oratorio in grand style with over 400 people in the chorus alone. As time went on, he held he often held auditions for soloist in New York. To seeing as soloist in the Bethany oratorio and the Lynnsburg Messiah festival with Copley conducting was the inspiration of singers in the metropolitan opera, Carnegie Hall and all over the world. Ruth, a musical artist as well was a large part of the Bethany Messiah festival as a pianist for two or more soloist and the Bethany choir during the week. Also, Elmer thought it important to socialize with the soloist and Ruth provided legendary hospitality.
It was not all work and no play, Copley also was in Chi Chi wellness Kiwanis KIWANIS, a bowler, a bridge player, love to travel, and in a gourmet club. He worked promoting the Swedish heritage of Lynnsburg and the community arts Council. Another one of Copley‘s success stories was Broadway RFT. In 1969, the theater troupe was in debt. When asked to Direct, he chose carousel which put them in the black. He went on to direct six other RFT plays and was leading man in several. He also love basketball. His daughter Rebecca said that if Copley needed more male singers in the Bethany choir, he had to the gym and challenged reluctant singers to a game of ball. He would say hi when you sing.
He love people of all walks of life, a true galley Terrian. EGALITARIAN. However, he was serious about music and tough in a good way. He knew how to get the best performance out of the singer, even his own daughter Rebecca who studied with her father at Bethany, and became an international concert/opera singer who has sung too great a claim all over the world, mentions being the festival soloist with her father as a conductor as one of the most marvelous moments in her life.
Dr. Elmer Copley was a big man and always. He lived by his words that music is just notes every year, the message of handles Messiah came alive and knew once again.
Sent from my iPhone
Ruth Maria Copley
March 17, 1924 Dash November 4, 2001
Ruth Copley was born Ruth Marie Anderson on March 17, 1924, at grace hospital, with Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of American parents, Reverend Carl Arthur Andersen and Ruth Maria parentheses Brisbane parentheses Anderson. She died at home on all saints day on all saints Sunday she died at home on All Saints Sunday, November 4, 2001, in Lynnsburg Kansas. She and her family have lived in Lynnsburg since 1960.
Ruth was baptized in Winnipeg where her father was a Lutheran met pastor and later confirmed at first Evangelical Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois, on June 5, 1938 . A graduate of Augustana college, Rock Island Illinois parentheses, where she later was a member of the music faculty, she took graduate studies at east main school of music parentheses Rochester, New York parentheses, studying Oregon with Catherine Crozier Gleason. On Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951, she married Elmer W Copeleigh, Junior., at first Evangelical Lutheran Church In Moline. To this you to this union, a daughter, Rebecca Kathleen was born.
The Copley family moved to Lynnsburg in January 1960, when Elm excepted the position of vocal/Coral professor and the 17th conductor of Bethany college oratorio society. Ruth spent many years as Bethany college music office secretary along with her responsibilities as we pianist for the Bethany choir, for numerous the sire festival guest soloist, as organist for the yearly “an hour of Christmas“Parentheses created and developed by Elm and Ruth as a special gift to the Lindsborg Community and the surrounding area parentheses, as well as intermittently being a member of the music faculty, teaching keyboard studies. “Tilly “was also nurse and adopted “mom “to countless students who needed some special extra care on tour or at home on campus.
And accomplish organist, Ruth began her years “on the bench, in ninth grade – and didn’t Stepped out until the mid 90s tease, the mid 90s when her health forced her to retire. She served as organist at the Mount Ollie all of it Lutheran Church, Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota; Calvary Lutheran, first Evangelical Lutheran Church In Trinity Lutheran Church is in Moline, Illinois; Saint Johns Lutheran Church in rock Island, Illinois; trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, Kansas; Saint Johns Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas; and Messiah Lutheran Church, Lynnsburg, Kansas.
As pianos for the Augustana and Bethany College choirs respectively, she played in major concert halls including Constitution Hall, Washington DC; symphony hall in Boston, Massachusetts; Alice Tally Hall, Lincoln Center,, New York, New York. Critically account claimed Paul Hume of the Washington post wrote of her playing, “no better proportions or support has attended Coral work on the stage for sometime. Her anticipation for the singing is nearly wizardry, and her ability to merge background and Interlude without jar or shock, was unusually satisfying. “Parentheses Constitution Hall 1950 parentheses.
Beside her besides her passion for creating beautiful music, Ruth love to entertain and was well known for her delicious food. Her many varied interests included Books, golf, bowling, bridge, sewing, and antiques. She treasured her family and friends and kept vibrant the traditions of her Swedish ancestry. Through the years, Ruth enjoyed participation for participating in many organizations Dash Galaxy club, Sigma Alpha Toyota parentheses professional music for eternity parentheses, Bethany Dame/exhale library, gourmet club, sewing club, Lansburgh arts Council, Broadway or if Broadway our FD, the burgers and saying memorial gallery, and the Bethany college oratorio society.
A woman of deep and abiding faith she was a member of Bethany Lutheran church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Elmer Copley. Survivors include daughter Rebecca and husband, Don Johnson. Lynnsburg Kansas her brother Reverend Earl Anderson and wife Leona wall port, Oregon; her uncle Earl Brisman and wife Frances Rancho Palos Verdes, California; cousins nieces and nephews.
Sent from my iPhone
March 17, 1924 Dash November 4, 2001
Ruth Copley was born Ruth Marie Anderson on March 17, 1924, at grace hospital, with Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of American parents, Reverend Carl Arthur Andersen and Ruth Maria parentheses Brisbane parentheses Anderson. She died at home on all saints day on all saints Sunday she died at home on All Saints Sunday, November 4, 2001, in Lynnsburg Kansas. She and her family have lived in Lynnsburg since 1960.
Ruth was baptized in Winnipeg where her father was a Lutheran met pastor and later confirmed at first Evangelical Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois, on June 5, 1938 . A graduate of Augustana college, Rock Island Illinois parentheses, where she later was a member of the music faculty, she took graduate studies at east main school of music parentheses Rochester, New York parentheses, studying Oregon with Catherine Crozier Gleason. On Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951, she married Elmer W Copeleigh, Junior., at first Evangelical Lutheran Church In Moline. To this you to this union, a daughter, Rebecca Kathleen was born.
The Copley family moved to Lynnsburg in January 1960, when Elm excepted the position of vocal/Coral professor and the 17th conductor of Bethany college oratorio society. Ruth spent many years as Bethany college music office secretary along with her responsibilities as we pianist for the Bethany choir, for numerous the sire festival guest soloist, as organist for the yearly “an hour of Christmas“Parentheses created and developed by Elm and Ruth as a special gift to the Lindsborg Community and the surrounding area parentheses, as well as intermittently being a member of the music faculty, teaching keyboard studies. “Tilly “was also nurse and adopted “mom “to countless students who needed some special extra care on tour or at home on campus.
And accomplish organist, Ruth began her years “on the bench, in ninth grade – and didn’t Stepped out until the mid 90s tease, the mid 90s when her health forced her to retire. She served as organist at the Mount Ollie all of it Lutheran Church, Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota; Calvary Lutheran, first Evangelical Lutheran Church In Trinity Lutheran Church is in Moline, Illinois; Saint Johns Lutheran Church in rock Island, Illinois; trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, Kansas; Saint Johns Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas; and Messiah Lutheran Church, Lynnsburg, Kansas.
As pianos for the Augustana and Bethany College choirs respectively, she played in major concert halls including Constitution Hall, Washington DC; symphony hall in Boston, Massachusetts; Alice Tally Hall, Lincoln Center,, New York, New York. Critically account claimed Paul Hume of the Washington post wrote of her playing, “no better proportions or support has attended Coral work on the stage for sometime. Her anticipation for the singing is nearly wizardry, and her ability to merge background and Interlude without jar or shock, was unusually satisfying. “Parentheses Constitution Hall 1950 parentheses.
Beside her besides her passion for creating beautiful music, Ruth love to entertain and was well known for her delicious food. Her many varied interests included Books, golf, bowling, bridge, sewing, and antiques. She treasured her family and friends and kept vibrant the traditions of her Swedish ancestry. Through the years, Ruth enjoyed participation for participating in many organizations Dash Galaxy club, Sigma Alpha Toyota parentheses professional music for eternity parentheses, Bethany Dame/exhale library, gourmet club, sewing club, Lansburgh arts Council, Broadway or if Broadway our FD, the burgers and saying memorial gallery, and the Bethany college oratorio society.
A woman of deep and abiding faith she was a member of Bethany Lutheran church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Elmer Copley. Survivors include daughter Rebecca and husband, Don Johnson. Lynnsburg Kansas her brother Reverend Earl Anderson and wife Leona wall port, Oregon; her uncle Earl Brisman and wife Frances Rancho Palos Verdes, California; cousins nieces and nephews.
Sent from my iPhone
