Bethany College Founder

FOUNDER OF BETHANY COLLEGE 1881

From Hilda's Album[1]

Who's Who

Left to right:

1. Leona Margaret Arndt (1909-1997)?
2. Hilda Ida Brunken (1906-1946)
3. Unidentified.
4. Unidentified.
5. Unidentified.
6. Unidentified.
7. Unidentified.

Story

Touring Bethany College[2]. The picture was taken in front of a statue of the Founder of Bethany College..

In Front of Old Main[3]

After the death of college founder Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson in 1904, funds were raised for this statue which was sculpted in Italy. The life-sized statue was originally placed in front of Old Main, then moved to the west edge of campus, and finally to its current home, atop a fountain in front of Presser Hall at the south entrance.[3]

In front of Presser Hall 

The top of the Old Main building can be seen sticking out above the trees in the photo from Hilda's album[1].

Bethany College Old Main[3]

Old Main served the college and its students between 1886 and 1968.  The five story structure at one time was the tallest building between Kansas City and Denver. [3]

Date

Circa 1926.

Location

Lindsborg, Kansas - Bethany College

Notes

1. Scanned on December 14, 2014 from a picture album prepared by Hilda Ida Brunken.
2. "Swedish-Lutheran settlers worked with the Rev. Dr. Carl A. Swensson, Bethany’s founder, to establish Bethany Academy on October 15, 1881, in the sacristy of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, Kan. Ten students attended the first class." Downloaded December 14, 2014 from Swedish Heritage http://www.bethanylb.edu/about-bethany/heritage/
3. Down loaded December 14, 2014 from http://www.lindsborghistory.org/lindsborgschools.html
4. Downloaded December 14, 2014 from SMOKY VALLEY HISTORICAL PHOTO TOUR ~ PHOTO GALLERY http://www.lindsborghistory.org/phototour.html