Most letters from the decade of the 1900s are in Swedish. The following is a translation prepared for Dr. Emory Lindquist as part of his research for his biography of Birger Sandzén. This letter, like many in the Sandzén Archives, refers to events at Bethany College in Lindsborg, as well as to family and art. Specific references are to the Messiah Festival concerts and art exhibition (with a list of paintings by Sandzén and Carl G. Lotave, also an early art teacher at Bethany), a "musical evening," and Birger's wife of a little over five months.
Four other letters may be found in the Gallery Notes for Spring 2000. These were written by Birger and Alfrida Sandzén, William Allen White, and Senator Arthur Capper.

Lindsborg, May 3, 1901

Dearest Dad:

. . . . The Messiah-concerts were very successful and well attended, in spite of the bad weather. Our display [The Midwest Art Exhibition] in the art building was excellent. From Lotave, who visited us during Easter week and stayed with us, we had the loan of a remarkable portrait and an excellent genre painting, "de gamla gruvarbetarna" [The Old Miners]. Among others I had "Kristus den gode herde" [Christ the Good Shepherd], a large altar painting, and "Kristus och Petrus" [Christ and Peter], a somewhat smaller altar painting, further a couple of Mexican landscapes, [and] a large seascape, "Före stormen" [Before the Storm], which caught on well. I will soon send home reproductions of some paintings.

Last night Professor Laurin [professor of piano at Bethany College] had a musical evening in chapel. The program was put on by his best students. Oscar Thorsén showed more artistic glow than the others and seemed to strike the public the most . . . . Oscar is diligent and good and develops greatly as a musician. . . .

Frida is damp dusting the first floor. She is so thorough in everything and besides she is happy and talkative, a real ray of sunshine in the home.

More next time.

Dad's Birger

Birger Sandzén in his studio circa 1930, Gallery Archives photograph.