INSIDE SANDZÉN This feature, highlighting a discovery relating to Sandzén from the archives, will be periodically updated on the website and is planned for each issue of Gallery Notes.

Two recently filed letters in the Sandzén Archives detail Swedish-American Christmas celebrations as well as the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration for Birger and Alfrida Sandzén.

In the first letter, written to Evelyn Sheets (Mrs. David) Harms on January 13, 1951, Alfrida Sandzén describes the Sandzén Christmas as well as their celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary on November 28, 1950, along with the eighth anniversary of the marriage of their daughter Margaret and Pelham Greenough. Highlights of this eight-sheet letter follow:

We had a nice Christmas-kept up the old Swedish traditions of "Dip in the kettle" at noon Christmas Eve day and the "Lutfisk, potatoes and rice pudding" for the evening meal. As long as my father and mother lived they had the "broth kettle," but now Margaret has overtaken it [taken it over]. We always go to my Aunt Agnes [Engstrom's] in McPherson for Christmas dinner.
Our meeting Santa Claus with his many gifts is over at Margaret's and Pel's. Of course, Santa Claus always manages to have all the presents in their gay "trappings" placed under the tree before we arrive. Maybe, he manages to come down the chimney while we are eating our "lutfisk" over here?
Did you know Birger and I celebrated our Golden wedding anniversary the 28th of November? It was Margaret's and Pel's 8th anniversary. Margaret had a delicious dinner for us with only a few of our more intimate friends, the table being seated for 12. . . . On Thanksgiving day, a few days earlier. . . friends in Wichita had a big celebration for us. Birger and I feel we have been singularly blessed through these years. Birger is still able to go on with his beloved painting and drawing. He has painted many of his coast motifs from California. Just today he painted a delightful little water-color from Monterey.

Pelham Greenough, husband of the Sandzén's daughter, Margaret, in a letter to his parents, dated December 20, 1942, describes his first Christmas in Lindsborg. He and Margaret had had a busy week, which included "three different groups for [of] singers at our door singing Christmas carols. The first two were not so hot but the third and last group was fine. The second group of small boys we invited into our house. We made the great mistake of not asking them to wipe their feet-result -our house looked as if an army had marched through it. . .
"My Christmas eve and Christmas Day will be quite different from any I have experienced before. This is what we are going to do--: (As M[argaret] says, "What we are going to go through")--: At noon Christmas Eve Dec. 24th we have the Sandzén's and Mr. Leksell (M's grandfather) and Oscar Thorsen over to our house to eat the Swedish traditional noon meal of slowly cooked meats and a meat bouillon in which we dip bread which is especially made for the occasion. After the meal we shall have to do the dishes (as usual) and then we, Margaret and I, shall go to the Sandzéns' studio about 4 p.m. There we light the tree and many candles and then have our presents. After our presents have been opened we go to the Sandzén house where we'll have Christmas coffee. Later on in the evening of Dec. 24th we have the traditional Swedish Christmas Eve fish dinner. I'm told I won't like the fish [lutfisk], but I'll try it anyway. After the dinner (of just M's family) we sing some carols and then to bed.
"Christmas morning M. and I get up at 5:30 or earlier to go to church with the Sandzéns and Mr. Leksell. Then at nine o'clock we go to the Swansons for Christmas breakfast. They are old friends of the Sandzéns. After we have had breakfast Margaret and I shall come to our little house and we have our own little party and open presents from you all and a few of our small presents we are getting each other. The breakfast at the Swansons will be so large or rather so good and hearty that we won't need any lunch. About 3 p.m. we go to McPherson where we and Mr. and Mrs. Sandzén will have our Christmas dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Engstrom, M's Great-Uncle and Aunt. So after all these meals and everything plus the presents I know we'll like, Christmas Day and Eve look rather strenuous. It's nothing like any I've had before and so I thought you'd be interested to know what I'd be doing."

Additional excerpts from these two letters, as well as excerpts from two other letter, including one written December 30, 1942, to her in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Greenough 2nd, in California, are available in the Fall issue of Gallery Notes, distributed to all current members of the Sandzén Gallery.

Gallery Notes is distributed to all Gallery members four times a year. New members who want to begin with the Spring 2003 issue, with its lengthy additional articles on Henry Varnum Poor as well as other Gallery information, should make a special note of it on their membership forms. A copy will be sent as long as supplies last. Research visitors and requests are always welcome at the Gallery Archives.

Inside Sandzen (2003 summer edition)
Inside Sandzen (2003 spring edition)
Inside Sandzen (2003 winter edition)
Inside Sandzen (2002 edition)
Inside Sandzen (2001 edition)
Inside Sandzen (2000 edition)
Inside Sandzen (1999 edition)
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