Also last week at the museum, we received a small batch of vintage images from Betty Lenzine, all related to her Swedish immigrant ancestors and their descendants. Included were two photographs of First Lutheran Church confirmation classes.
The newer of the two (above), of the 1926 class, includes Betty's mother --- Hazel (Voss) Moon. Everyone in the photograph is identified in a hand-written note attached to the back. They are (first row from left) Donald Norberg, Rudolph Carlson, Pastor Carl E. Lundgren, Claire Lindquist and Vernon Carlson; (second row from left) Gertrude Johnson, Vera Johnson, Hazel Voss Moon, Clara Johnson Arnold, Mildred Lindquist, Elsa Swanson (Jack Johnson) and Signe Larson.
I was especially interested in this photograph because it contains Signe Elizabeth Larson, a young woman born deaf who developed as an adult into one of America's most widely known devotional artists. Her 1933-34 drawing, "Thy Kingdom Come," was perhaps the most widely copied and circulated image of Jesus until after 1941, when Walter Sallman produced his saccharine "Head of Christ," This copy of Miss Larson's drawing hangs at First Lutheran.
I've written before about Signe (1908-1993) and you can find that blog post here. Signe's family, when she was confirmed, belonged to a mission congregation of First Lutheran that served Swedish families who lived in the western Monroe County mining camps of Haydock, Bucknell and Consol.
I think the second (and larger) confirmation class photo dates from 1898, it is not dated nor are any of the confirmands identified. With a little research, I may be able to figure out at least the year. We'll see.
This is one of most beautifully composed and executed photos of its type I've seen and it is in near-pristine condition, save a small water stain on its backing card. Unfortunately, the photographer did not leave his maker mark on it so we don't know who took it either.
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