PT Barnum Brings Jenny Lind to America…

Home , Barnum (musical), Jenny Lind, Rebecca Ferguson

Vol. 37, No. 2 Summer 2018 P.T. Barnum Brings Jenny Lind to America…Again by Katie Callam

“The Jenny Lind mania still continues, of the New-York Daily Tribune, Barnum like a snow ball, which – crescit eundo – claimed that his true intent was to grows larger as it rolls.” – “Jenny Lind in expose the country to a magnificent the Metropolis,” The New York Herald, artist: September 5, 1850 “… I assure you that if I knew I should not realize a farthing profit, I would yet With the success of the recent movie ratify the engagement, so anxious am I musical The Greatest Showman (released that the United States shall be visited December 2017), interest in Swedish by a lady whose vocal powers have soprano Jenny Lind (1820-1887), “still never been approached by any other continues” today as it did in 1850. human being, and whose character Rebecca Ferguson (who, like Lind, was is charity, simplicity and goodness born in Stockholm) plays the opera star personified.” coaxed to the United States by the legendary showman P.T. Barnum, played Almost immediately, the publicity by Hugh Jackman. In a departure from Barnum generated began to feed off of the historical record, Ferguson’s Lind itself. “The all-absorbing topic in the falls for the married Barnum, setting up a saloon, the hotel, and the family circle is central conflict in the film. Though some the distinguished stranger [Lind],” noted reviews of The Greatest Showman one newspaper. When she arrived in New were tepid, audiences embraced the York for her first set of concerts, crowds upbeat, pop-heavy soundtrack and stampeded and concerts quickly sold family-friendly story. The movie-Lind’s out. Lind was the darling of the press, power ballad “Never Enough,” written by with her movements in any given city Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, claims many reported across the country. “Lind YouTube covers and was performed by mania” spread beyond the east coast contestants on the most recent seasons when she performed in cities including of NBC’s The Voice and ABC’s American New Orleans, Memphis, Madison, and Idol. Despite its popularity, the film might Cincinnati. leave viewers wondering: why has Lind’s star power endured to the present? And Historians have pointed to Lind’s how did she become a cultural impeccable reputation and charitable phenomenon in the first place? giving as factors in her mass appeal: she was a woman of the stage who In the U.S., the phenomenon began with nevertheless embodied her Christian Barnum. Following a ten-year career faith. During the eight months she toured singing leading roles in opera houses with Barnum, Lind reportedly donated across Europe, the so-called “Swedish upwards of ten thousand dollars to Nightingale” had retired in 1848. But the charities including the New York City Fire profit-minded showman convinced her Department Fund and several orphan to undertake an American concert tour. asylums. In a February 20, 1850 letter to the editor

continued on page 2 Connecting Cultures and Community P.T. Barnum Brings Jenny Lind to America…Again continued from front cover

Of course, Lind’s personality was only one purchased by or for young, white, middle- Note from factor: there was also her voice, with its class women to sing at home. Today, major wide range and beautiful tone in its high collections of “Lindiana” are held at the the Director register. By contrast, Lind’s musical number ASHM, the New-York Historical Society, and in The Greatest Showman, “Never Enough” Stanford University. Summer has a much different feeling (sung by Loren Allred), is in a lower range at the museum than the other seasons than would have been comfortable in Lind’s As Lind did not live into the era of recording of the year. In some respects, it seems voice and its musical style is very different technology, her voice can now only be heard quiet. We have fewer events on the from nineteenth-century opera repertory. where memory and imagination intersect: calendar, fewer school children on the After her first Boston concert, one paper did perhaps the unknowableness of her voice is premises, and most of the time, no new not even attempt to describe Lind’s voice: part of its allure. exhibitions opening. But it in actuality, “Vain – lunatic would it be – to attempt to it is not a quiet time at all, as we see an describe the qualities of Jenny Lind’s voice. Watching The Greatest Showman, we do not uptick in visitors on weekdays, and the The soul felt every trill of her melodious hear what nineteenth-century audiences utterance – the whole air seemed to vibrate would have heard. But we do, in a way, get a few events that we do have-Swedish with her sweet and astonishing eloquence.” taste of their experience. The film, writes the National Day, Midsommar, Smörgåsbeer Guardian’s Caspar Salmon, “though hokey and Crayfish are big celebrations! It is The memory of Lind’s tour – of her and trite at its core […] offers a genuine rush actually our busiest time of year for our personality and her voice – was kept alive in of spectacle and wonder.” With its help, we educational programs—it’s just that the decades after her 1852 return to Europe too can leave the theater excited by – they are off-site at libraries across our through both objects and music. The perhaps even humming – the songs tri-state area. And, of course, weddings, seemingly endless array of Lind-inspired we just experienced. weddings, weddings (37 between May knick-knacks produced in the 1850s have and October!). Behind the scenes, each lived on in museum collection: figurines, Katie Callam is completing her PhD in historical musicology at Harvard University. Her dissertation staff member is busy with something, cups and saucers, medals, cigar boxes, and glass bottles, to name but a few. Lind’s explores how music history was crafted during the early whether it is wrapping up the closing of twentieth century in the United States and includes a the fiscal year, planning for the next repertoire ended up in thousands upon thousands of parlors during the nineteenth chapter on the Jenny Lind centennial celebrations of 1920. series of exhibitions, or for putting plans century in the form of sheet music, often in place for the upcoming year’s programs and activities. accompanied by Julia Sjöstedt. An original As I reflect on the upcoming summer, I Hear the Work of piece written for Lind, entitled “Jenny Lind’s hear each activity as its own instrument Greeting to America” has been located at creating the rhythms and hum of a tune Jenny Lind Live: the University of Pennsylvania, in the Keffer punctuated by bursts of sound and joy, Collection of the Kislak Center at the moving in and out. Music is a language, The 2018 Jenny Lind Scholar, University Library. The 2018 Jenny Lind but the beauty of it is that you don’t have Kine Sandtrø Performs at Swedish scholarship winner, Kine Sandtrø to know the language in the technical Gloria Dei Church on has been asked to sing this as a part of her sense to understand and enjoy it! It June 8th, 2018 concert. Since the original Jenny sang at this speaks to our spirits, bypassing our church in 1850, it will be the first time this music has been heard in 168 years! minds. That’s why music is such an accessible way to bridge cultures, too. The June 8th concert at Old Swedes Church This summer’s newsletter, and several in South Philadelphia is a benefit for the of our summer activities revolve around Gloria Dei Historic Preservation Trust and music. I hope you will consider the Augustana Institute. Kine is a student at introducing some of your friends to the Royal School of Music in Stockholm and the museum this summer through the won a national contest to tour America. Her music. accompanist is Julia Sjöstedt who studies at the Academy of Music in Stockholm. Both young women will present a varied program of Nordic folk music and Opera arias in the near-perfect acoustics of Pennsylvania’s oldest church. See the calendar of events for ticket information. Tracey Beck The music of Jenny Lind will be brought back live and in person at a very special concert at Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s) Church on the evening on Friday, June 8th, with Norwegian soprano, Kine Sandtrø, as the 2018 Jenny Lind Scholar and will be 2 WinterSummer 2012-13 2018 || Vol.Vol. 30,37, No. 24

New on View A new painting was installed on the ASHM’s Lie’s paintings quickly drew attention, balcony in early May. Dr. Kirsten Jensen, a appearing in hundreds of shows and even in collector of Scandinavian art, loaned a the Oval Office during Franklin Roosevelt’s massive painting by Norwegian-American presidency. Despite Lie’s critical acclaim artist Jonas Lie. This painting, The Fleet, in America, Norway’s mountains and seas depicts a Norwegian fjord and fishing boats remained the artist’s greatest inspiration. in an ethereal, impressionistic style. Child of a Norwegian father and American Even while painting the coasts of New mother, Lie immigrated to the U.S. in 1893. England, Lie noted that “the keys and After several years of schooling, he began chords and harmonies of my work come designing calico shirts at a New York cotton from the North.” Lie’s paintings transport mill to support his family. Lie’s years at the viewers to ethereal memories of the artist’s cotton mill and intermittent lessons formed homeland. the backbone of his art education. He did not pursue painting full-time until 1906.

New Faces at ASHM The Museum has had several new staff Hampus Öberg, Ann Charlotte Storer, members join us (or who are about to join Marketing Assistant Gift Shop Manager us!) in 2018. We hope that you will have a chance to meet them soon and welcome Hampus was born and Born in Sweden, Ann them to the community! raised in Stockholm, Charlotte moved abroad Sweden and will be joining almost 20 years ago to live Elin Karlsson, the Museum as our new and work in the small marketing trainee! He is a country of Luxembourg in Weekend Manager recent graduate from the the center of Europe. After Elin moved to South Jersey Stockholm School of Economics, with meeting her husband, their family of four from Sweden in mid-2015 masters’ degrees in finance and eventually moved to the Philadelphia area in after a quick stop in international management. One of 2009. Her early career was in the financial California. The move to the Hampus’s biggest passions is photography, and banking world, but she has more East Coast was the result and he has been running his own portrait recently started working as a translator, as of her husband being accepted to medical and wedding photography business for she always loved languages. She translates school in the area. She became acquainted several years alongside his university material from English into Swedish and is with the American Swedish studies. Growing up he would spend the fascinated by the importance that language Historical Museum through a Google summers sailing in the Stockholm has in our society, and how it develops search, which quickly led to a few archipelago or hiking and picking berries in and changes all the time. Ann Charlotte is visits and then involvement in both the forests of northern Sweden, which has excited to work as the Gift Shop Manager Midsommarklubben and Smörgåsbeer. turned into a love for the outdoors. He is and hopes to keep the shop full of fun and She is about to graduate from Camden looking forward to becoming a part of the interesting products that relate to Sweden County College with an Associate’s Degree ASHM community and participating in all and Scandinavia! in Languages and International Studies and the Swedish traditional celebrations hopes to continue her studies in political at the museum! science later this fall. Mabel Rosenheck, Weekend Manager Mabel Rosenheck is a writer and historian who lives in South Philly and works at the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Her writing has appeared in The Toast, Vice Sports, the Mad Men, Mad World anthology, and elsewhere. She has a PhD from Northwestern University in media and cultural studies.

Connecting Cultures and Community 3 To Register For Events call 215-389-1776, or visit online at Upcoming Events and Registration Info www.americanswedish.org/calendar.htm

There is always something going on at the Concert with 2018 Jenny Lind Scholar, Summer Concert- OSKAR STENMARK TRIO American Swedish Historical Museum. See Kine Sandtrø Friday, August 3rd, 6:30pm-8:00pm below for scheduled events. Please check Friday, June 8th, 7:30pm Head over to ASHM for a free summer evening At Gloria Dei Church (Old Swede’s), concert on the Terrace. The OSKAR STEMARK with the Museum to confirm dates and 916 Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA TRIO combines traditional Swedish melodies other details. Refunds will not be granted The Royal Stockholm School of Music has with improvisation and New York jazz sounds. for cancellations after the registration selected young Norwegian soprano, Kine Feel free to bring a picnic blanket or a lawn chair deadline. To register for events by phone Sandtrø, as the 2018 Jenny Lind Scholar! She and enjoy the smooth tunes among the fireflies. call (215) 389-1776. Online registration is will be accompanied by Julia Sjöstedt who is Cash bar and food will be available to purchase studying piano at the Academy of Music in food and drinks throughout the evening. available through links in the Museum’s Stockholm. For one night only, this talented email announcements or on the pair will recreate a summer evening of song Crayfish Party Events Calendar page of our website, from 1850 when the original Jenny Lind sang Friday, August 17, 6:30pm americanswedish.org/calendar.htm. at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Enjoy this Get a taste of Swedish summer program of Nordic folk music and opera arias at our annual Crayfish Party! MONTHLY PROGRAM: in the near-perfect acoustics of Pennsylvania’s Enjoy a buffet of crayfish and Toddler Time oldest church! Suggested donation: $20/adult Swedish meatballs, along with 10:30 am - 11:30 am and $10/student, pay at the door. crisp bread, cheese, potatoes, cheese pie, and The third Tuesday of each glass of akvavit all outside under our beautiful month ASHM offers specially World Cup lighted and decorated tent. $50 for ASHM designed programs to Viewing Party: and SACC Philadelphia members, $60 for introduce Swedish culture through art, Sweden vs Germany non-members. Register by phone or online by science, and literature in fun and creative Saturday, June 23, 2pm-4pm August 13th. ways to children ages 18 months to 4 years Come and cheer on the home The Sami Reindeer People of Alaska old. The cost is $5 per child or free for team! Catch every play on our and Sami Walking with Reindeer museum Household Members. There is big screen projector and speaker system in the Current Exhibits on View through no charge for accompanying caregivers. air conditioned Josef Frank Gallery. Ticket price August 26th Optional pre-registration by phone or online. includes admission to our Midsommar event right after the game. Cash bar and food Be sure to visit our current exhibits The Sami Tuesday, June 19: Soccer Fever available for purchase. Admission: $8 for Reindeer People of Alaska and Sami Walking Tuesday, July 17: The Ways We Go, Members, $12 for Non-Members. Children 4-12 with Reindeer before they close on August 26th. Check out our website for more information. Transportation $5. Online pre-registration is recommended for http://www.americanswedish.org/exhibitions/ Tuesday, Aug 21: Summer in Sweden the watch party and tickets can be purchased through the events page on our website. special-current Tuesday, Sept 18: Harvest Fest! Midsommarfest Annual Meeting Swedish National Day Saturday, June 23, 4pm-7pm Sunday, September 16, 3pm Wednesday, June 6 Celebrate summer at our ASHM members are welcome to join us for 10-3pm annual Midsommarfest, our annual meeting, where we will present the What better place to complete with food, drinks, Amandus Johnson Volunteer Service Award. celebrate Swedish National home-made Swedish pastries, This day will also mark the opening of our next Day than at the American live music, maypole dancing, as well as free special exhibition, From the Heart, Made by Swedish Historical Museum! Enjoy free games for the kids. Members $8, Hand: 80 Years of Hemslöjd at ASHM. admission including guided tours at 11am Non-members $12, Children 4-12 $5. Summer Concert and 2pm highlighting the history of the Pay at the door. Ann-Marita Scandinavian Roots museum, and a special Swedish summer Friday, August 31st, 6:30pm-8:00pm dessert treat. SmörgåsBeer Be sure to check out our second ASHM free Saturday, July 21, 5pm-8pm summer evening concert on the Terrace. Spend a summer evening Save the dates! Norwegian musician Ann-Marita will bring sampling local Philly and the audience along on a journey through the International lagers, ales, Be sure to mark calendars for these exciting centuries as she performs Scandinavian folk, stouts, and more all paired alongside a events: contemporary, and original songs centered spread of Swedish inspired eats. Enjoy all of around stories about Scandinavian immigrants this along with lawn games, trivia and groovy Saturday, November 10th: New Sweden in the United States. Cash bar and food will be tunes provided by a DJ. Tickets are $30 in History Conference available to purchase throughout the evening. Friday, November 30th: Julbord advance, $35 at the door, with a special Saturday, December 1st: Lucia designated driver price of $10. Register online or by phone.

4 Summer 2018 | Vol. 37, No. 2

u Delicious semlor prepared by the Images from Auxiliary for our Semlor & a Movie Recent Events event in February Photographs by ASHM Staff qEaster witch dress-up at Easter Family Fun Day in March

p How many can you find?! Easter egg hunt on the lawn in front of the museum

t ASHM’s Tracey and Trevor with Marlene Wisuri and Nathan Muus from the Sami Cultural Center of North America at the opening of The Sami Reindeer People of Alaska in April

pWe had many exciting items to bid on in our Spring Ting auction this year!

p Marlene Wisuri introducing our latest exhibit, The Sami Reindeer People of Alaska

pChildren dancing to ABBA in the grand hall at Toddler Time in February

t Chairman of the Board Erik Muther and Treasurer of the Board James Walker at Spring Ting

p Spring Ting guests enjoying a delicious dinner prepared by Jeffrey Miller Catering uThe guest of honor at Toddler Time in April, 3-week-old calf Daffodil!

Connecting Cultures and Community 5 Do you want to make a contribution? There are several easy ways to support us. Contributions Visit our web page americanswedish.org/support or call 215-389-1776 for more information.

Thank You for Another Patrons Donald R Johnson Wonderful Spring Ting John & Kristina Antoniades Kathleen Leef Leonard Busby & Ruth Lindeborg Karen Owens Harry Schaeffer Robert & Ingrid Cagan Thank you to everyone who joined us at Denise Costello Spring Ting and helped celebrate the Ginny Swedberg Joan Francis Museum’s 92nd year! We would also like to Thomas & Julia Patterson Margaret Testa say special thanks to our generous Spring Sandra Pfaff Ting corporate sponsors and donors, our Rev. Dr. Kim-Eric Williams & honorary guest Carina Bergfeldt, Jeffrey Ruth Nelson Rizzi In Memoriam The ASHM lost some very special members Miller Catering for the delicious dinner, in the last few months. We send our deepest Friends Karin Hampel for playing the piano so condolences to their friends and family. beautifully for us during the cocktail hour, Roni Christensen and to the Spring Ting Committee for Lila McCleary Al Ostrand helping us plan another successful event. Mary Anne Powell Patricia Rathbun Fanny Warren Contributions New Members February 1 through April 30, 2017 February 1 through April 30, 2018 Life Serafimer Monica & Lakota Kruse Margaretha Talerman

Friend Vasa John Lundin Kristina and John Antoniades Kristina and John O’Doherty Organizational Swedish Colonial Society Ludington Public Library Household Gold We were so thrilled to welcome Carina Ursula Avallone William & Tracey Beck Bergfeldt back to the Museum and to honor Jim Battista Ragnhild & Bo Bergqvist her with the 2018 Outstanding Achievement James & Sonia Benner Roy & Donna Johnson Award. Having reported on some of the Cynthia & Bruce Brandt Britta A. Mattson Sandra & Fred Pfaff world’s greatest catastrophes and now Ernest Brattstrom Sarah Christian Fanny Warren connecting Swedes with America as Leslie DiNardo Swedish Television’s U.S. Correspondent, it Josh Duckwitz & Toby Ranck Silver is hard to think of anyone more deserving John Evenwel Roberta Petusky for this year’s award! Cara Grugan Abby Shaw Ned Hawkins & Lacy Clayton Alice Wood PEW Charitable Trust Corporate Sponsors Kristin Hoxha Biddle & Company Erin & Mark Hudson Rochelle Humphrey-Burton Bronze Kreischer Miller Daniela Laurinavichyte Jens & Allison Clausen Philadelphia Energy Solutions Zhorong Li Ken & Kerstin Cook Whibco Robert McCrea Mary Corrigan Virginia McGlone Rik Edstrom and Lea Knapik-Edstrom Benefactors John Patterson ExxonMobil Foundation Joseph M. O’Donnell Sylvia Davenport Tom & Clarissa Pugh Lillian M Quap Earl & Sylvia Seppala Roy & Donna Johnson Anne & Mark Stewart Edie & Al Rohrman Paul Muther & Ulla Dagert-Muther Beverly Walker Ellen T. Rye Mary Wagner Alexandra Weaver Violet Zakhary & Family Friend Sponsors Alice Christensen Community Explorers Day Services, Inc. Bo & Ragnhild Bergqvist Household Tiller Family Mr. & Mrs. Evald R. Eskilson Carin & John Foster Barbara E. Good Gene & Mary McCoy Individual Marlin R. Mattson, M.D. Kristina & John O’Doherty Tracey Smith Ellen T. Rye Birgitta Wilson Senior/Student Alice (Roni) Christensen Laura Aumann Ed & Margaret Devinney Sven Fitzgerald Kathy McCracken Lainey Jenks

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From Opera to ABBA: Music in Sweden! In order to reach a wider family audience, As always, we hope to bring the program to the American Swedish Historical Museum as many libraries and community cen- creates a new summer library outreach ters as possible. The program can travel program each year within the national throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Collaborative Summer Reading theme. New Jersey so if you are interested in having From Opera to ABBA: Music in Sweden at The 2018 theme is “Libraries Rock,” and your library this summer, be sure to pass ASHM will introduce families to the music on the museum’s information to your local of Sweden. This rocking program will have librarian! kids dancing and singing in the book isles. Families will get an introduction to classical opera, traditional folk, ABBA, and even discover the Swedish musicians of today. Children will explore Swedish culture and how music is integrated into daily life and holiday traditions while performing an opening operatic warm-up, collaborative choral song, fanfare fiddle craft & folk dance finale. Families can keep the fun times rolling on the ride home with a take-home CD of traditional and contemporary Swedish music!

The cost for the trip will be $2250 per member double occupancy ($515 additionally for single occupancy) and $2350 per non-member double occupancy ($515 additionally for single occupancy) This will include four nights and four breakfasts the Hotel Andra, entrance fees to all attractions and tours, three lunches and one dinner, charter bus transportation, as well as airfare on American Airlines.

Our itinerary for the Seattle trip has finally The deadline to register for the trip is come together! We are excited to announce July 13th. For a more detailed itinerary our plans to visit Seattle September 20- or questions about registration, September 24. The trip will include a visit please contact Caroline Rossy at and tour of the new Nordic Museum, with [email protected] or Director Eric Nelson, lunch at their new (215) 389-1776, ext. 108. Café Freya, a tour of the Ballard Locks, a visit to a Swedish bakery and dinner at the Swedish Club. We will also see classic Seattle sites such as the Space Needle, Chihuly Glass and Garden, an Underground tour, Pike Place Market, and harbor tour with Argosy Cruise, as well as a day trip to nearby Woodinville for lunch and a winery tour and tasting, with a stop at the beautiful Snoqualmie Falls.

Connecting Cultures and Community 7 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID 1900 Pattison Ave. Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA 19145 215.389.1776 Permit No. 1350 www.americanswedish.org

americanswedish @americanswedish

Connecting Cultures and Community

Won’t You Join Us? World Cup Watch Party: Summer members will have access to the Museum from Memorial Day through Sweden vs. Germany Labor Day weekends (May 26th- June 23rd 1:30-4:30pm September 1, 2018). The cost of the Come cheer on the home teamand take Summer Membership is $30, and it can be advantage of discounted tickets for purchased on our website. members! Sweden is playing Germany in the World Cup on June 23rd at 2pm. What You and your household will receive free better place to get your Swedish pride on general admission for the duration of the than at the American Swedish Historical membership, along with three guest passes, discounted admission to our Museum game day watch party! Catch Do you know anyone who is curious about events and programs, as well as a 10% every play on our big screen projector and joining the ASHM, but not ready to commit discount in the Museum Shop. This is the speaker system in the air conditioned Josef to a full year of membership? Or perhaps a perfect opportunity to get to know the Frank Gallery. The best part is that your family looking for low-cost, fun summer ASHM if you have been curious about the ticket price includes admission to our activities? Help us spread the word about Museum, and is ideal for local families Midsommar event right after the game. our new summer membership option. You looking for things to do during the Cheer on Sweden then dance around the can also give it as a gift to friends and summer break from school. We hope Maypole and enjoy the perfect summer family! that you will join us! evening on the Museum terrace in FDR ASHM’s Summer Membership is a new Park. Cash bar and food available for seasonal offer that will allow you to get to purchase. Admission: Members $8, know the Museum, take advantage of our Non-members $12, Children 4-12 $5. exhibitions and programs, and experience Online pre-registration is recommended the beautiful surroundings of FDR Park in for the watch party and tickets can be the summertime. purchased at http://www.americanswedish. org/events.