Today is a day of many celebrations.

First and foremost, we honor the Swedish-American artist, Olof Krans.  We are proud to have three paintings of this important artist in the collection of the Chicago History Museum.  We honor the Bishop Hill community.  We welcome their representatives who are here with us today and we celebrate the role that Bishop Hill has played in the history of Illinois.  And we honor our sister museum, the Swedish-American Museum Center.  We welcome their representatives who are here today.  Kerstin Lane is one of my heroes in the museum community and one of my best friends.  We celebrate her leadership of that museum as its first executive director.  Karen Abercrombie also is here with us.  She will take Kerstin’s place and we are delighted to welcome her here today, too.

I also have a personal reason for being so excited about today’s event.  My own greatgrandfather, who was born in Nössemark, Sweden, came to Chicago in 1887, and my family has lived here since that time.  I am proud that my own family’s story is a small part of the story of the Swedish contribution to Chicago and to Illinois.  And we also celebrate the contribution that new families of immigrants continue to make today in our city and in our state.

This month, this wonderful painting by Olof Krans – his Self-Portrait --  will be in the place of honor in the President’s Office of the Chicago History Museum.  Every time I see it, I will remember all the many reasons why today is a wonderful celebration.

We especially thank the representatives from Bishop Hill for joining us today.

Gary T. Johnson
President

Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614-6038

After 150 years of celebrating and illuminating Chicago’s history, the Chicago Historical Society is proud to announce our new name: Chicago History Museum. For more information, visit www.chicagohistory.org