Funding for encoding
this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment
for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Alva Pearson was born Alva Strandell on June
22, 1894 in Borlänge, Sweden. She and her brother Axel lived with their
parents, Johanna Vikström and Johan Strandell; her father was employed at a
sawmill. When Alva was only two years old, her mother died and her father
remarried a woman named Emma. Emma and Johan had one son named Oscar. Alva
enjoyed her childhood in Sweden, working, going to school, skating, and skiing.
The Christmas holiday was especially fun with the traditional cooking and
decorating. Alva's brother Axel moved to America around 1903, settling in
Everett, Washington. When Alva's father died of pneumonia, her stepmother
encouraged her to join Axel, even though Alva wanted to stay in Sweden and
become a schoolteacher. On her way to America in 1910, Alva sewed her money in
her dress for fear someone would steal it. Upon her arrival, she found work in
Tacoma, first caring for children and then housekeeping. Alva was one of the
first women to join the Good Temperance Lodge in 1912; she is the only charter
member surviving. Alva obtained her citizenship when she married an American
named Axel Anderson who owned a restaurant. They had three children: Kathleen,
Lennard, and Wally. Kathleen and Lennard worked during the Great Depression
while Alva worked at Weyerhaeuser. Her husband fell ill and sold the
restaurant; he died in 1949. The following year, Alva married Dan Pearson, a
Swedish man from the Valhalla Lodge who worked at a carpentry shop. Sadly, ten
years later Dan died. Alva has remained in the Tacoma area and attends First
Covenant Church. She has returned to Sweden eight times, and her children and
some grandchildren can speak the language.
Lineage
Full Name: Alva Paulina Strandell Anderson Pearson. Maiden Name:
Alva Paulina Strandell. Father: John Strandell. Mother: Johanna Vikström.
Brothers and Sisters: Axel Strandell, Oscar Strandell. Spouse: Axel Anderson,
Dan Pearson. Children: Kathleen Wright, Lennard Anderson, Wally Anderson.
Content Description
The interview was conducted with Alva Pearson on October
8, 1981 in Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on personal
background, emigration, work, community life, family, and Swedish heritage. The
interview was conducted in English.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
The oral history collection
is open to all users.
Restrictions on Use :
There are no
restrictions on use.
Administrative Information
Custodial History :
The Oral History collection
project was started during an experimental course on Scandinavian Women in the
Pacific Northwest. Students in the course were encouraged to interview women
and learn about their experiences as immigrants to the United States. The
project was continued and expanded with support from the president's office and
by grants from the L.J. Skaggs and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation, from the Joel E.
Ferris Foundation and the Norwegian Emigration Fund of the Royal Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project was directed by Dr. Janet E.
Rasmussen. The collection was transferred to the Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Acquisition Information :
Related Materials :
To search and view Pacific
Lutheran University's digitized images, visit our
Digital Assets
Website
Processing Note :
The interview was conducted by
Inger Nygaard Carr using a cassette recorder. A research copy was also prepared
from the original. To further preserve the content of the interview, it is now
being transferred to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the
entire interview because we want the researchers to listen to the interviewee's
own voice. The transcription index highlights important aspects of the
interview and the tape counter numbers noted on the Partial Interview
Transcription are meant as approximate finding guides and refer to the location
of a subject on the cassette/CD. The recording quality is good
The
collection was transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby.
Bibliography :
Rasmussen, Janet Elaine. New Land
New Lives: Scandinavian Immigrants to the Pacific NorthwestTacoma, WashingtonUniversity of Washington
Press1993
Additional Reference Guides :
Detailed Description of the Collection
The partial interview transcription
highlights important aspects of the interview. Numbers may be used as guides to
important subjects. Two numbers separated by a slash indicate that the first
number is for cassette and the second for CD.
Cassette
97, side 1
004: PERSONAL
BACKGROUND
Born Borlänge, Sweden on June
22, 1894.
97, side 1
008: PARENTS
Johanna Vikström, Johan Strandell employed at a sawmill.
Father remarried after mother died. Alva lost mother when 2 years old. Talks
about family home. Father remarried to Emma, who came to work as a
housekeeper.
97, side 1
023: GRANDPARENTS
Maternal grandparents, Vikstrom. Aunt Gustava
Bergström told her some family history.
97, side 1
036:
Eight trips back to Sweden (see counter 525-I)
97, side 1
037:
Brother Axel came to America at age 17. No work in Sweden.
Half-brother Oscar joined Alva in Tacoma later.
97, side 1
046: CHILDHOOD
Lots of friends. Everybody had to work, lots of work.
Took care of the children and dug potatoes. Big picnics and good food after
work.
97, side 1
059:
Skating and skiing in the winter months.
97, side 1
061: SCHOOL DAYS
Started school age 7, attended for 4 years.
Confirmation: attended class every week. Many students in class.
97, side 1
076: EMPLOYMENT
Many opportunities for work in the Borlänge area with
the sawmill and papermill.
97, side 1
082:
Father died of pneumonia. Mother caught cold and died. Axel
worked at the sawmill too.
97, side 1
097: CHRISTMAS
lots of baking, could smell Christmas. Father went
into the woods for tree. Decorated the tree. Made lutfisk, rice pudding, coffee
bread, and lots of cookies. Buggy ride to church. Christmas was special because
they were used to walking everywhere.
97, side 1
127: REASON SHE CAME TO
U.S.
Step-mother wanted her to join her
brother (he resided in Everett, WA). She found work, helped by Charlie Holmes
in Tacoma. Didn't want to come to U.S. She wanted to be a school teacher in
Sweden.
97, side 1
137: TRIP OVER
"No fun." Sewed money in dress - afraid someone might
steal it. Took train to Göteborg, Sweden. Had to have $25 for U.S. immigration.
Took boat from Göteborg (Gothenburg) to England. Many sick. Stayed in Liverpool
for 2 days. 50 Swedes to a room.
97, side 1
168: BOAT TO
AMERICA
Didn't get sick. Good food.
Danced, had a good time. Simrikvital line (?).
97, side 1
183: FEELINGS LEAVING
SWEDEN
Felt not loved, didn't understand.
Didn't want to leave.
97, side 1
192: LANDED BOSTON
Put on train to Chicago, helped by police. Had food
from Sweden to eat. Didn't talk to anyone - no Swedes on train. Took about a
week.
97, side 1
206: ARRIVAL TACOMA
Nobody met her. Teacher from Indian school took her to
friends.
97, side 1
231: FINDING A JOB
Took care of child in south Tacoma. Later employed as
a housekeeper - $10.00 monthly plus room and board. Later earned $20.00.
97, side 1
267: LANGUAGE
DIFFICULTIES
Hard to learn. Learned from
people she worked with. Street car went past the house. Cost 5 cents, couldn't
afford it.
97, side 1
298: GOOD TEMPERANCE
LODGE
One of the first women to join in
1912, only charter member surviving. Went every Thursday evening - still
attends meetings.
97, side 1
330: CITIZENSHIP
Through marriage - first husband was American. Met
husband at Valhalla.
97, side 1
339: FIRST HUSBAND
Axel Anderson. Describes wedding in Seattle in a
pastor's house. Describes mode of dress on wedding day. Had restaurant on "K"
street. Honeymoon in Victoria B.C.
97, side 1
369:
Describes Tacoma in early days. Rented a house and later
bought a home.
97, side 1
378: CHILDREN
Kathleen - lives in California. Married to Richard
Wright who worked in insurance. Lennard - lives in Lakewood and teaches music.
Wally - works at Oakland TV in Tacoma. Alva has six great grandchildren.
97, side 1
424: CHURCH
Children attended Sunday school. Didn't attend Lutheran
church in U.S. (see counter 489-I). Attended First Covenant where her son
played the organ.
97, side 1
438: DEPRESSION
Son and daughter worked. Alva worked at Weyerhaeuser.
Housework and childcare. Husband was sick during depression - had sold the
restaurant. Died in 1949.
97, side 1
480:
Remarried in 1950 to Dan Pearson. Employed at carpentry shop.
Deceased after 10 years of marriage (also Swedish).
97, side 1
489: CHURCH LIFE
First Covenant. Treasurer of the Ladies Aid. Many
Swedes were members (see counter 424-I)
97, side 1
498:
Children spoke Swedish before school days. Still speaks
Swedish with friends. Some grandchildren can speak Swedish today.
97, side 1
525: TRIPS BACK TO
SWEDEN
First time in 1955, 46 years after
coming to America. Describes family home, changes in Sweden similar to U.S.
Last trip 7 years ago at age 80 - went back to visit good friends (see counter
036-I). Eight trips back total. Talks about friends who returned to Sweden to
get the benefits. Eight trips back total.
97, side 1
610: PLU
Both son and husband had Professor Stuen for a teacher.
97, side 1
629:
Closes in Swedish
Subjects
This collection is indexed under
the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
Personal Names :
Anderson, Alva
Anderson, Axel
Anderson, Lennard
Anderson, Wally
Pearson,
Alva--Interviews
Pearson, Dan
Strandell, Alva
Vikström, Johanna
Wright, Kathleen
Family Names :
Anderson family
Bergström family
Pearson
family
Strandell family
Vikström family
Wright
family
Corporate Names :
First Covenant Church (Tacoma, Wash.)
Good
Templars, Independent Order of (Tacoma, Wash.)
