English with some
Norwegian toward the end of the interview.
English
Sponsor:
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Sigurda Aamot was born on July 16, 1908 in Samnanger, Norway to
Ragneel Haug and Magdelee Ranghilda Englesdotter Drogheda. She had two sisters:
Magdalena and Marget. Sigurda's father died when she was one year old, and the
family moved to Osøyro, where her mother began working at a fish cannery. At
the age of thirteen, Sigurda began working at a restaurant, and later worked in
a factory. Her first husband was Mr. Nordström, with whom she had her son
Robert, but they were divorced prior to Sigurda's emigration to America.
Sigurda and Robert left for America in December 1929, and upon arrival to the
country, they went to Tacoma, Washington, where Magdalena and her husband
lived.
During her first six years in Tacoma, Sigurda did housework for
various families, but was unhappy with this line of employment as it kept her
away from her son. In 1935, she found janitorial work, which provided her with
better pay and hours. Soon after that, she met Olaf Amot during a dinner party
at her sister's house. Olaf was a logger and had changed his name from the
original Norwegian spelling of Aamot to Amot upon arrival to the United States
(Sigurda herself later returned to the original spelling). Olaf and Sigurda
were married in 1936 and had two children: Lynn and Arthur. In 1962, Sigurda
joined the Daughters of Norway, and she also took part in Leikaring dance,
which was previously involved with in Norway as well. In Tacoma, Sigurda served
as a Leikaring instructor and danced at various Norwegian events, including May
17th and June 23rd. Other activities she enjoyed were oil painting and writing
poetry. Sigurda returned to Norway on several occasions and was very proud to
be of Viking descent. Nevertheless, she loved America and declared that she
would stick with the country under any circumstances, including war with
Norway.
Lineage
Full Name: Sigurda Haug Aamot Maiden Name: Sigurda Haug Father:
Ragneel Haug Mother: Magdelee Ranghilda Englesdotter Drogheda Paternal
Grandfather: Per Haug Paternal Grandmother: Magdelee Haug Maternal Grandfather:
Angel Drogheda Brothers and Sisters: Magdalena Krokenes Marget Lepsø Spouse:
(?) Nordström Olaf Amot Children: Lynn Julian Robert Nordström Art Amot
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Sigurda Aamot on August 7, 1981 in
Tacoma, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration,
work, marriage, community activities, personal hobbies, and Norwegian heritage.
The interview also contains a poem entitled "A Prayer for America" by Sigurda,
a song entitled "The Emigrant Women" by Sigurda, and a photograph of Sigurda at
Normanna Hall's 17th of May celebration, 1981. The interview was conducted in
English with some Norwegian towards the end of the interview. See also
Magdalena Haug Krokenes (t234).
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 :
Acquisition Information :
The Oral History collection contains the recorded interviews of 282
men and women who emigrated from Scandinavia and settled in the Pacific
Northwest. The 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. Upon completion, the collection was
transferred to the Archives and Special Collections Department.
Processing Note :
The interview was conducted by Morrene Nesvig 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 excellent.
The collection was transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and
Becky Husby.
Bibliography :
New Land New Lives, Scandinavian Immigrants to the Pacific Northwest
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
78, side 1
023: PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Born in Samnanger, Norway near Bergen, in July 1908. Family name
"Haug" means "hill'.
78, side 1
062: PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Born in Samnanger, Norway near Bergen, in July 1908. Family name
"Haug" means "hill'.
78, side 1
090: SISTERS
Marget and Magdalena.
78, side 1
095:
Moved to Osøyro, Norway where her mother got a job in a
fish-canning factory. They canned King Olaf Sardines.
78, side 1
113: GRANDPARENTS
Paternal grandfather sailed the seven seas. Paternal grandmother,
modest, quiet and dressed in black. Maternal grandparents died before she was
born. They were wealthy, but poor in the end. They traded a crown for a bolt of
cloth.
78, side 1
165: HUSBAND'S NAME
Aamot means river that comes down and goes into a circle like the
letter "o".
78, side 1
189: CHILDHOOD
Taught herself to swim at age 7. Swam to an island and back, got
a licking when she got home.
78, side 1
227: SCHOOL DAYS
Started at age five. Loved school. Offered a loan to go to
college, but her mother turned it down.
78, side 1
225: WORK
Employed at a restaurant at age thirteen. Later factory work paid
by how much you could do.
78, side 1
267: MEETING FIRST HUSBAND
Mr. Nordstrom, later divorced. Setting off for America aboard the
Bergensfjord. Nice state room. Treated nicely.
78, side 1
301: LEAVING NORWAY
Felt awfully funny. Mother crying all the time.
78, side 1
309: BOAT TRIP
Terrific storm, but loved the trip over. Everybody seasick but
her. December 1929.
78, side 1
333: ELLIS ISLAND
Statue of Liberty was beautiful. Like another world. Couldn't
understand language. Doctor's exam in Bergen. Had to have $300 before you left
Norway. Trip planned 1 1/2 years in advance
78, side 1
361: ARRIVAL TACOMA
Sister Magdalena was already here. Her husband had come five
years before and sent for her.
78, side 1
373: TRAIN TRIP
Wouldn't let a lady hold her baby. Told to hang on to baby,
somebody would steal it. Could only say "sandwiches." That's all they ate on
the train due to this. She thought peanut butter was goat cheese. Thought
Pennsylvania was the most beautiful place ever. Washing felt like Norway.
78, side 1
78, side 1
427:
spent first day and night sleeping at her sister's in Tacoma.
78, side 1
436: GROCERY STORE EXPERIENCE
Two apples in Norway cost $1. For $1 in the U.S. you received a
bag of apples that you could hardly carry.
78, side 1
446: DEPRESSION
Housework at Scofield's. 18 out of 24 hours in their home. $30 a
month, the only way to survive. Duties described.
78, side 1
502: ENGLISH
Could read it long before she could speak it.
78, side 1
527: WORK
Employed at the Weyerhaeuser home in Tacoma for three months.
Worked for Dr. Pasco, the worst job she ever had. Had to be away from her baby,
but no choice.
78, side 1
552: JANITOR WORK
1935. Better paying job. Less hours. Later employed at the
Washington building.
78, side 1
562: MEETING OLAF AAMOT
Met at her sister's home during a dinner party. Married in 1936.
He was employed as a logger.
78, side 1
578: CHILDREN
Robert Nordström works in San Jose, California. Lynn married
Joseph Julian who is a sociologist and teaches in Bakersfield, California. She
teaches Spanish. Arthur Amot works for the government and lives in Seattle. She
has three grandchildren. The children spoke Norwegian at home until a letter
came from their teacher asking them to practice speaking English at home.
78, side 1
610: EASIER FOR MEN OR WOMEN
It was Depression time, hardly any jobs. Tough for everybody.
78, side 1
623:
America bigger than she thought. Norway narrow-minded. U.S. broad
minded.
78, side 1
629: MEDICAL CARE
No parents here to take of you, just too bad. Son had asthma bad.
Two children born at St. Joseph's Hospital.
78, side 1
666:
Babysat in her home to earn extra money. Lived in her present home
since 1938.
78, side 2
006:
Mostly Norwegian friends. Loved the social life.
78, side 2
014: SOCIAL LIFE IN NORWAY
Leikaring dance. Acrobatics.
78, side 2
046: DAUGHTERS OF NORWAY
Joined in 1962. Husband was a member of the Sons of Norway, she
joined later.
78, side 2
080: LEIKARING TODAY
She is the instructor. Group dances for various gatherings. They
meet in Normanna Hall every Monday (reference throughout).
78, side 2
135: HAMBO
Wants to organize another dance group.
78, side 2
154: LEIKARING
Danced at PLU. Very active group. They wear Norway's national
clothes.
78, side 2
230: HOBBIES
A lot of painting. Writes poems. Wrote "Immigrant Woman" in
conjunction with Prof. Malmin (she recites). Also wrote a poem for America
currently in the White House (she recites).
78, side 2
327: CHURCH LIFE
She's not religious. Believes in Creator as the Indians do.
Respects everyone's beliefs.
78, side 2
357: TRIPS TO NORWAY
Many things had changed, couldn't believe it. Would love to go
back again. Keeps in touch with relatives.
78, side 2
393:
Describes her oil paintings.
78, side 2
422: RELATIVES VISIT TO THE U.S.
Some came back last year. Husband became ill shortly after and
died.
78, side 2
440: SEVENTEENTH OF MAY
Sings a Norwegian song honoring this day. Daughters of Norway
have a big doings on this day.
78, side 2
462: 23RD OF JUNE
Big Norwegian day. Dancing around the bonfire.
78, side 2
480: LEIKARING
Lady accompanies them. She sometimes dances inside the ring but
prefers the group to dance without her.
78, side 2
498: RECALLS A VIKING STORY
About Eric Blood. Grandfather told her the story, handed down
from generation to generation. Story of the Vikings in Denmark.
78, side 2
568: LEIF ERICKSON
Not a nice sweet man. Brutal, warrior of the worst kind, liked to
fight. Norwegian explorers famous due to their readiness nature. Recites a
story of the original Norwegians. They come from German stock.
78, side 2
596: NORWEGIAN HERITAGE
Very proud to be of Viking blood. Loves this country. Stick with
America whatever happens. If we fought with Norway she will be behind the U.S.
78, side 2
607:
Says farewell in Norwegian.
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 :
Aamot,
Sigurda Haug--Interviews
(
creator)
Amot (Aamot), Olaf
Amot, Arthur
Drogheda, Magdelee Ranghilda Englesdott
Haug, Ragneel
Julian, Lynn (Amot)
Krokenes, Magdalena (Haug)
Malmin, Gunnar
Nordström, Robert
Family Names :
Aamot family
Amot family
Drogheda family
Haug family
Nordstrom family
Corporate Names :
Bergensfjord (Steamship)
Daughters of Norway (U.S.) Embla Lodge #2 (Tacoma,
Wash.)
