An oral history interview with Grace Eleanor
Blomquist, of Swedish ancestry and a longtime faculty member in the English
department at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).
Repository:
Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Scandinavian Immigrant Experience
Collection Archives and Special
Collections Department
Funding for encoding this finding aid was
provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Grace Eleanor Blomquist was born in Spring
Lake, Minnesota on April 10, 1913. Grace was the oldest of eight children born
to John and Emelia Blomquist. Growing up in Waubun, Minnesota, Grace was
exposed to Swedish and Norwegian language through her own family and through
the surrounding communities. She had participated in the Lutheran church in her
town, so when she graduated from high school, she chose to attend a Lutheran
college-Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Grace graduated in 1934 and
began teaching English and Latin that year in a North Dakota high school. After
three years of teaching there, Grace accepted an assistantship at Syracuse
University and earned her master's degree. She went on to teach and to serve as
Assistant Dean of Women at Pacific Lutheran University. From 1952 to 1953 Grace
was the president of the American Association of University Women. Grace
Blomquist traveled extensively throughout Europe, once in conjunction with a
children's literature course she taught at PLU. She retired from PLU in 1975.
Although Grace grew up in a Scandinavian community, she doesn't retain many
customs of her Swedish heritage. However, she would like to visit Småland, the
area whence her grandparents came.
Lineage
Full Name: Grace Eleanor Blomquist. Father: John R. Blomquist. Mother:
Emelia Ledin Blomquist. Paternal Grandfather: August Blomquist. Paternal
Grandmother: Ingri Jonasdotter. Maternal Grandfather: Johan Ledin. Maternal
Grandmother: Kajsa Lisa Anderson Ledin. Brothers and Sisters: Sigrid Emelia
Arrebo, Jean Kathryn Hoff, Donald John Ledin Blomquist, Joy Elizabeth Erickson,
Marianne Blomquist, Marjory May Johnson.
Content Description
The interview was conducted with Grace Blomquist on May 15, 1980 in Tacoma,
Washington. This interview contains information on Swedish heritage, education,
and PLU history.
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
Donna Mallonee 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 Northwest.Tacoma, Washington.University of Washington
Press,1993
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
45, side 1
014/11: GRACE ELEANOR
BLOMQUIST
Born April 10, 1913 in Spring
Lake Township.
45, side 1
025: PARENTS
John R. Blomquist and Emelia Ledin Blomquist. Father was
73-74 when he died. Mother was 62 when she died. Father owned a creamery...
45, side 1
051 :
...in Waubun, Minnesota. Family moved to Waubun when Grace
was 3. Spring Lake Township was very near North Branch, Minnesota, which was a
very Swedish community. Grace's father had come from another very Swedish
community near Taylors Falls, Minnesota. His father came from...
45, side 1
077:
...Småland, Sweden. He landed at Franconia (?) just as the
immigrants did in Moberg's novel. Grace's paternal grandfather came from the
same area as the people in Moberg's novels. Moberg wrote "The Immigrants,"
"Unto a Good Land," and "The Last Letter Home."
45, side 1
118:
Grace's parents were born in the U.S. Her father had to
start working when a young boy. His family was poor. He worked in milk stations
and creameries in Goodhue County in southern Minnesota. He came to Spring Lake
where he met Grace's mother. She was one of 9 or 10…
45, side 1
140:
...children. She had worked as a clerk in a department store
in Stillwater, Minnesota. She visited a sister, who lived in the northwest for
one year. She clerked at People's in downtown Tacoma. This was around 1910. She
went back to Minnesota and got married shortly thereafter. Her parents were
from Sweden. Her maternal grandfather brought his parents with him when he
emigrated. He and his brothers settled in the…
45, side 1
178 :
...Spring Lake area. Their family name was Ledin. They came
to the U.S. because they wanted a better life. Her father's family was very
poor. Grace's paternal grandfather came to this country in 1880 by steamboat on
the St. Croix River and landed at Franconia (?).
45, side 1
222/12:
He'd been a corporal in the Swedish Army. His brothers came
at the same time. They all took different names. Grandfather took name
Blomquist. Another was Tagnir (?), one was Youngquist, the married a Bergstrom.
They chose these names when they got to America.
45, side 1
290: CHILDHOOD
Grew up in Waubun, Minnesota. Lived near school. Four
teachers at school. Important in community. Parents never quarreled.
45, side 1
333: WAUBUN, MINN.
An Indian name. Means "rising sun" in the Chippewa
language. Waubun lies on the edge of the Indian reservation. There were mixed
blood families in town. Many of these children were friends. Many Indians
played on the basketball team. That was the only sport they had at their
school. In girl's P.E. they wore black bloomers and white midies. There were
several Czechoslovakian families in Waubun. Some Norwegian families.
Blomquist's were the only Swedish family. The town was made up mostly those who
were part Indian. There were many German farmers around.
45, side 1
400/01 : CHIPPEWA
INDIANS
Land settlement made when railroad
was being built. Waubun was founded because the railroad needed a stop there.
The Indians were given a certain amount of money, which they received once or
twice a year. They'd come in to town to get the money and almost always spent
it at once. This was in the 1920s. During prohibition, the Indians would come
to town and buy vanilla. They'd get drunk on it and drive home on their horses
and wagons. There were also some very fine Indian families
45, side 1
455 :
Near Waubun was White Earth, a real Indian town. There was a
government school and some missions there. They weren't as primitive in the
1920s as they had been. Grace remembers seeing Indians camp near the lake where
they had a summer cottage. The women would make birch bark baskets. She saw an
Indian woman go down to the lake to wash clothes.
45, side 1
495: AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL
Grace went to school at Concordia
College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She chose a Lutheran school because she went to
the Lutheran Church after it was built in Waubun. This church was of the old
Norwegian background. She went to the Congregational Church before Waubun got a
Lutheran church. Her parents had been brought up as Lutherans. Most of the
students at Concordia were of Norwegian background. The Norwegian community had
been more familiar to Grace since then. She was finished at Concordia in 1934.
45, side 1
532:
Got a job teaching in Mohall, North Dakota. Stayed there for
three years. It was a very good school. She taught English and Latin in high
school. Taught in junior high some. Even helped part-time at fifth and sixth
grade level one year. She had many responsibilities.
45, side 1
579/02:
Offered an assistantship at Syracuse University. Was there
two years. Got her masters degree there.
45, side 1
588:
Came to the West Coast in 1939. Looking for work. Had a
contact with Clara Paulson (?), a teacher at Concordia College. Clara knew that
PLU needed an English teacher and an assistant Dean of Women. Grace applied for
the position. Dr. Tingelstad was president then. He arranged an interview in
Jamestown, North Dakota. Tingelstad had family business in Jamestown. Grace and
her sister drove from Minnesota to Jamestown and met Tingelstad at the railway
station.
45, side 1
634: STARTED WORK AT PLU IN
THE FALL OF 1939
There were 12 or 14
members of the faculty then. The Akres were there. Elvin was the Dean of Men.
He taught history as well. Most people taught in the academy as well as the
college. The academy lasted until Dr. Eastvold came.
45, side 1
651: FACULTY
The Akres. Dr. Hauge was the Dean. Anna Marn Nielsen, head
of the Education department. Daniel Nelson came from Luther College to teach
English. Ruth Franck taught English. Mickel Franck taught political science.
Mrs. Bondy taught French and German. Leraas taught biology. Ramstad taught
chemistry. Rhoda Young taught P.E. Cliff Olson taught P.E. Keith Reed taught
business administration. George Reneau taught history and other social
sciences. Mr. Stuen taught math. Mr. Malmin taught music. Pastor Larson taught
Swedish part-time. Dr. Pflueger taught religion.
45, side 1
698/03:
There weren't as many Norwegians here as one might think.
Dr. Pflueger was German. Keith Reed was Presbyterian. Students weren't all
Norwegian. Different than Concordia College. Mrs. Kreidler taught art. She was
descendant of the Bradford's who came to Plymouth colony.
45, side 1
718 Lived in Harstad when she first came. She was Assistant
Dean of Women. There were only four buildings on campus when she came. Old
Main. The old gym located where the U.C. is now. The little brown wooden
chapel. The library, which was located behind the chapel and now is Xavier
Hall. Sign in front of the college said "Pacific Lutheran University" on the
front and "Build for Character" on the backside. New experience to be at a
school where the offices, classrooms, and dorms were in the same building.
Grace had to live in the dorm and assist Mrs. Kriedler so she found out what it
was like. Registrar's Office was off to the right as you entered Old Main. Only
about three office workers. Two librarians plus student help. Bookstore was in
a small room opposite the Registrar's office. Dorm rooms were very simple.
45, side 1
800/04:
Two desks, two cots, two dressers. Students could paint
their rooms if they wanted to. The center part of Old Main was classrooms
45, side 1
819 :
She tells what the boys did on Halloween in 1939
45, side 1
841 : PROBLEMS WITH ACADEMY
STUDENTS
Some students sent there because
parents wanted to support the school. Their children got more attention than
they would in a public school. Others were problem cases who couldn't be
handled in their own schools or homes. Among the high school students there
were some problems.
45, side 1
861: FAMILY
ATMOSPHERE
They all knew each other.
Faculty went to all the games. They'd drive to Cheney and Bellingham to watch
football. She tells about the success of PLU sports. Many parties on campus.
The Stuens, Pfluegers, Leraas', Akres, and Xaviers were very hospitable.
45, side 1
893:
Mr. Xavier was a librarian at PLU too. Mr. Stuen was the
unofficial host to the university. They would often have dinners on Sunday
afternoons. Then everyone would go play golf. Employees were often not paid
during hard times but they liked working at the school.
45, side 1
926/05: KIMBERLY GOLD
MINE
1941, no money at PLU for teachers.
They were paid in gold stock. People charged food at Dahl's Grocery.
45, side 1
965 : KIMBERLY GOLD
STOCK
She explains how PLU acquired the
gold stock. Partly through Daniel Floetrig (?), a Norwegian immigrant who'd
attended PLU winter short session. Dr. Tingelstad was very interested in the
stock market. Rhoda Young or Milt Nesvig might know about the Kimberly Gold
Mine. Floetrig's widow, Mrs. Theo Totten might know more about it. Lloyd
Johnson, husband of Lucille Johnson, an English teacher at PLU knows more about
it.
45, side 1
1016/06: EARLY
1940s
Men from faculty worked at the
shipyards. Women from the faculty were retained for teaching. Mrs. Kreidler,
who'd retired by then, worked swing shift at the shipyards. This was during
WWII. The school stayed open.
45, side 1
1049:
Grace is still teaching classes occasionally (1980). Since
she retired in 1975, she had only taught children's literature.
45, side 1
1063:
Grace was president of AAUW in Tacoma. At the time
(1952-1953) there were about 400 members. (American Association of University
Women).
45, side 1
1073: 1954-55
Went to Germany for one year. Taught at American
schools in Frankfurt. She was a counselor in a dorm. There were American
students from different parts of Europe.
45, side 1
1082:
Member of Quota Club. A diversified service club. Each
member must represent a particular field. Each field represented by only one
member.
45, side 2
069/07:
Belongs to Phi Beta. National organization for drama,
speech, music, dance honorary.
45, side 2
80 :
Administrative women in education because she had held either
presidential or executive positions in groups
45, side 2
89: CHURCH
Member of the Trinity Reading Club. Started in the 1950s. Has
taught Sunday school. Served on church council. Was member of Social Concerns
Committee when the Vietnamese refugees came.
45, side 2
133 : 1952
Danish seminar. Traveled in Europe. 1954 spent a year
teaching in Germany. 1963: Dr. Motet gave teachers summer off with pay.
45, side 2
162 : WENT TO EUROPE IN 1963,
1979
Spent five weeks in England. 1972:
Led children's literature tour to Europe. Went from Holland to Germany to
Austria, to Italy, back through Germany, to Denmark, to the Netherlands, back
to Holland, and home. Groups made up of PLU students, teachers, a retired
person, and another faculty member. 26 all together. Went to places of interest
in regard to children's literature.
45, side 2
236: CHANGES AT PLU IN 40
YEARS
School had become a university in
the fullest sense. "Family relationship" no longer exists. It can't when there
are so many people.
45, side 2
285/08: SCANDINAVIAN
HERITAGE
Her family was not very tradition
minded. Moved around, trying to make a living. Difficult to retain customs.
Used to have "doppa". Porridge made out of eggs, milk, and flour. They'd dip
their bread in this. Her mother made spritz cookies at Christmas. Grace was
always aware that she was Swedish. Her mother would always blame things on
Norwegians. Her father could read Swedish. Knew as a child that Jenny Lind and
Kristina Nilsson were Swedish singers.
45, side 2
367:
Remembers her grandfather Ledin. Her was dignified and
handsome. Things in her grandparent's home reminded her of Sweden; old pictures
and things. If she goes back to Europe she'd like to spend some time in
Småland, where her grandparents came from. She'd rather spend time in other
places really. She doesn't feel she's too deeply rooted. Still she's glad she's
Swedish. Interested in ethnic groups in general.
Subjects
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