Funding for encoding this finding aid was
provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Sven Fredrickson was born on February 24,
1907 in Kolsebro, Sweden. One of ten children, Sven grew up working on the
family farm and attending school during the summers. Sven loved the Swedish
Christmas traditions as a child, including selecting a tree, decorating the
house, eating the traditional food, and going to church. Sven worked in a
variety of ways as an adolescent; he helped fuel the trains during World War I,
aided a blacksmith in town, and laid cement for a new dam. Still, Sven thought
there would be more work in the United States, so he moved there with his
uncle's sponsorship in 1923. Sven found work in lumber camps and in a molding
business. He went to school to learn English and picked it up quickly. In 1928,
Sven returned to Sweden to celebrate his father's birthday. When the Depression
hit, Sven moved to Oklahoma to find work. He had a carpentry job and also
worked in the oil fields. Sven moved around for different jobs, working in
Oklahoma City, College Station, Denver, Corpus Christi, and Arkansas. While
living in Denver, Sven met his wife, and they married in 1940. Soon after, Sven
received orders to join the Army. As a Master Sergeant, Sven oversaw the
building of bridges and roads. He traveled to such places as New Zealand,
Australia, India, Iran, and Russia. When Sven returned from the war in 1945, he
invested in Puget Sound Plywood with his brother Hans. Sven built houses and
did some contracting. He had two children, Cynthia and Robert, but tragically
his wife died of cancer. At the Vasa Lodge, Sven met Edith Carlson, whom he
married after his first wife's death. Besides being a member of the Vasa Lodge,
Sven participates in the Masons and Valhalla Lodge; he has served as president
at Valhalla Lodge four times. Sven returned to Sweden in 1956, 1964, and 1977.
He sees that many changes have taken place, but Sven still tries to retain
Swedish traditions in America.
Lineage
Father:
Fredrick Anderson. Mother: Emilia Olson. Maternal Grandfather: Olof Jonsson.
Maternal Grandmother: Kristina Jonsson. Brothers and Sisters: Lydia Ingeborg
Fredricksson, Ingrid Fredricksson, Signe Agusta Fredricksson, Carl Edvin
Fredricksson, Hans Fredricksson, Magda Linnea Fredricksson, Otto Valfred
Fredricksson, Seth Geron Fredricksson, Allice Fredricksson, Tore Fredricksson,
Hildegard Fredricksson, Spouse: Edith June Fredricksson. Children: Cynthia
Ethel Fredricksson, Robert Sven Fredricksson.
Content Description
The interview was conducted with Sven Fredrickson on November 30, 1981 in
Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on personal history,
employment, emigration, family, the Army, church and community life, and
Swedish heritage. It also provides photographs of the house where Sven was
born, Sven and his family, Sven and an Iranian mountaineer, Sven building a
courthouse in Oklahoma City, and Sven at the time of the interview. The
interview was conducted in English. Also see Hans Fredrickson.
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
119, side 1
020: PERSONAL
Sven Fredrick Fredrickson. Father was Fredrick
Anderson. Sven was born in Kolsebro, Sweden, close to the Baltic Sea.
119, side 1
064:
Father was a farmer, had 30 acres, 8-10 cows, pair of oxen.
Raised potatoes, sold milk, wheat, and rye. Used rye for bread.
119, side 1
101: PARENTS
Fredrick and Omelia Anderson. Mother's maiden name Olson. 10
children in the family, five girls and five boys. Two girls died very young.
119, side 1
133: BROTHERS &
SISTERS
Ingrid and Signe are the two that
died. Oldest sister Lydia Ingeborg lives in Milton, WA. She married Andrew
Olson.
119, side 1
154:
Carl Edvin retired now. He was a seaman finisher. Worked at
Plywood Plant. Hans lives in Tacoma. Magda lives in Sweden, married to a
Pederson. Otto Valfred has dad's farm now and is retired.
119, side 1
202:
Seth Geron works for the government in Sweden, drives trucks,
does road work. Allice, she worked in a country store in Sweden with her
husband. Tore works at Puget Sound Plywood. Hildegard born 1924, lives on a
farm in Sweden.
119, side 1
240: GRANDPARENTS
Maternal - Father was a carpenter, built the church in
town, Olaf Olson. Mother also baked bread, made cheese. Nice lady. They lived
close to the family. Sven does not remember his paternal grandparents.
119, side 1
290:
Had timber on their farm. Cut this and sold it. Children were
well fed. Plenty of oatmeal and eggs. Had a garden with vegetables. Made pea
soup.
119, side 1
336:
Mother milked the cows, did baking and cooking. Kids helped
with the chores, all kept very busy.
119, side 1
366:
Grandfather built the log house they lived in. Fireplace was
only source of heat. Wood stove used to cook on. Did some cooking on the open
fire. Had 2 bedrooms, 2 beds in the living room.
119, side 1
428: BIRTHDATE
February 24, 1907
119, side 1
432: SCHOOL
Walked 10 blocks. Went to school in the summer, closed in the
winter. Went through the 6th grade, then an additional 6 weeks each winter for
2 years. Like junior high.
119, side 1
484: CONFIRMATION
Took 8-9 months. 9 miles to church. The minister took
care of the 'church book.' Kept track of births and deaths. Went to church on
holidays mostly. Christmas morning at 5:00 A.M. Sunday school closer to home in
a little chapel. Anyone could come.
119, side 1
560:
Had bazaars to raise money for the church. Sold cookies,
coffee. Mother went to church more than father did.
119, side 1
590:
Minister came to the house to question people on what they
knew about the Bible.
119, side 1
615: CHRISTMAS
During the summer picked out a tree on the farm. The
Sunday before Christmas they went to cut it down.
119, side 1
637: CHRISTMAS EVE
Presents. Decorated the tree, used candles because
there was no electricity. Had ham and rice pudding.
119, side 1
653: CHRISMAS
MORNING
Up at 2 A.M. to go to church.
Horses and sleigh outside waking people up. Rice pudding for breakfast.
119, side 1
684:
Christmas Eve for breakfast had lutfisk and potatoes.
119, side 1
726:
Kept tree up for 13 days. Had kids over. Took candy and
apples off the tree.
119, side 1
771: TROLLS
Father always told stories.
119, side 1
780: WORK
During WWII age 12, used peat to burn instead of coal on the
locomotives. Young people stacked this peat up. He lived with his Uncle.
119, side 1
818:
Built a dam. They wanted young people to help with the
cement. Sven was also a Blacksmith's helper. He gave money to his father.
119, side 1
854:
Worked in the winter also putting tar around turbines.
119, side 1
871: CAME TO THE
U.S.
Wrote Uncle, Mr. Pearson, to sponsor
him. Sven had heard of America, it sounded good. More work than in Sweden.
119, side 1
909:
Uncle sponsored him to come over. Sister Lydia also wanted to
come.
119, side 1
924: TRIP OVER
Left Sweden the 28th of April 1923. Took the
Swedish-America ship "Drottningholm."
119, side 1
931: ELLIS ISLAND
Took 1 day. Checked health. Needed railway ticket and
money to get through.
119, side 1
938: BOAT TRIP
Nice boat, little seasick. Went 3rd class like most of
the immigrants. Took 8-9 days. Entertainment and church services.
119, side 1
968: TRAIN TRIP
From N.Y. to Chicago a special train for the
immigrants. Chicago to West coast took Northern Pacific.
119, side 1
973: LANGUAGE
Did not know any English when he came. Managed to get
by. Learned about money quickly.
119, side 1
986:
Trip over cost him $317.00, from Sweden to Tacoma.
119, side 1
991:
Met at the train by Alva Pearson and her husband. Alva had a
half-brother who came over the same time that Sven did.
119, side 1
1010:
First time he had ever seen a banana was in N.Y. Also the
first time he saw a tomato was here. Many different nationalities here.
119, side 1
1041: FEELINGS LEAVING
SWEDEN
"You're young and the whole world
plays in front of your eyes." Sven was never homesick.
119, side 1
1055: FIRST IMPRESSION OF
U.S.
Could not see much of N.Y.
119, side 1
1067: LANGUAGE
DIFFICULTIES
Not many. Went to night
school at Central School taught by Miss McDonald. Describes school in some
detail.
119, side
1
1084:
Lived with Alva when he came
for 10 years. She was like a second mother.
119, side 2
039:
Laid off at Shops. Got a job making boards for boxes,
separating boards and loading them on a truck. Worked 8 hours a day.
119, side 2
080:
Used to walk on the logs in the water for fun. Fell in once
in the cold winter.
119, side 2
110:
Got another job running a molding machine for $3.35 a day, 6
days a week. Easy work. Learned to sharpen knives and put them up. Foreman was
good to him. Worked in the woods as a second loader.
119, side 2
177:
Worked at St. Regis doing cement work. Got 50 cents an hour
for 9 hours. Used scaffolds when building.
119, side 2
222: LUMBER CAMPS
Fine. Had barracks. Cot to sleep on. Good food.
119, side 2
247: TRIP TO SWEDEN
Stayed 3 months in 1928. Celebrated his father's
birthday.
119, side 2
294: DEPRESSION
Hard to get a job. Did some work laying steel in
logging camps, on the railroads. Good pay, hard work.
119, side 2
325:
Stayed at boarding house, 24 boarders. Did dishes in the
evening and got a decrease in board. Regular $6.50 a week, Sven paid $2.50.
119, side 2
370:
Went to Oklahoma to look for work during the Depression. More
jobs back east than in the west.
119, side 2
398:
Bohemians gave him a job as a carpenter. Got union wages.
$1.00 an hour. More work in Oklahoma because the government was doing building
- barracks, etc. Worked for Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma City, he did work in
the oil fields.
119, side 2
509:
Got a big job in Oklahoma City at the County City building in
1936. $1.5 million job.
119, side 2
520: NRA
National Recovery Act provided work for many during the
Depression.
119, side 2
555:
Sven worked on State building in Oklahoma and got a job in
College Station, Texas. Stayed here for 11 months. Worked in Arkansas with
Manhattan Construction Company. Got job in Denver on airplane hanger. Worked in
Corpus Christi, Texas on $200 million job.
119, side 2
625:
Met wife at Vasa Lodge in Denver, Colorado. She was also
Swedish. Wedding was small, 1940. Left for Texas after they were married.
119, side 2
655:
Moved back to Denver as a carpentry foreman. Had learned
carpentry from his Uncle in Sweden.
119, side 2
673: CHILDREN
Robert Sven is a commercial fisherman. Cynthia is
married to Bill Frost. Has 2 children. Lives in Cle Elum, Washington.
119, side 2
699:
Sven had orders to go in the army when he was in Denver. Got
job as a Master Sergeant. Bridge building construction for Special Service
Engineers, 1942. Hard day leaving for the service, leaving the family
behind.
119, side
2
730: ARMY
Training in Alexandria,
Louisiana, then to California. Went to New Zealand, Australia, India, and Iran.
Stayed in Iran for 2 years. They built roads for Russia; supplies were
delivered on these roads. Special assignment was given to go through Siberia to
China and deliver trucks. Russia would not let them go through. Put a bridge up
over the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Got out of the service in 1945.
119, side 2
810:
Did not do any fighting in the army, but was trained to fight
during his training. Received a Bronze Star Medal for fast, good work on the
bridges. Sven was in charge of the company on the Danube. Inger reads the
citation given to Sven during the war.
119, side 2
872:
Bought a share of Puget Sound Plywood. Wanted to move back to
the West coast. Brother Hans already had shares in Puget Sound Plywood.
119, side 2
892:
Sven built some houses in Tacoma. Worked at Plywood Company.
Did some contracting. Built his house.
119, side 2
934:
Wife died of cancer. Remarried to Edith Carlson. Sven had
first met her when he came to the U.S. Met at Vasa Lodge.
119, side 2
957: SWEDISH
ORGANIZATIONS
Belongs to Masons, Vasa, and
Valhalla Lodges. Has been President at Valhalla four different times. The
lodges look out for people, visit sick people in the lodge.
119, side 2
975: TRIPS BACK TO
SWEDEN
1956 - flew back by himself. 1964-
daughter was picked to go to Sweden by Vasa Lodge. The whole family went with
her for 6 weeks. 1977 - changes, biggest change is that everything is bought,
no gardens, no baking. More cars.
119, side 2
1024:
Family house is still there. Brother lives there.
119, side 2
1030: SWEDISH TRADITIONS
MAINTAINED HERE IN THE U.S.
Family gets
together in Tacoma every now and then.
119, side 2
1053:
Sven still speaks Swedish, speaks a few words.
119, side 2
1073:
Explains a bit in Swedish what it means to be a Swede. Good
example of the language.
119, side 2
1094:
Story from the army, stationed on the Rhine River.
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 :
Andersson, Fredrick
Fredrickson, Sven Fredrick--Interviews
(
creator)
Fredricksson, Cynthia Ethel
Fredricksson, Edith June
Fredricksson, Hans
Fredricksson, Robert Sven
Fredricksson, Sven Fredrick
Jonsson, Kristina
Jonsson, Olof
Olsson, Omilia
Pearson, Alva
Family Names :
Andersson Family
Fredricksson Family
Jonsson Family
Karlsson Family
Olsson
Family
Corporate Names :
Drottningholm (Steamship)
Puget Sound Plywood Company (Tacoma, Wash.)
Swedish Order of
Valhalla (Tacoma, Wash.)
Vasa Order of
America. Lodge Number 233 (Tacoma, Wash.)
