Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Martin Rasmussen was born on February 1, 1896 in Tornum, Denmark to
Jeppe Hanson Rasmussen and Lucille Jensen. At the time of his birth, Tornum was
a part of Germany but was later returned to Denmark in 1920. Martin had four
brothers and one sister, and the family lived on a farm in northern Germany.
Martin attended school through the eighth grade, learning both German and
Danish. When he was finished with school, he became an apprentice with a
machinist for four years and then went on to work in a Hamburg machine shop. By
this time, the war had begun, and Martin was called into service. He elected to
join the Air Corps and did cleaning jobs on the flying field in Hamburg. After
the war, Martin returned to Denmark and entered the Engineering Institute. He
attended the institute for three and half years and then obtained a job
handling boilers and making cheese machines. In 1923, Martin decided to
immigrate to America for lack of adequate jobs in Denmark. From Ellis Island,
Martin took the train to Moline, Illinois and spent the next four years working
in various machine shops throughout the Midwest. In 1927, Martin's mother fell
ill, and Martin returned to Denmark for one year. Upon his return to America,
he began building dye casting machines in Newark and Chicago until the
Depression set in. At that time, Martin traveled to the West Coast, settling in
Tacoma, Washington. In Tacoma, Martin found work at an automotive shop and
spent his free time developing his own telescope. He also met his wife and was
married in the Danish Church in 1943. They had one son, Edward, who became an
engineer. Martin spent the rest of his working career at a plywood machinery
company in Tacoma and also became involved with the Danish Brotherhood and an
astronomy club, of which he was a charter member. Martin feels he is more
European than Danish but does have a special place for Denmark in his
heart.
Lineage
Full Name: Martin Nielson Rasmussen. Father: Jeppe Hanson Rasmussen.
Mother: Lucille Jensen. Paternal Grandfather: Rasmus Hanson. Brothers and
Sisters: There were four boys and one girl; Sern Rasmussen, Peter Rasmussen.
Spouse: (?) Olson; Children: Edward Rasmussen;
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Martin Rasmussen on October 8, 1981
at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. It provides information
about family background, apprenticeship, service in the military, emigration,
employment, marriage and family, and Danish heritage. The interview also
includes two photographs of Martin as a soldier in the German Army during WWI,
three photographs of Martin and his telescope, five snapshots of Martin at the
time of the interview, and an article about Martin from the Pierce County
Herald (August 20, 1981).
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 :
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
98, side 1
004: PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Born February 1, 1895 in Tornum, Denmark which was part of
Germany at the time of his birth.
98, side 1
010:
In 1920 the land was returned to Denmark. He talks about this
happening.
98, side 1
016: PARENTS
Jeppe Hanson Rasmussen and Lucille Jensen. Father was born in
Denmark. Mother born in the same section of Denmark. Martin was the name of the
farm.
98, side 1
021: FATHER
Immigrated to the northern part of Germany. He had a nice
farm.
98, side 1
026: BROTHERS AND SISTERS
four brothers and one sister. Oldest brother, Sern inherited the
farm in 1913. Sister never married. Three brothers were in the military service
between 1914-18 during WWI.
98, side 1
042:
Brother Peter Rasmussen was wounded in Poland and died there.
98, side 1
049:
Martin had Typhus during the war.
98, side 1
054: AFTER THE WAR
Went to the Engineering Institute in Copenhagen.
98, side 1
058: CHILDHOOD
Went to German schools, very strict. Finished the 8th grade.
98, side 1
064:
Went into an apprenticeship in machinery.
98, side 1
069: LANGUAGES
Learned German in school. Learned also Danish in school.
98, side 1
073:
Confirmed after school. This was in Danish. The area used to be a
Danish province before 1864 then there was a war between Germany and
Denmark.
98, side 1
083 : CHILDHOOD
Worked on the farm. Got cows together before school. Pulled
turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes.
98, side 1
097: POTATOES
Packing potatoes was a special thing for two weeks in September.
The whole family helped. Stored potatoes in the cellar. He describes the
storing process.
98, side 1
116: RUTABAGAS
He describes the picking and the storing of these.
98, side 1
123: SCHOOL
Strict discipline. Teacher used a rod.
98, side 1
127 :
Discipline at home strict also.
98, side 1
135: CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES
Went skiing in the meadows. Plenty of snow in the winter. Summer
went wading in the creek, played soccer with friends, and went bicycling.
Always had to work.
98, side 1
158: FARM
Good sized, mixed farming. 18 cows and 6 horses. Rode horses on
Sundays.
98, side 1
170: WOMEN
Did sewing, weaving (talks about weaving in some detail), and
baking. Had a big oven. Baked white and pumpernickel bread, 30 loaves. Baked
cakes and cookies first.
98, side 1
201:
Pumpernickel bread was laid on the bed when it came out of the
oven.
98, side 1
207: BUTCHERING
The women did this in the fall. They had hogs and cattle.
98, side 1
216: HOG FARM
He talks about his nephew with 1300 hogs in Denmark. They mass
produce there.
98, side 1
222:
Another farm has 180,000 fryers a years. They send them to Italy
and get spaghetti back.
98, side 1
229: GRANDPARENTS
They were farmers. Father's parents had a little farm in Denmark.
His name was Rasmus Hanson.
98, side 1
249: MOTHER'S PARENTS
Martin's mother was descended from a minister who in 1500 was
important to the Reformation. He describes the history of his mother's
family.
98, side 1
273:
This minister died of the plague. Talk of this incident very
interesting. 400 people died 1/3 of the people in the town died.
98, side 1
294: MOTHER'S NAME
Lucille Jensen.
98, side 1
309: CHRISTMAS
Had a tree in the biggest room. Used candlelight. Danced around
the tree.
98, side 1
328: CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER
Best meal of the year. Pork and "all the things that go with it."
Put out grains for the birds.
98, side 1
338: FARMING
Didn't have much machinery. Cut hay with a hand machine. Rye was
harvested first. 4-5 men used sythes. Women rolled the grain together. Used
pieces of straw as string to bind it together.
98, side 1
364: WOMEN'S WORK
Helped in the fields a great deal. Did the milking three times a
day.
98, side 1
372: MILK
Took milk to the dairy where it was processed. Milkman picked it
up. The skim milk came back to feed the hogs and calves. Made money by selling
cream and milk.
98, side 1
390: GRAIN
Took grain to the miller. Went to windmill and was ground up to
feed to hogs and cattle.
98, side 1
398: HARVESTING MACHINE
Cut grains. Went back to tie it. 150 acre farm.
98, side 1
409: FARMING
Got fertilizer. More livestock. Got food for the cows in cakes
made from soybeans and other herbs, which was made in Mongolia. This helped the
cows produce more milk.
98, side 1
426: NEW BARN
In 1910, a "fancy building" built with rocks from the fields.
They were split and then used.
98, side 1
456: HOUSE
The house was connected the barn. Some slept in the barn, easier
to care for the animals.
98, side 1
477: CHRISTMAS
Gifts.
98, side 1
501: NEW YEARS
Before New Years Eve they went to relatives and shot off fireworks
in the afternoon. In the evening the adults went from house to house for coffee
and cookies until 12 or 1am.
98, side 1
537: THIEVES
Problems with neighbors stealing things from the barns,
wheelbarrows, etc. Brothers stayed up to guard the barn.
98, side 1
558:
In the winter, the grain was worked off the straw. Process
described in detail. Used the straw for roofing houses. Some problems with
roofs catching fire with lightening.
98, side 1
595: CHURCH
Not as a child. Adults went on Christmas day.
98, side 1
609: EATING
Everyone ate out of a common dish when they were kids. There was a
big pan and everyone had a spoon.
98, side 1
622: FOOD
Side-pork, potatoes, beans, beets, zucchini were all pickled.
Talks about preserving ham.
98, side 1
655: GRAIN
Stored above the living quarters. Good insulation. Single pane
windows. Flower-pots in windows. Beds built in.
98, side 1
681:
Card playing for entertainment, black jack.
98, side 2
001: FOLK STORIES
The woman in the graveyard without a head. Many things seen. A
graveyard was a place one didn't pass by.
98, side 2
020: CHURCH
Men sat on one side, women on the other. Singing, no dancing.
Minister spoke in Danish. Mostly Danish people. A few Germans.
98, side 2
032: CHURCH
Children went to church during confirmation and met with the
pastor at his house. Pastor lived well. Lay people brought food and grain.
98, side 2
047: PASTOR
Was from Germany but could speak Danish.
98, side 2
054: CONFIRMATION
Learned about the Bible, singing. Girls on one side of the hall,
boys on the other.
98, side 2
067: SCHOOLS
The pastor was also the head of the school district, Lutheran
church.
98, side 2
077: APPRENTICESHIP
After school he was an apprentice with a machinist for four years.
Lived with the people he worked for.
98, side 2
100:
Germans could wear some sort of hat, but an apprentice wasn't
allowed to wear this and could be punished if they did.
98, side 2
118:
War began after his apprenticeship. Stayed home for a while.
98, side 2
126: WORK
Got a job in the Hamburg machine shop. Had to make tools couldn't
buy them.
98, side 2
139: WORK
Several close calls with the machinery, not always safe.
98, side 2
157: WAR
Called to war. Could select what he wanted to do. Wanted to be in
the Air Corps.
98, side 2
165:
Worked on the waterfront in Hamburg making big grooves on
bullets.
98, side 2
175:
Went out on the flying field in Hamburg. Did cleaning jobs.
Didn't have runaways.
98, side 2
191: STORY
Big Zeppelin (air balloon) was having difficulty landing. This is
described in detail.
98, side 2
214: WENT TO BERLIN
Took the train from Hamburg to Berlin. Got a job on the air field
in the Southeast part of Berlin. Didn't get any pay for a week so he starved
for a week.
98, side 2
237:
Brother had died in Poland.
98, side 2
241: SIGHTSEEING IN BERLIN
Saw the Egyptian museum and an armament museum. He describes these
places.
98, side 2
263: DANISH AND GERMAN CONFLICTS
Couldn't sing certain hymns. Big problem with this.
98, side 2
291:
Picture of the Kaiser was damaged and the person had to skip the
country because this was a serious offense.
98, side 2
309: DRAFTED
Heard propaganda on how great war was. Hard to fight in German war
because of his sentiment was Danish.
98, side 2
322: ARMY
2 million students in Germany volunteered for the army. They had
different feelings when they got to the Russian front line.
98, side 2
334: IMPRESSIONS OF WAR
Nothing beautiful about it. "Hell on earth." Moral and other
defects created by war.
98, side 2
343:
Was in France. Contracted typhus and came back to a German
Hospital. Was well taken care of.
98, side 2
256: AFTER WAR
Came back to Denmark in 1919. The border was open. The land went
back to Denmark from Germany.
98, side 2
368:
Entered Engineering Institute. Needed past apprenticeship
experience to get in. Practical experience very important.
98, side 2
389: ENGINEERING SCHOOL
Did drawings in school of steam engines, etc. 3 1/3 years of
school. School was based on German techniques.
98, side 2
408: WORK
Got a job in a dairy machine place. Handled boilers. Made cheese
machines.
98, side 2
428: USA
Went to the US in 1923 at the age of 27 because there were not
enough jobs in Denmark. Couldn't use all the technical men in Denmark.
98, side 2
442:
Didn't know anybody in the US when he went but knew of a few.
98, side 2
462: TRIP OVER
Didn't pay for it. Did dishwashing on the boat.
98, side 2
478: PARENTS FEELINGS WHEN HE LEFT
Dad died in 1917. Mother didn't have much say.
98, side 2
496: WORK
Got a job in a plow shop in Moline, Illinois.
98, side 2
498: ELLIS ISLAND
Remembers two guys playing checkers. Waited for a long time.
98, side 2
521:
Got on a train. Took a few days to get to Illinois. Got to
Chicago.
98, side 2
530: BOAT RIDE OVER
Good, in June it wasn't rough.
98, side 2
538: MOLINE, ILLNOIS
Worked at a plow shop. Big blacksmith who he helped. Very hot
furnaces. Temperature changes made it difficult.
98, side 2
558: SPEAKING ENGLISH
He knew a few words. People couldn't understand him.
98, side 2
574:
Worked with a sledge hammer all day.
98, side 2
579: STORY
Experiences in a Greek restaurant. Hard to explain what he wanted.
He pointed at things.
98, side 2
589: DAVENPORT, IOWA
Worked at a machine shop. Made castings. Talks about the chimney
in town, was an American invention. He describes this detail.
98, side 2
633:
President Harding's death is mentioned.
98, side 2
648: CHICAGO
Stayed at the YMCA. Worked at a small machine shop. The owner had
been a German navy man. He was very strict.
98, side 2
681: JULY 4TH
Showed up for work, he didn't realize this was a holiday.
99, side 1
013: LINDBERGH
His flying over to France is mentioned.
99, side 1
014: RETURN TO DENMARK
Went because his mother was sick. He worked his way over by
working under decks. Steam kettles.
99, side 1
030:
This trip was in 1927. He stayed one year. On way back to the US
with stops in London and Paris.
99, side 1
038:
Binoculars or "spy-glasses" are described. He really liked
these.
99, side 1
046: NEWARK, USA
Worked building dye casting machines. English was improving.
99, side 1
054:
Stock market went broke. Laid everyone off.
99, side 1
068: NEWARK
Ran two machines, made $10 a night.
99, side 1
073: CHICAGO
Made four dye casting machines. Everything collapsed. He still
had some money.
99, side 1
081: TELESCOPE
He made one because he was interested in finding a way to see the
moon and the stars.
99, side 1
090: WYOMING
Drove out in an old car and worked in the beet fields. Shoveled
beets into trucks. Hard work. Had meat three times a day, always burnt.
99, side 1
106:
The owners were Russian-German from around Volga, River, Soviet
Union. Used Mexicans and Indians for labor.
99, side 1
121: TACOMA, WASH.
Came out west to Tacoma in 1930 during the depression years. Not
much steady work. Low wages. Worked on Market Street fixing automobiles and
trucks.
99, side 1
141: TELESCOPE
Worked on weekends developing it. Came up with a good one.
99, side 1
152: DANISH BROTHERHOOD
Joined in 1962. Became secretary to the group. For ten years. He
was also the treasurer. His wife joined the sisterhood.
99, side 1
168: MEETINGS
Made 100's of sandwiches.
99, side 1
172: WIFE
She was the choir director in the Danish Church in Tacoma for
twenty-five years. He met her in church.
99, side 1
190:
Wife's maiden name was Olson. She had seven brothers in the US
and two in Denmark who are farmers.
99, side 1
200: WEDDING
In the Danish Church in 1943. Hard to find things to eat because
of the rations. About 100 people came.
99, side 1
225: CHILDREN
Edward was an engineer. Lost all his hair. Work became a hazard.
Could get dust in his lungs. Now on a pension. Wife is a nurse.
99, side 1
265: GRANDCHILDREN
Two boys, they live in Silverdale, Oregon. Ambition to get them
through college.
99, side 1
278: WORK
At a plywood machinery place in Tacoma for 25 years. Used
engineering some. He describes this.
99, side 1
313:
Made plywood machinery. Describes these machines. Automatic
machines. Made presses, panel saws and other machines.
99, side 1
340:
Got into the company by showing drawings of some presses to the
owners.
99, side 1
353:
Interested always in the heavens, stars, etc. A real stargazer.
Curious about all this.
99, side 1
363: ASTRONOMY CLUB
They are charter members of this. All members experts in
electricity, machinery, etc. About twelve members.
99, side 1
379: HOBBIES
Plays chess, likes to read about it. Thinks about it all the
time.
99, side 1
387: HOBBIES
Also enjoys classical music, had lots of records. Likes Mozart,
Beethoven, and Grieg.
99, side 1
416:
Talks about the origin of man. Religious Beliefs:
99, side 1
423:
Billy Graham is all wrong. Deuteronomy can't be believed. Talks
about Adam and Eve fables.
99, side 1
449: TRIPS BACK TO DENMARK
Changes, not Christian anymore, now only 5%. They have something
else, different interpretation.
99, side 1
470: CHANGES
All talk one language. Not old dialect anymore. Hard to
understand slang.
99, side 1
505:
Farms more up-to-date. Mass production. Insemination of cows. He
goes into detail about these new ways of farming.
99, side 1
539:
Lots of machinery because they can't get help.
99, side 1
544: DANISH HERITAGE
He feels more European than Danish. Special liking for Denmark.
Great country.
99, side 1
560:
They eat too much meat in Denmark side pork, etc.
99, side 1
571:
Danish language spoken. Good example of the language.
99, side 1
602:
Europe is where one finds beauty and history. The US is ahead in
living conditions, technique, and industry. No country like the US.
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 :
Hanson, Rasmus
Jensen, Lucille
Rasmussen, Edward
Rasmussen, Jeppe Hanson
Rasmussen,
Martin--Interviews
(
creator)
Family Names :
Hanson family
Jensen family
Rasmussen family
Corporate Names :
Astronomy Club (Tacoma, Wash.)
Danish Brotherhood in America (Tacoma, Wash.)
Plywood Machinery Company (Tacoma, Wash.)
Geographical Names :
Hamburg
(Germany)
Moline
(Ill.)
Tacoma
(Wash.)
Tornum
(Denmark)
Subject Terms :
Christmas
Danes -- Ethnic
identity
Danish-Americans--Interviews
Danish-Americans--Northwest,Pacific--Social life and
customs
