Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Else Goodwin was born on July 12, 1913 in Copenhagen, Denmark to
Laurits Theodor Larsen Hammerbak and Valborg Kristine Christiansen. Else had
two siblings, Preen and Ida, and the family lived in downtown Copenhagen. When
Else was seventeen years old, her parents' friends, Emil Andersen and his wife,
came to visit from New York. They invited Else to go back with them, which her
mother thought was a great opportunity. In New York, Else lived with a doctor
and his family, and she worked for the Andersens, cleaning and helping with
their children. Originally, Else was only going to stay in America for six
months, but she got two six-month extensions on her visa and did not return
home until November 1931. On the voyage home, Else met Theodore Beck, a widower
from Jutland, Denmark. Theodore had a young son and was returning to Denmark so
that his sister could help him raise the boy. Else gave Theodore her home
address, and he soon came to Copenhagen to convince her to marry him. After
they were married, they returned to America at the end of May 1932. They
settled on the West Coast, where Theodore was a dairyman for Hollywood Dairy in
Seattle, WA. Else worked as a housekeeper to make extra money during the
Depression, but after she had her daughters, Elin and Marilyn, in 1934 and
1937, respectively, she remained at home until Marilyn was old enough to go to
school. When WWII started, Else went back to work as a waitress at a local
restaurant. In 1947, Else and her daughters took a trip to Denmark, which the
girls loved despite the fact that they had never learned Danish. Else's husband
did not want them to learn Danish, believing that without knowledge of the
Danish language, they would learn English more properly. When Marilyn graduated
from high school, Else divorced Theodore and later married Crawford Goodwin.
Crawford was born in Spokane, Washington and had a real estate business in
Seattle. Through the years, Else has been very involved in Scandinavian
organizations. She has been Treasurer of Danish Sisterhood, on the board of the
Danish Home, on the board of the Nordic Heritage Museum, a member of a
folkdance group called "Dannelag," a member of a singing group, and a member of
the Danish drama club "Harmonien." Else has also been active in Seattle's
Danish church and served all offices in the PTA while her girls were in
school.
Lineage
Full Name: Else Goodwin. Maiden Name: Else Margrethe Hammerbak.
Father: Laurits Theodor Larsen Hammerbak. Mother: Valborg Kristine
Christiansen. Paternal Grandfather: Lars Peter Larsen Paternal Grandmother:
Kristine Christensdatter Nielsen. Maternal Grandfather: Andreas Christiansen.
Maternal Grandmother: Kristine. Brothers and Sisters: Preben Hammerbak, Ida
Jespersen. Spouse: Theodore Beck, Ervin Crawford Goodwin. Children: Elin Ida
Beck Justice, Marilyn Beck Willats.
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Else Goodwin on January 10, 1983 in
Seattle, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration,
returning to Denmark, marriage, re-emigration, employment, and community
involvement. The interview also includes photographs of Else's summerhouse in
Copenhagen, Else's parents, Else riding a pony in 1915, Else leaving Copenhagen
on July 14, 1930, and Else at the time of the interview. 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 :
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
216, side 1
017: PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name - Else Margrethe Goodwin. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on
July 12, 1913.
216, side 1
023: PARENTS
Her father was Laurits Theodor Hammerbak and her mother was
Valborg Kristine Christiansen. Father born in a small town north of
Slagelse.
216, side 1
066: GRANDPARENTS
Paternal grandfather thatched roofs. His name was Jens Peter
Larsen. Paternal grandparents had been married before. Had children from first
marriages and from their own marriage. Some of their children were Nielsens and
some were Larsens. The boys had a strong family feeling. Wanted to be known as
brothers. Took the name Hammerbak, which was also the name of their mother's
family home. Grandmother's name was Nielsen before her second marriage.
Maternal lived in Copenhagen. Else's mother was the first in the family to be
born in Copenhagen. Grandparents were from Jutland near Hjoerring.
Grandmother's name was Kristine. Remembers grandparents. Grandmother died when
Else was 12 years old. Grandfather was a streetcar operator. Horse drawn
streetcars when he first came to Copenhagen. Both maternal and paternal
grandparents had big families. Else's father grew up in a "husmans hus." Had a
big yard for growing vegetables. Had chickens. She explains what a husman is.
Didn't have a farm. Worked for someone else. Remembers grandfather repairing
roofs when he was in his 80's.
216, side 1
325: PARENTS
Father got beer from breweries in kegs. Kegs were sent to another
place where they were tapped and bottled. Father had a wagon and a small horse.
Would take cases of beer around to different stores. Had this job until Else
was five years old. Breweries started to do this themselves. In 1918, her
father and two of his brothers worked in a peat bog north of Copenhagen. Got
another job as a prison guard in Copenhagen. Worked in the main police yard in
Copenhagen during WWII. He had to open the door to the prison when the Germans
came.
216, side 1
438: GERMAN OCCUPATION
Else went home to Denmark in 1947. Her father had many stories to
tell her. Tells about when he had to let the Germans into the prison. Germans
took over the main police yard. Danes had to take care of their court cases in
the old courthouse. Tells how the Danes saved a lot of men from the
Germans.
216, side 1
505: CHILDHOOD HOME
Shortage of apartments in Copenhagen. Father's brother owned an
old tenement. They rented two small apartments from him, each with two small
rooms and a little kitchen. They lived there for about three years (after
father quit working in the peat bog). Family hit by the Spanish flu. Mother had
just had third child. Later, they got a nice apartment in Oesterbro, a nicer
part of Copenhagen. Parents bought a store where they mangled clothes. That's
where they lived until Else left for America.
216, side 1
577: BROTHERS AND SISTERS
One brother and sister. Brother is Preben. Worked in he grocery
business for years. Chain stores started taking over the grocery business. He
started working for Procter and Gamble. Ran their warehouse in Copenhagen. He's
retired now. Has a wife and three kids. Sister is Ida. Five years younger than
Else. Married twice. Doesn't have kids. Helped her second husband raise his
kids. They have visited Else in the United States.
216, side 1
621: SCHOOL
Went to school in Copenhagen. Everybody went to the same type of
school up to the fifth grade. After that, they could choose to continue with
grade school, or they could go to a middle school and take college prep
courses. Else went to middle school. Studied some English. Languages and math
were emphasized in the middle school.
216, side 1
669: REASONS FOR EMIGRATION
Some people from America came to visit. Else's father's oldest
sister lived in Oakland, California. It was Ester Saalby (?) that came to
visit. Else showed her Copenhagen. They still see each other from time to
time.
216, side 1
707: CHURCH
Went to Sunday school. Was involved in a youth group after being
confirmed. Parents went to church once in a while. Weren't really strong
church-goers. They worked hard, raising children and running their business.
Maybe they didn't have the strength to get to church every Sunday.
216, side 1
735: CHRISTMAS
Had a big Christmas Eve. Else has many good memories. Stores would
close at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve. Church service was at 5:00pm. Could hear all
the church bells. It would often start snowing at that time. Came home to a big
dinner. Roast goose stuffed with prunes and apples. Brown potatoes (candied
potatoes), white boiled potatoes, and red cabbage. After dinner, father would
light the candles on the tree in the living room. Then the rest of the family
would go in to see what awaited them. Else tells about the "nisse" who would
decorate the tree the day before. They'd dance around the tree and sing. Then
they'd open their presents. Presents were wrapped in brown paper., Mother did a
lot of baking. Else helped. Mother would make a thin, crisp cookie round with
an almond in the middle. Had syrup and ginger in them. Different than
pepparkakor. Called onekager (?). Made Julekager and klejner. Lots of cookies
at Christmas. People would often visit each other on Christmas.
216, side 1
876: GRANDPARENTS
Tells about paternal grandmother's first marriage and reason for
second marriage. First husband came home from war in Germany. He was ill. Knew
he would die. Told his wife to marry Jens Peter Larsen. (See also I-066).
216, side 1
911: DANISH TRADITIONS COMPARED TO AMERICAN
TRADITIONS
Sometimes we celebrate similar customs, but we celebrate them at
different times of the year. American children go around to houses to get
goodies at Halloween. Danish children do this for Lent. Else explains how the
kids would knock on doors with branches decorated with candy and ribbons. Danes
have a custom similar to the Mexican's pinata. Americans have a witch on
Halloween. Danes have a witch on Midsummer.
216, side 1
970: SUMMER HOUSES FOR THE URBAN POPULATION
State set aside plots of land for people in the city to lease.
Small lots. People would build little summer houses and have a garden. Else's
dad had a vegetable garden, berries, fruit trees, and rabbits on their lots.
Her mother had a section of flowers. These "colonies" could be found all over
Denmark. There was a small store at the center of the colony. Each colony would
have a big Midsummer party.
216, side 1
1063: GOING TO AMERICA
(See Also I-669) A girlfriend from Oakland, California came to
Denmark to visit when Else was sixteen. The nest year, two of Else's parents
friends from New York came to visit. Emil Andersen and his wife. Emil invited
Else to go back to America with them.
216, side 2
073: PARENT'S FEELINGS ABOUT ELSE LEAVING
After father bought the ticket, he became concerned about his
daughter going so far away. Else was supposed to stay in the US for only six
months.
216, side 2
123: GETTING READY TO LEAVE
Didn't have much time. The Andersens went to England to visit
Mrs. Andersen's family. Else and her cousin, Einar, met the Andersens in
London. Didn't feel bad about leaving. Her mother thought it was a great
opportunity.
216, side 2
109: TRIP TO AMERICA
Took a train to Esbjerg, Denmark. Took a boat from Esbjerg to
Southampton. Got on board the Leviathan. A very big ship. Had been a German
ship. The Americans bought it after WWI. Else came to America in August 1930.
Speaks briefly about being in London on the way to America and on the way back
to Denmark fifteen months later. Met her first husband on the way from America.
Remembers a group of entertainers on the ship. They had been touring Europe.
Beautiful music.
216, side 2
309: NEW YORK
Remembers driving down 5th Avenue. The Empire State Building
wasn't finished yet. Remembers all the traffic, crowds of people on the
streets. Tall buildings. Status of Liberty.
216, side 2
380: LEARNING ENGLISH
Knew the grammar and knew how to pronounce the words. Just had to
learn the meanings. She was staying with a doctor and his family. They had a
lot of magazines, McCall's, etc. Else would read these. Would ask what
different words meant. Could travel to New York City by herself after 2-3
months. She would get off the subway at different stations, just to see where
she was. Wasn't afraid of getting lost. Tells about New York City and a Danish
girl she met.
216, side 2
452: WORK
The Andersen's had a boy and a girl. Else helped with the
children, helped around the house and cleaned Mr. Andersen's office. Didn't
help with the cooking. Mrs. Andersen was English. Cooked differently than Danes
and Americans.
216, side 2
474: IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA
Else was invited to stay in New York for a longer period of time.
Got two six-month extensions on her visa. Even started going to business
college. Eventually got homesick. Christmas approaching. Was celebrated
differently in the US. No Christmas Eve. Remembers how the children would rip
open their presents on Christmas morning (in the US). Everything was
disorganized. Turkey dinners in the US. Fifty years ago were nothing in
comparison to a roast goose. Wild turkeys were dry. Tells about having a roast
beef dinner with yorkshire pudding. First time she had rootbeer, thought it
tastes like something used to kill mosquitoes.
216, side 2
571: RETURNING TO DENMARK
Went home in November 1931. Took the same boat, the Leviathan.
This was during the depression. 115 passengers and about 600 crew on the boat.
Else traveled with a group of students from different European countries who
had been in the US for about three weeks. A German boy in the group said one
day "here I stand surrounded by my enemies." This surprised Else. Met her first
husband, Theodore Beck on the boat. He was a widower. Had a small boy. Couldn't
raise his son alone. Was going to get help from his sister in Denmark. They
stayed at the same hotel in London. Took a boat from Harwich, England to
Esbjerg, Denmark. He went to his family on Jutland. Else went on to
Copenhagen.
216, side 2
675: MARRIAGE
Else had given her address in Copenhagen to Theodore. He came to
Copenhagen and convinced her that she was in love. They couldn't get married
over night. He had to get papers to prove he was a widower. Took time to get a
marriage license too. After they got married, he had to get papers proving that
he could support her so that they could return to America. He was a dairyman.
He worked for Hollywood Dairy in Seattle, Washington. He was born in Sorring,
Denmark near Denmark's highest mountain, which stands at about 500 feet. Their wedding was typically Danish. Invited family and close
friends. Poul Bogsinius (?), the minister who confirmed her performed the
wedding ceremony. He has written a number of books and was also very active
with underground work with the Jews during WWII. Else had a pink gown. Didn't
have a white gown for two reasons: it was her husband's second wedding and she
could use the pink gown more than once. After the ceremony, she and Theodore
took a ride out to Langelinje in Copenhagen where the little mermaid statue
is. When they came home, all of the guests had arrived for dinner.
Her mother had written a song for them. Dinner started with soup. Then they had
fish, probably shrimp. The third course was meat dish, probably pork. Describes
a side dish served with dinner called flikkeporre(?). Leeks were boiled and
served with butter that had been stirred. Had some kind of ice cream for
dessert. Had a white wine glass with fish, red wine with meat, and a madeira
glass with dessert. Many of the guests had speeches for the bride and groom.
Telegrams arrived. Dinner lasted three and half hours. After dinner went in
living room and had wedding cake, coffee, and liquor After the dining room was
cleared, everybody danced. Fifteen to twenty people came to lunch the next day. About twelve
guests came to dinner the day after the wedding. Her mother had help with the
cooking. Weddings lasted for three days. On the day of the wedding people would
come over and give "well-wishes". They were served cookies and a glass of wine.
People not invited to the party feel free to drop in. Else and her husband
stayed in a hotel while so much was going on at home. Later went to Jutland to
visit Theodore's family.
216, side 2
941: RETURNING TO AMERICA
Before leaving at the end of May 1932, they traveled back and
forth between Copenhagen and Jutland, visiting each other's families. They went
back to America on the Leviathan. A lady who had been on the boat when they
came to Denmark, was also returning to America on the same boat. She told
everyone they were newlyweds and that they had met on the boat. They had more
parties.
216, side 2
956: TRIP TO THE WEST COAST
Husband had driven to the East Coast and left his car in New
York. They drove to the West Coast. Went to Washington D.C., drove through the
south, through Texas and Arizona, and up the coast of California, Oregon, and
Washington. Got to Seattle at the end of June.
216, side 2
980: THE DEPRESSION
Their son, Theodore turned six while they were in Denmark. He
started school when they came back to the US. It was sometimes difficult for
Else to be like other children's mothers since she was only nineteen years old
at the time. Her husband expected her a lot of her. He loved canned fruit so he
would bring home boxes of fruit for her to can. They had financial
difficulties. Husband had a hard time finding work. They got along. Things were
cheap. He had had a home but he sold it. They got some money from that every
month. It paid their rent. Else had $10 a week for housekeeping. They would
take little trips in their car for entertainment. Things got better in 1933
when Roosevelt came into office. The NRA started. Helped dairymen who had been
working 28 days before they would get four days off. Changed so that they
worked 12 days then got four days off. More workers were needed so Theodore got
a job.
216, side 2
1079: CHILDREN
Had a daughter, Elin when 21 years old. Had another girl,
Marilyn, three years later. Else stayed home and took care of the kids until
Marilyn started kindergarten.
216, side 2
1090: WORK
People needed when WWII started. A friend of Else's had a
restaurant. Needed help. Else worked part-time, later full-time. She describes
her job. Worked there until 1947.
216, side 2
1132: TRIPS BACK TO DENMARK
Else and her two girls went home to see the family in Denmark in
1947. Continues on tape 217, side 1.
217, side 1
005: CHANGES IN DENMARK
Not many changes in Copenhagen. She had been gone for fifteen
years. Only change was that her parents had moved to a suburb of Copenhagen.
They had a nice house with a nice yard, but it was a handicap because she had
to rely on schedules and public transportation to go to and from town.
217, side 1
046: WWII
Her family wasn't directly involved. Many Danish policemen were
sent to German concentration camps. Not many of them died while in Germany, but
Else's father told her in 1947 that many died after returning to Denmark. Her
brother had been a soldier before the war but he was married and had children
by the time the war started so he wasn't involved. Else's sister second husband
had been involved in the underground during the war. He had been captured and
was on his way to Germany when the war got over. Mother's sister's husband was
killed by a German.
217, side 1
129: DAUGHTERS' IMPRESSIONS OF DENMARK
They loved Denmark. They had never learned Danish. Her first
husband didn't want them to learn it. Many immigrants never learned English
properly. They would get confused with both the English and Danish languages.
Her first husband wanted to learn English well so that he wouldn't have that
problem. He never lost his accent. People could hear that Else had an accent
but many didn't realize that she had been born and raised in Denmark.
217, side 1
211: DANISH FOODS
Else learned to coo in America. Her mother did the cooking in
Denmark. Else learned to cook Danish foods by reading Danish cookbooks. Her
girls can cook some Danish food.
217, side 1
245: DANISH LANGUAGE
Both of her daughters understand Danish. Marilyn can speak quite
a lot of Danish. Elin is a quiet person. Doesn't speak Danish.
217, side 1
263: CHILDREN
(See also II-1079, II-1132, III-129, 211, 245) Elin lives in Lake
Hills. Has a husband and a daughter who is 24 years old and is an aeronautical
engineer. Elin's married name is Justice. Marilyn lives in Berkeley,
California. Husband was educated as a minister. He is now a professor of
psychology at Dominica College at San Rafael. He would like to teach religion
but this college is Catholic and he is Presbyterian. Marilyn takes care of the
house and all of the activities that go on there. She graduated from Stanford
University. She has her master's degree in Library Science, but it's too hard
to work and have a family. They have three children. The eldest is at Stanford
now. The second is 16 years old. The third is a 12 year old girl. Her first
husband's son has his own business in Seattle. Has a Ph.D. in Chemical
Engineering. He's married and has two daughters.
217, side 1
429: CHURCH
Was active in the Danish church near Garfield High School in
Seattle. Her children went to Sunday school there and sang in the choir. They
were confirmed there. They have a new church now, across from Woodland Park and
near the Norse Home. Else was Ladies Aid president at the church for many
years. She has been on the church council.
217, side 1
474: SECOND MARRIAGE
Else got divorced about the time Marilyn graduated from high
school. Else has been married to Crawford for about 27 years. She had known him
for 13 years before they got married. He had his office in the same building as
the first coffee shop she worked in. They got married on Christmas Eve.
Crawford Goodwin was in commercial real estate. Had been a stockbroker before
that. Closed his real estate office last summer (1982) on his 86th
birthday.
217, side 1
564: WORK
(See also II-1090) Didn't work when they were first married.
Later started working for an insurance company. Worked in the company's
lunchroom until she had to retire at age 65. Else got another job at the
"Vaersaagod" restaurant. She knew the owner there.
217, side 1
655: TRIP TO DENMARK
(See also II-571, II-1132, III-005) Else and her second husband
went to Denmark for their honeymoon. They traveled in other parts of Europe as
well. Rented a car in Brussels, Belgium. Drove down through western France and
up through eastern France. Saw the battlegrounds where Crawford had been during
WWI. Crawford was born in Spokane, Washington. Moved to Seattle, Washington
with his family when about four years old. His father was an active real estate
man in Seattle. Elsie tells more about their trip in Europe. Traveled through
Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. They spent three months in Denmark. Went to
England and Scotland before returning to the US. Shipped their car to New York
and drove to the West Coast.
217, side 1
713: CHANGES IN DENMARK
(See also III-005) Much different. She grew up in the middle of
Copenhagen. Many new buildings in Copenhagen. In this trip to Denmark, she
spent a good deal of time on the outskirts of Copenhagen. This was new to her
so she couldn't really judge as to whether it was different or not. Farms have
changed a lot. Farming has become mechanized. No longer have maids and farm
hands living on the farms. Farming has also become specialized. One farmer will
raise pigs, another farmer will raise something else. 763 SUMMERTIME FOR
CHILDREN: School system provided funds for children to spend time in the
country during the summer. Else spent time with relatives who lived in the
country.
217, side 1
799: SCANDINAVIAN ORGANIZATIONS
Treasurer of Danish Sisterhood, on the board of the Danish Home,
on the board of the Nordic Heritage Museum. Belongs to a women's club at her
church, the circle that works for the home (Danish?), Dannelag, a folkdance
group, a singing group. Belongs to the Danish drama club, "Harmonien." Became
active in this club when she first came to Seattle. Became more active in
Danish organizations after she married Crawford.
217, side 1
848: OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Very active in the PTA while her children were growing up. Has
served all offices in the PTA.
217, side 1
858: DANISH SISTERHOOD
(See also III-799) Has served all office in this organization.
Has even been district president. In the fall of 1983, will go to the national
convention as a representative.
217, side 1
869:
Speaks in Danish.
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 :
Andersen, Emil
Beck, Theodore
Christiansen, Valborg Kristine
Goodwin, Crawford
Goodwin,
Else--Interviews
(
creator)
Hammerbak, Laurits Theodor Larsen
Hammerbak, Preben
Jespersen, Ida (Hammerbak)
Justice, Elin Ida (Beck)
Willats, Marilyn (Beck)
Family Names :
Beck family
Christiansen family
Goodwin family
Hammerbak family
Larsen family
Nielsen family
Corporate Names :
Danish
Dramatic Club (Seattle, Wash.)
Danish
Sisterhood of America, Lodge 40 (Seattle, Wash.)
Leviathan
(Steamship)
Nordic
Heritage Museum
Geographical Names :
Copenhagen
(Denmark)
Jutland
(Denmark)
New York
(N.Y.)
Seattle
(Wash.)
Subject Terms :
Christmas
Danish-Americans-- Interviews
Danish-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Social life and
customs
Denmark --
History -- German occupation, 1940-1945
