Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library
Scandinavian Immigrant Experience
Collection
Archives and Special
Collections Department
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA, 98447
253-535-7586
Email:archives@plu.edu
http://www.plu.edu/archives
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Collection Number:
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t127
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Creator:
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Davidson, Inga
Karolina Johanna Brobak
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Title:
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Inga Karolina
Johanna Brobak Davidson Oral History Interview
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Dates:
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1982 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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3 file folders
3 photographs
1
sound cassette
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Languages:
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English
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Summary:
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An oral
history interview with Inga Karolina Joahanna Brobak Davidson, a Norwegian
immigrant.
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Biographical Note
Inga Davidson was born on November 3, 1898 in
Revik, Vågsøy, Norway to Mons Brobak and Magnhild Heggen. Mons was a fisherman,
and Magnhild was his second wife. The Brobak's lived on a farm, and in addition
to Inga, there were seven other children in the family: Mikal, Anton, Marie,
Anna, Alette, Johannes, and Anders. Inga attended school for eight years before
being confirmed, after which she began working in a cannery. Following the
cannery, Inga worked for a family and then for Dr. Olvik in a health
institution south of Bergen. Inga's older brothers had immigrated to America
when she was fairly young, and when she was twenty-six, she received a letter
from Anton and decided to join them in Seattle, WA. Language was a difficulty
at first, but Inga attended night school and learned from the families she
cooked and cleaned for. In addition to housekeeping, Inga also made dresses at
a shop in Seattle.
Inga met her husband, Odin Davidson, at a joint
birthday party of hers and a friend. Odin was a fisherman and the
brother-in-law of Inga's friend. They were married at Ballard Lutheran Church
and then rented an apartment in Tacoma. In 1930, Inga's daughter Judith was
born. Inga also had another daughter, but she died of rheumatic fever when she
was fourteen. Inga and Odin eventually bought a house in Mt. View, where Inga
became active in the Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid. During the summers, she
also worked in a cannery while Odin was out fishing. At the Davidson's home,
Norwegian was spoken and Inga continued to cook traditional Norwegian foods.
Nevertheless, Inga loves the United States and is thankful to live here.
Lineage
Full Name: Inga Karlina Johanna Brobak
Davidson. Maiden Name: Brobak. Father: Mons Brobak. Mother: Magnhild Heggen.
Paternal Grandfather: Mons Brobak. Paternal Grandmother: Malena Kvalheim.
Maternal Grandfather: Knut Heggen. Maternal Grandmother: Ingeborg Heggen.
Brothers and Sisters: Mikal Brobak, Anton Brobak, Marie Brobak, Anna Brobak,
Alette Brobak, Johannes Brobak Anders Brobak Spouse: Odin Davidson Children:
Judith Davidson Another daughter who died at the age of 14 due to rheumatic
fever.
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Inga
Davidson on January 14, 1982 in Tacoma, Washington. It contains information on
family background, emigration, work, marriage and family, church, and Norwegian
heritage. The interview also provides photographs of Inga's family and Inga and
her husband Odin at the time of the interview. The interview was conducted in
English. Also see Odin Davidson, T128.
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.
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.
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.
Related Information
Bibliography
Rasmussen, Janet Elaine. New Land
New Lives: Scandinavian Immigrants to the Pacific NorthwestTacoma, WashingtonUniversity of Washington
Press1993
Additional Reference Guides
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.
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Brobak, Mons |
| Davidson,
Inga--Interviews (creator) |
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Davidson, Judy |
| Davidson, Odin |
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Heggen, Ingeborg |
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Heggen, Knut |
| Heggen, Magnhild |
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Kvalheim, Malena |
| Brobak
family |
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Davidson family |
| Heggen
family |
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Kvalheim family |
| Ballard First Lutheran Church (Seattle, Wash.) |
| Mountain View Lutheran Church (Edgewood, Wash.) |
| Stavangerfjord (Steamship) |
| Bergen
(Norway) |
| Edgewood (Wash.) |
| Seattle (Wash.) |
| Tacoma
(Wash.) |
| Vågsøy
(Norway) |
| Christmas |
| Emigration and
immigration |
| Family--Economic
aspects--Norway |
| Family--Norway |
| Norway--Social
conditions--1945- |
| Norwegian-Americans--Ethnic identity |
| Norwegian-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Interviews |
| Norwegian-Americans--Social life and customs |
| Railroad travel |
| Oral
histories |
| Cannery workers |
| Domestics |
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.
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Cassette Counter
006:
Inga Karlina Johanna Brobak Davidson. Born in Norfjord,
Vågsøy, Norway. This is an island belonging to Norfjord, close to Bergen.
Maaloey was a town on the island. Born November 3, 1898.
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Cassette Counter
020:
PARENTS
Magnhild Heggen and Mons Brobak. They lived in Revik. Name
comes from 'bro' bridge and 'bak' hill.
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Cassette Counter
028:
Father was a fisherman, married, and had six children. First
wife's name was Anna, from Kvalen. Inga's mother was his second wife from
Indefjord (?).
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Cassette Counter
037:
SISTER
Her name is Anna Nebak(?) and she lives in Puyallup now.
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Cassette Counter
043:
Had a farm when she was growing up in Norway. Father and
brothers fished. Three brothers came to America, Anton, Mikal, and Johannes.
They all came to the West Coast. This is why Inga came to America.
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Cassette Counter
054:
SISTERS
Marie married and had a child in Norway. She died young.
Alette Lilevik was an officer for the Salvation Army. She married a man from
Oslo. A brother Anders stayed in Norway around Hardanger until he died.
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Cassette Counter
068:
BROTHERS IN THE
U.S.
One brother married and had
children. The family lived in Norway without their father for a while and later
joined him in Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
079:
FATHER FISHING
Did cod fishing and other kinds of fishing. Had small
boats. Farm was good size, grew food for the family, sold some animals. Father
helped at home too. He did not fish far away. Cows were up on the hills and
needed to be milked and the milk carried home.
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Cassette Counter
095:
GRANDPARENTS
Paternal grandfather was Mons Brobak and Anna.
Maternal grandparents never saw. Knut Heggen was her mother's father.
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Cassette Counter
107:
HOME
River and ocean close by. Lots of white sand which is now
very famous sand. "As white as wheat flour." There are now many tourists in
this area because a bridge has been built between the island and the
mainland.
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Cassette Counter
121:
CHILDHOOD HOME
Big. Brothers left home before Inga really knew
them.
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Cassette Counter
131:
CHRISTMAS
Had tree in the middle of the floor. Went to
neighbors and sang around the Christmas tree.
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Cassette Counter
137:
CHURCH: Walked. Went Christmas Day, the preacher came by
boat. Had church every three weeks because the pastor had other churches.
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Cassette Counter
148:
CHRISTMAS
FOODS
Spekekjott, julesteik (this steak
is a side of lamb salted, dried, and steamed for three hours), ate potatoes,
and flatbroed with it. Also ate roemmegroet.
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Cassette Counter
163:
Could not afford to have many gifts. They usually made their
own. Did baking and preparing before Christmas.
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Cassette Counter
176:
CUSTOMS
Heard about the Julenissen but did not believe in it.
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Cassette Counter
181:
SCHOOL
Walked. Went for eight years. Went to confirmation after
school. Skated to places in the winter, too rough for skiing.
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Cassette Counter
199:
Had a nice childhood. Worked from the time that she was
little milking cows.
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Cassette Counter
204:
WORK
Worked in a cannery in Måløy after school. Also worked for a
family. Worked for Dr. Olvik, south of Bergen in an institution for sick
people, worked in the dining room. He was a natural doctor, cured without
medicine. Used foods, proper diets.
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Cassette Counter
222:
Age 26 Inga got a letter from her brother Anton in America.
Anton worked for the Standard Oil Company in Seattle. Ivar Dahl, Inga's uncle
was really responsible for getting them all to America. Her brother sent money
for her ticket over.
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Cassette Counter
254:
Came to America in 1927. It did not bother her to come over
because she had done so much traveling in Norway.
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Cassette Counter
267:
TRIP OVER
Took the Stavangerfjord, left from Bergen. Took a
week to get all the way to the West Coast. Really enjoyed the boat trip.
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Cassette Counter
293:
In New York they were examined for what they brought over. No
trouble. Got on a train to come west.
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Cassette Counter
296:
LANGUAGE
Could not speak any English. No difficulties making
out on the train. Met by her brother in Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
300:
WORK
Started work in Seattle working for families doing cleaning
and cooking. This helped her to learn English.
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Cassette Counter
310:
Brothers had a house. She did housekeeping for them. Did
dressmaking at a shop in Seattle. She had learned this skill in Norway. Paid by
how many dresses they made.
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Cassette Counter
338:
MOST DIFFICULT THINGS
ABOUT COMING TO THE U.S.
Language. Went
to night school and learned there. People were nice to her here.
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Cassette Counter
359:
CITIZENSHIP
Received this after she was married.
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Cassette Counter
362:
MEETING
HUSBAND
Interesting story. Had a friend
who had a birthday on the same day as her. At a birthday party she met her
friend's brother-in-law. Later to be her husband. This friend was from the area
in Norway that Inga was from, her name was Carolina (?). Inga's husband name is
Odin Davidson.
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Cassette Counter
386:
WEDDING
Went to Ballard Lutheran Church. Friends were there.
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Cassette Counter
397:
Husband fished. They had an apartment in Tacoma. Daughter
Judy was born in St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma. Husband was gone fishing for
months at a time.
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Cassette Counter
420:
DAUGHTER
Married and has six children. Husband's name is
Wilfred. Inga had another daughter who died of rheumatic fever at the age of
14. Judy's husband was a teacher, now does mechanical things for Boeing.
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Cassette Counter
441:
Inga lived in Seattle for a while until they bought a house
in Mt. View. Lived here many years and had a farm.
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Cassette Counter
465:
MT. VIEW LUTHERAN
CHURCH
Active in the church and in Ladies
Aid.
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Cassette Counter
474:
WORK
Did work in the cannery during the summer when her husband
was gone fishing.
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Cassette Counter
480:
FARM
Had sheep, cows, used the wool for blankets. Ate lamb meat.
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Cassette Counter
490:
THINGS BROUGHT FROM
NORWAY
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Cassette Counter
509:
Inga's mother made all their clothes when they were young.
She did carding, spinning, weaving, and sewing.
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Cassette Counter
514:
GRANDCHILDREN
Oldest girl lives in Santa Clara, California. Her
name is Pamela. She works for Crocker Bank. Oldest son, Rodney lives in
Bellevue and works for the Oil Company. Kevin had been in Germany in the Army.
He is now a security officer at a bank. Darrell is a cook in a restaurant. A
grandson does work for the National Journal in Washington D.C. Todd is the
youngest. Randy is here in Tacoma.
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Cassette Counter
580:
SCANDINAVIAN
ORGANIZATIONS
Does not belong to any
Scandinavian organizations, they are too far away. She is more involved with
the church.
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Cassette Counter
587:
TRIPS BACK TO
NORWAY
1951 took a trip back with her
sisters. CHANGES: Homes had more nice things, more money, better life. Pay a
lot of taxes, government takes care of health care and retirement. Childhood
home still there, has been sold to the neighbors.
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Cassette Counter
631:
BOAT TRIP
Talks about taking a boat back to the U.S. and
spending the night on the boat in New York. Says she looked at the Statue of
Liberty all night, it was so beautiful. Appreciates being in America.
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Cassette Counter
640:
CITIZENSHIP
Studied for it, went to court. Had not trouble
getting it.
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Cassette Counter
658:
FEELINGS ABOUT LEAVING
NORWAY
Not ashamed. Norwegians are
intelligent good people. Thankful to be in the U.S. Had no intentions of
staying in Norway. Still has some contacts in Norway, writes letters.
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Cassette Counter
013:
Brother's family still is in Tacoma. His children live around
University Place. They had all come from Norway in 1929.
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Cassette Counter
027:
COMPARING SWEDES TO
NORWEGIANS
All Swedes have been very nice
people. Swedes are used to a better life than Norwegians. Swedes had more
money.
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Cassette Counter
040:
Inga's daughter grew up speaking Norwegian. It was the
language spoken at home. Her daughter went to PLU.
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Cassette Counter
049:
CUSTOMS STILL
MAINTAINED
Julestek, lefse, gumme (cooked
milk until it's brown). Still do baking at Christmas.
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Cassette Counter
068:
NORWEGIAN
LANGUAGE
Has forgotten much of the
language and Norwegian expressions.
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Cassette Counter
085:
Inga loves this country. People are very nice to her here.
Work here more fair than in Norway. Paid about $30 a month, when working with a
family, including room and board.
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Cassette Counter
128:
In Norway maids were slaves, could not eat with the family.
Could eat with the family in America.
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