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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t072-073
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Creator:
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Odmark, Elsie Karlson
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Title:
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Elsie Karlson Odmark
Oral History Interview
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Dates:
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1981 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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2 file folders
2 sound cassettes
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Languages:
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Some Swedish
toward the end of the interviewEnglish
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Summary:
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An oral history interview with Elsie
Karlson Odmark, a Swedish immigrant.
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Biographical Note
Elsie Odmark, originally Elsa Karlson, was born on June 1, 1904 in
Töreboda, Sweden. Elsie's parents, Hilda Larsson and Per August Karlson, farmed
in Sweden but were quite poor. In search of better employment, her father moved
to America in 1911, and that is the last Elsie remembers of him. At that time,
five of Elsie's brothers and sisters already lived in America; there were
twelve children in the Carlson family. Since they had so little money, Elsie
began working for her room and board when she was only eight years old. Per
Karlson sent money to his family back in Sweden, and more of her siblings moved
to America.
When Elsie was ten years old, her mother died, so an older sister
living in the United States returned to Sweden to take care of the family. In
1915, Elsie finally moved to America with some of her siblings. She settled in
Nebraska with her mother's cousin and began attending school. Elsie's family
rented a farm across the road from the renowned Boys Town, founded by Father
Flanagan. Her father assisted the new home for boys by teaching them to farm.
Elsie was confirmed in Nebraska, even though her family was not active in the
church. Elsie's family began to scatter among different states; Elsie moved
with an older sister to Chicago and did housework to earn money. Then she lived
for a time with her oldest sister in Muskegon, Michigan. Other members of her
family joined them after her sister's husband died of tuberculosis.
One sister encouraged Elsie to attend a dance at the Vikings; there
she met Adolph Odmark, a "handsome Swede." They married in 1928 and soon
thereafter took a trip to Sweden to visit relatives for four months. Elsie and
Adolph, residing in Muskegon, Michigan, raised four children: Marianne,
Raymond, Richard, and Donald. For many years, Elsie worked in the food
industry, even establishing her own successful catering business. Around 1970,
two of Elsie and Adolph's sons encouraged them to move to Tacoma; they retired
just before they made the move out west. Elsie became very involved in the
community through Bethel Lutheran Church, Vasa, and the Vasa Friendship Club.
She and Adolph visited Sweden two more times before Adolph was diagnosed with
cancer and passed away. Although Elsie moved to America at a very young age,
she treasures her Swedish heritage and enjoys practicing Swedish traditions.
Lineage
Full Name: Elsie Odmark. Maiden Name: Elsie Karlson. Father: Per
August Karlson. Mother: Hilda Larsson. Brothers and Sisters: August Karlson,
Ellen Bylund, Anna Karlson, Harvey Karlson, Freda Dahlman, Bertil Karlson, Nels
Karlson, Swen Karlson, Knute Karlson, Lars Karlson, Erik Karlson. Spouse:
Adolph Odmark. Children: Raymond Odmark, Marianne Odmark, Richard Odmark,
Donald Odmark.
Content Description
The interview was conducted with Elsie Odmark on July 29, 1981 in
Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on personal background,
family, life in Sweden, emigration, work, church and community life, and
Swedish heritage. This interview is excellent. It is lengthy and detailed and
gives insight into the transition from an impecunious lifestyle to a life in
"the land of plenty." The interview was conducted in English with some Swedish
towards the end of the interview.
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 Morrene Nesvig 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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| Karlson, Elsa |
| Karlson, Per August |
| Larsson, Hilda |
| Odmark, Adolph |
| Odmark, Donald |
| Odmark, Elsie--Interviews (creator) |
| Odmark, Marianne |
| Odmark, Raymond |
| Odmark, Richard |
| Karlson family |
| Larsson family |
| Odmark family |
| Bethel Lutheran Church (Tacoma, Wash.) |
| Boys Town
(Neb.) |
| United
States (Steamship) |
| Vasa Order
of America. Lodge Number 233 (Tacoma, Wash.) |
| Älgarås (Sweden) |
| Finnerödja (Sweden) |
| Muskegon
(Mich.) |
| Nebraska
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| Tacoma
(Wash.) |
| Töreboda (Sweden) |
| Education --
Sweden |
| Emigration and immigration
-- Sweden |
| Family --
Sweden |
| Marriage service |
| Naturalization |
| Ocean travel |
| Sweden -- Economic
conditions |
| Sweden -- Social conditions
-- 1945 |
| Swedish-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Interviews |
| Swedish-Americans--Social life and customs |
| Oral histories |
| Caterers and catering
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| Domestics |
| Farmers |
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
049:
ELSIE KRISTINA KARLSON ODMARK
In Sweden her name was Elsa Karlson. Born June 1, 1904 in
Toreboda, Vaestergotland, Sweden. Toreboda is located on the Goeta Kanal
between Stockholm and Goteborg (Gothenburg). This was a small farming
community.
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Cassette Counter
118:
PARENTS
Mother, Hilda Larsson. Father, Per August Karlson. He was a
farmer. Elsie's parents started farming after they were married.
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Cassette Counter
140:
They were poor. Her father went to work on the railroad. That's
the last she remembers of him before he left Sweden in 1911.
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Cassette Counter
157:
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
John August, Ellen, Anna, Freda, Gustav, Bertil, Nels, Swen,
Knute, Elsa, Lars, and Erik.
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Cassette Counter
189:
GRANDPARENTS
Doesn't remember them on either side.
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Cassette Counter
194:
BACKGROUND OF NAME KARLSON
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Cassette Counter
223:
They were very poor when Elsie's father left for America. Five of
Elsie's brothers and sisters were already in America. Oldest brother saved
money to send father to America. Her brothers all settled in St. Edward,
Nebraska. Later they moved to a place 12 miles west of Omaha, Nebraska.
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Cassette Counter
249:
In Sweden, they were very poor. Elsie went out to work for her
room and board when 8 years old. Cleaned up house, making beds, feeding…
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Cassette Counter
260:
...chickens, and going to school. Family rented a two room house.
Big living room with open fireplace. Big kitchen with two beds in it. Elsie and
her two little brothers were the only kids home. Mother got sick. Elsie went
with her to a health resort in Landsbro (?), Sweden. This was a well-to-do
community. The children made fun of Elsie because she washed the clothes. A
kind woman said she'd wash the clothes so the kids wouldn't make fun of her.
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Cassette Counter
299:
Elsie's oldest brother had promised to come home after five years.
He came in the fall after they'd come back from Landsbro. When he left for
America again, he took another brother with him.
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Cassette Counter
323:
Older sister, two older brothers, herself, and two younger
brothers were left in Sweden. Two older brothers were working for farmers and
going to school. They worked only for room and board, just as Elsie did. Her
father would send his check home every month.
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Cassette Counter
352:
Her mother died when Elsie was 10 years old. Her sister, who was
18 years old, came home and took care of them. Once the check missed the boat.
All they had was a little sugar. Her mother had a well-to-do brother who had a
farm. Elsie's sister was too proud to accept help that was offered. Two of his
hired help came down. Said they'd ask Uncle John if they could bring some food
to them until the check came. Sister wouldn't accept that. The hired help
suggested they just take some food from him then. She accepted that. Elsie
loves America because she's never been hungry here.
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Cassette Counter
422:
TRIP TO AMERICA
First boat they were to come on sank. Brother got chickenpox.
That's why they couldn't go. Plan was for the whole family to come. Mother
died. As youngsters, they thought they'd have plenty of money and no poverty in
America. Wouldn't have to work as hard.
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Cassette Counter
500:
Many got seasick on the trip. Elsie didn't. Sailed from Oslo on
the ship, "United States." Took train from Algaraas to Oslo, Norway. On the
boat they played the song, "Amerikabåten lägger ut" (The America boat is
leaving). Her brother fought with a groups of Finns on the way.
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Cassette Counter
555:
They traveled third class. People were very nice to them.
Remembers seeing the Statue of Liberty. Examined at Ellis Island. Thought they…
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Cassette Counter
580:
...could go right away. Had to have three signers. Sent telegrams
to two sisters in Omaha, and their father who was running a farm outside of
Omaha. Elsie and the others had the required $25, the train tickets to
Nebraska, and were healthy, but they were underage. Mr. O'Keith (owner of the
farm her dad rented), Mr. Swanson (president of Nebraska Clothing Co.), and a
lawyer in Omaha (that one of her sister worked for) were the signers.
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Cassette Counter
628:
There were people who didn't make it through Ellis Island. If they
were dirty or unhealthy they were sent back. There were mostly Swedes, Finns,
and Norwegians on the boat. Ellis Island seemed like a prison, but the
officials weren't mean.
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Cassette Counter
656:
TRAIN TRIP FROM NEW YORK TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Six of them traveling speaking Swedish. Sat where four seats faced
each other. Two youngest would sit on the oldest sister. Tells a story about
the train conductor. Food much different than Swedish food. Thought the scenery
was beautiful.
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Cassette Counter
712:
Nobody met them at the station. Finally, a beautiful woman came up
and spoke Swedish to them. Offered to help. She got a policeman who was
Swedish. He arranged for a taxi to take them to McCarter's Store. There was a
Swedish girl working there. Mr. McCarter gave them each a banana. Didn't like
it.
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Cassette Counter
774:
Brother came with a lumber wagon and two horses to pick them up.
Whole family was together that evening. Very exciting. Interested in the
furniture and the oven in her father's house. Next day looked at the chickens,
pigs, and horses.
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Cassette Counter
812:
They came in May 1915. Didn't bring anything special with them.
She has only one picture of her mother and father.
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Cassette Counter
829:
REASON FOR SETTLING IN NEBRASKA
Mother had a cousin living there. She was married to the man who
her mother wanted to marry. She couldn't because he was just a hired hand on
her father's place. This young man went to St. Edward, Nebraska and married
Elsie's mother's cousin. Mother's sister and oldest brother went there too.
Many Swedes there.
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Cassette Counter
864:
Started school the next fall. School outside of Omaha, Nebraska,
across from McCarter's Store. Teacher, Miss McDermouth, very…
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Cassette Counter
876:
helpful. Father spoke Swedish at home. He was a farmer. His
children always spoke Swedish to him.
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Cassette Counter
901:
LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES DIDN'T TROUBLE HER
Having only an eighth grade education did. She got over her
"inferiority complex" when she was 26 and went to Sweden. She found that many
with twelve years of education were no better than she was. She had good
manners because she'd worked for many wealthy people in Omaha.
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Cassette Counter
924:
14 YEARS OLD
Graduated. Stayed home and kept house. Two oldest sisters had
stayed home the first few years. It was the third sister's turn but she
wouldn't stay home. Elsie had got a scholarship to business school but had to
give it up.
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Cassette Counter
942:
AMERICA THE LAND OF PLENTY
Opinion hasn't changed. Could still be great if people weren't so
greedy.
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Cassette Counter
962:
Tells story about one of their first suppers in Nebraska. Sister
called them to come in for supper. They thought she meant soup. Saw the dinner
table. Bread and butter, milk, chicken, vegetables, potatoes. Next best thing
to heaven.
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Cassette Counter
981:
Rented a farm near Boys Town, Nebraska. Four miles from where they
were before on Lincoln Highway. Many Germans in the area. Germans treated the
Swedes and Father Flanagan's boys rudely. This was during WWI. Authorities came
to make sure the Germans weren't speaking German in school. Boy's Town was
across the road from Elsie's family. Elsie's little brother loved Father
Flanagan. He played with the boys there. Flanagan started out with six boys.
Elsie's father helped them learn to farm. Gave them potatoes and pork. Elsie's
brother went to visit Father Flanagan each year until Flanagan died. He was a
very nice kind man. Elsie's father is recognized in the history of Boy's Town
because of the help he gave them.
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Cassette Counter
116:
CHURCH LIFE
Confirmed in Benson, Nebraska. Her family was not active in the
church. Elsie had promised her mother that she would get confirmed in America.
Father felt church was too far away. Brother, three years older, confirmed too.
Father didn't come. One sister came. Took horse twelve miles every Saturday for
one year. Confirmed in Swedish.
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Cassette Counter
118:
Good experiences with some Germans. Mrs. Standard, a neighbor, had
no children. Taught Elsie many things. Taught her to make bread. Only had bad
experiences with German children.
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Cassette Counter
145:
MOVE TO CHICAGO
Oldest sister moved to Michigan. Married. Had a little boy.
Elsie's father sold out. Moved to Michigan. Following year, Elsie and an older
sister (10 years older) moved to the north side of Chicago, amongst the Swedes.
Elsie did housework. Had done…
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Cassette Counter
189:
...that in Omaha for one year. Cooked there. Most people she
worked for were nice. Duties: get up in the morning, do housework, and cook.
The judge she worked for in Omaha treated her like another member of the
family.
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Cassette Counter
248:
Worked in laundry in Chicago for a while. Didn't like it. Went
back to housework. Always cooked American food. Didn't have Swedish food until
she went to Michigan. Learned from on old Swedish lady.
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Cassette Counter
308:
MARRIAGE
Went to Muskegon, Michigan when she was 21 because her oldest
sister who lived there had a baby boy on her birthday. Elsie had to get her
tonsils out while there so she stayed longer than planned. In December of that
year, her sister's husband died of TB. Her sister didn't have much so Elsie
stayed to help out. Her father and little brothers were living in Michigan. Her
brothers in Nebraska moved to Muskegon. Sister in Chicago came a few months
later. Sister had a small farm in the boy's name. Rented a house in town.
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Cassette Counter
392:
Elsie started working in the office of Brunswick Records. Elsie's
sisters worked in their factory and made twice as much money. Soon the whole
family was working in the factory. Elsie's sister had two boys, the
six-month-old Roy Bylund and a two year old.
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Cassette Counter
448:
Sister came home from a dance. Mentioned that a handsome Swede was
there. Elsie loves Swedish dances, schottis, hambo, waltz, etc. Went to the
next dance at the Vikings and met the handsome Swede, Adolph Odmark. He had
come to the U.S. in 1925. Married in 1928.
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Cassette Counter
499:
Adolph got a letter from his mother in Sweden. He'd promised to go
back to Sweden in two years. She wrote that oldest son promised the same thing.
Broke promise when he got married. Elsie told him he was going to go back to
Sweden to visit his mother. They saved money. Didn't have quite enough to for
Elsie to go. Elsie's sister gave them what they needed.
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Cassette Counter
540:
FIRST TRIP TO SWEDEN
Met his mother. She was very nice. They stayed for four months. He
was from Ornskoldsvik in Aangermanland. Whole family…
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Cassette Counter
569:
was nice. Wanted to stay there. Took the boat to Gothenburg
(Goteborg). Took train to Aangermanland. Didn't know about midnight sun. They…
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Cassette Counter
618:
...saw a beautiful waterfall at 11:00pm. Tells about first
breakfast food. Didn't know how to eat Swedish food. Many relatives and
friends…
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Cassette Counter
644:
...came to visit. Went to dances over there. Adolph's mother
didn't approve. Elsie convinced her it was all right. Elsie left before her
husband did. His mother was sick. Elsie went south to visit her relatives.
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Cassette Counter
670:
BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN
Father didn't take out the papers that would make them citizens
while they were in Nebraska. Adolph took out his first papers as soon as he
came to the U.S. Elsie took out hers after she met Adolph. They were rejected
because they went back to Sweden too soon. Took out first papers again after
they came back. War broke out. At the factory, they asked Elsie if she was a
citizen. She wasn't. Her husband was just about ready to become citizen and
then she could take out her second papers. She feared she'd get laid off. They
checked her records at the courthouse. Let her work if she promised to take out
citizen papers as soon as Adolph became a citizen.
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Cassette Counter
703:
Became a citizen when 40 years old.
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Cassette Counter
717:
SWEDISH ORGANIZATIONS
The Vikings. They had all kinds of Swedish activities, dinners and
dances. Brother's wife knew some of the Swedish boys who attended the dances.
Took her there and introduced her. Brother and sister-in-law left her there and
went to a show. Elsie danced nearly every dance. Had fun.
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Cassette Counter
749:
Before Elsie got married, she went out with kids to American
dances as well.
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Cassette Counter
764:
CHLDREN
Marianne, Raymond, Richard, and Donald. Gave her kids American
names that Swedes could pronounce. Raised her kids in Muskegon. All graduated
from high school. All baptized and confirmed at the Swedish church in Muskegon
(Samuel Lutheran).
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Cassette Counter
810:
CATERING SERVICE
Company Elsie worked for moved to Arkansas. Left employees without
a pension. Elise told them that they wouldn't make it. They had a thousand
people wishing them bad luck. They went broke. This was the Norge Corporation
that made Norge refrigerators.
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Cassette Counter
822:
Elsie didn't need to work anymore. Her kids were grown up. She'd
have a babysitter come to the house and watch the kids.
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Cassette Counter
844:
A restaurant in town (Docks?) called. Wanted her to wait on
tables. They called again to help in the kitchen. Husband suggested she go into
catering. Inherited $200 dollars from a brother who passed away in Alaska. Went
into a partnership with Marsha Smith. Started this when she was 60 years old.
Did most of the cooking in her home. Catered…
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Cassette Counter
915:
..the fish fry at the Elk's park. Did all the frying at the park.
Deep-fried the fish. Had 90 people at first fish fry that summer. 400 at the
last fish fry in August.
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Cassette Counter
927:
Cooked whatever the people wanted. Cooked Swedish food for the
Vikings. Did charity work for the church and for the city's "All Nations
Celebration" at the YMCA. Cooked Swedish food.
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Cassette Counter
939:
Joined the Vikings when 46 years old. (See also II-717).
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Cassette Counter
942:
Made good money catering. Had five girls working for her. They
enjoyed it.
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Cassette Counter
950:
Husband worked for Bennet Pump for 35 years. Worked in the
factory. Her son-in-law works there too.
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Cassette Counter
955:
Vikings have insurance. Similar to Vasa or Sons of Norway. Elise
and her husband came to Seattle for a Viking convention once.
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Cassette Counter
961:
Their sons led them to Tacoma to live. They were both in Vietnam.
The oldest one was an officer. Came to Fort Lewis for the first time. Liked it.
Came back from Vietnam very unhappy about the war. Only a political hassle.
Middle boy's wife was having her last baby. Elsie came out in January to help.
This was 12 years ago. Thought it was beautiful. They sold their house in
Mukegon, Michigan and drove west. Elsie did the driving. She was 66 then.
Visited their daughter in Oklahoma and Elsie's brother in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. Were very happy to come to Tacoma, Washington. They retired just before
they moved west.
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Cassette Counter
1046:
Made a lot of money from her catering. They took a trip to Sweden.
Charter flight. Didn't like the drinking that went on on the way home. Tells
about her first drink in Sweden when and her husband went to visit his mother
when they were first married.
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Cassette Counter
011:
THIRD TRIP TO SWEDEN
Her youngest brother wanted to go to Sweden. His Swedish wasn't
that great. His wife is of German background. They wanted Elsie and Adolph to
go too. They flew to Copenhagen, Denmark. Went to Malmo, Sweden and rented a
car. This was 1974.
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Cassette Counter
101:
Drove up through Gothenburg (Goteborg). Drove to Toreboda. Found
her cousin there. Stayed there a while.
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Cassette Counter
152:
Drove to northern Sweden. Visited her husband's relatives. Stayed
at their summer cottage. Drove down through Norway, back to Malmo, Sweden, and
home again.
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Cassette Counter
167:
Husband had been tired over there. After they came home, they
found he had cancer. Brother had a heart attack. Good thing they went in '74.
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Cassette Counter
191:
SWEDEN TODAY
Disapproved of their free sex, drugs, and the school system.
Problems that the U.S. has too. Kids don't have to work hard. Too free. Sweden
is beautiful. Take care of their old people. No poverty. Doesn't approve of
Swedish military policies.
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Cassette Counter
269:
TACOMA
Lonely at first. Left all her Swedish friends in Michigan. Moved
into an apartment. Didn't like it. Found a small house. One Swedish neighbor.
Many nice neighbors. Found out oldest brother died. Sons home from Vietnam,
without work. Boys went fishing a lot.
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Cassette Counter
310:
Saw in a newspaper that Arvid Lindgren, who lived up the road, was
85 and belonged to the Vasa. She hadn't joined in Michigan because she didn't
have time. Went to Mr. Lindgren's house. Asked how she could join. He told her
to call Elsie Person. She joined by herself. Husband wouldn't go with her. Was
a hostess for one their luncheons. Ruth Nelson helped her. Got acquainted with
people that way.
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377:
Started going to the Christmas morning services in Swedish. This
was Bethel Lutheran Church on 54th and I. Belongs to that church.
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403:
Belongs to Bethel Lutheran Church, Vasa, and the Vasa Friendship
Club. Helps at Scandinavian Days every year. Makes coffee all five days. Has
worked there every year since her husband died. National Vasa convention to be
held in Tacoma in 1982. Making silk flowers for the convention. Thelma Johnson
is in charge of arrangements.
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Cassette Counter
433:
Loves the Scandinavian community in Tacoma. This group has been
good to her. Haven't forgotten her since her husband died. She'd like to go
visit her daughter in Michigan but she wouldn't live there.
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469:
GRANDCHILDREN
9-2 in Castle Rock, Wash.
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477:
SWEDISH TRADITION
Christmas, have potato sausage. Family doesn't like lutfisk. Has
lutfisk dinner for friends. Christmas Eve fixes dinner for the family.
Meatballs, sylta (made with veal), cheese, hardtack, thin bread. Her daughter
always used to play the piano and they'd sing Swedish Christmas songs.
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525:
Children don't speak Swedish. She was disgusted with the German
kids when she went to school. Didn't want her children to be like that.
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535:
Her children are interested in Sweden. Her oldest son took Elsie
and Adolph out to Pacific Lutheran University once for some kind of Swedish
activity in Olson Auditorium. Tells about when they brought in the Norwegian
and Swedish flags.
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582:
Says a prayer in Swedish.
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603:
Elsie came to the U.S. when quite young. Remembered a lot of
things. Her father always bought a newspaper called "Svenska Amerikaneren"
(Swedish-American). It had stories and interesting articles in it. Elsie has
read that from the time she came over here. It was printed in Chicago. Two
youngest brothers don't speak much Swedish. The one who went to Sweden started
to pick it up while there. He liked Sweden.
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634:
SWEDISH HOSPITAL
Very proud to be Swedish. Swedes are hard working. Most of them
very good people. Wouldn't choose to be anything else. Still, she loves
America. This is her home.
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