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



Guide to the Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole Anderson Oral History Interview, 1981


t052





Finding aid prepared by Kerstin Ringdahl and Amity Smetzler

Finding aid encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl and Jane Berentson, 2004
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

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

 
Collection Number:
 

t052

 
Creator:
 

Anderson, Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole

 
Title:
 

Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole Anderon Oral History Interview

 
Dates:
 

1981 (inclusive)

 
Quantity:
 

2 file folders
1 sound cassette
2 compact discs

 
Languages:
 

Some Norwegian toward the end of the tape.English 

 
Summary:
 

An oral history interview with Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole Anderson, a Norwegian immigrant.

 

Biographical Note

Inga Anderson was born Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole on October 18, 1892 in Hole, Norway. Her parents were Jens Petter and Anna Hole, and there were six other children in the family: Jensina, Petra, Jakob, Kornelia, and Lars. The family lived on a farm with twelve cows, two horses, and approximately thirty sheep. Inga had a cousin, Mrs. Sather, in Tacoma, WA, and in May 1912, Inga decided to immigrate to America to live with her. Two days after she arrived in Tacoma, she became employed at a boarding house, where her duties included washing clothes and making the beds. In Tacoma, Inga met her husband, Olaf Anderson, who was originally from Ålesund, Norway and worked for Northern Pacific Railroad. Olaf and Inga had two children, Astrid and Arnold, and Norwegian was spoken in their home. Inga also continued to cook traditional Norwegian dishes, including lutefisk, rommegrøt, rullepølse, sylteflesk, bloodpudding, and fiske pudding. For the most part, Inga was a homemaker after she was married, but she supplemented her husband's income by cleaning, catering, and serving meals. Inga was also active in the Daughters of Norway and at Mount Zion Lutheran Church. *Note: The Archive interview sheet refers to Inga having a sister named Petra and a sister named Helena, but they were the same person.

Lineage

Full Name: Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole Anderson Maiden Name: Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole Father: Jens Petter Hole Mother: Anna Hole Paternal Grandfather: Jakob Hole Paternal Grandmother: Jensina Hole Brothers and Sisters: Jensina Hole Petra/Helena Hole Kornelia Hole Jakob Hole Lars Hole Spouse: Olaf Anderson Children: Astrid Anderson Arnold Anderson

Content Description

This interview was conducted with Inga Anderson on April 14, 1981 in Tacoma, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration, work, marriage, community activities, and Norwegian heritage. The interview was conducted in English with Norwegian towards the end of the tape.

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 Unkown 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

Related Materials 

To search and view Pacific Lutheran University's digitized images, visit our Digital Assets Website

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.

     
    Anderson, Arnold
    Anderson, Astrid
    Anderson, Inga--Interviews (creator)
    Anderson, Olaf
    Hole, Anna
    Hole, Jens Petter
    Hole, Jensina
    Mrs. Sather
    Anderson family
    Hole family
    Sather family
    Daughters of Norway (U.S.) Embla Lodge #2 (Tacoma, Wash.)
    Mount Zion Lutheran Church (Tacoma, Wash.)
    Normanna Hall (Tacoma, Wash.)
    White Star Line
    Ålesund (Norway)
    Hole (Norway)
    Tacoma (Wash.)
    Christmas
    Cookery--Norwegian
    Emigration and immigration
    Family--Norway
    Norway--Social conditions--1945-
    Norwegian-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Interviews
    Norwegian-Americans--Social life and customs
    Oral histories
    Caterers and catering
    Domestics
    Housekeepers

    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
    52, side 1


    Cassette Counter  006/01:  PERSONAL BACKGROUND
    Inga Karolina Olivia Jensdatter Hole. Born October 18, 1892 in Hole, Norway near Ålesund. There were twelve farmers in this area called Hole.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  027:  
    Jens Petter Hole, farmer. Anna Hole farm wife. Had twelve cows, two horses, and about thirty sheep.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  039:  
    Jensina, Inga Karolina, Petra, Helena, Jakob, Kornelia, and Lars.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  051:  GRANDPARENTS
    Paternal, Jakob, a farmer and Jensina. They lived on the farm also. Maternal from Velle, Norway.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  073/02:  ARRIVAL U.S.
    May 1912, better here than Norway. Cousin in Tacoma, Mrs. Sather. Not so much hard work. Borrowed money from her father to come.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  111:  JOURNEY TO U.S.
    Took the White Star Liner to Canada. Went to Ålesund to get the tickets and then to a boat to Oslo. Was going to go on the Titanic, but it sunk.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  140:  FEELINGS LEAVING NORWAY
    Numb.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  148/03:  ARRIVED ELLIS ISLAND
    Steered by a long stick. Train to Victoria, Canada and on to Tacoma.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  161:  
    Thoughts/Doings upon arrival in Tacoma. Beautiful place.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  174:  EMPLOYMENT
    Two days later. Boarding house, washing clothes and making beds (see counter I-488).
     
     


    Cassette Counter  198:  LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
    Train trip. Began to pick up English at the boarding house. Always someone who understood her. Mrs. Sather's husband worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  226/04:  
    Young people from Norway socialize at the Lutheran church. Joined the Daughters of Norway in later years (see counter I-297). This was the First Lutheran Church.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  244:  MEETING HUSBAND
    Norwegian descent from Ålesund. Employed at Northern Pacific Railroad.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  274:  CHILDREN
    Astrid and Arnold. Six grandchildren.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  282:  
    Norwegian spoken at home.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  289:  
    Home life in Tacoma. Bought a home.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  279:  DAUGHTERS OF NORWAY
    Preparation of lutefisk dinner. Christmas, rommegrøt and how to make it. (see counter I-226)
     
     


    Cassette Counter  373/05:  FAMILY FAVORITES
    Rullepølse, sylteflesk, bloodpudding, fiskepudding.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  437:  HOMEMAKING IN EARLY TACOMA DAYS
    Not on Sundays, Sundays for church.
     
     
    52, side 1

    Cassette Counter  465/06:  WORKING IN HOUSES
    Job description. Worked in three homes Feisen Bachrach, Kennedy's, and the Johnson's. (see counter I-174) Got $12 a month at the Kennedy's.
     
     
    52, side 1

    Cassette Counter  563:  SERVING DINNERS
    Cooked and served it to supplement income (see counter I-465).
     
     


    Cassette Counter  579/07:  EMPLOYEES
    Treated like family. Job came naturally. Men had it easier.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  645:  
    Husband dug out the basement. Gardening.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  672/08:  
    Canning and preserving vegetables. Stored them in the basement.
     
     
    52, side 2

    Cassette Counter  SIDE II:  
     
     


    Cassette Counter  004/09:  HOMEMADE JAMS
    A few comments on canning.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  007:  CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS
    Norwegian Christmas vs. American-Norwegian Christmas. Celebration at Normanna Hall.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  046:  CHURCH LIFE
    Mount Zion Lutheran Church (see counter II-080).
     
     


    Cassette Counter  062:  DAUGHTERS OF NORWAY
    Impossible when it comes to speaking Norwegian.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  080:  CHURCH
    Important here just as in Norway. (see counter II-046). Spoke Norwegian in earlier times in church. Language use in Daughters of Norway.
     
     
    52, side 2

    Cassette Counter  086/10:  MEDICAL CARE IN EARLY DAYS TACOMA
    Diptheria, the house was quarantined. The children were born in the hospital.
     
     
    52, side 2

    Cassette Counter  132:  SEWING
    For self and family. Bought a Franklin sewing machine (fore-runner to Singer).
     
     


    Cassette Counter  157:  FORSETH GROCERY STORE
    People nice. Able to charge.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  174/11:  
    Bought first car in 1936. Prior to this they used the street car.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  189:  VISITING NORWAY
    ca. 1951 alone. (see counter II-244) Sad trip father died. Visited Hole, Norway.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  220:  CORRESPONDENCE WITH NORWAY
    No letters to or from Norway during WWI. WWII was just as bad.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  244:  VISITING NORWAY
    Ready to go home after a few months (see counter II-189). Glad she came to America.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  263:  IMPORTANCE OF NORWEGIAN HERITAGE
    Relates work here vs. Norway. Just as proud as anybody.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  295/12:  HOMEMADE SHOES
    New pair from Norway.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  318:  CITIZENSHIP
    As soon as possible. What it involved.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  333:  
    What she brought with her from Norway. Keepsakes today.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  352:  SPEAKING NORWEGIAN
    Very little today. Daughter speaks it.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  378/01:  
    Sister lived in Tacoma for sixteen years. Went back to Norway to live.
     
     


    Cassette Counter  392:  
    Speaks Norwegian table grace used before and after dinner.