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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t172
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Creator:
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Berg, Emmy Erickson
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Title:
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Emmy Erickson Berg 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
4 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 Emmy Erickson Berg, a Swedish immigrant.
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Biographical Note
Emmy Berg was born on January 3, 1892 in
Transtrand, Dalarna, Sweden to Edward Erickson and Ina Anderson. Edward worked
for the state, providing transportation for those in need, and Ina died when
Emmy was young. Emmy and her sisters, Kristina and Anna, were raised by their
paternal grandparents. Emmy attended school until she was confirmed at age
fifteen, and in 1909, she decided to immigrate to Tacoma, WA, where Kristina
had settled two years earlier. Emmy spent one year housekeeping in Tacoma and
then moved to Seattle with her sister Anna, who had emigrated after Emmy. Emmy
continued to do housework in Seattle and then moved to Portland, OR, where she
worked for a wealthy family during the day and in an ice cream parlor in the
evenings. In 1915, Emmy went to the World's Fair in San Francisco and stayed
there for one year before moving back to Seattle. In 1917, Emmy rented a
restaurant in Tacoma with a Norwegian woman named Mary Davis. They ran the
business for two years. At that time, Emmy married Carl Albin Berg and moved to
Port Angeles, where they had their only son, Roy David. They later built a
house in Seattle. Roy does not speak Swedish, but Emmy did maintain some of the
traditional Swedish cooking. Through the years, Emmy has been very involved in
Swedish organizations. She has been the Vice President of the Swedish Club,
President of the Vikings, and Financial Secretary of the Vasa Order. Emmy also
started a dance group called the Swedish National Dancers.
Lineage
Full Name: Emmy Johanna Berg. Maiden Name:
Emmy Johanna Erickson. Father: Edward Erickson. Mother: Inga Anderson. Paternal
Grandfather: Erick Erickson. Brothers and Sisters: Kristina Erickson Bellmark,
Anna Erickson Anderson. Half-Sister: Karin Larsback. Spouse: Carl Albin Berg.
Children: Roy David Berg.
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Emmy Berg on May 12, 1982 in Seattle,
Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration,
employment, marriage, community involvement, and Swedish heritage. The
interview also includes photographs of Emmy as a young woman, Emmy with her
dance group, and Emmy at the time of the interview. The interview was conducted
in English with some Swedish towards the end of the interview. See also Carl
Albin Berg, t171.
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 Northwest.Tacoma, Washington.University of Washington
Press.1993
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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| Anderson, Ina |
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Berg, Carl Albin |
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Berg, Emmy Erickson |
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Berg, Emmy Erickson--Interviews (creator) |
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Berg, Roy David |
| Davis, Mary |
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Erickson, Edward |
| Erickson, Erick |
| Anderson family |
| Berg
family |
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Erickson family |
| Mauritania (Steamship) |
| Swedish Club
(Seattle, Wash.) |
| Temperance Society (Seattle, Wash.) |
| Vasa Order of
America. Lodge Number 228 (Seattle, Wash.) |
| Port Angeles (Wash.) |
| Portland
(Or.) |
| Seattle
(Wash.) |
| Tacoma (Wash.)
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| Transtrand (Sweden) |
| Christmas
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| Emigration and
immigration |
| Family -- Sweden
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| Swedish-Americans--Northwest,Pacific--Interviews |
| Swedish-Americans--Social life and customs |
| Oral
histories |
| Domestics |
| Restaurateurs |
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
018:
EMMY JOHANNA
ERICKSON
Born in Transtrand, Dalarna in
Sweden. January 3, 1892. Transtrand, Dalarna is in central Sweden near the
Norwegian border.
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Cassette Counter
097:
PARENTS
Edward Erickson and Inga Anderson. From Transtrand.
Father employed by the state. Had three horses, provided transportation for
those who needed it. Traveled long distances from Transtrand to other towns.
Paid well. Stationed in Fulunaas, north of Transtrand.
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Cassette Counter
154 :
GRANDPARENTS
Paternal, Erick Erickson a farmer in Transtrand. Large
farm with cows, pigs, goats. Hired help. Paternal grandmother mentioned, but no
name given. Maternal grandparents from Transtrand but Emmy doesn't remember
them.
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Cassette Counter
180 :
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS
Two sisters, Kristina Erickson
Bellmark, eldest. Married in Seattle. Anna Erickson Anderson, the middle
sister. Married in Tacoma, divorced and remarried in Chicago.
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Cassette Counter
228:
CHILDHOOD
Mother died when she was very young. Grew up with
grandparents (paternal) on farm. Grandmother very nice. Many relatives in area.
Lots of kids. Many mountains. Lots of skiing.
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Cassette Counter
321 :
SCHOOL AND
CHURCH
Both on the other side of the river
(Dalalven). Didn't go to church too far away. Spent a few weeks with her
mother's sister when confirmed. Fifteen years old when confirmed. Went to
school until confirmed. Walked for miles in winter before river froze. Wasn't
safe to row across and not frozen enough to walk across.
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Cassette Counter
401:
CHRISTMAS
Christmas rice (Risgrynsgroet), lutfisk. Christmas
morning had meatballs. A Christmas tree and lots of presents. All the kids went
to grandmother's. Father didn't come home for Christmas.
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Cassette Counter
442:
HALF-SISTERS
Father remarried. Two half-sisters. One of them
visited in 1962. Her name was Karin Larsbaack.
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Cassette Counter
477:
Came to America when done with school. Eldest sister,
Kristina had come to Seattle two years before Emmy left Sweden. Kristina did
housework. She was five years older than Emmy and more like a mother. Father
didn't want Emmy to go.
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Cassette Counter
598:
TRIP OVER
Left for U.S. September 1909. Came on the boat,
Mauretania. Landed in New York. Made one stop on way over. Not sure where. Sick
on boat. Went to hospital in New York. Would have been sent home, but got help
from father's cousin, Isaccson (?) in Puyallup.
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Cassette Counter
636:
TRAIN TRIP
Took train from New York to Chicago, not immigrant
train; it was too crowded. Train from Chicago to Tacoma. Father's cousin met
her in Puyallup but she couldn't get off the train there. Arrived in Tacoma in
the middle of the night. Kristina was working. A lady who knew her as a child
met her. She stayed with the lady until Kristina came in the evening.
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Cassette Counter
783 :
WORK
Father's cousin in Puyallup was going to send Emmy to school.
Kids laughed at her, so she wouldn't go. She wanted to earn money to go back to
Sweden. First job with Mrs. Tarr (sp?), a high school teacher. She had four
children. Emmy received food and clothing no wages. Didn't want job but worked
there one year. Next job with a doctor. He had a bunch of kids. They helped her
with the language.
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Cassette Counter
841:
Housekeeping not much different in America. Cooking not much
different either. Learned to cook in school in Sweden. Monday did washing.
Tuesday did ironing. Wednesday did baking. Thursday had day off. Friday cleaned
bedrooms. Rest of house had to be cleaned everyday.
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Cassette Counter
897:
After one year in Tacoma, moved to Seattle with the middle
sister, Anna, who came to America after Emmy. They each earned $15 a month and
room and board as housekeepers. They wore black dresses, white aprons and
little white hats to work. They worked for wealthy people.
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Cassette Counter
939:
Moved to Portland after one year in Seattle. Found an ad for
job at one of the "heights" in newspaper in Portland train station. She rang
doorbell. Lady asked for references. Emmy had none. Lady slammed door in her
face. Emmy got mad, rang again, and asked lady to apologize. Lady hired her.
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Cassette Counter
960:
Emmy worked about six months for the people in Portland, who
were millionaires. She worked with a pantry girl cleaning silver and glasses.
Worked evenings in an ice cream parlor too. Their chauffeur took her there and
brought her back to the house. Many people worked at the house. Had lots of
friends. Nice room to live in.
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Cassette Counter
1009:
1915 WORLD'S
FAIR
Back in Seattle in 1913. Saved money.
Went to World's Fair in San Francisco with her eldest sister. Met two Swedish
girls in Swedish building at fairgrounds. Stayed with them, had fun. Emmy
stayed almost a whole year. Money problems upon arrival. They couldn't get
money from bank in Seattle immediately. No telephones or telegrams yet. Went to
YWCA; were able to borrow money because they looked honest.
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Cassette Counter
1066:
Kristina didn't stay as long as Emmy did. She worked at the
Augustine and Kyer Bakery on 1st Avenue in Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
1072:
BACK IN
SEATTLE
End of 1915. Came back by boat.
Only had 50 cent. Got room in hotel owned by Blom from same part of Sweden as
Emmy. Knew him from the IOGT. She called Augustine and Kyer Bakery: 4:00am.
Owner was German. Said she was Kristina Erickson's sister, "I'm living at the
hotel and don't have enough money to pay for the hotel and I have a lousy 50
cent in my pocket. Would you please give me a job?" She got a job putting cream
in cream puffs. They called her "Cookie". Sister was cook for gang working
there. They made about $16 a month. Worked from 4:00am to 12:00pm. Worked there
one year.
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Cassette Counter
100:
Worked for many wealthy people. Ironed for a man named Block.
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Cassette Counter
117:
Ran her own restaurant on University in 1917. Rented
restaurant with Mary Davis, a Norwegian girl. Worked with Mary before in
another…
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Cassette Counter
160:
... restaurant. Located where downtown Nordstrom's is now.
Soldiers from Fort Lewis came to their restaurant on Sundays. Breakfast, lunch,
and dinner served. During WWI freeze on sugar. Had to have it in restaurant.
Men from dairy across street came with sack of sugar when inspector came.
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Cassette Counter
189:
Had to give sugar back to the dairy. Fine was $50 for not
having sugar at restaurant during sugar freeze. No lump sugar on table, people
would take it. When steaks were ordered, went to nearby market square to get
it. Sold restaurant in 1919. Went to work for Block again.
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Cassette Counter
321 :
MARRIAGE
Married to Carl Albin Berg in 1919. Met in 1916.
Living in same hotel. He'd just come back from Alaska. Married day before
Christmas Eve. She was housesitting for Hammerbergs (?) who were in Idaho.
Scared staying there alone. Couldn't sleep; their dog was barking.
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Cassette Counter
382 :
Told Albin she wouldn't stay another night alone. He said
they better get married then. Married by Pastor Friborg at Baptist church on
9th and Pine. Hammerberg (?) came home while they were still in bed. Emmy told
them not to think bad of her, she was married.
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Cassette Counter
469 :
They moved to Port Angeles. Albin worked on roads. Emmy
worked in a restaurant. He wanted her to stay home. She worked anyway.
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Cassette Counter
519:
Bought a house there. It burned down. Got $500 for property.
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Cassette Counter
551:
Had a son, Roy David, while living in Port Angeles (before
house burned).
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Cassette Counter
567:
MOVED TO
SEATTLE
Lived with wife of David Johnson
on East Lake while Johnson was in Alaska. Karlstrom, a friend of theirs in
Seattle got Albin a job at the Bank of California. They lived with Mrs. Johnson
who had an apartment. They didn't pay anything. They did all washing, ironing,
and cleaning. She had a variety store. They stayed until the new house, which
they still live in, was built. Emmy and sister bought property in 1915.
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Cassette Counter
611 :
Sister wanted to go to Sweden. They bought her share of
property. Got a loan from Washington Mutual Bank. Paid $2,500 to sister.
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Cassette Counter
657:
Emmy worked in laundry starching shirts. Husband worked
night and watched baby in daytime. He took baby on a streetcar everyday. Left
Roy on 2nd and Madison for about ten minutes until Emmy picked him up. Roy was
3 or 4 then. This went on until the house was paid for.
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Cassette Counter
728:
Emmy made lunches at Bank of California. Lunch was 45 cent.
Her last job was at Sunset Club. Mr. Green, a banker, had banquets there. She
quit in 1952.
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Cassette Counter
797:
SWEDISH
ORGANIZATIONS
Vie president of old
Swedish Club for many years. Quit going, felt job of president was being forced
on her. John Nordeen was president then. Emmy was president of Vikings,
financial secretary of Vasa Order for years. Swedish Club isn't a sick benefit
organization. Vikings and Vasa Order are. Swedish Club is a social club. Joe
Oscarson is a helpful member of the club.
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Cassette Counter
851:
CHILDREN
Roy David Berg. Married Lillian Johnson. Has two
daughters, Chris and Karen, and one son, Bob. Roy is divorced and now
remarried. Wife's name is Hazel. She has two girls and one son.
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Cassette Counter
882:
GRANDCHILDREN
Chris, the eldest, married John Thompson, an honor
student at a university. Worked in California for a while. Works in Bellevue
now. They have one son. Karen married Bermuda. Both work at Rainier Bank. They
have one boy. Bob works at the bank too, worked at Bank of California, the
Canadian Bank, and now works at First National Bank. Married to Donna Smith.
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Cassette Counter
933:
TRIPS BACK TO
SWEDEN
One trip in 1957. Trip was fine.
Left in May. Couldn't get a reservation to come back to U.S. until September.
"It rained every blessed day." Stayed with cousins.
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Cassette Counter
945:
CHANGES
On farms. Grandfather's farm wasn't like it had been.
Farm wasn't there anymore. House she was born in still there. Nobody lived
there anymore. One house burned down. Two boys lived in the other house on the
farm. No cattle anymore. No farm.
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Cassette Counter
987:
TRADITIONS KEPT UP AT
HOME
The kids don't speak Swedish. They
eat Swedish cookies and coffee bread. She makes good meatballs with lots of
pork in them. She doesn't like herring or lutfisk, so tradition hasn't been
kept. Fixes "risgrynsgroet."
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Cassette Counter
991 :
Tells about Roy being really sick when he was 17. Tells about
Roy joining the Navy although he'd been drafted into the Army during WWII.
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Cassette Counter
1062:
Says in Swedish that she can speak Swedish fairly well. That
she hasn't forgotten it and never will.
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Cassette Counter
1066 :
DANCE GROUP
Swedish National Dancers. She started dance group when
boys came home from service. She had just as many Norwegians as she did Swedes.
They were better than any group that came from Sweden. Best group had four
Swedish boys, four Norwegian boys, four Swedish girls, and four Norwegian
girls.
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