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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t082
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Creator:
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Rinne, Sulo John
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Title:
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Sulo John Rinne Oral
History Interview
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Dates:
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1981 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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3 file folders
1 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 Sulo John
Rinne, a Finnish immigrant.
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Biographical Note
Sulo Rinne was born on March 12, 1896 in
Pirkkala, Finland to John Rinne and Hilma Lehtinen. Sulo was one of ten
children. In 1902, Sulo's father immigrated to the United States, eventually
settling in Astoria, OR, where he worked in the logging camps. When Sulo was
sixteen years old, his father sent him a ticket to America. Sulo lived with his
father in Astoria and found work at a logging camp. The language differences
initially caused many difficulties for Sulo, but he attended a one-room
schoolhouse to learn the English language. Sulo met his wife, Esther, in
Astoria and built a home for them in Gearhart, OR, near Astoria. Sulo began
fishing in the summer and working at the sawmills during the winter. He also
joined Peace Lutheran Church in Astoria and the Finnish Brotherhood. He has
returned to Finland three times, but by his last trip, everything had changed.
Sulo has no special feelings about his Finnish heritage.
Lineage
Full Name: Sulo John Rinne. Father: John
Rinne. Mother: Hilma Lehtinen. Paternal Grandfather: John Stull. Spouse: Esther
Wiirre Rinne. Children: One son killed in World War II.
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Sulo Rinne on August 26, 1981. It
provides information on family background, emigration, employment, marriage,
and return trips to Finland. The interview also contains a newspaper clipping
from The Daily Astorian, which includes a photograph of Sulo at Hillcrest
School in 1913 and a picture of Sulo at the time of the interview. Also see
Esther Wiirre Rinne. The interview was conducted in English.
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
Donna Mallonee 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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| Lehtinen, Hilma |
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Rinne, Esther Wiirre |
| Rinne, John |
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Rinne, Sulo--Interviews (creator) |
| Stull, John |
| Lehtinen family |
| Rinne
family |
| Stull
family |
| Wiirre
family |
| Finnish Brotherhood (Astoria, Or.) |
| Peace Lutheran Church (Astoria, Or.) |
| Astoria
(Or.) |
| Pirkkala, Finland |
| Emigration and
immigration |
| Family--Finland |
| Finnish-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Interviews |
| Finnish-Americans--Social life and customs |
| Oral
histories |
| Loggers |
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
005:
PERSONAL
BACKGROUND
Born 1896 in Pirkkala,
Finland.
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Cassette Counter
017:
PARENTS
Father - John Rinne employed as bricklayer. Mother -
Hilma Lehtinen.
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Cassette Counter
029:
GRANDPARENTS
Father's parents died in famine of 1866. Father had
to work hard at age 5. Brother and sister separated, met accidentally much
later and realized that they related.
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Cassette Counter
069:
Father spent some time in the Army.
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Cassette Counter
082:
CHILDHOOD
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Cassette Counter
090:
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS
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Cassette Counter
097:
Father came to U.S. in 1902 when Sulo was 6.
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Cassette Counter
098:
SCHOOL DAYS
attended until age 16, father sent him a ticket to
America then.
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Cassette Counter
106:
Father immigrated to Michigan - employed in the mines. Later
father and brother moved to Astoria, Oregon and worked in logging camps.
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Cassette Counter
114:
TRIP OVER
felt lonely in America. Was put off train in US
because he had only Finnish money.
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Cassette Counter
146:
Arrived Svensen, Oregon which is 15 miles east of Astoria.
Father had land and had built a log cabin there.
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Cassette Counter
168:
Mother sent him with a suitcase of hardtack. Man on the
train shared his pork and beans. Very hungry when he arrived.
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Cassette Counter
194:
DESCRIBES LOG
CABIN
No floor, wood stove, rats came in
at night.
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Cassette Counter
201:
EMPLOYED AT LOGGING
CAMP
Built Columbia Highway 1913 for a
few months.
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Cassette Counter
205:
ENGLISH
DIFFICULTIES
Didn't speak any English -
caused many difficulties. Learned English in a one-room schoolhouse.
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Cassette Counter
242:
GILL-NET
FISHING
Describes experience. 2 men, 1
captain and 1 putter. 28ft. long boat. Lunch was a 5 gallon can. Stayed out
about 3 days or until lunch was gone. Fish 6 cent a pound. Fished mostly in
summer and worked at saw mills during the winter.
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Cassette Counter
335:
MOVED TO GEARHART,
ORE.
Built a home. Worked in saw mill.
Met wife in a restaurant. Worked in logging camp and went home on Sundays.
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Cassette Counter
348:
CITIZENSHIP
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Cassette Counter
353:
FIRST IMPRESSION OF
U.S.
didn't like it here felt like home
after a while.
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Cassette Counter
360:
CHURCH LIFE
Belongs to church in Astoria.
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Cassette Counter
362:
FINNISH
BROTHERHOOD
Meetings once a month. Helped
the immigrants. Had sick benefits. At one time 1600 members, now 500.
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Cassette Counter
385:
TRIPS BACK TO
FINLAND
3 times. 1948 - same was when he
left. 15 years later everything was different. Two sisters still in Finland and
still correspond.
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Cassette Counter
406:
FINNISH
HERITAGE
Doesn't feel any difference. No
Special feeling.
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Cassette Counter
421:
CHRISTMAS
Similar to US. Here they have a tree a month before,
in Finland the day before and homemade decorations.
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Cassette Counter
437:
Father returned to Finland for 1 visit. Later died in
Astoria. Farmed until his death.
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