Finns in Minnesota by Arnold R Alanen
The first Finnish immigrants arrived in Red Wing in 1864, the vanguard of thousands who eventually and resolutely placed Minnesota second among the states in terms of Finnish population. Today we may recognize Minnesota's Finnishness in the popular sauna, in the characteristic tenacity known as sisu, or in place names and cultural markers that link to homeland. The newest contribution to the People of Minnesota series traces the Finns' migration to the state, particularly its northeastern region; their log construction techniques, including dovetail notching; and their ethnic organizations, from religious to political to fraternal. Colorful sidebars enliven the narrative, highlighting such topics as Finglish, New World legends, and the 1920s Olympic competitors in track and field known as the Flying Finns.A separate thread tells the story of the Finland Swedes--the minority within a minority whose members were born in Finland but spoke Swedish and thus straddled two ethnic groups, belonging fully to neither. The book concludes with a personal narrative of Fred Torma (1888-1979), a miner and carpenter from Nashwauk, who describes establishing a Socialist hall, involvement in the 1907 Mesabi strike, and founding a cooperative boardinghouse and store. His is just one engaging example of the vibrant lives and legacy of Finnish Americans in Minnesota.
Arnold R. Alanen is emeritus professor of landscape architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Alanen served as a founder of Landscape Journal and is the recipient of six national research and communications awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Joseph A. Eden received his doctorate in urban social geography from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780873518543 |
| ISBN 10 | 0873518543 |
| Title | Finns in Minnesota |
| Author | Arnold R Alanen |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Minnesota Historical Society Press,U.S. |
| Year published | 2012-05-01 |
| Number of pages | 114 |
| Prizes | Short-listed for Northeastern Minnesota Book Award (Nonfiction) 2012 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |