Invisible Histories

“Greener Grass” is an 18-minute video exploring immigration from Finland to America, as well as touching upon the larger issues and questions involved in immigration in general. Some of those addressed include:

And what can we learn?

Due to economic necessity, the majority of those immigrating from Finland to America did so roughly around the turn of the century; two sets of my great-grandparents did so in the late 1890s.

If nothing else, please see Finland DNA Project member Dan Karvonen’s comments starting at about 13:53 in the video. Echoing what another interviewee said earlier on, “all of us are immigrants.” This is a critical point that we here in America either too easily forget or ignore.

Posted in Finland, Finland DNA Project, Finns in America, Friday Video, Immigration History, Personal History | | No Comments »

Dear NBC,

In light of today’s announcement that you are renewing “Who Do You Think You Are” for a second season, I would like to draw your attention to a glaring flaw in this year’s programming:  no Finnish-Americans. While you ponder how this terrible oversight could possibly have occurred, to correct it I humbly recommend a short list of famous Finnish-Americans for next year’s program. Any one of them could make a compelling subject as they trace their Suomi roots:  actress Pamela Anderson (um, okay, perhaps “compelling” isn’t the best word to use in her case; moving right along…), author Jean Auel, international philanthropist and honorary American Santa Claus, actor Matt Damon, director Rennie Harlin, musician Jorma Kaukonen, actress Christine Lahti, actress Jessica Lange, director David Lynch, Olympic athlete Dan O’Brien, “Simpsons” producer Bonnie Pietila, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, Vampira (admittedly this one might be difficult considering she’s no longer alive but then again, this is Vampira we’re talking about), and actress Renée Zellweger. I think the latter would make for particularly fetching production value as she chases the reindeer herds beneath the glow of the Northern Lights, following in the path of her maternal Sámi ancestors. But hey, that’s just me.

And by the way, love your show. Except for that whole lack-of-Finns thing.

Laura

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Update 4/6: Mike brings up famous sportscaster Dick Enberg, Finnish-American through both his mother and father. Would you like to help us get a writing and/or calling campaign started to promote a Finn-American for next year’s program? Here’s the contact info for WDYTYA producer Lisa Kudrow’s Is or Isn’t Entertainment –

8391 beverly blvd #125

los angeles, ca 90048

(310) 854-0972

info@isorisnt.com

Posted in Finns in America, News, TV, Video and Film | | 1 Comment »

Long a home to Native Americans (particularly the Algonquin), in the 1800s and first part of the 1900s and largely due to its mining, timber and available land Michigan became a magnet for those immigrating to America, including a large number from Finland. For some it functioned as a brief stopover before they moved on to other parts of the US, while some have stayed in Michigan since the arrival of their family’s first immigrants.

Seeking Michigan is a searchable website with the following, constantly growing collections:  Architecture, Civil War (manuscripts, photography and service records), Death Records 1897-1920, Early Photography, Governors of Michigan, Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations, Maps, Main Streets, Music of Michigan, Oral Histories and WPA Property Inventories.

Posted in Finns in America, Genealogy Resources, Michigan | | No Comments »

I was startled to come across this photograph in the Oregon Historical Society’s archives because the man smiling at the camera looks so like all my Koski/Koskela relatives. The accompanying article also reminds me I have much to learn about the history of Finns in Oregon, let alone Finns in America.

Posted in Finns in America, Oregon | | No Comments »