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Title John Wiita Papers [Biographical Sketch of John Wiita]
Author Wiita, John
Date 1888-1978
Document Type Personal Account
Reference IHRC2841, Box 1, Folder 10
Library / Archive Immigration History Research Center Archives, University of Minnesota
Collection Name Wiita, John Papers, b. 1888
Description A biographical sketch of John Wiita, a Finnish migrant to the United States, covering his career (including as an educator, miner and journalist), trade union and political activities, and family life. Typescript with manuscript corrections.
Biographical Note / History John Wiita (1888-1984) was born in Ylistaro, Finland. After attending folk school, he came to the United States at the age of 17. He settled in Superior, Wisconsin, where he worked as a longshoreman and railroad car repairman and was active in the Superior Chapter of the Finnish Socialist Federation. He also attended and taught at the Work People's College in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1916, he moved to Detroit, Michigan and later to other places, always remaining active in Socialist organizations, particularly with the Finnish American and Finnish Canadian labor press, including Toveri, Socialisti, Tyomies, Vapaus and Eteenpäin. After the 1921 split within the Finnish Socialist Federation, Wiita became a functionary within the Finnish Federation and Worker's Party of America; however, by 1945, when he moved to Brooklyn, Connecticut, he had dropped his Communist Party membership. He became a realtor, helping to found the Northeastern Board of Realtors.
Theme(s) Permanent Settlement and Successive Generations; Politics, Legislation and Governance
Country (from) Finland
Country (to) United States of America
Places Minnesota, United States
Nationality Finnish; European
Keywords emigration, socialism, communism, labour union, publications, newspaper, education, cooperatives, fishing and fishermen, ship building, lumber camp, railway, mining, real estate
Additional Information Please note: Some of the metadata for this document has been taken from the Immigration History Research Center Archives catalogue.
Catalogue Link Immigration History Research Center Archives Catalogue
Language English
Document(s) linked to John Wiita Papers [Some Experiences of my Work at Upper Michigan as Communist Party District Secretary]
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