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Title John Wiita Papers [Cultural Life of the Finnish American Labour Movement]
Author Wiita, John
Date 1976-1978
Document Type Personal Account
Reference IHRC2841, Box 1, Folder 17
Library / Archive Immigration History Research Center Archives, University of Minnesota
Collection Name Wiita, John Papers, b. 1888
Description A piece on the "Cultural life of the Finnish American Labour Movement" by John Wiita, listing both activities organised and leading participants.
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
Nationality Finnish; European
Keywords socialism, communism, labour union, publications, newspaper, cooperatives, holidays and celebrations, sport, music, women, temperance, religion
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; Finnish
Document(s) linked to John Wiita Papers [Obituary]
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