The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Title John Wiita Papers [Obituary]
Author Wiita, John
Date 23 Jun 1984
Document Type Correspondence; Newspaper
Reference IHRC2841, Box 1, Folder 18
Library / Archive Immigration History Research Center Archives, University of Minnesota
Collection Name Wiita, John Papers, b. 1888
Description A letter from John Wiita's son, enclosing his father's memoirs, and a newspaper obituary of his father from 1981.
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, death
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 [Childhood in Finland]
Copyright Copyright ownership in these materials is governed by US and international laws. The Immigration History Research Center Archives (IHRCA) holds the original objects from which these copies were made, but does not claim copyright ownership in the originals or scanned reproductions. The IHRCA welcomes additional information about the originals.