    
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Administrative
Information
Scope and Content Note
Biographical Information
Lineage
Selected Search Terms
Partial Interview Transcript
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Information
Resources
Robert A. L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific
Lutheran University
Tacoma, WASHINGTON 98447
Phone: (253) 535-7586 E-mail: archives@plu.edu
New Land
New Lives Oral History Collection
Hans Fredrickson
A Guide to His Oral History Interview |
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Administrative
Information
Creator:
Fredrickson, Hans
Collection Nr: t092-093
File Content:
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3 file folders
9 photographs
2 sound cassettes
0 compact discs
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Processing Information:
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The
interview was conducted using a cassette recorder. A research
copy was also prepared from the original. To further preserve
the content of the interview, it is now being transferred
to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the
entire interview because we want the researchers to listen
to the interviewee's own voice. The transcription index
highlights important aspects of the interview and the
tape counter numbers noted on the Partial Interview
Transcription are meant as approximate finding guides
and refer to the location of a subject on the cassette/CD.
Interviewed
by Inger Nygaard Carr
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky
Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good
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Restrictions:
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The
collection is available for research.
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Preferred Citation:
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[Collection
Number, Collection Title]
New Land New Lives Oral History Collection
Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection
Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
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The
interview was conducted with Hans Fredrickson on September 30,
1981 in Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information
on personal background, emigration, settling in, work, family,
Swedish heritage, church and community life, and trips back
to Sweden. Also available are photographs of Hans at the time
of the interview, Hans and his family at his childhood home
in Småland, Sweden, Hans and other young men immigrating to
America (February 22, 1928), Hans as a concrete worker in Villa
Park, Illinois (May 23, 1929), Hans working on threshing crew
in the Midwest (July 3, 1929), and harvest work in Småland,
Sweden (July 31, 1936). The interview was conducted in English.
Also see Sven Fredrickson.
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Hans
Fredrickson was born on February 3, 1909 in Småland, Sweden.
Two of Hans' sisters died at young ages of whooping cough, but
his nine other siblings survived. Hans' father, Frederick Anderson,
was a farmer, and Hans grew up helping him with milking the
cows and picking the potatoes. Hans' mother, Omilia Jonsson,
helped in the fields as well, but she also did the baking and
washing. For about six years, Hans attended school; his family
did not have enough money for him to go beyond the sixth grade.
As a child, Hans delighted in the traditional Swedish celebrations
of holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Midsummer. Although
he loved the Swedish heritage, Hans disliked the work in Sweden
and chose to move to America in 1928. He first settled in Chicago,
employed in the concrete business. Hans attended school to learn
English and picked up the language quickly. After a short time
in Chicago, Hans moved to a variety of places like South Dakota,
North Dakota, and finally, Tacoma, Washington; he worked on
farms, dams, and logging camps. In 1931, Hans met Elsie Danielson,
whom he married in 1934. The two of them visited Sweden in 1936,
1959, 1974, and 1980. They had four children, all of whom spoke
Swedish until they began attending school. Each one became a
National Merit Scholarship winner. Hans enjoys gardening and
belongs to the Valhalla Lodge and the Order of Vasa. He and
Elsie still practice Swedish traditions during the holidays
and speak the language periodically.
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Full Name: |
Hans Fredrickson
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Father: |
Ott Fredrick Andersson
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Mother: |
Alma Omilia Jonsson
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Paternal Grandfather: |
Anders Målsson
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Maternal Grandfather: |
Ole Jonsson
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Maternal Grandmother: |
Kristina Jonsson
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Brothers and Sisters: |
Lydia Ingeborg Fredrickson
Ingrid Maria Fredrickson
Carl Edvin Fredrickson
Sven Fredrick Fredrickson
Signe Augusta Fredrickson
Magda Linnea Fredrickson
Otto Valfred Fredrickson
Seth Geron Fredrickson
Allice Hillevi Fredrickson
Tore Elving Fredrickson
Maj Hildegard Fredrickson
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Spouse: |
Elsie Marie Fredrickson
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Children: |
Helen May Fredrickson
Bert Fredrickson
Gary Lee Fredrickson
Donald Hans Fredrickson
Karen Marie Fredrickson
Glen Evert Fredrickson
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This collection is indexed under the following headings
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Personal Names |
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Fredrickson, Hans
Fredrickson, Elsie Marie
Andersson, Ott Fredrick
Jonsson, Alma Omilia
Målsson, Anders
Jonsson, Ole
Jonsson, Kristina
Fredrickson, Sven Fredrick
Fredrickson, Helen May
Fredrickson, Bert
Fredrickson, Gary Lee
Fredrickson, Donald Hans
Fredrickson, Karen Marie
Fredrickson, Glen Evert
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Family Names |
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Fredrickson family
Jonsson family
Målsson family
Andersson family
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Geographical Names |
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Småland (Sweden)
Chicago (Ill.)
Milton (Wis.)
North Dakota
South Dakota
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Subjects |
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Family -- Sweden
Sweden -- Emigration and immigration
Småland (Sweden) -- Emigration and immigration
School attendance -- Sweden
Sweden -- Economic conditions -- 1908-1928
Christmas -- Sweden
Ocean travel
Depressions -- 1929
Puget Sound Plywood Cooperative (Tacoma, Wash.)
Valhalla Lodge (Tacoma, Wash.)
Vasa Order of America. Lodge No. 233 (Tacoma, Wash.)
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Occupations |
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Logging -- Washington (State)
Farmers -- North Dakota
Farmers -- South Dakota
Carpenters
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Genre/Form |
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Oral history
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Institution |
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Pacific Lutheran University. Scandinavian Immigrant Experience
Collection
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The
partial interview transcription highlights important aspects
of the interview. Numbers on the left may be used as guides
to important subjects. Two numbers separated by a slash indicate
that the first number is for cassette and the second for CD.
TAPE 92
SIDE I
008 PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Born Småland, Sweden, February 3, 1909.
015 PARENTS: Frederick and Omelia Anderson. Custom for son to
take father's first name for his last name plus son.
022 Ten brothers and sisters (see previous)
031 WHOOPING COUGH: Two sisters dead during epidemic. Many people
were victims of disease.
045 FATHER'S OCCUPATION: Farmer, when younger, employed on railroad
in North Norway.
048 MOTHER'S MAIDEN: Jonsson, maternal grandfather employed
as builder.
057 GROWING UP IN SWEDEN: Work for all, woods backbone of farm,
selling timber, taking care of children, housework. Rough life,
but a good life, learned discipline.
076 COWS: Milking, big money worked day & night no matter
what/cows grazed in summer, had to herd them in.
113 POTATOES: Lots of potatoes it took weeks to pick them, kept
out of school to pick and sell potatoes.
123 PIGS: Slaughtered for family use, salted meat for preservation
and also smoked them.
138 MOTHER: Did all baking, washing, etc. and worked in the
field. Lived until age 75.
FATHER: Died in 1946
163 SCHOOL DAYS: Started at age 7. Learned to read before school
days. Lasted for 6 years. Loved school, not much of it. Teacher
gave special instruction in arithmetic encouraged studies. After
6th grade you had to pay for school. Speaks of his children's
education.
228 Speaks of birth of grandson.
238 CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN: Snow. Found tree in the forest, decorating
the tree, big breakfast and noon meal. Opening presents. Church
on Christmas Day.
257 SPECIALITY FOODS: Dopparedagen - name for Christmas Eve.
They dipped boiled pork in juice, homemade sausages, meatballs,
ham, lutfisk, & potatoes for breakfast. Evening - rice pudding
with almonds - whoever got almond would get married next. Many
baked goods.
295 CHRISTMAS PRESENTS: Little money, children bought presents
for each other/ knock at friend's door, throw packages and run.
307 JULTOMTEN: Same as Santa Claus here. Christmas lasted almost
2 weeks.
339 EASTER: Big holiday.
PENTECOST: Two-day holiday, went to church.
MIDSUMMER: Picnics, parties and dancing.
366 CHURCH LIFE: Bible instruction when child, confirmation,
first communion. He was Lutheran.
394 RECEIVED A BIKE: Really could get places fast.
397 FOLK CUSTOMS: Told troll stories, scared to go to bed after.
415 Brother and sister off to U.S. in 1923. Brother employed
for Milwaukee Railroad.
441 OFF TO CHICAGO, 1928: Wanted adventure. Tired of work in
Sweden. Speaks of brothers and sisters. Parents didn't like
to see children go.
485 BOAT TRIP: 9-10 days. Borrowed money from brother in Chicago
area (Drottningholm) cost of voyage $100.
545 LANDED NEW YORK CITY: Sent telegrams to brothers. Couldn't
speak English.
TOOK TRAIN TO CHICAGO: Nobody to meet him.
568 Didn't go to Ellis Island. Processed by American Council
in Sweden.
574 FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Never saw black person before. Couldn't
speak English on train, not much food on train trip.
596 EMPLOYMENT: In Chicago, concrete business - basements, steps,
mostly foundations. Hard work, but big money 90 cents an hour.
626 LEARNING ENGLISH: Went to school 5 days a week. Mostly worked
with Swedish speaking people. North side of Chicago large proportion
were Swedish. Picked English up fast.
SIDE II
007 Cold winters in Chicago area. Worked as bricklayer during
winters.
059 SOUTH DAKOTA: Threshing. Weather not very good. Lived with
farmers - moved from farm to farm. Compares weather in Chicago
with South Dakota.
088 ON TO NORTH DAKOTA: Threshing. Talks about work horses.
Drove from Chicago in 1924 Buick. Husked corn - "hard working
Swedes."
118 ON TO TACOMA, WASHINGTON: Came at time of fair. Picked apples.
Talks of his family living there.
UNCLE: Axel Anderson, 19th & M in Tacoma.
147 LEONARD ANDERSON: Outstanding musician (Tacoma area), played
the accordion and piano, everyone took lessons.
155 EMPLOYED TIDE-WATER SAWMILL: Eventually burned down. Many
mills burned down.
164 CUSHMAN DAM: Employed for period of time.
DEPRESSION: Not bad, got a job through employment office. Didn't
like working on the dam.
191 EMPLOYED FOR PACIFIC NATIONAL RAILROAD: Describes work building
RR toward the mountain. Job also working south of Olympia.
212 Describes improving the saw mill production and work at
the smelter.
225 DEPRESSION: No work, hit 1932-33. Various odds and end jobs.
Built a cabin in Milton ($200 an acre/ total cost for cabin
$17). Friend from Alaska brought salmon and ate food from the
garden.
284 RASPBERRY PICKING: Salary 35 cents a crate. Fired for not
working on the Fourth of July.
329 MEETING WIFE: Met at a dance. She from Puyallup. Wife's
name Elsie Danielson. Speaks of wife's family, also from Sweden
(see 363-II).
355 ALASKA: Gold dredging and life with mosquitoes.
363 Married fall 1934. Three years after meeting (see counter
329-II)
369 EMPLOYED WITH WEYERHAUSER: Describes his work. Part includes
building railroad. Made $15 a day. Laid off, later wanted him
back. He describes several logging camps - Weyerhauser good
food and treatment. Bordeaux was a bad camp.
481 MOVED TO LITTLE ROCK: Prices for food cheap, "lived like
kings." Lived in Little Rock because camps had bad food and
were expensive.
530 DESCRIBES WEDDING: December 29, 1934. Took place at wife's
house in Puyallup. Few friends & family. Rented apartment
for $30 a month (7th & K).
595 JOB AT TACOMA GRAIN: Unloaded wheat, wasn't steady work.
604 SAW MILLS: Bad strike in 1930's loggers came to strike too.
644 EMPLOYED VARIOUS JOBS: Work not steady. Employed at a flour
mill, worked on tracks switching them.
667 VISITING SWEDEN: IN 1936, Was wonderful. Took bus to New
York from there to Sweden by boat (Tape 93 Side I concludes
trip back to Sweden). He stopped…
TAPE 93
SIDE I
001 in Oklahoma City to visit his brother on the way to New
York.
CONCLUDES TRIP TO SWEDEN: Not many changes. Returned for another
visit in 1974 (see counter I-242).
077 BROTHER VISITED NORWAY LAST YEAR (1980): Outstandingly beautiful.
Drove to Gudbrandsdalen in his new Volvo.
080 CHILDREN: Oldest son, Gary Lee, went to Stanford and became
an engineer at Boeing, married and has 2 boys, Erik, who now
goes to Dartmouth College and Mark, who is a very ambitious
worker. Donald Hans is a doctor in nuclear physics at the University
of Washington. Fixes machines for cancer treatments, does wood
working and lives in Seattle. Karen Marie is a librarian director
at Stanford. Glen Evert is the youngest, father of the third
grandchild.
147 CHURCH LIFE: Goes mainly at Christmas time, not every Sunday.
157 ORGANIZATIONS: Belongs to Valhalla since 1934 - soon 50-year
member, Order of Vasa, treasurer for Swedish Order of Valhalla
and plays the accordion.
187 EMPLOYED VARIOUS JOBS: Carpenter after quitting the smelter.
Worked for Western Boat until the War was over (in conjunction
with Navy). Retired from Puget Sound Plywood Cooperative after
30 years.
221 DESCRIBES PRESENT HOUSE: Added on many times, once was a
small house. All children born and raised here.
242 TRIPS BACK TO SWEDEN: 1936, 1959 with all children, 1974
& 1980. Prices are high, farm still standing. Some family
is still living there. Big family reunions in Sweden and in
U.S. (see counter 001-III)
287 Growing, washing, cooking, eating "wonderful corn". Has
a big garden and berries, fruit trees, flowers, everything.
305 Wife cooks Swedish foods. Continues to have Christmas like
in Sweden: meals, trees, church and presents.
317 Children spoke Swedish, but lost it when they attended school.
Son studied in Sweden for awhile; learned to speak and write
Swedish and later studied in Munich.
373 Closes in Swedish.
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