    
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
Alva Paulina Strandell Anderson
Pearson
A Guide to Her Oral History Interview |
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Administrative
Information
Creator:
Pearson, Alva Paulina Strandell Anderson
Collection Nr: t097
File Content:
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3 file folders
2 photographs
1 sound cassette
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 Alva Pearson on October 8, 1981
in Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on
personal background, emigration, work, community life, family,
and Swedish heritage. The interview was conducted in English.
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Alva
Pearson was born Alva Strandell on June 22, 1894 in Borlänge,
Sweden. She and her brother Axel lived with their parents, Johanna
Vikström and Johan Strandell; her father was employed at a sawmill.
When Alva was only two years old, her mother died and her father
remarried a woman named Emma. Emma and Johan had one son named
Oscar. Alva enjoyed her childhood in Sweden, working, going
to school, skating, and skiing. The Christmas holiday was especially
fun with the traditional cooking and decorating. Alva's brother
Axel moved to America around 1903, settling in Everett, Washington.
When Alva's father died of pneumonia, her stepmother encouraged
her to join Axel, even though Alva wanted to stay in Sweden
and become a schoolteacher. On her way to America in 1910, Alva
sewed her money in her dress for fear someone would steal it.
Upon her arrival, she found work in Tacoma, first caring for
children and then housekeeping. Alva was one of the first women
to join the Good Temperance Lodge in 1912; she is the only charter
member surviving. Alva obtained her citizenship when she married
an American named Axel Anderson who owned a restaurant. They
had three children: Kathleen, Lennard, and Wally. Kathleen and
Lennard worked during the Great Depression while Alva worked
at Weyerhaeuser. Her husband fell ill and sold the restaurant;
he died in 1949. The following year, Alva married Dan Pearson,
a Swedish man from the Valhalla Lodge who worked at a carpentry
shop. Sadly, ten years later Dan died. Alva has remained in
the Tacoma area and attends First Covenant Church. She has returned
to Sweden eight times, and her children and some grandchildren
can speak the language.
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Full Name: |
Alva Paulina Strandell Anderson Pearson
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Maiden Name: |
Alva Paulina Strandell
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Father: |
John Strandell
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Mother: |
Johanna Vikström
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Brothers and Sisters: |
Axel Strandell
Oscar Strandell
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Spouse: |
Axel Anderson
Dan Pearson
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Children: |
Kathleen Wright
Lennard Anderson
Wally Anderson
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This collection is indexed under the following headings
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Personal Names |
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Pearson, Alva
Anderson, Alva
Strandell, Alva
Strandell, Johan
Vikström, Johanna
Anderson, Axel
Wright, Kathleen
Anderson, Lennard
Anderson, Wally
Pearson, Dan
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Family Names |
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Pearson family
Anderson family
Strandell family
Vikström family
Wright family
Bergström family
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Geographical Names |
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Borlänge (Sweden)
Småland (Sweden)
Tacoma (Wash.)
Everett (Wash.)
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Subjects |
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Emigration and immigration -- Sweden
Swedish-Americans -- Ethnic identity
Family -- Sweden
Christmas -- Sweden
Valhalla Lodge (Tacoma, Wash.)
Good Temperance Lodge (Tacoma, Wash.)
First Covenant Church (Tacoma, Wash.)
Railroad travel
Depressions -- 1929 -- Washington state
Marriage service
Sweden -- Social conditions -- 1945-
Ocean travel
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Occupations |
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Sawmill workers
Domestics
Childcare workers
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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.
004 PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Born Borlänge, Sweden on June 22, 1894.
008 PARENTS: Johanna Vikström, Johan Strandell employed at a
sawmill. Father remarried after mother died. Alva lost mother
when 2 years old. Talks about family home. Father remarried
to Emma, who came to work as a housekeeper.
023 GRANDPARENTS: Maternal grandparents, Vikstrom. Aunt Gustava
Bergström told her some family history.
036 Eight trips back to Sweden (see counter 525-I)
037 Brother Axel came to America at age 17. No work in Sweden.
Half-brother Oscar joined Alva in Tacoma later.
046 CHILDHOOD: Lots of friends. Everybody had to work, lots
of work. Took care of the children and dug potatoes. Big picnics
and good food after work.
059 Skating and skiing in the winter months.
061 SCHOOL DAYS: Started school age 7, attended for 4 years.
Confirmation: attended class every week. Many students in class.
076 EMPLOYMENT: Many opportunities for work in the Borlänge
area with the sawmill and papermill.
082 Father died of pneumonia. Mother caught cold and died. Axel
worked at the sawmill too.
097 CHRISTMAS: lots of baking, could smell Christmas. Father
went into the woods for tree. Decorated the tree. Made lutfisk,
rice pudding, coffee bread, and lots of cookies. Buggy ride
to church. Christmas was special because they were used to walking
everywhere.
127 REASON SHE CAME TO U.S.: Step-mother wanted her to join
her brother (he resided in Everett, WA). She found work, helped
by Charlie Holmes in Tacoma. Didn't want to come to U.S. She
wanted to be a school teacher in Sweden.
137 TRIP OVER: "no fun." Sewed money in dress - afraid someone
might steal it. Took train to Göteborg, Sweden. Had to have
$25 for U.S. immigration. Took boat from Göteborg (Gothenburg)
to England. Many sick. Stayed in Liverpool for 2 days. 50 Swedes
to a room.
168 BOAT TO AMERICA: Didn't get sick. Good food. Danced, had
a good time. Simrikvital line (?).
183 FEELINGS LEAVING SWEDEN: Felt not loved, didn't understand.
Didn't want to leave.
192 LANDED BOSTON: Put on train to Chicago, helped by police.
Had food from Sweden to eat. Didn't talk to anyone - no Swedes
on train. Took about a week.
206 ARRIVAL TACOMA: Nobody met her. Teacher from Indian school
took her to friends.
231 FINDING A JOB: Took care of child in south Tacoma. Later
employed as a housekeeper - $10.00 monthly plus room and board.
Later earned $20.00.
267 LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES: Hard to learn. Learned from people
she worked with. Street car went past the house. Cost 5 cents,
couldn't afford it.
298 GOOD TEMPERANCE LODGE: One of the first women to join in
1912, only charter member surviving. Went every Thursday evening
- still attends meetings.
330 CITIZENSHIP: Through marriage - first husband was American.
Met husband at Valhalla.
339 FIRST HUSBAND: Axel Anderson. Describes wedding in Seattle
in a pastor's house. Describes mode of dress on wedding day.
Had restaurant on "K" street. Honeymoon in Victoria B.C.
369 Describes Tacoma in early days. Rented a house and later
bought a home.
378 CHILDREN: Kathleen - lives in California. Married to Richard
Wright who worked in insurance. Lennard - lives in Lakewood
and teaches music. Wally - works at Oakland TV in Tacoma. Alva
has six great grandchildren.
424 CHURCH: Children attended Sunday school. Didn't attend Lutheran
church in U.S. (see counter 489-I). Attended First Covenant
where her son played the organ.
438 DEPRESSION: Son and daughter worked. Alva worked at Weyerhaeuser.
Housework and childcare. Husband was sick during depression
- had sold the restaurant. Died in 1949.
480 Remarried in 1950 to Dan Pearson. Employed at carpentry
shop. Deceased after 10 years of marriage (also Swedish).
489 CHURCH LIFE: First Covenant. Treasurer of the Ladies Aid.
Many Swedes were members (see counter 424-I)
498 Children spoke Swedish before school days. Still speaks
Swedish with friends. Some grandchildren can speak Swedish today.
525 TRIPS BACK TO SWEDEN: First time in 1955, 46 years after
coming to America. Describes family home, changes in Sweden
similar to U.S. Last trip 7 years ago at age 80 - went back
to visit good friends (see counter 036-I). Eight trips back
total. Talks about friends who returned to Sweden to get the
benefits. Eight trips back total.
610 PLU: Both son and husband had Professor Stuen for a teacher.
629 Closes in Swedish.
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