    
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
Laura Madsen Christianson Foss
A Guide to Her Oral History Interview |
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Administrative
Information
Creator:
Foss, Laura Madsen Christianson
Collection Nr: t193
File Content:
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3 file folders
7 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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This
interview was conducted with Laura Foss on October 20, 1982
in Seattle, Washington. It provides information on family background,
emigration, employment, education, marriage and family, community
involvement, and Danish heritage. The interview also includes
photographs of Laura when she was two years old, Laura with
her family when she was four, Laura with her first husband in
1925, Laura in 1934, and Laura and Hjarne Foss at the time of
the interview. Also see Hjarne Foss.
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Laura
Foss was born on July 1, 1905 in Copenhagen, Denmark to Peter
Madsen and Dorthea Jensen, who were both from Lolland, Denmark.
Laura's father was a blacksmith for the government, and Laura
and her siblings had a wonderful home life; there were six children
in the family including Laura. Laura was confirmed when she
was fourteen years old and then got a cleaning job with a local
family. Laura worked for them until she decided to immigrate
to America in January 1921. She came over with her cousin, Greta,
from Germany, and they settled in Seattle, WA, where Laura's
aunt and uncle, Hans and Marie Pedersen, lived. Laura stayed
in Seattle for two months, until deciding to stay with her uncle,
Olaf Madsen, in Mt. Vernon, WA. She stayed in Mt. Vernon for
two months as well and then returned to Seattle to help care
for her aunt, who was a diabetic. In the fall of 1921, Laura
got her first job in the United States, in which she helped
with childcare and housekeeping for the Russell family. At this
time, she also attended night school at Broadway High School
in order to improve her English. The following spring, Laura
started to attend church and a Danish society for young people.
These activities provided Laura with more of a social life,
and the church was where she and Greta learned of the Danish
"folkskole" in Solvang, CA. They attended for one school year
(October - March) and had lectures, gymnastics, folk dancing,
handcrafts, and Bible classes. While in Solvang, Laura met her
first husband, Harald Christiansen, who was doing carpentry
work for a contractor in town. Harald was also from Denmark
and had attended the school a year before Laura. When Laura
was done with school, she and Harald moved back to Seattle and
were married April 8, 1925. They had two children, Paul and
Norma, and maintained Danish traditions within their household.
In 1930, Laura and Paul visited Denmark for five months, and
in 1948, the whole family went. Both of the children can speak
Danish. In 1965, Harald died of a heart attack, and Laura took
another trip to Denmark. On this trip, she met up with Hjarne
Foss, who was also visiting from Seattle. They were married
in 1967.
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Full Name: |
Laura Marie Foss
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Maiden Name: |
Laura Marie Madsen
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Father: |
Peter Madsen
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Mother: |
Dorthea Jensen
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Paternal Grandfather: |
Jorgen Madsen
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Paternal Grandmother: |
Petrine Madsen
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Maternal Grandfather: |
Lars Jensen
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Maternal Grandmother: |
Marie Jensen
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Brothers and Sisters: |
Harry Madsen
Arthur Madsen
Sonja Madsen
Frode Madsen
Aase Madsen
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Spouse: |
Harald Christiansen
Hjarne Foss
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Children: |
Paul Erik Christiansen
Norma Christiansen
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This collection is indexed under the following headings
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Personal Names |
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Foss, Laura
Madsen, Peter
Jensen, Dorthea
Pedersen, Hans
Pedersen, Marie
Madsen, Olaf
Christiansen, Harald
Christiansen, Paul
Christiansen, Norma
Foss, Hjarne
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Family Names |
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Foss family
Madsen family
Christiansen family
Pedersen family
Jensen family
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Geographical Names |
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Copenhagen (Denmark)
Lolland (Denmark)
Seattle (Wash.)
Solvang (Calif.)
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Subjects |
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Family -- Denmark
Denmark -- Emigration and immigration
Copenhagen (Denmark) -- Emigration and immigration
School attendance -- Denmark
School attendance -- United States
School attendance -- United States -- Solvang (Calif.)
Confirmation -- Lutheran Church -- Denmark
Christmas -- Denmark
Frederick VIII (Steamship)
Ocean travel
Railroad travel
Naturalization
Marriage service
Danish-Americans -- Ethnic identity
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Occupations |
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Domestics -- Seattle (Wash.)
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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.
018 Laura Marie Madsen Christiansen Foss. Born July 1, 1905
in Copenhagen, Denmark.
034 PARENTS: Peter Madsen and Dorthea Jensen. They were from
Lolland, an island south of Copenhagen. They grew up in poor
circumstances.
055 GRANDPARENTS: Maternal - vaguely remembers her grandfather.
His name was Lars Jensen. He died when she was quite young.
Laura's grandmother died after Laura came to the US. Her name
was Marie. Her grandparents lived on Lolland and never left
the island as long as they lived. Laura's grandfather did odd
jobs and had a little business of making brushes. They didn't
have much land. They had some chickens but there wasn't enough
room for a cow. Paternal grandparents - grandfather's name was
Jorgen Madsen. Grandmother's name was Petrine. She was older
than grandfather. Always sickly. Died when Laura was about eight.
He lived with Laura's family from time to time. He worked on
a big estate for a count. Grandfather was humble. Would bow
for this count. Made barely enough money to feed his family.
They had their own little house with a thatched roof.
194 PARENTS: (See also I-034) Father was the youngest of ten
children. Only four of the ten grew up. The others died when
very young. Sanitation wasn't good in those days. Laura's paternal
grandfather worshipped grandmother. She was beautiful when she
was young and he never forgot that. Laura's father went to Copenhagen
as a young man. She doesn't know how her parents met. Father
worked for the government. Was kind of a blacksmith for the
military's arsenal department. Worked there until he retired.
A very respected man. A wonderful person.
368 BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Three boys and three girls in their
family. Oldest brother, Harry worked for the government. Died
in 1980. Laura describes why she thinks he was such a remarkable
person. He visited them in the U.S. in 1970. Arthur was a year
younger than Harry. He was a machinist. Died in 1961 when 59
years old. Laura was the third child. Sonja was born three years
after Laura. She was a wonderful person.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Sonja was a lot like Harry. She could
accomplish a lot through it seemed as if she hadn't been doing
much. She died of cancer at age 54. Frode, Laura's youngest
brother, was born next. He is a retired plumber, living in Copenhagen.
They have a summer home and an apartment, which they use in
the winter. They grew up in a wonderful home. Lots of singing,
music, and laughter. Father had a good sense of humor.
458 CHRISTMAS: Their father would take them into downtown Copenhagen
when all the street were decorated for Christmas. They loved
to go window-shopping. Christmas Eve was exciting. They would
have goose or pork roast with red cabbage, potatoes, and all
the works. They'd have apricot pudding with whipped cream. They
had a Christmas tree with real candles. There were little packages
underneath the tree. They'd join hands and sing Danish Christmas
songs. They would play with their toys on Christmas day. Sonja
and Laura got dolls one Christmas. They were going to sew clothes
for them but their mother said they would get infected fingers
for sewing on Christmas. They didn't go to church on Christmas.
548 CHURCH AND SCHOOL: Laura's family didn't go to church. Her
mother felt they got enough religion in school. They had catechism
and Bible studies. Said the Lord's Prayer and sang a hymn every
morning before class. They didn't go to church but they were
baptized and confirmed. Laura was fourteen when confirmed. She
had a white dress and white shoes with high heels. They had
company after church.
610 WORK: Got a job working for a family in their home half
a day. The man was studying to be a judge at the University
of Copenhagen. They had a seventeen-day-old baby the day she
started working for them.
635 SCHOOL: (See also I-548) School had two shifts: 8:00-1:00
and 1:00-6:00. Boys and girls were separated (not in shifts).
Had to curtsey in front of teachers. Boys and girls separated
on play field by a board fence.
690 SUMMER: Went to Lolland for 4-6 weeks to visit grandmother
and aunt. School system paid the fare. People in the country
would volunteer to take the children from Copenhagen in their
homes for the summer. City children would get fresh air and
learn about life in the country. The Foss children stayed with
family but the school still paid the fare.
773 WORK: (See also I-610) describes her job working for the
family she mentioned earlier in the interview. Cleaned. Helped
take care of the baby. They lived on the 4th floor. Had to go
to the basement for supplies. People living in the building
had to clean the stairwells.
825 REASONS FOR IMMIGRATING TO US: Her father's sister lived
in Seattle with her husband, Hans and Marie Pedersen. They had
visited Laura's family once. Laura planned on coming back to
Denmark. She left for America at age fifteen. A family living
in the US came to Denmark for a visit. They were contacted and
asked to look after Laura on her journey. Laura's aunt had money
in a bank in Copenhagen, which she allowed Laura to use. This
aunt was quite well to do. At the last minute, it was decided
that a cousin from Germany would come too. Things were still
bad in Germany in January 1921 because of WWI so Greta went
to America as well. She was 16 years old. Laura never realized
until long afterwards how much her mother didn't want her to
go. At age 15, she was too excited to think about it. Her mother
couldn't go to the ship to say good-bye. The rest of the family
went with her to the boat.
940 THE TRIP TO AMERICA: 12 days on the ship. 5 days from New
York to Seattle on train. The German cousin managed to learn
a quite a lot of Danish. They sailed on a Danish ship, Frederick
VIII. Traveled 2nd class. They were with the Nielsen family.
Laura shared a cabin with the Nielsens and Greta shared a cabin
with someone else. They weren't used to afternoon coffee with
homemade pastries. The trip was quite elegant. There were many
Poles traveling 3rd class. Thought they were dressed funny.
Those traveling steerage brought their own food. Cold and stormy
in January. Laura got seasick. Greta didn't.
996 ARRIVAL: Didn't have to go to Ellis Island like most of
the immigrants did. They got the New York o January 18, 1921.
They were excited to see the Statue of Liberty and the skyscrapers.
It was too cold in New York to be out very long. The Nielsens
took care of their papers, passports, and money. They had no
problems. At age 15, Laura was too young to live in the US alone.
She had an affidavit from her uncle saying that he was responsible
for her.
1020 TRAIN TRIP: Doesn't remember going from the boat to the
train. They had to wait in Chicago for a few hours to catch
the train to Seattle. Remembers the Nielsens taking them to
a drug store. She had her first ice cream soda there. She was
surprised. Drug stores in Denmark are strictly pharmacies. Remembers
Mrs. Nielsen speaking English in the stores. Thought she'd never
learn to speak that well. Had her first baked potato on the
train. Had several hours in Ogden, Utah. The Nielsens took them
to show. It was a silent picture called "Love." Came to Seattle
on January 25, 1921. Her uncle met them at the depot. They had
a nice house on 10th Avenue North, a block off Broadway.
1077 FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SEATTLE: It was raining when they
came, but at 15 years of age, she didn't pay much attention
to the weather.
1091 SCHOOL: The neighborhood school wouldn't take them. They
spoke no English. They had to go to Pacific School on lower
Broadway and Jefferson. This school had a class for foreigners.
This class had Chinese, Russian, and Greek students. Greta and
Laura didn't sit next to each other at school so they developed
their own sign language to use in class.
SIDE II
013 SCHOOL: Both Laura and Greta had had good education in their
home countries but they had to start from scratch with the English
language. It was more difficult for the Chinese who had to learn
a whole new alphabet.
049 Laura stayed in Seattle for two months. It was decided she
would stay with an uncle, Olaf Madsen in Mount Vernon. His wife
was from Texas. She was a crude person. Laura's aunt was not
very healthy. She was probably a little irritated with the girls.
She was wonderful in many ways, but she had no patience.
160 MOUNT VERNON: Laura's uncle was good natured. Laura could
speak Danish with him. His wife Laida (?) was a "hot-tempered
Texan." Laura had to try to speak English to her. Laida (?)
didn't like Laura to speak Danish to her uncle. Laura would
try to help with the housework. Laida was a sloppy housekeeper.
If Laura made the house look nice, you'd never be able to tell
the next day.
209 RETURN TO SEATTLE: Two months later, Aunt Marie was really
sick. She had diabetes. This was before insulin. Laura's cousin,
who was a nurse, quit her job at Providence Hospital and stayed
home to take care of Aunt Marie. Her food had to be weighed.
She was hungry and couldn't have enough to eat. She was cranky.
Laura was needed there. Aunt Marie bossed Laura around and took
advantage of her. Greta was sent to Mount Vernon and stayed
with a younger family. She had a lot of fun up there. Laura's
first summer in the US wasn't too great. Still, she wasn't ready
to go back. She thought she'd stay here for a couple of years.
She never complained in her letters home.
253 TRIPS TO DENMARK: First trip back was in 1930. Her mother
told her she knew what Aunt Marie was like. She thanked Laura
for not complaining.
286 FIRST JOB IN THE US: Got a job in the fall of 1921. Took
care of a 2 year old and helped with the housework. They had
a daughter in high school and an 11 year old son. She stayed
with them for a year. His name was Russel. He worked for the
Seattle Water Department. Ate dinner with the family. Remembers
the first time she had cream style corn. Still doesn't care
for it. Her aunt and uncle insisted she go to night school so
she went to Broadway High School twice a week. They always tried
to separate Greta and Laura so they didn't let Greta take English
as Laura did. Greta took sewing. They both had class from 7:00pm
to 9:00pm twice a week. They looked forward to their reunions
on 9:00pm. They'd go to a nearby bakery and eat a dozen cinnamon
rolls. Laura envied the Russel's daughter. She would come home
from high school with friends. They'd play the piano and sing
while Laura was in the kitchen peeling potatoes.
382 DIFFICULTIES: Missed the fun and laughter they had in their
home in Denmark. Her aunt would have dinner parties but the
people there were older. She wasn't around many young people.
Everything was serious. There was no laughter. The sky was the
limit when her aunt bought food, however. Goodies, fresh fruit,
things they didn't usually get in Denmark. Laura's aunt could
be very demanding and quite impatient. Laura and Greta were
afraid to not complete the tasks she requested of them. Laura
gives several examples of this. Once she sent Laura to the butchers
a few blocks away. She'd often expect them to be able to do
things even though they didn't speak English. She wanted 12
loin pork chops and wouldn't let Laura write it down. Laura
forgot it by the time she got the butchers. He started naming
things, When he said loin pork chops, she remembered.
557 CHURCH: Many of the young Danish girls working as housekeepers
would meet at the church on Thursday afternoons, their day off.
Laura started going to this church the first Easter after they
had come to Seattle. The Nielsens invited them since Laura's
aunt didn't go to church. The sermon was in Danish. Then they
started going to a Danish Society for young people. The fellows
would come to the church on Thursday evenings after work. All
clean fun. Wouldn't interest young people today. This group
was organized by the Pastor Alfred Sorenson. Theresa, Hjarne's
first wife went to these meetings. Later, Hjarne, Laura's second
husband came too.
627 SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA: Greta and Laura heard about the Danish
folkskole in Solvang. They wrote to Pastor Christiansen, who
was in charge. He said they could stay there for half-price
if they helped in the kitchen. It cost $200 for the school year
(October - March) for room and board. They paid only $100. Pastor
Christiansen picked them up at the depot in Solvang. It was
all work and no play. They were up before everyone else. Cleaned
the halls and steps. Set the tables for breakfast and while
the others were in class, they did the dishes. Very little they
could take part in. After two weeks, they talked to Mrs. Christiansen,
who had decided that they could clean her apartment as well.
He said they'd have to hire a full-time girl to clean and they
could go to school. Greta and Laura had a lot of fun after that.
Had lectures, gymnastics, folk dancing, handicrafts, Bible classes,
etc.
718 MEETING FIRST HUSBAND: He had attended the school a year
before Laura. While Laura was there, he was doing carpentry
for a contractor in town. There were some cottages behind the
school where he and some other young men were living. They boarded
at the school. His name was Harald Christiansen. Laura saw him
on weekends and in the evenings. He was Danish. Was orphaned
at age nine. Worked for a family. Eventually came to the US
with a cousin. He did very well for himself here. He worked
for the government. Was in charge of all the different shops
at Pier 91 in Bremerton, Washington (carpenter shop, paint shop,
etc.) until he was discharged on a medical. He was a diabetic
and had had several heart attacks. He knew Laura would go to
Seattle after school was out so he went there to find work.,
Laura worked in California until she had enough to pay Pastor
Christiansen back and then returned to Seattle. She and Greta
worked in homes in Santa Barbara. They ended up owing $200 because
when Laura's aunt found out they weren't working, she decided
not to pay the $100 for their room and board at school. Laura
earned $50-55 per month. She had to earn the fare home and she
still owed $75 to Pastor Christiansen.
834 GETTING ENGAGED: Got a job in a home from Grunbaum Bros.
in order to pay the $75. Got engaged to Harald and he paid the
$75. She wouldn't get married until she earned $75. Bought bedding
with the money.
846 WEDDING: Married April 8, 1925. Her parents silver anniversary.
Married in the basement of the parsonage, which was cozy. Church
on Spruce Street wasn't built yet. Friends decorated parsonage
with wild cherry blossoms. Laura's aunt outfitted them for the
wedding. Her aunt was generous. Her apartment was on Queen Anne
Hill so she gave Laura and Harald a reception there. Had a happy
marriage.
894 CITIZENSHIP: Took out first papers in 1930 because she was
going to Denmark for a visit. Paul, her oldest son was 2 years
old then.
906 TRIPS TO DENMARK: (See also II-253) Laura and Paul were
gone for five months. Traveling took more time then. Took train
to New York and boat to Copenhagen. Laura's parents were still
living. People in her neighborhood had flags out for her homecoming.
She'd been gone for ten years but things hadn't changed much.
Her sister who was seven when she left, had become a young lady.
936 CHILDREN: Paul, director for a long term foster care program
in Seattle. He married a third generation Danish girl. She speaks
Danish. They have three married children. Norma, four years
younger than Paul. She married a high school teacher. They have
a son and a daughter. Both of Laura's children live in Seattle.
973 CHURCH: (See also II-557) Very active in the church. Harald
was president of the congregation when the church was at its
old location. The new church is across from Woodland Park. Laura
is active in a circle. They take care of wedding receptions.
Give dinners and luncheons. They have a friendship group for
Danish ladies. They meet in each other's homes. Their group
is getting smaller.
1020 Laura and Harald lived in a house down by where the freeway
is now. They lived there for over 30 years. Had a contractor
build the house Laura lives in now. They'd lived in this house
for 10 months when Harald died of a heart attack. She lived
there for five years alone. Then she married Hjarne.
1037 TRIPS TO DENMARK: (See also II-253 and II-906) 1930, Laura
and Paul. 1948, the whole family went to Denmark. They took
the car along. 1965, Harald passed away and Laura went alone.
Flew both ways. Met Hjarne over there.
1048 DANISH TRADITIONS: They have Danish meatballs at times.
Danish desserts, fruit pudding and soups. Chopped parsley and
gravy. Liver paste. Open-face sandwiches. They spoke Danish
in the home. Norma speaks Danish quite well. Paul doesn't speak
as quite as well.
1072 Speaks Danish.
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