One of the roles of
Finlandia University in Hancock is to oversee the Finnish American Historical Archive and Museum, which preserves and exhibits the best of Finnish-American culture and history.
The museum recently got a major donation from a prominent Finnish-American couple from "Finntown" in Brooklyn, New York, as Ethel Suominen donated 100 artifacts with ties to Finnish and American history, in memory of her late husband, Veikko Suominen.
Many of the artifacts are from his birthplace, the Suominen farm, in the former parish of Rymättylä, now Naantali, in southwest Finland.
The Suominens' antique collections have been featured in the New York and Finnish media as prime examples of the uniquely Finnish-American immigrant culture and daily life.
Kent Randell, archivist for the Finnish American Historical Archive and Museum at Finlandia University, says the donation is not only historically significant, but also personally so to the Suominens.
"Veikko was very proud of his antique collection," Randell says. "Mrs. Suominen felt that donation of the Finnish items in his collection was a meaningful way to honor his memory."
Among the collection of artifacts, which includes household and farm objects, there are two spinning wheels from 1851 and 1872, 19th-century ice skates, homemade fishing nets, equestrian equipment, and other items and tools.
Artwork also was part of the donation, notably two prints of scenes from Turku, Finland, by architect Aare Laiho, and Finnish tapestries. Documents round out the collection, including signed commendations to Veikko Suominen from Interim President and Grand Marshal Mannerheim of Finland and U.S. President Harry Truman in recognition of Suominen's military service in Finland's Winter War, from 1939-1940, and his service in the United States Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945.
The 100-piece Suominen collection can be viewed at the Finnish American Heritage Center during normal business hours.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Kent Randell, Finlandia University
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