The Finnish Workers' Federation of the United States was organized in 1927 and incorporated in New York City in 1932. It was the political, cultural and educational organization of the Finnish American Communists and actively supported militant labor unions, farmers' organizations, the cooperative movement and the unemployed movement. In 1941, the Federation joined the International Workers' Order, as the Finnish American Mutual Aid Society. When the International Workers' Order dissolved in the early 1950's, Federation activity continued under leadership of the district committees.
The Finnish Workers' Federation of the United States collection includes, in Finnish and English, corporate documents; correspondence; financial records; minutes; and reference material of the Federation, the Finnish Federation, Inc.; and Turva Gardens. Also included are constitutions and by-laws of Finnish associations in Illinois; a commemorative scrapbook of the Finnish Peoples Democratic organization; correspondence re deportation of William Lahtinen; correspondence (1958-1967) of Ira Gollobin and Mike Wastila; financial statements (1930) of the Pacific Development Society (Astoria, Oregon); financial statements (1930-1931) of the Peoples' Voice Cooperative Publishing Company (New York Mills, Minnesota); various Socialist Party publications; a Finnish-American glossary; and photographs.
Inventory available.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.