Organized into three series: I. Correspondence. II. Organizations. III.Reference.
Arvid Nelson (1890-1967) was born in Whitesboro, California, the son of Finnish immigrants. A journalist and editor of Finnish-American publications, Nelson was also very active in Finnish socialist, fraternal , cooperative and relief organizations. Nelson wrote for Toveri in Seattle, Washington and Astoria, Oregon between 1913 and 1915. In 1917, he moved with his family to Superior, Wisconsin, where he edited Työmies until 1926. While in Superior, he also helped organize the Workers' Mutual Savings Bank and was active in the Cooperative Central Exchange. Eventually the Nelsons returned to California and settled in Berkeley, where Nelson turned to painting and wallpaper-hanging to earn a living. He continued to be active in Finnish organizations such as the Berkeley Finnish Brotherhood and the Berkeley Consumers Cooperative. In 1942, he worked as a translator for the United States Department of War Information, preparing materials in Finnish for broadcast on the Voice of America. He soon left to edit Raivaaja in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, returning in 1943 to California.
Papers (1889-1967) of Arvid Nelson (1890-1967), a journalist, consist of correspondence, notebooks, newspaper clippings, brochures, notes, manuscripts, financial records, and membership cards for various Finnish American organizations.
Inventory available.
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