Institute of Migration

Survey of Finnish-Americans

Note! Responses cannot be submitted anymore because the timeframe for this survey has expired.

Dear Finnish-American,

This is an "internet version" of a questionnaire for a project to gain information about present-day Finnish-Americans and their heritage. This questionnaire is also distributed by hardcopy and by e-mail to people of Finnish birth and for descendants of Finnish immigrants who reside in the United States. Anyone with any amount of Finnish ancestry is welcomed and encouraged to participate.

The goal of this survey is to produce a well-balanced picture of the Finnish-American population. The final product will be a published book. As this project continues, progress reports will be made available through the Finnish-American media and at this website. This survey is interested in information from ethnic enthusiasts as well as from people who are not active in any Finnish-American activities. We encourage you to be as thorough and honest as possible with your answers and comments. All replies will be kept confidential.

Further information: Senior researcher Jouni Korkiasaari, Institute of Migration,
 E-mail

If you pay for the connection time, you can disconnect the line for the time you are filling out the form. Submitting the form should connect you back online.

 
1. Your place of residence:

City  State 

2. Sex:

Male           Female

3. Year and country of birth:

Year: Country: USA     Canada     Finland      Other

If you are the immigrant, when did you immigrate to USA?  

4. What percentage of your ethnic background is Finnish (roughly)?
100 %  (1/1)
  75 %  (3/4)
  50 %  (1/2)
  25 %  (1/4)
12.5 % (1/8) or less		 Comments:
5. If you have multiple immigrant heritage, rank in order by ancestry (e.g. Finnish, Irish, German)?

1.  % (use ? if you don't know the %)
2.  %
3.  %
4.  %
5.  %
6.  %

6. What generation of Finnish-American are you? The immigrant is "immigrant generation". The first born in America is "first generation". If your grandparents were the immigrants, then you are "second generation" Finnish-American.

  I'm the immigrant myself

From my father's side (if he is of Finnish origin):

  I'm  1st (born in America)    2nd      3rd     4th     5th or more    Clear

From my mother's side (if she is of Finnish origin):

  I'm 1st (born in America)    2nd      3rd     4th     5th or more    Clear

7. When (approximately) did your Finnish ancestors immigrate to North America (USA or Canada)? Mark ? (question mark) if you don't know.

Father's side: year          Mother's side: year

8. Do you know where your Finnish ancestors resided in Finland?

Father's side:   No        Yes: Where?

Mother's side: No        Yes: Where?

9. What was the mother tongue of your ancestors in Finland?

Father's side:   Finnish        Swedish        Other

Mother's side: Finnish        Swedish        Other

10. How important is/was being Finnish to your parent(s)?

Not important    Little      Quite important      Very important

11. Did your parents or grandparents tell you about your Finnish ancestors?

Practically none     Little      Pretty much     A lot

12. Do you have family reunions?

No (not yet)
Not really, just informal get togethers with immediate family
Yes, at special events (e.g. weddings, anniversaries, funerals)
Yes, real "genealogical" reunions with extended family: times

13. Does your family have a written family history?

No
No, but it's in progress
Not really, just a simple/limited family tree
Yes, a photocopied version with about pages
Yes, a "real" printed book with about pages

14. What contact do you have with your relatives in Finland?

Don't know any relatives there
None, but I know some and would like to develop contact with them?
Not me personally, but my other (immediate) family members
    (e.g. parents, sisters) have been in contact with them
I have been in contact with them personally

by exchanging Christmas and/or other cards
by letter or email correspondence
by phone, HAM-radio or internet chatting
by visiting there times
my relatives from Finland have visited me at my home times

15. Do you observe Finnish customs?

No, don't know of any or enough to practice them
As a child but not anymore
Yes: Which or how? Check all that apply.

Traditional Finnish holiday celebration customs
     (e.g. Christmas Eve, Midsummer Eve, Independence Day of Finland)
Traditional Finnish food (e.g. cardamom bread, dark bread, lutefisk, rutabaga, herring)
Finnish home furnishings
Flying Finnish flag outside
Having Sauna
Playing Finnish music
Singing Finnish songs
Dancing Finnish dances
Reading Finnish literature (stories/history/poetry ...)
Attending Finnish festivals/Finnish Days, St. Urho's Day etc.
Attending Finnish church services
Playing traditional Finnish (children's) games, card games etc.
Using Finnish expressions or sayings
     Comments:
    

16. How important of a role does your Finnish heritage play in your daily life?

None        Very little          Some         Great

17. Do you subscribe to or read any Finnish-American newspapers or magazines?

No      Yes: Which ones? Check all that apply.

Finnish-American Reporter
Finnish Update (Formerly Amerikan/CanadanUutiset)
New World Finn
Raivaaja
Vapaa Sana
Todistaja
The Leading Star
Norden
Newsletter of a local Finnish club/society
Read online newspapers/letters on the internet (like Etusivu)
Participate in internet discussion groups/bulletin boards (like Finnish Urban Network)
Other/comments
   

18. Do you subscribe to or read any newspapers or magazines published in Finland?

No       Yes: Which ones? Check all that apply.

Helsingin Sanomat
Suomen Silta
Some local newspaper (e.g. Aamulehti, Pohjalainen, Ilkka, Vasa Bladet)
Some monthly Finnish magazine (e.g. Suomen Kuvalehti, Kotiliesi, Seura, Apu)
Read online news on the internet (e.g. Helsingin Sanomat, Iltasanomat, Iltalehti)
Listen to Radio Finlandia
Other/comments
   

19. Do you participate in any Finnish-American organizations and/or social events?

No       Yes: Which? Check all that apply.

FinnFest USA/Finnish-Canadian Grand Fest
Finlandia Foundation
FAHA or other rest home association
Kaleva Brothers' and Sisters' Lodge
Canadian Friends of Finland
Local Finnish Festivals/Finnish Days (e.g. music, dance)
Local Finnish-American/Canadian cultural, historical, genealogical
     or heritage society/club or other group
Skandinavian/Nordic/Swedish/Norwegian/Danish festivals or Days
Local Finnish church congregations/events/activities
Some Finnish educational program (e.g. language)
Online discussion group(s) or bulletin board(s) on the internet
     (e.g. Finnish Urban Network, FinnGen)
Informal Finnish events or get togethers
Other/comments
   

20. Do you have any of the following items or objects concerning Finland or Finnish?

Books concerning Finland
Books written in Finnish
Finnish records or cassettes
Finnish Bible/Hymnbook/songbooks
Miniature flag of Finland
The coat of arms of Finland
Finnish folk costume
Paintings or other Finnish artwork
Tapestry, decorations, furniture, dinnerware or jewellery
      Other/comments:
    

21. What is your ability to read, write and speak Finnish?

To read Finnish:    none     some     moderate     well     fluent
To write Finnish:   none     some     moderate     well     fluent
To speak Finnish:  none     some     moderate     well     fluent

What about Swedish?

To read Swedish:   none     some     moderate     well     fluent
To write Swedish:  none     some     moderate     well     fluent
To speak Swedish: none     some     moderate     well     fluent

22. How many Finnish-American households (families) presently belong to
your circle of contact? Mark 0 (zero) if none.

Immediate relatives
Close friends
Regularly visited friends
Casual acquaintances

 Comments:
23. To what extent do you follow current events in Finland?

Hardly at all       Some       Pretty much       Very much

24. How many times have you visited Finland? (After emigration if you are immigrant yourself)

times: The year of your most recent visit? Year

25. Have you ever thought or planned to visit Finland in the future?

No, not seriously
Not really, but I would like to if ...
No plans yet, but I've thought about it and it's very likely
Yes, I will: When? Likely in the next  years

26. Have you ever considered moving to Finland?

Never         Yes, in the past         Yes, currently

                        If yes: Temporarily  or  Permanently?

27. How important is being Finnish to you?

None    Little     Quite important      Very important

28. Do you think that being Finnish-American is an important reflection of who you are?

None    Little     Quite important      Very important

29. How important is it that Finnish-Americans preserve their Finnish-American identity and awareness of their Finnish origin?

None    Little     Quite important      Very important

30. How important is it that Finnish-American parents teach Finnish traditions to their children?

None    Little     Quite important      Very important

31. Please give your general thoughts and feelings about being of Finnish heritage and a Finnish-American.

32. What is your educational background?

Less than 9th grade
9 to 12th grade, no diploma
High school graduate (e.g. GED)
Some college, no degree
Associate degree (occupational or academic, e.g. AA, AS)
Bachelor's degree (e.g. BA, AB, BS)
Master's degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEng, MBA)
Professional (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD)
Specify if not sure about the level:

33. What is (or was) your profession or occupation?

Managerial, administrative or related occupation (1)
Natural sciences, engineering or mathematics (2)
Social science or related (3)
Teaching or related field (4)
Medicine or health care (5)
Arts, literary, recreational or related field (6)
Sales occupation (7)
Service occupation (8)
Farming, horticultural or animal husbandry or other primary occupation (9)
Processing occupation (10)
Machinery, fabricating, assembling, repairing etc. (11)
Construction work (12)
Transportation (13)
Other or specify:

34. Are you currently

Single    Cohabiting   Married      Divorced/separated    Widowed

How many children do you have? (adult children included, none=0)

35. If married, is your spouse Finnish American?

Yes: What percentage of Finnish? Approx. %
No: Which ethnic background is she/he?

36. What is your current activity?

1 Employed
2 Self-employed
3 Student
4 Homemaker
5 Retired
6 Otherwise occupied: How?

What about your spouse (choose number above)?

Number

37. What are your political and social viewpoints generally?

Conservative       Moderate      Liberal      Radical left

38. How many times in your life have you moved
39. What is the population of your current town or city?

Approx. inhabitants (do not use separators, just numbers)

40. Is your place of residence at present

Rural, farm settlement
Rural, non-farm settlement (small rural centre)
Suburb/”satellite”
City

41. In what kind of areas of residence have you lived in the different
phases of your life (most of the years)?
42. In your place of residence, do you know any places, landmarks, memorials, Finn Halls, churches or other buildings etc. that have Finnish names or are dedicated to the Finns or Finnish-Americans? If yes, which and where?

43. If you were born in Finland yourself, when and why did you emigrate?

44. Are you a citizen of USA?

Yes       No

45. Who do you think are the most famous living Finns in the world today (architects, artists,  athletes, businessmen,  inventors, politicians, scientists etc.; rank in order)?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

46. What about the best-known Finnish companies (rank in order)?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

47. How would you describe Finland today? What kind of country is it?

48. What kind of people are the Finns?

Below is a group of adjectives with which you can express your opinion about the Finns. Put a mark on a line between each set of words indicating the way you think describes Finns best. The middle point is considered neutral or average farthest positions meaning that you feel Finns are much more one-way than other.

Average Original
Calm Unstable
Strong Weak
Talkative Quiet
Untalented Talented
Dominant Submissive
Distant Close
Good self-esteem Low self-esteem
Country living City living
Serious Light-hearted
Modern Old fashioned
Dependent Independent
Honest Dishonest
Messy Clean
Timid Brave
Extroverted Introverted
Modest Demanding
Warm Cold
Hard working Lazy
Urban Rural
Stubborn Easy-going
Silent Noisy
Simple Elaborate
Snobbish   Friendly
Stoic Comfort-loving
Optimistic Pessimistic
Communicative Non-communicative
Reserved Out-going
Heavy drinkers Teetotallers (non-drinkers)

Trustworthy

Untrustworthy

Indecisive

Determined

Frugal/Thrifty

Extravagant

Industrious

Unindustrious

Direct

Indirect

Disloyal

Loyal

Radical

Conservative

Sincere

Insincere

Creative

Non-creative
49. Your comments and suggestions to improve this form:

If you would like to be included in a bulk e-mailing as the survey forms are processed, please include your e-mail address. (When returning this survey, your e-mail address will NOT automatically appear as in normal e-mail correspondence.)

Your e-mail address (optional)

Before submitting the form, please check first that you have answered all the questions relevant to you.

Note! Responses cannot be submitted anymore because the timeframe for this survey has expired.

Thank you for participating in this survey. Your time, honest answers, comments and thoroughness are all greatly appreciated!

Jouni Korkiasaari, senior researcher
Institute of Migration, Turku, Finland
E-mail
Institute of Migration