Research project on "The Finns in North America Today"

At the end of 1990s, Jouni Korkiasaari of the Institute of Migration in Turku began an exploration that focuses on the present Finnish immigrant population of North America (USA and Canada). In order to succeed in this undertaking, Korkiasaari has been collecting on-line survey data through the Institute's website. Today, nearly 4,000 people have participated in the survey.

Shifting from traditional histories of Finnish immigrant communities to current conditions among the immigrants is a challenge that will lead to the eventual publication of a book entitled "Finnish North Americans Today".  Survey results will be used as part of the book which is a joint effort of three researchers Jouni Korkiasaari, information service manager of the Institute of Migration located in Turku, Finland, genealogy expert Timothy Laitila Vincent of Salt Lake City, and assistant professor of geography  Dr. Mika Roinila (Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN).

Each member will participate in the collection of interviews, photography and other documentary material related to each location and individual visited. Special information sessions and gatherings hosted by local organizations can take place in the locations being visited. Each member also can contribute to the writing of book chapters and sections describing personalities, locations, monuments, etc. In addition, each co-investigator will help in the general editing of the book.

The goal of the project is to produce a well-balanced picture of the Finnish-American and Finnish-Canadian population today. As the project continues, progress reports will be made available through the Finnish-American/Canadian media and at this website.

• Survey form for:

       Finnish-Americans       Finnish-Canadians

• Preliminary results of the survey (downloadable paper presented at FinnForum VII in October 28–30, 2004, University of Minnesota)

Project plan

The main purpose of the survey is to study:

• Main characteristics of the Finnish-American and Finnish-Canadian population today (demographic "structure" by generation)?

• How do they identify themselves?

• What do they think about their Finnish heritage?

• What kind of a role does their Finnish heritage play in their life?

• What kind of contacts they have with their relatives in Finland and with Finland in general?

• How do they perceive the future of "Finnishness" in North America?

The final goal of the whole project is to publish a book divided into four main chapters:

• Chapter I: A short history of Finnish emigration to North America

• Chapter II: Survey results complemented with interviews

• Chapter III: "Portraits" of well-known ("Hall of Fame") and ordinary Finnish-Americans/Canadians

• Chapter IV: Articles on Finnish-American/Canadian places, landmarks, memorials, buildings etc.

• Chapter V: A short guide to genealogy in the US, Canada and Finland (20 pages?)

Execution and methods of the survey:

Survey form and interviews

Postal addresses for mailing the questionnaires were obtained from the Finnish American and Finnish-Canadian organizations, societies and other institutions; email addresses for bulk-emailing were collected from internet's "white pages" (by using Finnish names as a search criteria); Finnish-American/Canadian newspapers and membership letters of the Finnish-American/Canadian societies were also used for distributing the questionnaires and information on the project.

Funding:

So far the project has received financial support from the following funds:

• Finlandia Foundation Trust

• Canadian Suomi Foundation

• Kaarle Hjalmar Lehtinen Fund (Institute of Migration)

• SUNY New Paltz

Time schedule:

Survey 2001-2004, interviews 2004-2005.

Final results (the book) will be published in 2008.

Researchers:

A total of 3 individuals - senior expert in migration Jouni Korkiasaari of the Institute of Migration located in Turku, Finland, genealogy expert Timothy Laitila Vincent of Salt Lake City, and assistant professor of geography  Dr. Mika Roinila (Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN) will collaborate and work together on this project.

Individual responsibilities:

Jouni Korkiasaari (Information Service Manager, Institute of Migration): Responsible for the analyses of survey material and the writing of chapters dealing with the history of Finnish immigration to the United States and Canada. Other responsibilities include the layout of the book and making material photoready for publication. (Click picture to enlarge!)
Dr. Mika Roinila (Assistant Professor of Geography Department of History and Contemporary Society, Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN): Areas of interest include the writing of chapters dealing with the "Finnish Sauna in America" and "Finland-Swedes in America". Other responsibilities include the coordination of gathering additional written materials from solicited Finnish-American and Finnish-Canadian participants whose stories will be considered for the text, and translation of Finnish manuscripts into English.
Timothy Laitila Vincent (Genealogist, Salt Lake City, Utah): Timothy will be responsible for writing a chapter dealing with "Genealogical research", as well as translation of Finnish manuscripts to English.

Additional information

1. Jouni Korkiasaari, Institute of Migration, e-mail
2. Mika Roinila, phone 574-257-2658, website: http://www.bethelcollege.edu/users/roinilm/

• Survey form for:

       Finnish-Americans       Finnish-Canadians