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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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70 results for: Scandinavian American

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Image of Diners eating at Scandia Cafe, Seattle, June 8, 1981
Photograph

Diners eating at Scandia Cafe, Seattle, June 8, 1981

First opened around 1910 on Howell Street at Eighth Avenue, the Scandia Cafe was located on the street level of the Howell Hotel, a by-the-week hotel patronized by mostly Swedish seamen and off-season loggers. Owned since 1947 by Esther Johanson (1898-1989), the cafe moved to the Soames-Dunn Building at the Pike Place Market in September 1976 when the original building…
ID Number:2000.107.185.25.03
Date:1981
Image of John Selle and Trygue Vjorndal in 17th of May parade, Seattle, May 17, 2002
Photograph

John Selle and Trygue Vjorndal in 17th of May parade, Seattle, May 17, 2002

Norwegian Constitution Day, the official National Day of Norway, is celebrated each year on the 17th of May. The day, called "Syttende mai" in Norwegian, commemorates the 1814 signing of the Norwegian Constitution, declaring Norway an independent nation. The anniversary is celebrated annually with festivities in Norway and in Norwegian communities around the world. The events include a children's parade,…
ID Number:2000.107.20020517.CD02.01.001
Date:2002
Image of Carte de Viste of Ole Schillestad, Chicago, circa 1865
Photograph

Carte de Viste of Ole Schillestad, Chicago, circa 1865

Among the earliest Norwegian immigrants to the Seattle area, Ole Schillestad and his wife Regina arrived in the United States from Bergen, Norway, around 1875, settling initially in Illinois. They arrived in Seattle with three children, sons Frank W. and Alfred M., and a daughter, Sophie (a fourth child, William, died in Illinois). In 1876, Ole Schillestad began constructing a…
ID Number:2002.50.118b
Date:Circa 1865
Image of Flier for The Stan Boreson Show, Seattle, circa 1965
Ephemera

Flier for The Stan Boreson Show, Seattle, circa 1965

Stan Boreson (1925-2017), born in Everett, was one of Seattle’s children’s television pioneers. Starting with his daily KING’s Klubhouse in 1950, (later "The Stan Boreson Show"), he and sidekick Doug Setterberg, (a.k.a "Hey You") entertained Seattle’s children from around 1950 until 1967. Boreson also had an active recording career. He played the accordion, and through the years became regionally and…
ID Number:2002.69.1
Date:Circa 1965
Image of Art Barduhn Trio with Stan Boreson and others, circa 1953
Photograph

Art Barduhn Trio with Stan Boreson and others, circa 1953

The Art Barduhn Trio of the early 1950s consisted of Art Barduhn (b. 1922) on piano, accordion, vibraphone and other instruments, Russ Phillips on bass and Glenn Thompson on guitar. The trio was often joined by local Seattle musician and humorist Stan Boreson. In the 1950s, the Art Barduhn Trio performed regularly in Seattle and elsewhere, and was also featured…
ID Number:2008.4.37
Date:Circa 1953
Image of Strom & Olsen Hardwood Floors, 12th Ave., Seattle, circa 1920
Photograph

Strom & Olsen Hardwood Floors, 12th Ave., Seattle, circa 1920

This image shows two men in front of the Strom & Olsen hardwood flooring business on 12th Avenue between E Olive Street and E Pine Street. A delivery truck for Strom & Olsen is at right.Edwin Conrad Strom (1881-1965) was born in Sweden, and immigrated to the U. S. in 1907. His advertisement in the 1920 Polk's Seattle City Directory…
ID Number:2016.59.51
Date:Circa 1920
Image of Ballard Bitter poster, Seattle, circa 1986
Poster

Ballard Bitter poster, Seattle, circa 1986

Redhook Ale Brewery was established in 1981 by Gordon Bowker and Paul Shipman in a garage in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. One of the company's most popular beers, Ballard Bitter, was first brewed in 1985, when craft beer was still a very small market. However, the popularity of Ballard Bitter soon allowed Redhook to expand operations into a former trolley barn…
ID Number:2016.95.1
Date:Circa 1986
Image of Luncheon program for Crown Prince Olav's visit, 1939
Program

Luncheon program for Crown Prince Olav's visit, 1939

From May 23-28, 1939, Norway's Crown Prince Olav (1903-1991) and his wife, Princess Martha (1901-1954), visited Washington State during a West Coast tour on the eve of World War II. Among other activities, they spent a day skiing at Paradise on Mount Rainier and attended the dedication of the Stanwood monument honoring the first Norwegian settler on Puget Sound, Zakarias…
ID Number:2018.3.3.97
Date:1939
Image of Oral history interview with Gunnar Gudjonssen, October 28, 2017
Videorecording

Oral history interview with Gunnar Gudjonssen, October 28, 2017

This interview with Icelandic American commercial fisherman Gunnar Gudjonssen was conducted by Jeffrey Kahrs for the Commercial Fishermen Oral History Project on October 28, 2017. In this interview, Gundjonssen discusses his life and career fishing along the West Coast and in Southeast Alaska.The photo shown here of Gunnar Gudjonssen was taken by the interviewer Jeffrey Kahrs at the time of…
ID Number:2018.63.7.2
Date:2017
Image of Oral history interview with Bert Isaksen, November 18, 2016
Videorecording

Oral history interview with Bert Isaksen, November 18, 2016

This interview with commercial fisherman Bert Isaksen conducted by Jeffrey Kahrs for the Commercial Fishermen Oral History Project on November 18, 2016. In this interview, Isaksen talks about his life and career as a longline deckhand and captain and Alaskan crab deckhand, captain, and boat owner in Bristol Bay, Alaska.The photo shown here of Isaksen was taken by the interviewer…
ID Number:2018.63.9
Date:2016
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