Finnish-American Heritage Center

History
Since its grand opening during FinnFest 1990, Finlandia University's Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) has housed a theater, art gallery, and the Finnish American Historical Archive. The Heritage Center is a community focal point and a national center, offering a variety of exhibits, lectures, plays, musical programs and community events each year. The building is a popular stop for tourists and hosts numerous school tours annually.

Finnish immigrants dreamed of an institution that would provide religious education, perpetuate the Finnish language and preserve their experience in North America. Suomi College (now Finlandia University) built in 1896, is the realization of that dream, and the only institution of higher learning founded by Finnish Americans. The FAHC links the Finnish-American community — through history, tradition and mission — to Finland with its Finnish American Historical Archive, "The Finnish American Reporter," the Heritage Center Gallery and the FAHC Theater further strengthen that link.

Regular FAHC patrons include students, researchers, genealogists, scholars and dignitaries. Finland's President Tarja Halonen and former Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen are among numerous special guests who have visited the FAHC.

The FAHC is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. In observance of Christmas, the FAHC will be closed December 22-26. For more information, contact:
Director James Kurtti
601 Quincy St
Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 487–7302 Fax (906) 487–7557
Email: james.kurtti@finlandia.edu

Back to Top

The Archive
Located in the lower level of the FAHC, the Finnish American Historical Archive houses the largest collection of Finnish-North American materials in the world. Along with archival materials, the collection includes genealogical resources, information about Finnish culture, artifacts, and North America's largest collection of Finnish-American artwork.

Under the leadership of Dr. Armas Holmio, the Finnish American Historical Archive was established in 1932. Since that time, it has acquired many unique items, such as two 1642 Bibles (known as the Christina Bible, as it was commissioned by Queen Christina of Sweden and was the first time the Bible was printed completely in Finnish) and original artwork by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Eero Nelimarkki and other famous Finnish and Finnish-American artists. At present, the collection features some 20,000 items in a climate-controlled setting. The FAHC continues to collect materials related to its mission of preserving and promoting Finnish-American culture. Some of those materials are listed here, courtesy of the Genealogical Society of Finland.

The generosity of the Finnish-North American community is key to the Heritage Center's success. For information about the archive accession policy, e-mail the archivist.

Please download these PDF files, which provide additional archive information:

Scope of Collections Statement

Guide to the Archive (in printable format)

Finding aids

Finnish-American Co-operative Collection by Joel Feingold

Knights of Kaleva Collection by Kent Randell

Finnish-American Labor/Political Collection by Tanja Aho

Historic Photograph Collection

Help Finland Collection by Raymond Carlson

Yrjö Kilpinen Society

The archive is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 7 pm. on Wednesdays. Archive staff can provide limited research assistance, or referrals to local researchers. For more information about the Finnish American Historical Archive, contact:
Archivist Gary Kaunonen
601 Quincy St
Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 487–7347 Fax (906) 487–7557
Email:archives@finlandia.edu

Back to Top

The Gallery
Art enthusiasts can enjoy the ever-changing exhibits at the Heritage Center gallery. As part of its regular rotation, the gallery displays works by students, and local, national and international artists. Annual exhibits include the Finnish-American Artist Series each December, and the Faculty/Student Art Show.

Upcoming exhibits at the FAHC gallery include:

Date	Event	Time
Oct. 20 -Nov. 13	Christine Flavin: "Vanishing Horizons"	Opening reception Oct 23
Nov. 20 - Jan. 6	Desiree Koslin "InSight: Views of the Finnish Landscape"	Opening reception Nov. 20
Jan. 12 - Feb. 13	Carl Gawboy "Transforming the Cutover"	Opening reception Jan 22
Feb. 19 - Mar 20	Finlandia Univ. ISAD Faculty Exhibit	Opening reception Feb. 19

Contact:
Carrie Flaspohler, Gallery Director
601 Quincy St
Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 487–7500 Fax (906) 487–7557
Email: carrie.flaspohler@finlandia.edu

Back to Top

The Theater
The FAHC Theater is spacious and brightly lit with a vaulted, tin ceiling (the building's original ceiling). In addition to the university's plays, concerts and other programs, the theater is a popular site for a variety of community events including Finnish programming, such as annual events Finnish Independence Day and the City of Hancock's Heikinpäivä festival, as well as events like the university's Nordic Film Series. The FAHC is the host of the children's Finnish folk group Kivajat.

Upcoming public events at the FAHC theater include:

Date	Event	Time

Dec. 6	Finnish Independence Day celebration (Coffee table fundraiser precedes event)	2 p.m.
Jan. 8	Nordic Film Series presents a Sami-themed film	2 p.m. and 6 p.m
Jan. 24	Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival	10 a.m.
Feb. 12	Nordic Film Series presents "A New Person" (Uusi Ihminen)	2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Mar. 12	Nordic Film Series presents "To the Living and the Dead" (Eläville ja kuolleille)	2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Apr. 16	Nordic Film Series presents "Sweet Land"	2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The FAHC theater is available to the community at large for rent. For information on renting the FAHC theater, contact:
Janine Nottke
601 Quincy St
Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 487–7267
Email: janine.nottke@finlandia.edu

Back to Top

The Finnish American Reporter
The Finnish American Reporter (FAR), at Finlandia University since 2000, was founded in Superior, Wisconsin in 1986. The FAR has no political nor religious affiliation, but provides a forum for all points of view within the Finnish community. The Finnish American Reporter also provides a national network for announcements of Finnish events in the United States and Canada. Monthly features in the Finnish American Reporter include: sports, calendar of events, genealogy, book reviews, regional news and regular columnists.

For more about The Finnish American Reporter, contact:
Jim Kurtti, Editor or David Maki, Assistant Editor
PO Box 479
Hancock, MI 49930
Ph (906) 487–7549 Fax (906) 487–7557
Email: davemaki@finnishamericanreporter.com

Back to Top

Finnish Links

Finnish North American Literature Association

Genealogical Society of Finland

Finnish Genealogy Group - MN

Back to Top