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American Finns in Petroskoi, Karelia, Russia, in 1931

In the 1930's, many left-leaning Finns emigrated to the Soviet Union to join Stalin's "Worker's Paradise."  Eventually many were killed or removed to Siberia during Stalin's purges later in the decade and during World War II, however, the advertisement indexed below is an example of a more hopeful time for the Finnish Communists in Soviet-controlled Karelia (Karjala).

The 1932 New Years' Day edition of the radical-left Finnish-American newspaper, the Työmies, includes a half-page ad that was purchased by American Finns living in Petroskoi/Petrovodsk, Karelia (Karjala). The ad sends New Years' greetings back home to the United States. The headline reads:

Uuden Vuoden Taistelutervehdyksemme
Neuvosto-Karjalassa Työskenteleviltä Amerikkalaisilta Tovereilta
Lujittakaa Järjestöt Tasiteluun Sotaa Vastaan Neuvostoliiton Puolesia

New Year's Greetings
from the American comrades working in Soviet Karelia.
Strenghten the organizations against the war on behalf of The Soviet Union.

Although historically Finnish and part of the Grand Duchy of Finland prior to Finland's Independence in 1917 (as well as being a part of Finland while Finland was under Swedish rule), the city of Petroskoi was then under Soviet rule and is currently still part of Russia. 

The following index includes 204 individuals or families, about one-third of which also include the place of origin in the United States.

Transcribed by Kent Randell, Archivist, May, 2011.