Annual meeting 2026
Join us in Seattle for our Annual Meeting on March 21, 2026.
Learn about culture, traditions, and history.
Swede Finn Junction
Happy Finnish Independence Day
Some graphics for Independence Day 2024 that can also be found on our Facebook page.
Larry Sandell 1932–2024
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of one of our longest serving volunteers, Larry Sandell. He was also one of our oldest—older than dirt he frequently claimed. However, official documents contend he was merely 91 years old. The records tell us that Lawrence Alfred Sandell was born December 14, 1932 in Rochester, Washington to Alfred Sandell and Edith Strand. The record fails to mention that one hundred percent of his DNA came from Terjärv, Finland.
Akademiska Sångföreningen 2024 Tour North America’s West Coast
On May 13, 1848 university students gathered in a meadow near Helsingfors to celebrate a spring festival. A choir, conducted by Fredrik Pacius, gave the first…
Finnish Deaths at Northern Hospital
The Swedish Finn Historical Society has made a significant discovery from the recently digitized death register by The Seattle Times. We have identified approximately 130 Finnish…
Ædnan by Linnea Axelsson
Join us on February 5, 2024, 7:00 PM at Elliot Bay Books in Seattle. Author Linnea Axelsson will be joined by Amy Swanson King of Pacific Sami Searvi and Sasha LaPointe from the Upper Skagit and Nooksack Indian Tribe. There will be a panel discussion. SFHS is a co-presenter of this event. If you live outside of the Seattle area, see the tour listing below.
Svenska dagen
Svenska dagen or Swedish Finn Heritage Day is a unique holiday that was established in 1908 by the Swedish People’s Party of Finland—nine years before Finland gained…
Sofia’s Story
Sofia’s Story by Maggie PattersonRead more family history uncovered by Maggie Patterson in the article Sorting Out Grandpa—A Deep Dive into Deception I love this picture…
Amerikakören 1960
During the summer of 1960 a choir from the Swedish speaking parts of Finland visited the US and Canada. This was the first visit of a…
Stanley Nelson’s Search For Relatives
This article originated in the NORDEN newspaper, 31 August 2000. Translated by June Pelo. Nine-year old Erik Westerholm sat on a plane from Yttermark to America…
Progenitors
by June PeloSource unknown. A progenitor (one who begets or brings forth) is an ancestor in the direct line, or a forefather. Any man or woman…
Lars Andersson Friis
Excerpts from Lars Frijs i Karleby och Hans Ättlingar. Translated by June Pelo. I’m sure there are a number of readers who are descendants of Lars…
