Saving Finland in America

Finlandia University Closes, but Archives Saved by Finlandia Foundation National

Finlandia University, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Hancock has closed. It was the only private university in the Upper Peninsula. It was founded in 1896 as Suomi College and Theological Seminary by Finnish immigrants who wished to educate their children and train Finnish-speaking clergy for the Suomi Synod (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran) congregations. It was the only remaining North American institution of higher learning founded by Finnish-Americans.¹

The Finlandia Foundation National

Upon learning of the decision, the board of Finlandia Foundation National acted to assume responsibility for the many cultural assets of the university, and on June 15, FFN’s offer was accepted. ²

The Finnish-American Historical Center’s archive and museum collections preserve and promote Finnish-American identity and history.  It was established in 1932.  The ever-growing collection consists of more than 40,000 items, ranging from works of art by Gallen-Kallela, Sailo and Nelimarkka, to centuries-old Queen Christina Bibles, to modern-day St. Urho’s Day kitsch.  The archive serves as the official repository of Suomi College/Finlandia University, the Suomi Synod, Finnish Congregationalists, Federation of Apostolic Lutherans and the Knights of Kaleva.  The collection also includes records and materials from many other Finnish societal, cooperative and political groups, as well as diaries, letters, photographs and other personal items.³

The Finlandia Foundation National has acquired:

• Finnish American Heritage Center

• North Wind Books store

• Finnish American Historical Archive

• Finlandia Art Gallery

• Finnish American Folk School

• Price of Freedom Museum

• The Finnish American Reporter.

1. Finlandia University to close its doors. The Daily News. September 2. 2024.

2. Saving Finland In America.. Finlandia Foundation National.

3. Archive - Finnish American Heritage Center (finlandiafoundation.org).