Fredrickson, Hans

3 file folders
9 photographs
2 sound cassettes

The interview was conducted with Hans Fredrickson on September 30, 1981 in Tacoma, Washington. This interview contains information on personal background, emigration, settling in, work, family, Swedish heritage, church and community life, and trips back to Sweden. Also available are photographs of Hans at the time of the interview, Hans and his family at his childhood home in Småland, Sweden, Hans and other young men immigrating to America (February 22, 1928), Hans as a concrete worker in Villa Park, Illinois (May 23, 1929), Hans working on threshing crew in the Midwest (July 3, 1929), and harvest work in Småland, Sweden (July 31, 1936). The interview was conducted in English.

Also see Sven Fredrickson.

Folder Contents

Box 4, File 12 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background, and Tape Index

Box 4, File 12A Correspondence and Forms
Release Form
Letters from Janet Rasmussen regarding Mr. Fredrickson’s participation.
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Box 4, File 12B Photographs
Nine photographs

Interviewed by Inger Nygaard Carr
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good

Sven Fredrickson (brother) oral history interview

Biographical Note

Hans Fredrickson was born on February 3, 1909 in Småland, Sweden. Two of Hans' sisters died at young ages of whooping cough, but his nine other siblings survived. Hans' father, Frederick Anderson, was a farmer, and Hans grew up helping him with milking the cows and picking the potatoes. Hans' mother, Omilia Jonsson, helped in the fields as well, but she also did the baking and washing. For about six years, Hans attended school; his family did not have enough money for him to go beyond the sixth grade. As a child, Hans delighted in the traditional Swedish celebrations of holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Midsummer.

Although he loved the Swedish heritage, Hans disliked the work in Sweden and chose to move to America in 1928. He first settled in Chicago, employed in the concrete business. Hans attended school to learn English and picked up the language quickly. After a short time in Chicago, Hans moved to a variety of places like South Dakota, North Dakota, and finally, Tacoma, Washington; he worked on farms, dams, and logging camps.

In 1931, Hans met Elsie Danielson, whom he married in 1934. The two of them visited Sweden in 1936, 1959, 1974, and 1980. They had four children, all of whom spoke Swedish until they began attending school. Each one became a National Merit Scholarship winner. Hans enjoys gardening and belongs to the Valhalla Lodge and the Order of Vasa. He and Elsie still practice Swedish traditions during the holidays and speak the language periodically.

Lineage

Father: Ott Fredrick Andersson
Mother: Alma Omilia Jonsson
Paternal Grandfather: Anders Målsson
Maternal Grandfather: Ole Jonsson
Maternal Grandmother: Kristina Jonsson
Brothers and Sisters: Lydia Ingeborg Fredrickson, Ingrid Maria Fredrickson, Carl Edvin Fredrickson, Sven Fredrick Fredrickson, Signe Augusta Fredrickson, Magda Linnea Fredrickson, Otto Valfred Fredrickson, Seth Geron Fredrickson, Allice Hillevi Fredrickson, Tore Elving Fredrickson, Maj Hildegard Fredrickson
Spouse: Elsie Marie Fredrickson
Children: Helen May Fredrickson, Bert Fredrickson, Gary Lee Fredrickson, Donald Hans Fredrickson, Karen Marie Fredrickson, Glen Evert Fredrickson.