Magnusson, Jon and Gudrun

3 file folders
8 photographs
1 sound cassette

This interview was conducted with Jon and Gudrun Magnusson on November 1, 1982 at Foss Home in Seattle, Washington. It contains information on their family background, emigration, marriage and family, the Icelandic Literary Society Vestri, and Icelandic traditions. The interview also includes family histories written by Jon and Gudrun, a copy of the Icelandic Club Newsletter that announces the 95th and 90th birthdays of Jon and Gudrun, and photographs of Jon and Gudrun's wedding day, the house that Jon built on NW 70th in Seattle, four generations of the Magnusson family, Jon and Gudrun on their 60th wedding anniversary, and Jon and Gudrun at the time of the interview. The interview was conducted in English.

Folder Contents

Box 9, File 12 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background and Tape Index

Box 9, File 12A Correspondence and Forms
Checklist and Release Form
Letter from Mrs. Magnusson answering Janet Rasmussen’s request for an interview.
Letters from Janet Rasmussen regarding Mr. and Mrs. Magnusson’s participation.
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Box 9, File 12B Photographs and Personal Papers
Eight photographs
“Jon’s Story” 1977
“Family Recollections” by Gudrun Lindal Magnusson
Biography of Gudrun Magnusson, 1982
Gudrun Lindal Magnusson’s family tree

Interviewed by Inger Nygaard Carr
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good, but Mr. Magnusson was often difficult to understand as he was tired and recovering from surgery at the time.

Biographical Note

Jon Magnusson was born on October 1, 1886 in Myrasysla, Iceland to Magnus Gudmundsson and Thuridur Jonasdottir. Jon had two older siblings, Gudmundur and Ragnheidur, and when Jon was eight months old, the family immigrated to America. Unfortunately, his father died of heatstroke in New York, and the rest of the family was deported back to Iceland. Gudmundur was sent to a boys' home, Ragnheidur was taken in by a very nice family, and Jon was allowed to remain with his mother.

In 1913, Jon and his mother immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jon did carpentry work for three years in Winnipeg, during which time he met his wife, Gudrun Lindal.

Gudrun's parents were Icelandic and she was born in Langenburg, Saskatchewan on October 30, 1891.Gudrun was a teacher in Saskatchewan and was spending her summer vacation in Winnipeg with her aunt, from whom Jon was renting a room. After that summer, Jon did not see Gudrun again until 1920.

In 1916, Jon moved to Seattle, Washington, where his brother lived. After Gudrun came to Seattle to care for her ailing sister, she and Jon corresponded for one year. They were married in Winnipeg and then moved to Ballard, Washington. They had three children: Robert, Anna, and Florence. Gudrun learned to read and write Icelandic while Jon's mother, who never learned English, lived with them. The Magnussons were very involved in Seattle's Icelandic community. They attended the Icelandic Church and were members of the Icelandic Literary Society Vestri. Jon and Gudrun have also maintained Icelandic traditions within their household, particularly Icelandic cooking. They returned to Iceland once in 1963.

Lineage

Full Name: Jon Magnusson
Father: Magnus Gudmundsson
Mother: Þuridur Jonasdottir
Paternal Grandfather: Rev. Jon Magnusson
Brothers and Sisters: Gudmundur Magnusson, Ragnheidur Magnusson
Spouse: Gudrun Lindal

Full Name: Gudrun Lindal Magnusson
Maiden Name: Gudrun (Runa) Ingibjørg Lindal
Father: Jakob Lindal Hansson
Mother: Anna Hannesdottir
Paternal Grandfather: Hans Natansson
Paternal Grandmother: Kristin Thorvardardottir
Maternal Grandfather: Hannes Throvardarson
Maternal Grandmother: Holmfridur Jonsdottir
Brothers and Sisters: Agost Lindal (August), Hannes Lindal, Hansina Kristin Lindal, Valdimar Lindal (Walter), Benedikt Johann Lindal, Gudbrandur Skuli Lindal, Jakob Lindal, Holmfridur Anna (Freda) Lindal, Magdalena Helga Lindal, Rosalind Lindal, Hans Peter Lindal
Spouse: Jon Magnusson

Children: Robert Skuli, Anna Lind Hodgson, Florence Ingibjørg, Sigga Lindal (adopted niece)