Michelson, Hilma

Michelson, Hilma

• 1979-02-20 (Creation)

4 file folders
7 photographs
1 sound cassette
1 compact disc

This interview was conducted with Hilma Michelson on February 20, 1979 in Battle Ground, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration, employment, marriage and family, and Finnish heritage. The interview was conducted in Finnish and the summary sheets were complied from the paper 'Looking Back' by the interviewer, Donna Mallonee.

Folder Contents

Box 1, File 15 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Tape Index, and Family Background

Box 1, File 15A Correspondence and Forms
Checklist and Release Form
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Box 1, File 15B Photographs
Seven photographs

Box 1, File 15C Memoirs
“Looking Back: Hilma Kristiina Vanhala Michelson” by Donna Mallonee

Interviewed by Donna Mallonee
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Poor. An amplifier is needed to hear the voices, but will also make the background noise considerable

Biographical Note

Hilma Michelson was born on July 24, 1890 in Hailuoto, Finland, which is a small island off the West Coast of Finland, opposite the city of Oulu. Hilma's parents were Lauri Vanhala and Elenora Klemettila, and Hilma was the youngest of six children. Hilma's father died in a fishing accident when Hilma was three years old and her mother died eight years later, leaving Hilma to live with her aunts.

When Hilma was old enough to live on her own, she worked and lived at the Hailuoto parsonage for three years and then worked at another parsonage in Oulu. In 1912, Hilma's brother Henry sent her a ticket to America, where he was living in Astoria, Oregon. Hilma's ticket was for the Titanic, but fortunately for her, she missed its departure. In Astoria, Hilma found work at a local boardinghouse, which is where she met her husband, Willie Michelson. Willie's parents had emigrated from Finland in 1882 and came to Astoria to fish.

After they were married, Hilma and Willie moved to a farm in Kelso, Washington and had three children: Viola, Anne, and Carl. Hilma has been active in the Community Congregational Church in Hockinson and the Finnish Brotherhood. She returned to Finland in 1952 to attend the Olympic Games and visit her relatives. Hilma is very proud of her heritage and stated, 'You never have to be ashamed to say you are Finnish.'

Lineage

Full Name: Hilma Kristiina Michelson
Maiden Name: Hilma Kristiina Vanhala
Father: Lauri Vanhala
Mother: Elenora Klemettila
Paternal Grandfather: Jacob Vanhala
Paternal Grandmother: Anna Grelas
Brothers and Sisters: Lauri Vanhala, Juho Herman Vanhala, Sophia Dagmar Vanhala, Susanna Josephina Vanhala, Kalle Hendric Vanhala
Spouse: Willie Michelson
Children: Viola Michelson, Anne Michelson, Carl Michelson, She also had a stillborn child.