Rinne, Esther

Rinne, Esther

• 1981-08-25 (Creation)

3 file folders
1 photograph
1 sound cassette

This interview was conducted with Esther Rinne on August 25, 1981 Astoria, Oregon. It provides information on family background, emigration, employment, marriage, and community activities. The interview also includes a photograph of Esther.

Also see Sulo Rinne.

Folder Contents

Box 4, File 1 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background, and Tape Index

Box 4, File 1A Correspondence and Forms
Release Form
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Box 4, File 1B Photographs
One photograph

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

Sulo Rinne (husband) oral history interview

Biographical Note

Esther Rinne was born on January 7, 1901 in Pyhajoki, Finland to Antti and Sophia Wiirre. Esther had five older siblings, but most of them had immigrated to Eureka, California in the 1890s. When Esther was two years old, her mother passed away. Her father, who was a carpenter, tried to take care of her but had to board her out to different families for ten years while he worked.

When Esther was nineteen, one of her sisters sent her a ticket to America. By the time Esther arrived in California, her sister, Anne, had already arranged a job for her. She began living and working at a cookhouse, where she washed dishes and waited tables. The language differences were a problem at first, but Esther remained at the cookhouse for two years. When she was granted a two-week vacation, Esther went to Astoria, Oregon to visit her sister, who ended up convincing Esther to stay. Esther found a job at a local restaurant and met her husband, Sulo Rinne, who was originally from Pirkkala, Finland. They had one son, but he died while serving in the military.

In Astoria, Esther also joined the Peace Lutheran Church and American Legion Auxiliary. She has returned to Finland twice, but by the second trip, so many things had changed that she felt no need to return a third time. Esther likes living in America and has no special feelings about being Finnish.

Lineage

Full Name: Esther Rinne
Maiden Name: Esther Wiirre
Father: Antti Wiirre
Mother: Sophia Wiirre
Brothers and Sisters: Heikki (Hank) Wiirre, Jenny Wiirre, Hilda Wiirre, Anne Wiirre, Helmi Wiirre. Spouse: Sulo Rinne
Children: One son killed in World War II

The interview was conducted using a cassette recorder. A research copy was also prepared from the original. To further preserve the content of the interview, it is now being transferred to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the entire interview because we want the researchers to listen to the interviewee's own voice.

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

The interview was conducted using a cassette recorder. A research copy was also prepared from the original. To further preserve the content of the interview, it is now being transferred to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the entire interview because we want the researchers to listen to the interviewee's own voice.

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