Speech #970255976

Mr. Speaker. it is a privilege to rise in honor of over 400.000 Finnish immigrants who have graciously shared with this Nation their cultural traditions and heritage. The preservation of Finnish history has been threatened. however. because of Insufficient funds to insure that Finnish historical materials are transferred to microfilm and otherwise protected from deterioration. In an effort to raise funds for this important project. Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser has declared that 1983 be known as "The Year of the Finnish American Archives." This proclamation reads: Whereas. three hundred and fortyfive years ago the history of Finnish Americans began In a settlement on the Delaware River. and. since the year 1865 over 400.000 Finnish immigrants have given America both the benefit of their labor and the richness of their culture. and Whereas. their descendants continue to assert their identity as Finnish Americans within the ethnic and cultural diversity that is America. and Whereas. historical archives at Suomi College in Hancock. Michigan and at the Immigration History Research Center of the University of Minnesota are the source of inspiration and information that make Finnish Americans more conscious of their heritage as well as more visible to America. and Whereas. these archives are threatened by lack of resources to microfilm and otherwise protect their holdings from deterioration and are unable to further build their collections of historical materials. and Whereas today public funds alone will not adequately support these archives. and this responsibility falls on their principal beneficiaries: both Finnish Americans and all other Americans aware of the need to preserve cultural diversity. Now. therefore. I. Donald M. Fraser. Mayor of the City of Minneapolis do hereby declare 1983 as The year of the Finnish American Archives in Minneapolis and urge all citizens to join with me in working for the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of our Finnish immigrants.*