Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Institute of General History at the University of Turku, Finland (Turun Yliopisto. Yleisen Historian Laitos) microfilmed thousands of letters from Satakunta region in 1964. The letters were written by Finnish emigrants to their families and friends in Finland.

There are about 6000 letters in this collection. Most of the letters have been written by emigrants who used to live in Satakunta but there are also some from persons who lived in other provinces before emigrating. There are also post cards, diaries and passports in the collection. The letters were written to residents of Satakunta from 1880 to 1964. Although most of the letters were sent from the United States and Canada, there were a few letters from South America, Australia, New Zealand and Soviet Union.

The collection was arranged by towns (also known as parishes or municipalities). Within each town series the letters of each recipient were kept together. The owners of the letters are in chronological order according to the emigrating year of their correspondents.

Every collector of letters filled out a questionnaire for each writer. The questionnaire is at the beginning of the sender's letters. In the upper right corner of the questionnaire there is a code that includes the abbreviation of the town and the location of the sender.

Questionnaire used in collecting America letters:

1. The owner of the letters (name and address)
2. The writer of the letters (name and last address)
3. The relationship between the owner and the writer
4. When left for America
5. Who were they visiting in America
6. Why left
7. Home town in Finland
8. The occupation of the parents
9. How large was the family of the parents of the emigrant
10. Was the emigrant married when he left Finland
11. Did the wife and children emigrate, too
12. Did the emigrant get married in America
13. What year
14. The nationality of the spouse
15. The occupation of the emigrant when emigrated
16. Had the emigrant ever been working outside the home town before emigrating
17. How did the emigrant go to America (route and vehicle)
18. The first workplace in America
19. What kind of work
20. Where did the emigrant live the longest time in America
21. What kind of work
22. Other members of the group who emigrated at the same time: name, hometown, return to Finland
23. The later life of the emigrant: did/did not return to Finland
24. If applicable, why did the emigrant return
25. Return route and vehicle
26. Occupation after return
27. The number of the letters (photos, diaries etc.) in the enclosed questionnaire envelope
28. The owner donates the letters/loans them only for microfilming
29. The collector of the letters (name and address)
30. To be filled by the Institute of General History

Documents in this collection contain the following abbreviations for the names of the town or parish from an immigrant came:

1. AHL = Ahlainen
2. ALAS = Alastaro
3. EURA = Eura
4. E-KI = Eurajoki
5. HIN = Hinnerjoki
6. H-KI = Honkajoki
7. H-TI = Honkilahti
8. HUIT = Huittinen
9. HAM = Hämeenkyrö
10. IKA = Ikaalinen
11. JAM = Jämijärvi
12. KAN = Kankaanpää
13. K-KU = Karkku
14. KAR = Karvia
15. KIH = Kihniö
16. KIIK = Kiikka
17. KNEN = Kiikoinen
18. KOK = Kokemaki
19. KUL = Kullaa
20. KOY=Köyliö
21. LAP = Lappi Tl.
22. LAV = Lavia
23. LOIM = Loimaa
24. MEL = Mellilä
25. MER = Merikarvia
26. MET = Metsämaa
27. MOU = Mouhijarvi
28. NOOR = Noormarkku
29. PAR = Parkano
30. POM = Pomarkku
31. PORI = City of Pori and rural parish of Pori
32. PUN = Punkalaidun
33. RAUM = Rauma: city and rural parish
34. SIIK = Siikainen
35. SUOD = Suodenniemi
36. SAK = Säkylä
37. TYRV = Tyrvää and Vammala
38. VAMP = Vampula