Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Laakso and McPherson family papers, circa 2001-2006
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- McPherson family
- Title
- Laakso and McPherson family papers
- Dates
- circa 2001-2006 (inclusive)20012006
- Quantity
- 0.21 cubic feet (1 box)
- Collection Number
- 5802
- Summary
- Media chronicling the lives of Finnish immigrants living in the Pacific Northwest during the early 20th century
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Ken McPherson is the creator of Story Lab West, a family/local history project. He is the son of Bob (1907-2005) and Ellen Laasko McPherson (1909-2002). The project is a compilation of photographs and oral history interviews of family members, chronicling the lives of Finnish immigrants living in the Pacific Northwest during the early 20th century.
Martha Sophia Laakso Christie was born on October 1st, 1907 in Winlock, WA, to parents Carl Wictor and Mary Familia Laakso. She married Stanton Earl Christie. She died in 2004.
Martha and Ellen Iida Laakso McPherson were the daughters of Carl Laakso, a Finnish immigrant and widowed father of six. After the death of Mary Familia Laakso, Carl married Anna Wirkkala, a widow who also had three children. Carl and Anna also had three children together. The couple also operated a dairy and poultry business, Standard Hatchery, during the Great Depression. Carl Laakso was a pioneer in the movement to establish co-operatives and was one of the first dairy men to use milking machines. He later became President and Appraiser of the local branch of the Federal Home Loan Association and Director of WASHCOEGG, the Cooperative Association for Western Washington poultrymen.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Five multimedia DVDs or CDs of interviews, interview transcripts, audio stories, photographs, music, and home movies relating to the history of the Laakso and McPherson families who lived in Washington and California, as well as one CD of the 1927 "Winolequock" yearbook.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creators' literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 5802-001: Laakso and McPherson family papers, circa 2001-2006Return to Top
Scope and Content: Five multimedia DVDs or CDs of interviews, interview transcripts, audio stories, photographs, music, and home movies relating to the history of the Laakso and McPherson families who lived in Washington and California, as well as one CD of the 1927 "Winolequock" yearbook.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: No reproduction without permission from donor.
Acquisition Info: Donor: Ken McPherson, 2013.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1/1 | 5802-001 | Martha's Story DVD
Scope and Content:
Life story of Martha Sophia Laakso Christie (1907-2004) written
by niece Mary Jane Moffat, accompanied by family photos, music, and brief
excerpts from Ken McPherson's interview with Martha. Includes slide shows and a
biographical section on Mary Jane. Many of the photographs included on this DVD
were taken by Martha Laakso and Helen Wirkkala, as well as other members of the
Laakso, McPherson, and Wirkkala families.
|
2005 |
| 1/2 | 5802-001 | Martha's Interview DVD
Scope and Content:
68 minutes. Full audio of Ken McPherson's 2001 interview with
Martha Laakso about her early life and career. Interview is in three parts: The
Laakso Farm, including a story about Ezra Meeker building a cabin on their
property; Laaksos and Wirkkalas; and Leaving Home, including a story about
working for the Office of Censorship during WWII. Many of the photographs
included on this DVD were taken by Martha Laakso and Helen Wirkkala, as well as
other members of the Laakso, McPherson, and Wirkkala families.
|
2001 October |
| 1/3 | 5802-001 | Bob McPherson DVD
Scope and Content:
Audio interviews with Bob McPherson (1907-2005) as told to Ken
McPherson in 2000 and 2002, accompanied by family photographs and music.
Describes McPherson's life before meeting his wife Ellen Laakso, including life
in Seattle from 1915 to 1925.
|
2006 |
| 1/4 | 5802-001 | Ellen's Story: Life on the Farm
Scope and Content:
DVD of interview with Ellen Laakso McPherson that took place in
October 2000, as well as photographs
|
2000 |
| 1/5 | 5802-001 | CD of transcripts of interviews with Martha Sophia
Laakso Christie and Ellen Laakso McPherson |
2000-2001 |
| 1/6 | 5802-001 | CD of Winolequock yearbook
Scope and Content:
CD with color scans of the 1927 Winolequock yearbook
|
1927 |
| 1/7 | 5802-001 | Printout of the 1927 Winolequock yearbook |
1927 |
| 1/8 | 5802-001 | Printed transcripts of interviews with Martha Sophia
Laakso Christie and Ellen Laakso McPherson |
2000-2001 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Family Names
- Laakso family--Archives
- McPherson family--Archives
