Grand Re-opening of the Åland Islands'
Emigrant Institute
After a two month period of searching for new suitable quarters last
fall, the Emigrant Institute officially opened its doors with a
well-attended grand opening on Wednesday, Febr. 23, 2006.
We have now more space for our emigrant displays. Much effort is
also being put into our expanding emigrant database. Every issue
of our local newspaper from 1892-1985 has been searched through
looking for any information on our emigrants. This has now been
entered into a database and is now available on the Internet.
The plan is to be able to also include photos and articles.
This is how you can order
- "My name is Sunny Now. A Scandinavian Emigrant's Story"
Hjördis M. Sundblom's success "En föglöemigrants memoarer" english version
"My Name is Sunny Now. A Scandinavian Emigrant's Story" was released
December the 21st 2005. The book is available at the Lisco Bookstore in Mariehamn at the price of 27,50 € +
Shipping (approx.7,50 €).
To place your order you'll have to supply your Name, Postal Address,
Type of Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or EuroCard),
Credit card number and Expiration date.
You may submit your order using one of the following methods:
1. By fax: +358 18 19771
2. By Phone: +358 18 17177 - ask for Angeli Roberts
3. By e-mail to bok@lisco.fi.
However you must make sure the the e-mail is sent over a
secure encrypted connection.
Hjördis Sundblom's success now
in english - "My name is Sunny Now. A Scandinavian Emigrant's Story"
Wednesday December the 21st 2005 Hjördis M. Sundblom's success
"En föglöemigrants memoarer" was released in english with the title "My Name is Sunny Now.
A Scandinavian Emigrant's Story". Hjördis Sundblom was at the Åland Island's
Emigrants Institute signing her book all day Wednesday.
Announcing the release
of an English version of Hjördis M. Sundblom's book "A Föglö Emigrant's Memoirs"
|
The Åland Islands' Emigrant Institute has the pleasure of announcing the release
of an English version of Hjördis M. Sundblom's book "A Föglö Emigrant's Memoirs"
now with the new title of "My Name is Sunny Now - A Scandinavian Emigrant's Story".
The book, originally in Swedish, was very well-received over here and is at present
mainly sold out. The new English translation is to be released in time for Christmas
and would make an excellent gift for family members and friends living in other
countries. |
 Hjördis Sundblom |
Invitation from the American Embassy
Our little Åland Islands' Emigrant Institute was shown a great honour by an
invitation from the American Embassy to visit Helsinki on Febr. 18, 2005.
Our delegation consisting of our chairman Erik Lindholm, our coordinator
Eva Meyer and Hjördis Sundblom, a board member and a longtime USA resident,
was most graciously received by the Embassy official Mikael Cleverley.
He met us with an Embassy car and a private chauffeur, first escorting us
to the Genealogy Center located in Haaga. There he had arranged for the
very gracious bishop Tuomo Anttila to give us a private viewing of an
interesting and valuable genealogy research program.
Then, at the Embassy's invitation, followed lunch at the Rest. Ursula,
located adjacent to the Embassy's premises, where upon - after a thorough
security check - we were admitted to the US Embassy and were warmly
received by the debonair Deputy Ambassador Robert Weisberg in his office.
After this Mr. Cleverley very kindly offered to drive us to the House of
Parliament where we were invited by the Åland Islands' Parliament member
Roger Jansson, who is a cousin of Hjördis Sundblom, for a most interesting
private tour of these splendid buildings.
Being that we had arrived in Helsinki by air already before 10 a.m. we had
time to visit the eminent State Library where our friend Margareta Stenius
received us. Even the Library chief Jorma Mähönen came and personally
greeted us.
Before our schedulded 12 o'clock meeting with the Embassy Official we
even had time for a short visit to the Åland Headquarters located nearby
the library, where the head mistress Britt-Inger Wahe and her assistant
Maija Nunez kindly shared information with us about their activities.
By 6 p.m. it was time for us to return to the airport for the last flight
of the day back to Mariehamn, accompanied by Roger Jansson who returned home
for the weekend with us.
Safely back home again by 8 p.m. after a rather overwhelming day out in
"the big world" we sincerely appreciate this honour bestowed upon us, both
for our Emigrant Institute and for each of us personally.
Annual membership fee
The 2004 membership fee will be 10 € as before. Please pay directly to our
bank account ÅAB 660100-1206770. IBAN: FI79 6601 0001 2067 70; SWIFT:AABAFI22.
Please note checks are very expensive to refund. Something like 20 €.
The emigrant database
Mrs Yvonne Blom continues her work with the Åland Emigrant Database
and has now scanned through the local paper until 1960. Still there
are much material to scan through e.g. the Society Åland members lists.
We now hope to raise funds to finance to her on going work. At the
moment the database contains more than 500 persons. In the coming
future we hope to make parts of the database available on Internet
for the benefit of those who search their ancestors. About 10 000
persons have emigrated from Åland during the last 150 years. We are
very thankful to any information of emigrants from Åland.
Please give your contribution by filling in this
form about the
emigrants you have knowledge about.
The information you feel is
confidential can be entered into the field marked "Notes".