Toward an oral history of Cape Ann: OH 23, CD 38-CD 39 : Parker, Hjordis

TRACKS: CD38: 1. Mrs. Parker's background, schooling, employment, and coming to U. S.

2. Coming of age in Norway, self-sufficiency, the spirit of adventure, the Vikings

3. Influx of immigrants from 1900-1920, reasons

4. The trip over, comments on the steerage (the earlier way of travel)

5. The language, finding a job, immigration requirements around 1900

6. Coming to Rockport. a quick decision, Mrs. Parker's research into the history of her home

7. Becoming acquainted in Rockport, neighbors

8. Bearskin Neck, changes over the years, tourism, the art colony

9. Bearskin Neck (contd.)

10. Student boarders, notable people who stayed at Mrs. Parker's home and with other Rockport families

11. The Swedish and Finnish immigrants

12. Pressure to forget mother tongue

13. tendency of some Americans to assume immigrants were ignorant and uncultured

14. Eleanor Roosevelt's encouragement of immigrants to maintain cultural heritage

15. The Viking heritage, the values of different cultures

16. Mrs. Parker's reactions to many U. S. citizens' misunderstandings of other cultures

17. comments on schools here and in Europe

18. Lief and Thorwald Erikson were said to be first to land in America and Thorwald said to be buried on Cape Ann

19. story of Knutsford family on Cape Ann. CD39: 1.Story of Knutsford family (contd.)

2. Viking history

3. Maintaining Norwegian culture and traditions in family (e.g. Christmas celebrations)

4. Scandinavian and Finnish crafts, the work ethic, crafts as an art form, the Finnish people

5. Meaning of Mrs. Parker's first name (Hjordis)

6. Books written by Mrs. Parker for her family

7. Norwegian government program, writing contest for older citizens which served as means of history.