with Einar Lauley treasurer, and members, Arvid Ruotsinoja and Victor H. Gran. The committee was soon thereafter enlarged to include O. J. Larson, Duluth, Milma Lappala of Cook, Arne Halonen of Minneapolis, John Ketola of Virginia, and Russell O. Parta from New York Mills. The society was organized under the auspices of the Minnesota State Historical Society.

In November 1943 Rissanen sent from Florida his first sketches for a proposed painting to the newly established society. With a few minor suggestions for revisions, the sketches were approved, and when the cost of the project for this six-by-nine foot painting were agreed upon, Rissanen returned to Duluth to begin his work, while the Society began its work of raising funds. The painting was finished in September 1944, and its presentation was planned for 16 October 1944, which was the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Minnesota Historical Society.

MFAHS board of directors in 1955. Front: Nicholas Aho, Edith Koivisto,
A. A. Parviainen, secretary, Alex Kyyhkynen, president, Fabian Mäenpää,
vice president, Alice Anderson, treasurer, Charles Latvala. Center: Fred
Hendrickson, archivist, Verner Saranen, Onni K. Syrjäniemi, Henry Paakkari,
Enoch Beckman, Waino Kortesmäki. Back: Erland Rustari, Carl A. Parta,
Hans R. Wasastjerna, editor, Frank Linjanen.

Judge E. Haycroft, Vice-President of the Historical Society, presided at the ceremonies. Lieutenant-Governor Archie Miller accepted the painting on behalf of the state. Speeches were made by O. J. Larson, John Wargelin, and John I. Kolehmainen. A Finnish chorus under the direction of Mrs. Arne Halonen sang

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