Finnish songs. 16 The Finnish-Americans of Minnesota and the painting depicting their pioneers were for the moment the center of attention throughout the state.

Professor Kolehmainen had expressed in his speech the wish that this first achievement would spur the Finns of all groups to join in a major effort to collect and preserve the historical records, scattered and rapidly disappearing, of the Finns in Minnesota. A two-year lull followed neverthless, but when the war was over at last, the Minnesota Finnish-American Historical Society was systematically enlarged and the historical program was initiated in earnest.

A booklet entitled, "It is not yet too late," was printed and distributed, together with a manual outlining procedures. From the financial standpoint, it was a boon that Lauri Lemberg presented as a gift to the Society the Siirtokansan Kalenteri, which he edited and published. In return, the Society retained Lemberg as editor of this annual Kalenteri, and its edition of 5,000 copies has found its way into homes throughout Minnesota and in the neighboring states. The profits realized from the Kalenteri have in turn helped bolster the financial standing of the Society. Similarly, a good source of income has developed in the annual Northern Finnish Midsummer Festivals, which used to benefit Finnish relief up to the termination of that program; profits now go to the Society, together with the proceeds from the sales of Festival Program books.

The Minnesota Centennial: When Minnesota began preparations to commemorate in 1949 the hundredth anniversary of its existence (it had been made a territory in 1849) the Finns in the state were eager to show the pioneering role they, too, had played in the development of the state. Informed that none of the $150,000 allotted for the participation of foreign nationality groups in the celebration would be available for them, the Finns decided to go ahead, prepared to pay for the costs of their own participation on a scale planned to be truly representative of all the Finns in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Finnish-American Historical Society undertook to summon representatives of all Finnish organizations to membership on a central committee, whose task it would be to see that all Finns were represented. This committee held its first meeting in May 1948 and was made up of the following : Richard

16. Minnesota History, December 1944

288