Work People's College
Encyclopedia
A Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America folk school founded, September 1903, in Minneapolis, Minnesota
served as a predecessor for Work People's College. The school moved to Duluth, Minnesota
a few months later and was incorporated as the Finnish People's College and Theological Seminary.
The original intent of the founders was to set up a school for training clergy while emphasizing Finnish culture and language. Money was raised by selling shares of stock. Within a few years control of the institutions shifted to individuals more focused on socialism and worker education.
By 1907, the institution was renamed Work People's College and K.L. Haataja served as director and instructor. Leo Laukki assumed leadership in 1908.
For a time, members of the Finnish Socialist Federation
contributed funds to support the school. Rifts developed, however, and by 1921 Work People's College was closely identified with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW
).
Enrollment was 8 students during the initial year and peaked during the 1910 academic year at over 100 students. There were roughly 30 students during the final year of operation in 1940-41.
One building of the former Work People's College still stands at 402 S. 88th Ave. West in Duluth and houses eleven apartments.
Work People's College was one of several labor schools in the United States. Others commonly mentioned include: Commonwealth College, Arkansas
, Denver Labor College, Brookwood Labor College
(NY), Seattle Labor College and Highlander Folk School (TN).
, who later became a prominent Communist Party member and Comintern
official; and IWW organizer Fred Thompson.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
served as a predecessor for Work People's College. The school moved to Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
a few months later and was incorporated as the Finnish People's College and Theological Seminary.
The original intent of the founders was to set up a school for training clergy while emphasizing Finnish culture and language. Money was raised by selling shares of stock. Within a few years control of the institutions shifted to individuals more focused on socialism and worker education.
By 1907, the institution was renamed Work People's College and K.L. Haataja served as director and instructor. Leo Laukki assumed leadership in 1908.
For a time, members of the Finnish Socialist Federation
Finnish Socialist Federation
The Finnish Socialist Federation was a language federation of the Socialist Party of America which united Finnish language-speaking immigrants in the United States in a national organization designed to conduct propaganda and education for socialism among their community.-Early Finnish socialist...
contributed funds to support the school. Rifts developed, however, and by 1921 Work People's College was closely identified with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
).
Enrollment was 8 students during the initial year and peaked during the 1910 academic year at over 100 students. There were roughly 30 students during the final year of operation in 1940-41.
One building of the former Work People's College still stands at 402 S. 88th Ave. West in Duluth and houses eleven apartments.
Work People's College was one of several labor schools in the United States. Others commonly mentioned include: Commonwealth College, Arkansas
Commonwealth College, Arkansas
Commonwealth College was started in 1923 to recruit and train people to take the lead in socio-economic reform and prepare them for unconventional roles in a new and different society. Although in the 1930s commonwealth was essentially orieneted towards training organizers for the rapidly growing...
, Denver Labor College, Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College
Brookwood Labor College was the first residential labor college in the United States. The school was established in 1921 near Katonah, New York. The school was closely supported by affiliate unions of the American Federation of Labor until 1928, when pressure began to be exerted by the AF of L's...
(NY), Seattle Labor College and Highlander Folk School (TN).
Individuals Of Note At Work People's College
Amelia Milka Sablich, nicknamed Flaming Milka by the media, attended Work People's College in 1928. Some of the notable instructors at Work People's College include Leo Laukki, an IWW organizer; Yrjo SirolaYrjö Sirola
Yrjö Elias Sirola was a Finnish socialist politician, teacher, and newspaper editor...
, who later became a prominent Communist Party member and Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
official; and IWW organizer Fred Thompson.