Severi Alanne

Vieno Severin "Severi" Alanne (1879-1960) was a Finnish-American chemical engineer, dictionary compiler, socialist journalist, and consumer cooperative organizer. Alanne is best remembered as a director and publicist for the large and popular Finnish-American consumer cooperative movement in the Upper Midwest region of the United States during the first half of the 20th Century.

Biography

Early years

Vieno Severin Alanne, known to friends and family as Severi Alanne, was born in Hämeenlinna, Finland, on October 23, 1879. He was well educated, attending both preparatory school and a classical lyceum in his native Hämeenlinna, from which he graduated in 1897.[1] After leaving the Hämeenlinna Lyceum, Alanne relocated to Helsinki to attend the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1902.[1] He remained in the field of organic chemistry for two more years, working as an assistant to professor Gusst Komppa while continuing his post-graduate studies.[1]

Upon completion of his graduate studies in 1903, Alanne taught as a professor of electro-chemistry at the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute and as an instructor of chemistry and later department head at a vocational school in Helsinki, remaining there until 1905.[1]

An opponent of Tsarist autocracy in the Russian empire, of which Finland was a part, Alanne joined the Social Democratic Party of Finland (Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue, SSP) in 1905. He was forced to emigrate from the country following the defeat of the Revolution of 1905.

Career

In the United States, Alanne worked for two years as the manager of a coal mine in Hanna, Wyoming, and for two additional years as a research chemist for the Viscol Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] He later took a position as an editor of the Finnish-language socialist daily newspaper Työmies (The Worker), located in Hancock, Michigan.[1]

In 1919, Alanne published a major book through the Työmies Publishing House, a large and comprehensive Finnish-English translating dictionary.[2] Alanne's work was so well-regarded that the dictionary would survive to see publication a posthumous second edition, published in Finland in 1968.[3]

Alanne would find his lasting professional contribution in the field of consumer cooperation, becoming director of the growing Co-operative Central Exchange (CCE) of Superior, Wisconsin in 1920 — a position which he would hold until 1925.[1] At that time, Alanne would move on to fulfill a similar function for the umbrella organization of which the CCE was part, the Northern States Cooperative League, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]

Alanne would remain at that post until 1936, after which time he would return to Superior to work in the educational department of the Central Co-operative Wholesale, the name by which the CCE was then known.[1] His employment there would finally end in 1943 with his retirement at the age of 64.[1]

Political career

Alanne made one run for public office, serving as the candidate of the Workers (Communist) Party for Governor of Wisconsin in 1924.[4] Alanne received just under 4200 votes in the race, finishing a distant fifth out of seven candidates.[4]

Death and legacy

Severi Alanne died May 26, 1960, in Helsinki. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Severi Alanne," in Who's Who Among Finnish-Americans: A Biographical Dictionary of Persons of Finnish Descent Who Have Made Noteworthy Contributions to the Pattern of American Life. Fitchburg, MA: Raivaaja Publishing Co., 1949; pg. 8.
  2. ↑ Suomalais-englantilainen sanakirja – Finnish-English Dictionary. Editor. Superior, WI: Työmies, 1919.
  3. ↑ Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja (Finnish-English General Dictionary). Porvoo: Werner Söderström, 1968.
  4. 1 2 Lawrence Barish (editor in chief), et al., "Vote for Governor in General Election, 1848-1990," Wisconsin Blue Book, 1991-1992. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1991; pg. 720.

Works

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