Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Arnold Arnio

Titles: Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Arnold Arnio (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Arnold Arnio was born in Finland in 1904, and came to the United States soon after. His family first settled on Minnesota's Iron Range, where his father died. The younger Arnio moved to Duluth and went to work for the Soo Line Railroad as a carman. He was involved in the shopmen's strike of 1921-22, and then in the Trade Union Educational League chapter in Duluth. In the late 1920s or early 1930s, he went to Europe for three years, and spent some of that time in the Soviet Union. There he was part of the effort to build up Soviet industry, as a foreign worker. During the Second World War he returned to Europe for another three years, as a soldier, and was decorated for bravery. After the war he returned to Duluth, though he was largely blacklisted from his former union activities because of his radical views. He remained a close associate of Earl Bester, who served as the sub-director and district director for the United Steel Workers of America in the 1940s and 1950s. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: 1916 iron miners' strike on Minnesota's Iron Range; shopmen's strike; steelworkers' organizing efforts in the 1920s; the Farmer-Labor Party; service in Eurpoe during the Second World War; experiences of Nazism in Germany between the wars; activities of the steelworkers' retirees and Duluth Labor Assembly retirees. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: Arnio's memory is admittedly poor, and the interview lacks depth and detail. He had recently suffered a heart attack, and his stamina was poor.

Dates

• 11/13/1987 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Arnio, Arnold F.
• interviewer: Ross, Carl

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 30.3
• Accession Number: AV1990.228.1
• Link to Finding Aid

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project' <OH 30>

Quantity: 1 hour sound cassette 9 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 00:29:36 running time

Subjects

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