Wiita, John, 1888-1984.

John Wiita (1888-1984) was born in Ylistaro, Finland. After attending folk school, he came to the United States at the age of seventeen. He settled in Superior, Wisconsin, where he worked as a longshoreman and railroad car repairman and was active in the Superior Chapter of the Finnish Socialist Federation. He also attended and taught at the Work People's College in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1916, he moved to Detroit, Michigan and later to other places, always remaining active in Socialist organizations, particularly with the Finnish American and Finnish Canadian labor press, including Toveri, Socialisti, Työmies, Vapaus and Eteenpäin. After the 1921 split within the Finnish Socialist Federation, Wiita became a functionary within the Finnish Federation and Worker's Party of America; however, by 1945, when he moved to Brooklyn, Connecticut, he had dropped his Communist Party membership. He became a realtor, helping to found the Northeastern Board of Realtors.

From the description of Papers, 1970-1984. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78007651

From the description of John Wiita papers, 1976-1978. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62482880

John Wiita (1888-1984) was born in Ylistaro, Finland. After attending folk school, he came to the United States at the age of seventeen. He settled in Superior, Wisconsin, where he worked as a longshoreman and railroad car repairman and was active in the Superior Chapter of the Finnish Socialist Federation. He also attended and taught at the Work People's College in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1916, he moved to Detroit, Michigan and later to other places, always remaining active in Socialist organizations, particularly with the Finnish American and Finnish Canadian labor press, including Toveri, Socialisti, Työmies, Vapaus and Eteenpäin. After the 1921 split within the Finnish Socialist Federation, Wiita became a functionary within the Finnish Federation and Worker's Party of America; however, by 1945, when he moved to Brooklyn, Connecticut, he had dropped his Communist Party membership. He became a realtor, helping to found the Northeastern Board of Realtors.

From the guide to the John Wiita papers, 1976-1978, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Immigration History Research Center [ihrc])