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Revision as of 11:58, 15 April 2009 by 76.234.167.192 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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).
Some people have argued that the place of the Work People's College in history has been downplayed or ignored because of its association with the Industrial Workers of the World. This argument contains little merit; a more obvious reason the school has been ignored by history is that it was simply irrelevant. It was small and few of its graduates accomplished anything of note.
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 Sirola, who later became a prominent Communist Party member and Comintern official; and IWW organizer Fred Thompson.
Revival of the Work People's College
Beginning in 2006, the Twin Cities General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World restarted the Work People's College, and offer free, on-going classes.