From the 1880s to the 1930s, the Finnish-language newspaper Uusi Kotimaa connected immigrant communities across Minnesota and the United States. Based largely in New York Mills, it served as a cultural lifeline for thousands of Finnish Americans.
Transcript
Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.
For over fifty years, a Finnish-language newspaper helped connect immigrant communities across Minnesota and the United States. Its name was Uusi Kotimaa—New Homeland. Founded by Finnish immigrant August Nylund in the early 1880s, the paper began in Minneapolis before moving to New York Mills, Minnesota. The town was considered a "Finn town," making it an ideal base for the paper.
Printed weekly in Finnish, Uusi Kotimaa offered news from home, religious commentary and a sense of belonging for newcomers navigating life in America. At its height, the paper reached more than 9,000 readers. The paper originally reflected conservative politics and Lutheran values. But as labor movements gained strength in the early 20th century, the paper evolved. By 1923, Uusi Kotimaa had become openly aligned with the Communist Party and the Farmer–Labor movement. In 1931, Uusi Kotimaa relocated to Superior, Wisconsin. Three years later, financial strain forced the paper to cease publication.
MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at mn90.org.