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In this series of interviews by Odd Lovoll for his books “The Promise of America: History of the Norwegian-American People” and “The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today,” Odd Lovoll interviews Patricia Hayes, the president of the Slooper Society, an organization made up of the descendants of the first Norwegian immigrants to the United States on a sloop ship. Patricia tells about her childhood in Illinois and her ethnic background, as well as how she met her husband. She explains her history with the Slooper Society and how she came to be its president, as well as giving some anecdotes of her time with the Society and details of its funding, operation, and goals. Patricia gives her thoughts on the Slooper Society’s future and needs, and finishes by talking about her thoughts on Norwegian-American values, why she identifies as Norwegian-American, and the importance of ethnic backgrounds.
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Hayes, Patricia “Pat” Anne Ainsley (1946-2021)
Patricia Anne Ainsley Hayes was born on March 20th, 1946, to Florence and Donald Ainsley in Ottawa, Illinois. She spent most of her life in Ottawa and Dayton, Illinois, where she was the president of the Slooper Society for several years and also worked doing household tasks for elderly people. She married William Hayes in 1966, and they had two children. Patricia died on March 22nd, 2021.