https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/catalog/files/original/a98968cd969760b4496e0006568de9f7.pdf 851915480c32d6b817a302528ae8a8b4 PDF Text Text Collection Name: Andrew Furuseth papers, 1874-2004 Collection Number: P0102 Extent: 0.4 cubic feet (1 archives box) Biography/History: Andrew Furuseth (March 17, 1854–January 22, 1938) was a Norwegian-born merchant seaman who became one of the most influential American labor leaders in maritime history. Born Anders Andreassen Nilsen in Åsbygda, Hedmark, Norway, he experienced poverty early and went to sea in 1873, sailing under several national flags before settling in San Francisco in 1880. Joining the Coast Seamen’s Union in 1885, he quickly rose to leadership and, in 1891, helped merge unions to form the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, which he led for decades. Furuseth also played a central role in building national maritime labor organizations, serving multiple terms as president of the International Seamen’s Union of America. Known in later life as “the Old Viking,” he was tireless in advocating for sailors’ rights, though his legacy also includes his participation in the founding of the Asiatic Exclusion League in 1905. Furuseth’s greatest impact came through his success in securing landmark legislative reforms that transformed life at sea. He was instrumental in ending corporal punishment and imprisonment for desertion through the Maguire Act of 1895 and the White Act of 1898, and he was the principal architect of the Seamen’s Act of 1915, widely hailed as the “Magna Carta of the Sea,” which regulated hours, wages, safety standards, food quality, and crew qualifications aboard American vessels. He later supported the Jones Act of 1920, shaping sailors’ compensation rights and domestic shipping policy. Despite setbacks during the post–World War I downturn and internal union conflicts, Furuseth remained a respected moral force in labor circles. When he died in 1938, he became the first labor leader to lie in repose at the U.S. Department of Labor; honoring his final wish, his ashes were scattered at sea, a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to the dignity and welfare of seafarers. Scope and Content: Papers of a Norwegian-born labor leader and author of pamphlets and articles in professional and technical journals. The collection includes pamphlets, correspondence, reports, congressional records, and more. Furuseth's constant agitation for improved status of seamen resulted in the passage of several laws, including La Follette's Seamen's Act of 1915. He was president of the International Seamen's Union of America, 1908-1938, and has been called the "Abraham Lincoln of the Sea." Access Rights: This collection is open to research. Bibliographic Citation: [Indicate the cited item here]. Andrew Furuseth Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota. Box Folder Description 1 1 American Federation of Labor papers, 1898-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">P.S. King and Son receipts, 1905 December 3, 1906 January 2, 1906 February 14</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"American Federation of Labor: Address of Samuel Gompers", Arbitration Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 1900 December 17 published by Allied Printing, Washington, D.C., 1901</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Credential to the Convention of the American Federation of Labor for Andrew Furuseth,1898 November 10</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">American Federation of Labor letters to the President, 1898 May 19, 1898, 1906 March 21, 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">American Federation of Labor newsletter, 1901 March</li> </ul> 1 2 Atlantic Coast Seamen's Union, 1895-1904 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Log from S.S. Alamo of New York, Mallory S.S. Co. 1900 August 29-1900 September 21</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries from Frithiof H. Buryeson, Port of New York, 1902 February 26</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter to Dr. Stitt, Secretary, American Seamen's Friend Society, Port of New York, 1895 December 26</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk S.S., Bill of Injunction, undated</li> </ul> 1 3 Congressional Committee records, 1891-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter to the Committee of Conference from I. Augustus Johnson, 1897 February 4</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Report from Andrew Furuseth, 1906 January 14</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter and report regarding recent shipwrecks, 1906 March 28</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Notes on testimony, undated; Afternoon session, Government Printing Office, Office of the Public Printer, Washington, D.C., 1906 March 20</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Executive Order on "Soliciting Increase of Pay or Influencing Legislation by Employees of the Treasury Department", 1906 January 25</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Income and Expenses record, 1891July-1904 June 26</li> </ul> 1 4 Congressional documents, 1886-1902 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Public - No. 85, "An act to abolish certain fees for official services to American vessels, and to amend the laws relating to shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes", 1886 June 19, 1886</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Public - No. 229, "An act to amend the laws relative to shipping commissioners",1890 August 19</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Public - No. 55, "An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend the laws relative to shipping commissioners," approved 1890 August 19 and for other purposes", 1895 February 18</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Public - No. 90, "An act to prohibit the coming into and to regulate the residence within the United States, its territories, and all territory under its jurisdiction, and the District of Columbia, of Chinese and persons of Chinese descent", 1902 April 29,</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Report of the Revenue Commission of Colorado, 1901 February 28</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Papers Relating to the Employment of Chinese on Vessels Flying the American Flag, 1902 April 3</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, Labour Bills Committee, 1900 August 23</li> </ul> 1 5 Correspondence, 1894-1906 1 6 Correspondence and reports, 1942-1954 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">The Machine - The Modern Slave" by Andrew Furuseth, Machinists' Monthly Journal, 1931 February 1931</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Andrew Furuseth: A Bibliographical List", The Library of Congress Division of Bibliography, 1942 December 3</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Correspondence between Olaf Ray and Jorgen Thompson, Victor Olander</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Andrew Furuseth" article written by Dr. A.N. Rygg.</li> </ul> 1 7 Court proceedings, 1898-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Testimony from Alick Lind, Los Angeles County, California, 1898 September 21</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Application of James Towers and John Doe for a writ of habeas corpus, San Francisco, California, 1899 June</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Crescent Wharf and Warehouse Company vs. Longshoreman's Union of San Pedro, California, summons and complaint, Los Angeles California, 1906 August 24</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Franz Schwam vs. The Ship Marion Chilcott, Washington, D.C., 1899 July 24</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Byron S. Adams vs. Columbia Typographical Union, Washington D.C., 1906 March 30</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">William Henney vs. Bank, Washington D.C., 1898 December 23 1898</li> </ul> 1 8 German Marine Law, 1894 Translation from the German Marine Laws, Washington D.C., 1894 April 21. 1 9 International and National Seamen's Unions, 1892-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Constitution of the International Seamen's Union, Press of the Eight-Hour Herald, Chicago, Illinois</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Delegate ribbon to the 6th Annual Convention of the International Seamen's Union of America, Buffalo, New York, 1901 November 25</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Synopsis of the business transacted by the National Seamen's Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 1892 April 22</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Coast Seaman's Journal, Vol. XIX, No. 19, 1906 January 3</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Constitution and By-Laws of the National Seamen's Union, Eight-Hour Herald Print, Chicago</li> </ul> 1 10 Lake Seamen's Union, 1892-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Resolutions, 1906 March 5</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Resolutions, 1906 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">correspondence from Andrew Furuseth and Comrade Hoey, W. Perje</li> </ul> 1 11 Livernash Opposition circulars, 1904 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Circular No. 1: Anti-Livernash, San Franscico, California</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Circular No. 2: Trades Unionists Say Livernash Again? No! Livernash Turned Down Again by the Clerks' District Council and S.F. Labor Council; Circular </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">No. 3: Livernash Squirms Under the Light of Truth; Circular </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">No. 4: Lies Will Not Save E.J. Livernash; Circular: What? Livernash Again?; "Who and What is E.J. Livernash?"</li> </ul> 1 12 Memorabilia, 1897-1993 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">House of Representatives cards admitting Andrew Furuseth to the Visitor's Gallery, 1897 March 31, irca 1900</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Business card for Victor Hugo Wickstrom, Ostersund, Sweden</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">British Steel Smelters, Mill, Iron, & Tinplate Workers card for Mr. John Hodge</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Ballad of Andrew Furuseth" by Joe Glazer, Western Viking</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Banquet to Captain Roald Amundsen program, Hotel St. Francis, San Francisco, California, 1906 October 24</li> <li style="font-weight:400;"> "The Man with the Hoe" by Edwin Markham</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Andrew Furuseth: The Abraham Lincoln of the Sea" by Rolf Gunderson, Seattle, Washington;</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Abraham Lincoln of the Sea: A Biography of Andrew Furuseth" by Arnold Berwick, Odin Press, Santa Cruz, California, 1993</li> </ul> 1 13 Newspaper clippings, 1895-1975 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Congress and the Slocum Slaughter", New York American, 1906 March 10, 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Slocum Case", New York World, 1906 January 28, 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Ship Survivors Here: Slocum Disastr Before House Claims Committee"</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Other Slocum Criminals", New York Press</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Responsibility for the Slocum Horror"</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Captain - Ten Years: The Owners - What?", Editorial Page, The New York American, 1905 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"After Van Schaick - What?"; New York World, 1905 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Slocum's Captain Found Guilty, "Providence to Blame," He Says", New York American and Journal, 1906 January 28</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Conviction of Capt. Van Schaick", The Evening Sun, 1906 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Little Criminals and Big", The Evening Sun, 1906 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"For this Captain, 10 Years in Jail", New York, 1906 January 30</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"An Obnoxious and Un-American Conscription", New York American, 1906 February 27</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Imperils Millions of Lives" New York Herald, 1895 January 7</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"U-bestikkelige Andrew", Western Viking, 1975 May 2</li> </ul> 1 14 Newspaper clippings, 1907-1954 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Old Andy Was a Real Fighter", Washington, John Herling</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Abraham Lincoln of the Sea"; Sons of Norway names lodge in Richmond, California, 1945 February</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Merchant Seamen Celebrate Anniversary of Andrew Furuseth"; Sailors Union of the Pacific invitation to monument dedication to Andrew Furuseth, 194 September 1</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Battle for Freedom of Sailors Begins in La Follette's Office" by Robert M. La Follette</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Furuseth Opposes Seaman Bonus Plan", New York Times, 1925 May 11</li> </ul> 1 15 Pamphlets and clippings, 1895-2004 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Clippings on the death of Andrew Furuseth</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Two Acts (Public - No. 1, December 21, 1898; Public - No. 55, February 18, 1895)</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Appeal to the World" by Andrew Furuseth, 1908-1910</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Flyer for the passage of the Seamen's Act, 1915</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Article on the American Sea Power and the Seamen's Act, 1918 April 16</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Petition to the President of the United States, 1918 February 11</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">A Message to Seamen: A Call to the Sea and Seamanship, International Seamen's Union of America, Faehse & Dienhart Co, Chicago, Illinois, 1918</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Second Message to Seamen" by Andrew Furuseth, International Seamen's Union of America, Chicago, Illinois, 1919</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"American Seamen: Extension of Remarks of Hon. John E. Raker, of California, in the House of Representatives, 1918 April 30</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Congressional Record, 67th Congress, First Session, 1921 August 1</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"In re The World Court" by W.M. Green, 1926 January 6</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Andrew Furuseth", Illinois State Federation of Labor, Chicago, 1938 January 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Seamen's Act as Amended and Other Laws Relating to Seamen" compiled by Elmer A. Lewis, 1927</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"International Seamen's Union of America: A Study of its History and Problems" by Arthur Albrecht, 1923 June</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Sea-Power and its Development" by Andrew Furuseth</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Memorandum on Government by Law vs. Government by Equity" by Andrew Furuseth</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Work is Worship" by Andrew Furuseth</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Machine - The Modern Slave" by Andrew Furuseth, Machinists' Monthly Journal, Washington D.C., 1931 February</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Andrew Furuseth: The Lincoln of the Sea", The Norseman, 2004 March</li> </ul> 1 16 Pamphlets and grievances, 1901-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Havelock Wilson and the Seamen's Union: Save the Widow and the Orphans of Seaman Griffin From Defeat, E. Sword Printer, High Shields</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The National Sailors', Firemens', and Fishermens' Union of Great Britain and Ireland</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Presidents Address, delivered at the annual meeting of Atlantic Carriers Association at Boston, Fields S. Pendleton, New York, 1903 May 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">San Francisco Labor Council Strike Fund, 1901 April 23-1901 November 30</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Labor's Bill of Grievances, speech of Hon. Charles A. Towne of New York, House of Representatives, Washington D.C., 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"A subsidy by any other name smells just as rank" speech by Hon. Thomas Spight of Mississippi, House of Representatives, Washington D.C., 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Some reasons why boys do not go to sea and men seek employment ashore";</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Memorandums, undated</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"The Senator is turning the vessels over to the seamen's union!"</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chicago Federation of Labor resolutions, 1906 March 4</li> </ul> 1 17 Photograph, 1945 Sons of Norway announcement for the naming of Richmond, California lodge after Andrew Furuseth, Grand Forks, North Dakota. 1 18 Sailors' Union of the Pacific, 1899-1946 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Examination of Applicants; wanted ads, San Francisco Chronicle 1899 August 17, 1899 August 29</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">George S. Beadle vs. Sailors' Union of the Pacific summons, San Francisco, California, 1906 June 25</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter to Hon. Victor H. Metcalf, 1904 August 6</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Hammond Lumber Company vs. Sailors' Union of the Pacific, Northern District of California, 1906 August 13</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Correspondence between Kenneth Bjork and Harry Lundeberg, Lise Lindbaek</li> </ul> 1 19 Ship and prison rations data, 1864-1895 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Records of individuals' food portions per day by seamen, 1889 March 17</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bill of Fare at San Quentin Prison, 1891 January 16</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Daily Rations at Sing Sing Prison, 1895 December 21</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Letter from Warden, San Quentin Prison, to Col. Chas. Sonntag, with food rations 1892 January 26</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Distribution of Provisions decree, 1874 December 16</li> </ul> 1 20 U.S. and State Bills and Resolutions, 1901-1906 <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">To Regulate the Manning of Vessels on the Great Lakes; </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Memorandum, no date</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. Bill 5283, 1905 December 7</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">S. Bill 6857, 1905 January 24</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. Bill 471, 1905 December 4</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. Bill 12472, 1906 January 19</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. Bill 12534, 1904 February 18</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. 12230, 1904 February 11</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Resolution, undated</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chicago Federation of Labor resolution, 1906 February 4, 1906</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. Bill 13771, 1994 March 11</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">H.R. 14861, 1904 April 7</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">"Unskilled Sailors: Greatest Danger to Lives of Passengers, standard skill should be inserted into Senate Bill 6857 and H.R. 18197", 1905 February</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Notice from Albany, NY on Assembly Bill 1334, 1901 March 6</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Minnesota Bill H.F. 150, introduced by G.W. Armstrong, 1901 February 2</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Minnesota Bill S.F. 113, introduced by Mr. Daly, 1901 February 6</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Minnesota Bill S.F. 239, Introduced by J.D. Jones, 1901 February 27</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">New York Bill 1334, introduced by Mr. Costello, 1901 February 26</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Resolutions of the Grand Harbor of American Masters, Mates, and Pilots, 1906 January 24</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Resolutions, undated</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Finding aid to the Andrew Furuseth Papers Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Archival Collection Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context P0102 Title A name given to the resource Andrew Furuseth papers, 1874-2004 Subject The topic of the resource Furuseth, Andrew, 1854-1938 Ray, Olaf E. Rygg, Andreas N. California Government Politics International Seamen's Union of America Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Furuseth, Andrew, 1854-1938 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1874-2004 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights undetermined. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Reports Correspondence Congressional documents Clippings Pamphlets Photographs Extent The size or duration of the resource. 0.4 cubic feet (1 archives box) Description An account of the resource Biography/History: Andrew Furuseth (March 17, 1854–January 22, 1938) was a Norwegian-born merchant seaman who became one of the most influential American labor leaders in maritime history. Born Anders Andreassen Nilsen in Åsbygda, Hedmark, Norway, he experienced poverty early and went to sea in 1873, sailing under several national flags before settling in San Francisco in 1880. Joining the Coast Seamen’s Union in 1885, he quickly rose to leadership and, in 1891, helped merge unions to form the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, which he led for decades. Furuseth also played a central role in building national maritime labor organizations, serving multiple terms as president of the International Seamen’s Union of America. Known in later life as “the Old Viking,” he was tireless in advocating for sailors’ rights, though his legacy also includes his participation in the founding of the Asiatic Exclusion League in 1905. Furuseth’s greatest impact came through his success in securing landmark legislative reforms that transformed life at sea. He was instrumental in ending corporal punishment and imprisonment for desertion through the Maguire Act of 1895 and the White Act of 1898, and he was the principal architect of the Seamen’s Act of 1915, widely hailed as the “Magna Carta of the Sea,” which regulated hours, wages, safety standards, food quality, and crew qualifications aboard American vessels. He later supported the Jones Act of 1920, shaping sailors’ compensation rights and domestic shipping policy. Despite setbacks during the post–World War I downturn and internal union conflicts, Furuseth remained a respected moral force in labor circles. When he died in 1938, he became the first labor leader to lie in repose at the U.S. Department of Labor; honoring his final wish, his ashes were scattered at sea, a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to the dignity and welfare of seafarers. Scope and Content: Papers of a Norwegian-born labor leader and author of pamphlets and articles in professional and technical journals. The collection includes pamphlets, correspondence, reports, congressional records, and more. Furuseth's constant agitation for improved status of seamen resulted in the passage of several laws, including La Follette's Seamen's Act of 1915. He was president of the International Seamen's Union of America, 1908-1938, and has been called the "Abraham Lincoln of the Sea." Location: 1/A/5 Access Rights Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies. This collection is open for research. Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. [Indicate the cited item here]. Andrew Furuseth Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.