#finns

Timeframe wise, Finns started arriving in America in larger numbers from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century (and earlier, but much less often), which would match up well with the Newsboy Strike happening in 1899. Around the late 1800’s, the main reason for emigration out of Finland was economic failure and bad farmland. So many of them were poor and looking for a better life, like most immigrants. All of this matches up with the possibility that a newsboy in Newsies could possibly be a Finn.

Most Finns immigrated to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Iron Range and Copper Country to work in the mining industry. As a result, majority of Finnish Americans live in the Midwest, especially the UP (where they’re 16% of the population!!) and Minnesota. While this is interesting, it means Finns wouldn’t be in New York.

HOWEVER: I found multiple accounts of Finns in New York City in the 19th-20th century!! According to Finlandia Foudation, many stopped at the US Immigration Station on Ellis Island. Many moved west, but a decent number stayed in New York and the surrounding area. New York is the ‘melting pot’ of America, and with so many cultures, there was bound to be a few Finnish people.

There were also several articles about ‘Finntown’ in Brooklyn, a large community mostly active from the 1900’s through the 50’s, home to 20,000 Finns at it’s peak. It was full of Finnish saunas, restaurants, taverns, and markets, plus the language was regularly spoken. Although Finntown wasn’t established and busy until few years after the strike, it’s reasonable to assume that at least some Finns were in the area. After all, it’s not as if all the Finns in Brooklyn suddenly arrived all at once to form this huge community.

In conclusion, it is entirely possible for a newsie during the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899 to be a Finnish immigrant, or be the child of one!! I’m really happy about this, my grandma has taught me about her Finnish roots and a little of the culture, so being able to connect it to one of my favorite pieces of media is awesome!!