Eino Friberg collection

Creator:

Eino Friberg

Date Range:

1890-1998

Call number:

AG95

Abstract:

Contains materials related to the life and work Eino Friberg. The collection contains correspondence, clippings, writings, publications, photographs, materials related to the translation of the Kalevala, and other memorabilia including an award, a game, Friberg’s braille tablet, framed photographs, and a collection of audio cassettes. Many materials are in braille and a few in the Finnish language.

Extent:

9 linear feet

Language:

English, Finnish

Processed by: 

Molly Stothert-Maurer, 2011

Biographical/Historical notes:

Eino Friberg was born in Marikarvia, Finland in 1901. He moved to the United States in 1906 and died at the age of 94 in 1995. Friberg was blinded as a child through an accident involving an exploding soda bottle. Friberg is a graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind. 

Friberg was called a “renaissance man”. He engaged in many activities, and was an author, poet, playwright, union organizer, English-Finnish translator, minister, machinist, tree farmer, and even started his own experimental school (Harvard Crimson, 1976). 

Friberg studied at Boston University and Harvard. Harvard later created a Finnish literature award in Friberg’s honor for his major life-work: the translation of the Finnish epic tale the Kalevala, which took twelve years (New York Times, 1995). His wife Adele aided in the translation by reading to Friberg, she died in 1985. They have two daughters Sandra Friberg and Jill Ryan (New York Times).

Sources of information:

“Eino Friberg: Congratulations on your 90th birthday”, (1991). Raivaaja (The Pioneer), Finnish American Weekly. Vol. LXXXVII NO. 19   “Renaissance Man’ Finally Graduates” (1976). Harvard Crimson.

“Eino Friberg, 94, a Translator Of the Finnish National Epic“, (1995). The New York Times. 

Restrictions:

None

Copyright:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Perkins School for the Blind, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Credit line/Citation:

AG95 Eino Friberg Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

The collection contains correspondence, clippings, writings, publications, photographs, materials related to the translation of the Kalevala, and other memorabilia including an award, a game, Friberg’s braille tablet, framed photographs, and a collection of audio cassettes. Many materials are in braille and a few in the Finnish language.

Arrangement:

B1:F1 = Box 1, Folder 1

13 boxes

Container List:

Box 1: 

• B1:F1-10: Correspondence 
• B1:F11-20: Clippings and publications
• B1:F21-28: Poems, Sonnets, and Plays 
• B1:F29: Notes, on index cards, partly in braille, one original wooden box to hold them. Possibly part of braille dictionary project.

Box 2: 

• B2:F1-6: Correspondence, braille,1967, 1988, 1992, 1994, note from Adele, Thelma, Valerie Varrett
• B2:F7-13: Writings, braille- Poetry, plays, articles, 1937-1959, 1995
• B2:F14-17: Unlabeled braille pages

Box 3: 

• Book materials: “The Conscious Light”, 1959. 2 bound volumes of braille pages “Incomplete Notes-Conscious Light- Jan. 14, 1958-Dec. 6, 1958. Part I, and Part II”

Box 4: 

• Notes in braille for the “Kalevala” translation project. Four bound braille volumes labeled “Runo” 10, 20, 34-38

Box 5: 

• Notes in braille for the “Kalevala” translation project, includes information related to accession records and catalog entries.

Box 6:

• Notes in braille for the “Kalevala” translation project

Box 7:

• Publications. “Englantilais Suomalainen Sanakirja”, “Finnish-English General Dictionary”, “Kalevala” (4 volumes)

Box 8:

• Braille slate and stylus 

Box 9:

• Award plaque: Suomi College Kalevala Award

Box 10:

• “Innings” game with board, card, instructions, and score cards.

Box 11:

• Photographs, 6 framed photographs wrapped in tissue paper, 4 folders of photographs, collection of printed cloth patch collectibles with images from popular culture from cigarette packs

Box 12:

• Audio cassettes (18, 2 with related correspondence)

Box 13:

• Friberg Publications (informally published, used in library collection)

Subject Headings:

• Friberg, Eino
• Perkins School for the Blind
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.
• Kalevala