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Records and reference material from five major research projects sponsored by the Finlandia Club and other organizations.

• Bay Street Project I: A study of Finnish immigration to Canada
• Bay Street Project II: A study of Finnish settlements in the rural Thunder Bay District
• Bay Street Project III: A study of sports and athletics in the Finnish community in Thunder Bay
• Bay Street Project IV: A study of religion and churches in the Finnish community in Thunder Bay
• Bay Street Project V: A study of the arts in the Finnish community in Thunder Bay, including literature, theatre, and music

Collected records related to organized labour and the Finnish community in Thunder Bay. Include records related to the Canadan Suomalaisen Jarjesto (Finnish Organization of Canada), Vapaus Publishing Company, Canadan Farmarien Yhteysliitto (Farmers' Unity League of Canada), Lumber & Agricultural Workers Industrial Union of Canada.

Also includes forms and notes related to oral history interviews.

Original records and research collections arranged by a variety of subjects and creators.

• Bay Street Project research materials
• Business & industry
• Genealogy, people, & families
• Greeting cards
• News articles
• Einar Nordstrom collection (phonographs & transcripts)
• Organizations (including Suomalainen Osasto (Finnish Association), Finnish Building Company, Canadan Teollisuusunionistinen Kannatus Liitto (CTKL), Canadan Uutistoimisto (CUT), Vapaus Publishing Company, Tyolaisnaisten Liitto, Port Arthur Finnish History Society, Port Arthur Finnish Language School)

Photographs are divided into seven subseries:
A - Architecture
B - Arts (Theatre, music, dance, arts, crafts)
C - Business & industry
D - Churches
E - Communities in Northwestern Ontario
F - People, families, & genealogy
G - Organizations

Articles, clippings, research notes, correspondence, copies of organizational minutes, diaries, and other materials not categorized elsewhere in the TBFCHS collection. Includes materials related to the Finnish Building Company, Otava Male Choir, and a diary of the Finnish Civil War.

Materials related to the development and implementation of "The Finnish Experience" educational kit in regional schools.

Consists of minute books, account books, and membership of the Workingmen's Association, including executive, entertainment committee, and sickness and funeral relief fund.

Minute books, account books, and membership book for the New Attempt Temperance Society, one of the earliest Finnish organizations in Port Arthur.

Account books and minute books of the Finnish Building Company, an organization formed in 1909 to raise funds for the construction of the Finnish Labour Temple (Big Finn Hall) at 314 Bay Street.

Three PDF documents relating to Pentti (Ben) Järvenpää's (1925-2020) life and memorial service. Life story document written by Pirkko Shalden and approved by Järvenpää.

St. Urho's Day is celebrated on March 16 each year in Thunder Bay, as well as in many Finnish-Canadian and Finnish-American Communities. These records relate to both the wider holiday and to its celebration in Thunder Bay.

St. Urho is a [fictional] Finnish saint, renowned for driving the grasshoppers (or, in early legends, frogs) out of the Finnish vineyards. The story of St. Urho originated in Minnesota in the 1950s, and it has over time become a popular aspect of Finnish-American and Finnish-Canadian culture. People wear purple and green to participate in parades, celebrations, and performances.

Recordings of radio programs produced in Finnish.

Minute books and account books of the CTKL in Port Arthur, Hornepayne, and West of Pine River, and of the CTKL Entertainment Committee and Dramatics Association.

Account books, receipt books, and subscription records for Canadan Uutistoimisto, Canadian News Service, an agency of the CTKL.

An umbrella organization for Finnish male choruses in North America.

The records relate to the organization's administration and finances, and to major events including nine performing tours of Finland and performances in North America.

Member choirs have included:
Chicago: Sibelius Male Chorus
Detroit: Finlandia Male Chorus
Florida: Male Singers of Florida
Los Angeles: Finnish Male Chorus
New York: New Yorkin Laulumiehet
Sault Ste Marie: Sault Finnish Male Chorus "Kaleva"
Sudbury: Sudburyn Laulumiehet
Thunder Bay: Mieskuoro Otava Male Choir
Toronto: Toronton Mieslaulajat
Vancouver: Vancouverin Mieslaulajat

Einar and Hilma Kajander were immigrants from Finland, and were active in local organizations. Their son Art was a lawyer, and later Finnish Consul. Grandchild Ann is faculty at Lakehead University.

These photographs depict the Kajander family and their friends, in and about the Port Arthur area, approximately 1900 to 1970. The photographs include studio portraits and candid photographs printed at a variety of sizes. The images primarily depict family life and outdoor recreation.

Einar Kajander (1882-1973) and Hilma (Muhonen) Kajander (1886-1965) met in Canada and married in Port Arthur in 1909. Einar worked as a miner, and later opened a grocery store in Port Arthur. Both were involved with local sports organizations and the Finnish Labour Temple, and Hilma sang in Oras Choir.

Aatto Arthur Kajander (1913-1998) attended university in Toronto, was a lawyer in Thunder Bay for 55 years, and served as Finnish Consul appointed in 1957. He was also heavily involved in music and outdoor activities.

This time capsule reflects the intentions of the builders of the Labour Temple at the start of construction. It demonstrates an awareness of posterity and their hopes for the cultural significance of the building. The documents clearly reflect the socialist beliefs of the builders.

• Copper box, damaged during retrieval in 2022.
• Printed text of a speech given by Moses Hahl during the dedication.
• Minutes of the Executive of the Finnish Building Company, October 25, 1909.
• Two copies of Työkansa newspaper (Port Arthur), October 21, 1909. One printed on paper and the other on silk.
• One copy of Työmies newspaper (Hancock, Michigan), October 16, 1909.

The Finnish Building Company was formed in 1909 and raised funds for the construction of the Finnish Labour Temple (Big Finn Hall) at 314 Bay Street.

Records were created, held, or gathered by Cairine Budner over the course of her association with the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society, and other local heritage organizations and sports organizations.

The fonds includes

• Records of the operations of the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
• Records of the operations of the Thunder Bay Historical Society, Thunder Bay Art Gallery (National Exhibition Centre), Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
• Oral history interviews created with the TBFCHS and Multicultural History Society of Ontario
• Historical photographs and documents gathered from the community, including sports photographs, records of the Finnish Building Company, and minutes of the Nahjus Athletic Club

Minute books, account books, and membership books for the Port Arthur Finnish Socialists Local. Includes records of the sewing society, entertainment committee, and theatrical society.

Minute books and membership books for the Finnish Athletic Club "Nahjus" and its Youth League.

Ledgers and account books for a variety of organizations.

1. National Joint-Stock Bank Account Book, probably from the Hoito Restaurant, February (March 1930) to November 28, 1939 (Balance note April 30, 1940), sum of money listed both in Finmarks and dollars

2. M. Kaartisen’s Accounts. No organization name given. Entries vary – mostly subscriptions to papers, August 24, 1932 (9)? To March 29, 1943

3. Social Democratic Party of Canada (P.A.)? January 1915 to January 1918. Records of:
   1) Expenditures
   2) Membership ledger (1915 and 1916)
   3) Accounts (1915)
   4) Stamp account (1915)

4. Finnish Hall Co. Receipt (or Account) Book, June 1910 to June 14, 1911.

5. Various Subscription Records, 1928 to 1939, no organization given. Book kept in turn by:
   1) M. Kaartinen
   2) Mrs. Lankola

6. Notebook, Hoito Restaurant(?), listing meal tickets sold. 1910.

7. Minute book, Theatrical Society Executive Committee, October 22, 1927 to September 28, 1930.

8. Subscription Records Ledger for the publication ‘Tie Vapauteen’ (Road to Freedom), 1921 and 1929

The fonds consists of publications and clippings in Finnish, including some of Terttu Koivu’s own writings in Canadan Uutiset and other publications. Terttu Koivu immigrated from Finland in 1953, and died in Thunder Bay in 2013 at age 95.

Card catalogue from the Suomi Koti library.

Suomi Koti of Thunder Bay is a seniors' residence in Thunder Bay. The organization was founded in 1984; the building, consisting of 60 apartment units, was opened in 1988. Suomi Koti was developed to meet the needs of Finnish-Canadian seniors

The library was built from donations and purchases by residents over the years. It held titles in Finnish and in English; the Finnish-language materials were often published in and brought from Finland and were difficult to access through Canadian libraries or booksellers. This library reflected a body of reading material of Finnish-speaking people in Thunder Bay in the later part of the twentieth century.

In 2025, the library collections were weeded significantly to make room for new furniture and better meet the needs of current residents. Some titles were donated to Lakehead University Library at this time. The Finnish-language card catalogue has been acquired by the Archives to preserve a record of the library's former collections and how it reflected the culture of its users.