Pioneers

Immigrants are the star of the epic story that is America. However, Asians often receive nothing more than a passing cameo despite their contributions. Although little is known about Asian Americans and their history in Northfield, their presence has been felt since the second half of the last century. There were those who came for college and decided to stay on. There were those who were forced to leave their homeland because of war and relocated here as refugees. And there were those local individuals and organizations that opened their doors to welcome these newcomers from a different shore. We call all of them “Pioneers.” Presenting here are Northfield Refugee Committee, Vu Quang, and Yoshiteru Murakami.

This list is by no means exhaustive or conclusive. In fact, it is only the beginning.  For example, the Sovik family merits special acknowledgement. Dr. and Mrs. Erik Sovik’s notable missionary works in China dated back to the 1920s. His daughter, Dr. Gertrude Sovik, an alumnus and professor of St Olaf, worked extensively in China during the 1940s and was a tireless advocate for Asian immigrant resettlement since the 1970s. Moreover, both St Olaf College and Carleton College, along with their faculty members and staff, have also played a vital role in supporting the Asian community in town.

Gertrude Sovik (Class of ’31) in her home with Ngo Ton Hien and Nguyen Ngoc Duc, two of the Vietnamese refugee immigrants whom she helped to resettle in Northfield. Courtesy of St Olaf Archives.

Likewise, the Northfield Lutheran Parish Refugee Program deserves recognition as well. Urging the Northfield community to lend their hands to the Vietnam War refugees, Pastor Loyal E. Golf from St John’s Lutheran Church wrote: “The necessity for immediate action loomed before us as an overwhelming obligation… A vast multitude of persons had arrived at our shores, waiting to be grafted into a new country and a new culture. They were living representatives of a traumatic and terrifying experience which had divided this nation for over a decade, and devastated their own land.” Northfield Lutheran Parish Refugee Program (April 23- December 1, 1975).

According to a special report by Lydia Quanbeck written in mid-1970s, “the Vietnamese invited to Northfield have eagerly grasped every opportunity to work, learn and become a part of the community. Their resilience, lack of self-pity, thankfulness and genuine affection for Northfield friends has already made a quiet but sure impression.”

The Asian American history in Northfield will not be the same without the contributions from these pioneers. There are surely more unsung heroes. It is our hope, in the near future, that we can further research, discover, and present these pioneers’ stories.

References:

Pastor Loyal E. Golf, Northfield Lutheran Parish Refugee Program (April 23- December 1, 1975).

Lydia Quanbeck, “Vietnamese Refugees Energize St Olaf College” (A Special Report. n/d, ca. 1975).