Finlandia University, founded in 1896 as Suomi College, established the Finnish American National Historical Archive and Museum in 1990 to honor the past contributions of Finnish Americans, link visitors with Finnish America and Finland, and preserve Finnish-American heritage for future generations. The Finnish-American community developed a vibrant past marked by colorful characters and dramatic social interactions that left a distinct imprint on North America's cultural and natural landscapes. Finnish immigrants, once labeled "Jack-pine savages" because of cultural rituals such as the sauna, sought a better life for future generations while laboring in mines, forests, and fields. Finnish-American heritage centered on community activity and cooperation, and that legacy of forward thinking is celebrated, researched, and preserved in books, documents, and artifacts, while visitors can explore family roots through the Family History Center and take part in cultural events. Established by Dr. Armas K.E. Holmio in 1932, the Finnish American Historical Archive is the largest repository for Finnish North American materials in the world, holding 11,000 books, 2,500 microfilm reels, a large oral history and historic photograph collection, and more than 1,200 linear feet of newspapers, documents, and periodicals.