# Severi Alanne

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{{Short description|Finnish socialist and journalist (1879–1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}

'''Vieno Severin''' "'''Severi'''" '''Alanne''' (October 23, 1879 – May 26, 1960) was a Finnish-American [socialist](/source/socialism) journalist and [consumers' co-operative](/source/consumers'_co-operative) organizer. He is best remembered as a director and publicist for the large and popular Finnish-American consumers' co-operative in the [Upper Midwest](/source/Upper_Midwest) region of the United States during the first half of the 20th century.

== Early years ==
Vieno Severin Alanne, known to friends and family as Severi Alanne, was born in [Hämeenlinna](/source/H%C3%A4meenlinna), [Finland](/source/Finland), on October 23, 1879.<ref name="Obit">{{cite news |title=Severi Alanne kuollut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109978149/severi-alanne-1879-1960/ |work=Auttaja |date=June 2, 1960 |location=Ironwood, MI |page=1 |access-date=September 22, 2022 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was well educated, attending both preparatory school and a classical [lyceum](/source/lyceum) in his native Hämeenlinna, from which he graduated in 1897.<ref name=WW>"Severi Alanne," in ''Who's Who Among Finnish-Americans: A Biographical Dictionary of Persons of Finnish Descent Who Have Made Noteworthy Contributions to the Pattern of American Life.'' Fitchburg, MA: Raivaaja Publishing Co., 1949; pg. 8.</ref> After leaving the Hämeenlinna Lyceum, Alanne relocated to [Helsinki](/source/Helsinki) to attend the [Helsinki Polytechnic Institute](/source/Helsinki_University_of_Technology), from which he graduated in 1902.<ref name=WW /> He remained in the field of [organic chemistry](/source/organic_chemistry) for two more years, working as an assistant to professor [Gusst Komppa](/source/Gusst_Komppa) while continuing his post-graduate studies.<ref name=WW />

Upon completion of his graduate studies in 1903,<ref name="Obit" /> Alanne taught as a professor of electro-chemistry at the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute and as an instructor of chemistry and later department head at a vocational school in Helsinki, remaining there until 1905.<ref name=WW />

An opponent of Tsarist autocracy in the [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire), of which Finland was a part, Alanne joined the [Social Democratic Party of Finland](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland) ''(Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue,'' SSP) in 1905. He was forced to emigrate from the country following the defeat of the [Revolution of 1905](/source/1905_Russian_Revolution).

== Career ==
In the United States, Alanne worked for two years as the manager of a [coal](/source/coal) mine in [Hanna](/source/Hanna%2C_Wyoming), [Wyoming](/source/Wyoming), and for two additional years as a research chemist for the [Viscol Company](/source/Viscol_Company) of [Cambridge, Massachusetts](/source/Cambridge%2C_Massachusetts).<ref name=WW /> He later took a position as an editor of the [Finnish-language](/source/Finnish-language) socialist daily newspaper ''[Työmies](/source/Ty%C3%B6mies)'' (The Worker), located in [Hancock, Michigan](/source/Hancock%2C_Michigan).<ref name=WW />

In 1919, Alanne published a major book through the Työmies Publishing House, a large and comprehensive Finnish-English translating dictionary.<ref>''Suomalais-englantilainen sanakirja – Finnish-English Dictionary.'' Editor. Superior, WI: Työmies, 1919.</ref> Alanne's work was so well-regarded that the dictionary survived to see publication a posthumous second edition, published in Finland in 1968.<ref>''Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja'' (Finnish-English General Dictionary). Porvoo: Werner Söderström, 1968.</ref>

Alanne found his lasting professional contribution in the field of [consumer cooperation](/source/consumers'_co-operative), becoming director of the growing [Co-operative Central Exchange](/source/Co-operative_Central_Exchange) (CCE) of [Superior, Wisconsin](/source/Superior%2C_Wisconsin) in 1920 — a position he held until 1925.<ref name=WW /> At that time, Alanne moved on to fulfill a similar function for the umbrella organization of which the CCE was part, the [Northern States Cooperative League](/source/Northern_States_Cooperative_League), based in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota).<ref name=WW />

Alanne remained at that post until 1936, after which he returned to Superior to work in the educational department of the Central Co-operative Wholesale, the name by which the CCE was then known.<ref name=WW /> His employment there finally ended in 1943 with his retirement at the age of 64.<ref name=WW />

===Political career===

Alanne made one run for public office, serving as the candidate of the [Workers (Communist) Party](/source/Communist_Party_USA) for Governor of [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin) in 1924.<ref name=Bluebook>Lawrence Barish (editor in chief), et al., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ExVWAAAAMAAJ&dq=severi+alanne&pg=PA720 "Vote for Governor in General Election, 1848-1990,"] ''Wisconsin Blue Book, 1991–1992.'' Madison, WI: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1991; pg. 720.</ref> Alanne received just under 4200 votes in the race, finishing a distant fifth out of seven candidates.<ref name=Bluebook />

== Death and legacy ==
Severi Alanne died May 26, 1960, in Helsinki.<ref name="Obit" /> He was 80 years old at the time of his death.

==Electoral history==

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1924<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1925 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1925 |publisher= State of Wisconsin  |year= 1925 |location = [Madison, Wisconsin](/source/Madison%2C_Wisconsin) |editor-last= Holmes |editor-first= Fred L. |accessdate= February 2, 2020|chapter= Election statistics | pages= 481, 562–563 }}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election, September 2, 1924'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [John J. Blaine](/source/John_J._Blaine)
  |votes      = 230,985
  |percentage = 49.57%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Arthur R. Hirst
  |votes      = 157,138
  |percentage = 33.72%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [George Comings](/source/George_Comings)
  |votes      = 36,666
  |percentage = 7.87%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Martin L. Lueck](/source/Martin_L._Lueck)
  |votes      = 21,347
  |percentage = 4.58%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Socialist Party of America
  |candidate  = [William F. Quick](/source/William_F._Quick)
  |votes      = 18,401
  |percentage = 3.95%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Prohibition Party
  |candidate  = Adolph R. Bucknam
  |votes      = 1,484
  |percentage = 0.32%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = '''466,021'''
  |percentage = '''100.0%'''
  |change     = 
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election, November 4, 1924'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [John J. Blaine](/source/John_J._Blaine)
  |votes      = 412,255
  |percentage = 51.76%
  |change     = -24.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Martin L. Lueck](/source/Martin_L._Lueck)
  |votes      = 317,550
  |percentage = 39.87%
  |change     = +29.27%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Socialist Party of America
  |candidate  = [William F. Quick](/source/William_F._Quick)
  |votes      = 45,268
  |percentage = 5.68%
  |change     = -2.53%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Prohibition Party
  |candidate  = Adolph R. Bucknam
  |votes      = 11,516
  |percentage = 1.45%
  |change     = -3.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Communist Party USA
  |candidate  = Severi Alanne
  |votes      = 4,107
  |percentage = 0.52%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent Republican (United States)
  |candidate  = Farrand K. Shuttleworth
  |votes      = 4,079
  |percentage = 0.51%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Socialist Labor Party of America
  |candidate  = Jose Snover
  |votes      = 1,452
  |percentage = 0.18%
  |change     = -0.12%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = 
  |candidate  = ''Scattering''
  |votes      = 205
  |percentage = 0.03%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = '''796,432'''
  |percentage = '''100.0%'''
  |change     = +65.29%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Works==
* ''[https://archive.org/details/suomalaisenglan00alangoog/page/n4/mode/2up Suomalais-Englantilainen Sanakirja – Finnish-English Dictionary]'' Editor. Superior, WI: Työmies, 1919. <small>Reissued 1968 as ''Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja'' (Finnish-English General Dictionary).</small>
* ''Osuustoimintaopas: Käsikirja Amerikan suomalaista osuustoimintaväkeä varten'' (The Cooperators' Guide: A Handbook for Finnish-American Cooperative Members). Superior, WI: Cooperative Central Exchange, 1921.
* "The Story of Co-operative Central Exchange," in ''Northern States Cooperative League Yearbook, 1925.'' Minneapolis: Northern States Cooperative League, 1925; pg. 68.
* "Through the Critical Years with the Central Exchange," in ''Northern States Cooperative League Yearbook, 1928.'' Minneapolis: Northern States Cooperative League, 1928; pp.&nbsp;129–137.
* ''Fundamentals of Consumer Cooperation.'' Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1932.
* ''Kuluttajaosuustoiminnan perusteet'' (Basics of Consumer Cooperation). Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1937.
* ''[https://archive.org/details/manualforcoopera0000alan Manual for Co-operative Directors]'' Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1938.
* ''Englannin kielen ääntämisohjeita'' (On pronunciation of the English language). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY, 1956.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alanne, Severi}}
Category:1879 births
Category:1960 deaths
Category:American Marxists
Category:American people of Finnish descent
Category:Massachusetts socialists
Category:Members of the Communist Party USA
Category:Members of the Socialist Party of America
Category:Michigan socialists
Category:Minnesota socialists
Category:Wyoming socialists
Category:Finnish lexicographers
Category:American lexicographers
Category:Emigrants from the Grand Duchy of Finland to the United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Severi Alanne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severi_Alanne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severi_Alanne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.