Guide to the"Finding Thea Foss" documentary

Collection

Identifier: OPVSIEmss_293

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes Histories, news articles, correspondences, photographs, and digital content such as the Find Thea DVD and VHS.

Dates

2003-2007

Creator

Haley, Nancy Bourne (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Thea Christiansen Fossen was born June 8, 1857, at Eidsberg, Norway. In 1880 Thea immigrated to Minnesota, where she married Andrew Olesen Fossen. (They later changed their name to Foss.) Thea and Andrew had four children between 1885 and 1889 and in 1889 the Foss family moved to Tacoma. There they lived in a flimsy house perched on logs in the Tacoma Waterway. (Judith Wood and Carol Amundson). While Andrew was away, Thea spent her savings on buying a rowboat. She bought it for 5 dollars, painted it green and white (the Foss colors) and sold it for 10 dollars. With this, began what would become the largest maritime industry in the country. Thea was hard working and determined. She was also kind and compassionate. Thea provided accommodations for immigrants also to anyone who happened to come by. Finding Thea was a 24 minute documentary that portrayed Thea’s life. With the help of two of her grandchildren, and lots of research, the movie was shown at the Tacoma Film Festival. The documentary got extraordinary reviews and praise. When Thea died on June 7th 1927, just one day before her 70th birthday, her funeral was attended by thousands of people. To many she was known as Mother Thea because of her kindness and compassion.