Severi Alanne

Vieno Severin "Severi" Alanne (October 23, 1879 – May 26, 1960) was a Finnish-American socialist journalist and 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 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, Finland, on October 23, 1879. He was well educated, attending both preparatory school and a classical lyceum in his native Hämeenlinna, from which he graduated in 1897. After leaving the Hämeenlinna Lyceum, Alanne relocated to Helsinki to attend the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1902. Alanne's work was so well-regarded that the dictionary survived to see publication a posthumous second edition, published in Finland in 1968.

Alanne found his lasting professional contribution in the field of consumer cooperation, becoming director of the growing Co-operative Central Exchange (CCE) of Superior, Wisconsin in 1920 — a position he held until 1925. Alanne received just under 4200 votes in the race, finishing a distant fifth out of seven candidates.

Works Suomalais-Englantilainen Sanakirja – Finnish-English Dictionary Editor. Superior, WI: Työmies, 1919. Reissued 1968 as Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja (Finnish-English General Dictionary). 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. 129–137. Fundamentals of Consumer Cooperation. Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1932. Kuluttajaosuustoiminnan perusteet (Basics of Consumer Cooperation). Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1937. Manual for Co-operative Directors Superior, WI: Cooperative Publishing Association, 1938. Englannin kielen ääntämisohjeita (On pronunciation of the English language). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY, 1956.