Pete

Pesonen

I defended my doctoral thesis in December 2024. My dissertation examines the oral history and significance of firabeli in Finnish industrial labour from 1945 to 1990. Firabeli (homer in English) is an artefact made for one’s own benefit by a worker using his or her factory’s equipment and materials, and often during working hours. The study introduces homers as a phenomenon into Finnish historical research. It defines the concept of homer-production, and how it is connected to factorys' shop-floor relationships and workplace culture, as well as to informal practices within these settings. The study sheds new light on the everyday practices of factory life, the workplace culture of workers, and the practice of oral history research.

I also work as a senior archivist at the Finnish Labour Archives, where I specialise in labour traditions and oral history.