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Charles Rodgers, Government Records Specialist, viewing records


On a recent excursion to Washington County the government records team acquired some Grey Cloud Island Township records. Grey Cloud Island, about five miles long and one to two miles wide, is on the south end of Washington County, between St. Paul and Hastings on the Mississippi River.

The island was named after Grey Cloud Woman, in Dakota Mar-pi-ya-ro-to-win (Ma-Hpe-Ya Ho-Ta Win). She was the mother-in-law of Andrew Robertson, head farmer for the government at the Yellow Medicine Agency, and afterward superintendent of Indian schools on the reservation.

Grey Cloud Woman and her daughter moved to the island with their husbands, living in the abandoned lodges of Medicine Bottle's band. Later, many other families of French Canadian and Dakota heritage followed, some staying on the island for generations. Today the township is still rural, includes a quarry, about 125 homes, some lazy back channels of the Mississippi River, a hidden cemetery, and many urban legends of ghost sightings.

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Grey Cloud Town Hall


New and Updated Finding Aids - April 2016

Name/Abstract File No.
Arts Board: An Inventory of Its Administrative Files gr00569
Reports, correspondence and other records documenting the administration of the board and its predecessors, the state art commission and society.
James Ford Bell and Family: An Inventory of Their Papers 00749
James Ford Bell, Sr.Business and personal correspondence (1861-1961), newspaper clippings (1920-1961), print materials, scrapbooks, diaries (1914-1960), personal reminiscences (1938-1960) on a variety of topics and individuals, and miscellany of a Minneapolis flour-milling executive who was an active participant in public affairs. Includes diaries (1907-1912) of James Ford Bell's father, James Stroud Bell, and papers of other Bell family members.

Includes digital content.
Brown County, Minnesota: An Inventory of Telephone Directories lb00111
A collection of telephone directories for cities in Brown County, Minnesota. Telephone directories are published by telephone companies and include alphabetical listings of residential and business phone numbers and street addresses in the white pages, and a listing of businesses arranged by subject in the yellow pages. Each entry on the inventory lists the city name, year of coverage, and the shelf number of the printed volume or microfiche set which includes that city.
Chisago County, Minnesota : An Inventory of Telephone Directories lb00091
A collection of telephone directories for cities in Chisago County, Minnesota. Telephone directories are published by telephone companies and include alphabetical listings of residential and business phone numbers and street addresses in the white pages, and a listing of businesses arranged by subject in the yellow pages. Each entry on the inventory lists the city name, year of coverage, and the shelf number of the printed volume or microfiche set which includes that city.
Church of St. Michael: An Inventory of Its Photographs sv000222
Wedding ceremony, Church of St. Michael, Spring HillInterior photographs of the Church of St. Michael, Spring Hill in Melrose, Minnesota. Collection includes photographs of two wedding ceremonies in the church, as well as views of the pastor's office.

Includes digital content.
Conservation Department: An Inventory of Its Published Records and Reports gr00878
Reports and miscellaneous print and near-print items of or about the Conservation Department.
Faribault County, Minnesota : An Inventory of Telephone Directories lb00072
A collection of telephone directories for cities in Faribault County, Minnesota. Telephone directories are published by telephone companies and include alphabetical listings of residential and business phone numbers and street addresses in the white pages, and a listing of businesses arranged by subject in the yellow pages. Each entry on the inventory lists the city name, year of coverage, and the shelf number of the printed volume or microfiche set which includes that city.
Faribault School for the Blind: An Inventory of Its Photographs gr01171
Photographs and drawings documenting both the physical school and the activities and lives of its students and staff. Mainly black and white, in various sizes from snapshot to oversize, the photographs detail such topics and events as athletics, concerts and plays, buildings and classrooms, grounds, classes, vocational training, graduations, staff, and student outings and clubs.
Faribault School for the Blind: An Inventory of Its Published Records and Reports gr01172
Print and near-print items of or about the Faribault School for the Blind. The records cover various aspects of the activities at the school, including reading materials, concerts and exercises, instructor conventions, student government, song books, and newsletters. There is also a 1966 history.
Faribault School for the Blind: An Inventory of Its Scrapbooks gr01173
Volumes mainly documenting events and activities at the school. Includes graduation and concert programs, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook in memory of student Roland A. Swanson, and commencement ceremony programs from other state institutions for the blind.
Hennepin County: Crystal: An Inventory of Its City Council Minutes and Agenda Packets gr01169
Hennepin County: Three Rivers Park District: An Inventory of Its Records gr00165
Records of the Three Rivers Park District, documenting the administration and operation of this agency dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. The records include annual reports, board of commissioners' files, financial records, press releases, subject files, published records and reports, field survey notebooks, and files on Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Historic Murphy's Landing, and Silverwood Park.
LOWERTOWN REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: An Inventory of Its Records 00673
Records of a Saint Paul-based non-profit corporation that, working in partnership with the City and the private sector, developed and worked to bring to fruition a development strategy for Lowertown, a run-down 18-block historic warehouse district located at the eastern end of downtown Saint Paul, with the goal of preserving and renovating historic structures, ensuring that new construction was compatible with existing historic buildings, attracting new business ventures and investment, and creating housing and entertainment venues in the area.
WEIMING LU: An Inventory of His Papers 00674
Weiming LuPersonal papers of a Chinese-American urban planner who for many years served as executive director of the Lowertown Redevelopment Corporation in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The collection includes information on Corporation projects, as well as on a variety of Chinese-American and Asian-American organizations and projects in the United States.

Includes digital content.
Nicollet County, Minnesota : An Inventory of Telephone Directories lb00074
A collection of telephone directories for cities in Nicollet County, Minnesota. Telephone directories are published by telephone companies and include alphabetical listings of residential and business phone numbers and street addresses in the white pages, and a listing of businesses arranged by subject in the yellow pages. Each entry on the inventory lists the city name, year of coverage, and the shelf number of the printed volume or microfiche set which includes that city.
Dr. Carl G. Oeljen: An Inventory of His Vietnam War Audio Letters sv000223
Two audio letters from Dr. Carl G. Oeljen, a Waseca native, during his time as a military surgeon during the Vietnam War in Da Nang from 1970 to 1971. Subjects discussed include a "tour" of living quarters, the stresses on soldiers, working in a hospital, details of surgeries, details of personnel, weather, drugs, missing family, being a father, friendship with Bill Wolfe, feeling lonely and isolated, mis-representation of the war in the United States and references to Minnesota. Also includes an introductory prologue by Bill Wolfe, recorded in 2004, describing his friendship with Oeljen and their correspondence during the Vietnam War.

Includes digital content.
Washington County: Grey Cloud Island Township: An Inventory of Its Records gr01170
Minutes of township meetings, financial records, birth and death records, marriage records, justice of the peace records, planning and rezoning records, and minutes of Planning Commission meetings. Includes records of Newport Township and St. Paul Park.
Washington County, Minnesota: An Inventory of Telephone Directories lb00113
A collection of telephone directories for cities in Washington County, Minnesota. Telephone directories are published by telephone companies and include alphabetical listings of residential and business phone numbers and street addresses in the white pages, and a listing of businesses arranged by subject in the yellow pages. Each entry on the inventory lists the city name, year of coverage, and the shelf number of the printed volume or microfiche set which includes that city.
Rein O. Werner: An Inventory of His South St. Paul Photograph Collection sv000216
Concord Street looking north from Second Street NorthViews of South St. Paul and the Dakota County area taken and compiled by South St. Paul native and photographer Rein O. Werner. Views include street scenes, churches, schools, and organizations; residences, stockyards, and businesses, as well as portraits of South St. Paul mayors, police and fire departments.

Includes digital content.

New and Updated Catalog Records

Adjutant General. Quartermaster records of Captain Ephraim Pierce, Company B, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
The records include lists of stores, equipment and clothing; invoices and receipts; monthly returns of clothing, camp and garrison equipage received and issued; monthly returns of quartermaster stores and provisions received and issued; and lists of provisions sold to civilians.
Mound (Minn.). Justice of the Peace. Dockets, 1948-1962.
Criminal, civil, and justice of the peace dockets. Criminal dockets and justice of the peace dockets are indexed.

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