What's New

NHPRC Basic Project Grant

During November, project staff helped pack and move 11 pallets containing the state's original Session Laws spanning 1858-2010. Handwritten between 1858 and 1907, and typewritten after 1907, the laws are bound in large, thick volumes that were stored in locked book cabinets in the hallway of the Secretary of State's office in the State Office Building. These laws consist of all of the original acts passed by the Minnesota Legislature and bear the enabling signatures of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, the Governor, and the Secretary of State.

Laws in cabinets

Society staff credit the transfer to a fire drill held in the State Office Building in 2007 that inspired Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. During that drill, Secretary Ritchie imagined the great loss that any fire and subsequent water damage could cause these laws and began talking with State Archives staff about moving them to the History Center's archives. Because he was aware of the Center's superior storage areas and its commitment to preserving archival records for future generations, Secretary Ritchie decided to transfer the records to the State Archives this year.

Laws in boxes

Transferring the records began over the summer when each volume was inventoried. Then, over the course of a day and a half, the records were boxed, labeled, loaded onto pallets, and moved to the History Center. Next, they will be assigned permanent shelf locations and cataloged.

A Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is significantly supporting public access to the Society's backlogged acquisitions of government records and manuscripts collections.

Learn more about the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and how its strategic plan helps support non-federal institutions like the Minnesota Historical Society.

New and Revised Finding Aids - November 2011

Name/Abstract	File No.
Attorney General: Antitrust Division: An Inventory of Its Litigation Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00348
Pleadings, correspondence, depositions, clippings, memoranda, and settlement records in antitrust lawsuits pursued by the attorney general.
Attorney General: Environmental Protection Division: An Inventory of Its Litigation Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00442
Pleadings, briefs, hearing transcripts, reports, depositions, background materials, correspondence, and other material documenting cases involving enforcement of federal and state environmental protection standards and related matters. Most of the cases also involved the participation of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [MPCA].
Attorney General: Pollution Control Division: An Inventory of Its Administrative Rules Proceedings Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00441
Files regarding the adoption or amendment of regulations for control of air, water, and noise pollution; disposal of nuclear and other hazardous wastes; and use of asbestos, phosphorus, and other inorganic fibers. The files include pleadings, hearing transcripts, reports, correspondence, testimony, and interoffice memos. A number of files are topically coded: APC = air pollution control; NPC = noise pollution control; WPC = water pollution control.
Attorney General: Pollution Control Division: An Inventory of Its Administrative Proceedings Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00443
Files dealing with such pollution control topics as solid, hazardous, and radioactive waste disposal and regulation; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulations and procedures; regulation of chemicals; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] and state disposal systems [SDS] permits; water and sound pollution; and uranium exploration.
Julian Baird: An Inventory of His Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00815
Correspondence, speeches, congressional committee minutes, photographs, clippings, and other material largely documenting Baird's tenure as U.S. Treasury undersecretary, 1957-1961. Also included are the papers of Julian's sons, Duncan and John Braden Baird, an aerial gunner in the Army Air Force who flew in combat missions over Northern France and Germany during World War II and received the Purple Heart.
Steven C. Brandt: An Inventory of His High way 55 Relocation Research Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	00988
Chronological and background subject files, collected by Brandt as a reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper, relating to an attempt by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to reroute Highway 55 (Hiawatha Avenue) in Minneapolis that threatened to destroy Mdewakanton sacred sites and historic Camp Coldwater.
Thomas and Anna Mallary Buckham: An Inventory of Their Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00987
Biographical materials, courtship and family correspondence, portraits, and miscellaneous related papers of Faribault, Minnesota lawyer, judge, and legislator, Thomas Scott Buckham, his wife Anna Mallary Buckham, the Reverend James Buckham family of Vermont, and the Lyman S. Mallary family of Brooklyn (N.Y.).
Curtis C. Chivers: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00991
Correspondence, biographical data, minutes, reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, scrapbook, and printed material of a Minneapolis businessman and civil rights leader.
John De Laittre: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00362
Papers of a Minneapolis bank president relating to his career as a banker, government official, and corporate director; his involvement in banking industry groups; his management of family finances and trusts; iron mining on Bovey-DeLaittre Lumber Company lands in northern Minnesota; and to Tettegouche, De Laittre's wilderness retreat.
Education Department: An Inventory of Its Published Records and Reports at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00435
Reports, newsletters, and miscellaneous print and near-print items of or about the Education Department. The records cover all aspects of the department's duties and activities, including curriculum, rules and regulations, standards, administration, school finance, development, Indian education, instruction, foreign languages, pupil personnel services, libraries, management, planning, equal educational opportunity, professions development, school facilities and transportation, special education, statistics, teacher certification and placement, vocational rehabilitation, and vocational-technical education.
Education Department: State Board of Vocational-Technical Education: An Inventory of Its Published Records and Reports at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00433
Reports, newsletters, and miscellaneous print and near-print items of or about the State Board of Vocational-Technical Education.
Education Department: Vocational-Technical Education Division: An Inventory of Its FFA Foundation Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00379
Records documenting all aspects of the foundation's organization and operation.
Education Department: Vocational-Technical Education Division: An Inventory of Its FFA Records	gr00380
Records of the Minnesota FFA Association (Future Farmers of America), whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Environmental Quality Board: An Inventory of Its Rules and Regulations Hearing Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00444
Hearing transcripts, testimony, correspondence, and related papers pertaining to hearings on rules and regulations for power plant siting, submission of environmental impact statements, and environmental review in general.
Gibas Family: An Inventory of Their Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00431
Articles and speeches, news clippings, correspondence, and photographs of Andrew and Grace Gibas and their children, one of the original families of the cooperative community of Circle Pines, Minnesota.
Hallie Q. Brown Community House: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	00368
Records of an African American community center located in the Summit-University neighborhood in St. Paul.
Higher Education Coordinating Board: An Inventory of Its Published Records and Reports at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00434
Reports, planning documents, newsletters, policy and staff technical papers, statistical documents, and various print and near-print materials documenting the activities of the board and its predecessors, the Minnesota Liaison and Facilities Commission for Higher Education (1965-1967) and the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Commission (1967-1975).
Honeywell Inc.: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Society	00051
Business records, patent files, company-produced newsletters and periodicals, photographs, and sound and visual recordings of a Minneapolis-based multinational company widely known as a manufacturer of thermostats for residential and commercial heating systems, aeronautical devices and controls for military and commercial aircraft, and as a manufacturer of mainframe computers. Includes records of predecessor and subsidiary companies.
Jews in Minnesota Oral History Project: An Inventory of Its Oral History Interviews at the Minnesota Historical Society	oh131
Many of the people interviewed belonged to the second wave of Jewish immigrants who arrived after 1880 from Eastern Europe and settled on the North Side of Minneapolis, creating a distinctive Jewish community of eight thousand people by 1900. Others are first-generation Americans who vividly contrast their parents' lives with their own. This collection of memories reveals the growth, change, and diversity of the community.
Louis W. Hill: An Inventory of His Photographs, Negatives, and Graphic Material at the Minnesota Historical Society	00702_photos
Item listing of photographs and other graphic material from the Louis W. Hill papers.
Lucile M. Kane and John Alley Dougherty: An Inventory of Their Motion Picture Research Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	00707
Research files compiled by Lucile M. Kane and John Alley Dougherty pertaining to the motion picture industry and theaters located primarily in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Lideres Latinos Oral History Project: An Inventory of Its Oral History Interviews at the Minnesota Historical Society	oh135
The Minnesota Historical Society and the Chicano Latino Affairs Council formed a partnership to create a major project of oral history interviews with Latino community leaders statewide. The project is intended to help chronicle the history, successes, challenges, and contributions of this diverse and highly important group of Minnesotans. The Latino community is one of the largest and most important in the state, and is particularly noteworthy because its growth has not been confined to the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Loft Literary Center: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	00213
Bylaws and statement of purpose, minutes, correspondence, financial information, annual reports, information on classes and readings, class proposals, membership data, and miscellaneous files relating to an organization formed to provide a meeting place and support group for local writers, as well as offering classes to advance people's writing skills.
Melvin Joseph Maas: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00985
Correspondence, reports, photographs, diaries, and professional papers of a Republican Minnesota Congressman, long time Marine Corps Reserve Officer, and Chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.
Minneapolis Community Union Project: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	00986
Subject files, including organizational documents, minutes, and newsletters; and background files of a community organizing agency active on the near south side of Minneapolis.
Ramsey County: Probate Court: An Inventory of Its Minute Books at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00437
Detailed notes on documents filed and actions taken with regard to each case brought before each day's session of the court.
Ramsey County: Probate Court: An Inventory of Its Will Books at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00436
Copies or transcriptions of the complete texts of wills probated by the courts, accompanied by certifications of authenticity and of filing signed by witnesses and clerks of court. Original wills are found in the probate case files.
Reed and Hyde Families: An Inventory of Their Photographs and Negatives at the Minnesota Historical Society	00726_photos
Individual photographs, digitized negatives, and photograph albums from the Reed and Hyde families papers created primarily by Louis H. Hyde.
St. Paul Police Oral History Project: An Inventory of Its Oral History Interviews at the Minnesota Historical Society	oh132
For this project, members of the St. Paul Police Department were interviewed representing a wide range of experiences reflected by their personal tribulations and successes. The subjects discussed in the interviews include police culture; dynamics between officers of varying ranks; drug enforcement; situations involving death and the response to such situations; influence of war experience on police work; training and use of weapons; role of religion and faith; the changing dynamics of the St. Paul Police Department when ethnic integration occurs within; gender and racial discrimination and barriers; civil unrest in the 1960s; upward mobility; citizens' expectations; occupational stress and fear; death of fellow officers; life outside the department; and retirement.
U. S. General Land Office: Cass Lake Land District: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00440
Correspondence, registers of homestead and other types of land entries, patent records, land contest records, and related materials covering land transfers in northwestern Minnesota.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Attorney General Rulings at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00471
Files concerning interpretation of rulings as relating to the status of veterans and their eligibility, and their beneficiaries eligibility for benefits and bonuses.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Korean War Bonus Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00479
Index to and applications for for military service bonus payments to Minnesota veterans of the Korean War.
Veterans Affairs DepartMent: An Inventory of Its Korean War Bonus Beneficiary Records and Index at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00480
Index to and applications for military service bonus payments to beneficiaries (members of the immediate family) of deceased Minnesota veterans of the Korean War. Minnesota Statutes 197.80 s4 (1957) defined who was eligible for compensation as a beneficiary.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Korean War Bonus, Board of Review Files at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00470
Files concerning denials of Korea War bonus payments that were appealed to this review board.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Korean War Denied Bonus Beneficiary Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00468
Denied files for beneficiaries of deceased Korean War soldiers and related personnel.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Korean War Denied Bonus Records and Index at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00469
Index to and denied applications for military service bonus payments to Minnesota veterans of the Korean War.
Veterans Affairs Department: An Inventory of Its Korean War Transfer Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00467
Files (1950s-1960s) and cards (1950s-1980s, bulk 1970s-1980s) documenting the educational rehabilitation benefits (G. I. bill) granted to Korean War era soldiers.
Wadena County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Civil and Criminal Registers of Actions at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00464
Registers of actions for civil (1881-1954) and criminal (1889-1947) cases.
Wadena County: District Court: An Inventory of Its District Court Miscellaneous Record Books at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00465
Variety of records documenting activities administered by the court. Includes records of deeds, oaths and bonds, professional license registrations, coroner certificates and records, resolutions, election records, and appointments.
Wadena County: Probate Court: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	gr00466
Records documenting the duties and activities of the probate court. Included are final decrees (1953-1977), insanity record (1943-1965), and will record books (1887-1979).
Wells Memorial House (Minneapolis, Minn.): An Inventory of Its Settlement House Records at the Minnesota Historical Society	00989
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, minutes including treasurer's reports (1920-1932), and photographs of this chapel, settlement house, and community social action agency located in downtown Minneapolis.
Luther W. Youngdahl: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society	00990
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to Youngdahl's appointment to the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. (1951-1967); correspondence and files relating to the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Probation System (1962-1967); photograph albums and scrapbook materials documenting his experiences as governor of Minnesota (1947-1951), his judicial service, and family activities; and some personal papers (1950-1968).

New and Revised Catalog Records - November 2011

Name/Abstract
Hegstrom, Minnie. Letters received from World War I servicemen, 1918-1919.
Letters received by Minnie (Betty) Hegstrom of Braham, Minnesota, from her brothers Carl R. and George J. Hegstrom, her cousin Al Olson, and from other World War I soldiers to whom she wrote, concerning their daily work and life and places visited while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
Imm, Sarah. Oral history interview of Sarah Imm, May 7, 1994.
Sarah Imm discusses her early memories of not understanding English; the cultural gap between she and her parents; and her identity crises as a Korean-American woman.
Kwon, Jong Bum. Oral history interview of Jong Bum Kwon, May 6, 1994.
Jong Bum Kwon speaks about his feelings of isolation in Beloit, Wisconsin; his sensing as a young child of his father's unhappiness as a factory worker; taking care of his younger sister; his need to rebel against his parents' expectations; Jong's need to understand his father in order to understand himself; his recent trip to Korea; and how is relationship with his parents has changed.
Mills, Arthur H. Arthur H. Mills Papers, 1862-1863.
Commission (August 1862) appointing Mills First Lieutenant and Quarter Master of Indian Expedition, signed by Alexander Ramsey and Oscar Malmros; partially printed letter signed by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton (November 1862) informing Mills that he has been appointed Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers with the rank of Captain; partially printed letter (June 1863) on Adjutant General’s Office (Washington, D.C.) letterhead forwarding commission of Capt & Asst Qr Mr of Vols with the envelope in which it was mailed to Mills at Sioux City, Iowa.
Veterans Affairs Department. Korean War bonus warrant register, Nos. 1-24500, circa 1959.
Records name, claim number, months served in foreign and domestic locales, warrant number, and amount of bonus.
Wadena County. County Court. County court records, 1972-1979.
Judgment Record No. 1 (September 1972-May 1979; 3 folders), unindexed, and Order Book No. 1 (September 1973-August 1979; 2 folders), indexed.
Wadena County. District Court. Torrens record, 1912-1923.
Record of torrens decrees, No. 1, detailing actions taken and orders issued in applications to register and clear titles to parcels of land.