What's New
To celebrate the end of Archives Month, we are highlighting work we do to provide greater access to archival collections. Over the past three months our technicians have digitized 111 photograph albums, one third of the photograph album collection! While many of these have been available for viewing in the Gale Family Library for as long as 25 years, digitization provides the opportunity for us to reach audiences beyond our four walls and enables better preservation of the physical materials.
Digitization begins with collection assessment. The photograph albums presented a collection with a generally uniform format, a wide range of subject matter, and items that would greatly benefit from cold storage and reduced physical handling. Copyright status and cultural sensitivity were also considered.
The albums were photographed using the Digital Transitions Versa digitization platform with Capture One Cultural Heritage software. The resulting digital images were then formatted into archival PDFs which are then attached to finding aids. Finding aids facilitate greater visibility of materials because they are indexed by web search engines. The albums maintain their context through the embedded metadata and cover pages added in digitization whether someone is searching the Minnesota Historical Society Finding Aids or browsing the internet.
As the collections are digitized, the physical materials are closed to general use and placed in cold, low humidity storage to help improve their preservation. The digital versions contain high quality images that effectively serve as surrogates to the original material. In the event that the physical materials do need to be viewed in person, a user can request permission from the curator for special access. The cold storage helps stabilize the plastics and dyes in photographic processes and decreases the deterioration of glues and hinges that can damage the photographs over time. Closing the albums from general use also helps prevent further damage from frequent page turning and the oils found on hands.
Album 27 1961 carnival Hallie Q Brown
Album 48 Views of St Paul Minneapolis St Croix and White Bear Lake, 1888-1895
Allie Scholten capturing on the DT Versa
New and Updated Finding Aids - October 2019
| Name/Abstract | File No. |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics Department: An Inventory of Its Subject Files | gr01649 |
 Department files acquired
through George Holey of the Air Museum of Minnesota, who
was an Aeronautics Department Aviation Safety
Representative in the 1960s. Includes digital content. |
|
| Air Transportation: An Inventory of the Album | sv000407 |
 Views of monoplanes, biplanes,
dirigibles and seaplanes. Includes digital content. |
|
| American Guild of Organists. Twin Cities Chapter: An Inventory of Its Records | 00017 |
| Charter, minutes, membership directories, financial records, committee files, correspondence, convention programs and materials, and oral histories documenting the organization and activities of the Twin Cities chapter of a national professional association of organists and choir directors. | |
| Auditor: An Inventory of Its Financial Reports of Miscellaneous Governmental Units | gr00481 |
| Financial statements, audit reports, balance sheets, and related documentation summarizing annual receipts and expenditures of area mental health programs, park and recreation boards, public libraries, cable communications boards, retirement associations, law enforcement, metropolitan councils, youth boards, resource recovery, the Minnesota State Hight School League, the Duluth-Auditorium Administration Board, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the State Armory Building Commission, and other miscellaneous agencies. A few were created by the State Auditor or its predecessor, the Public Examiner. | |
| James Ford Bell and Family: An Inventory of Their Papers | 00749 |
 Business and personal
correspondence, newspaper clippings, print materials,
scrapbooks, diaries, personal reminiscences on a variety
of topics and individuals, and other papers of a
Minneapolis flour-milling executive who was an active
participant in public affairs. Includes diaries of James
Ford Bell's father, James Stroud Bell, and papers of
other Bell family members. |
|
| William R. Brill Photograph Album: An Inventory of the Album | sv000382 |
 Views
taken during the Spanish-American War, showing sites in Florida and Cuba. Includes digital content. |
|
| Brill Family Album: An Inventory of the Album | sv000413 |
 Views of Brill family members
and activities, including travels in and outside
Minnesota. The Brill family resided in St. Paul,
Minnesota. Album likely compiled by Alice Brill,
daughter of Hascal R. Brill. Includes digital content. |
|
| Burlington Northern Inc.: An Inventory of Its Records | 01057 |
| Printed materials, bylaws,
financial and annual reports, board meeting agendas,
management and strategic planning related materials,
line inspection tour briefing books, papers regarding
the sale of office buildings, and retirement plan
information of Burlington Northern, Inc. and some of its
subsidiaries. Includes digital content. |
|
| Cloquet and Moose Lake Fires: An Inventory of the Album | sv000384 |
 Views of the
damage and the victims of the fires at Cloquet and Moose Lake, Minnesota.Includes digital content. |
|
| Conservation Department: Parks and Recreation Division: An Inventory of Its State Parks Project Files | gr01513 |
 Files kept by Wesley G. Wells, who worked for both
the National Park Service and the Minnesota Conservation Department on state
park survey and improvement projects. Includes digital content. |
|
| Dedication of First Minnesota monument at Gettysburg, July 2, 1897: An Inventory of the Album | sv000421 |
 Views of the monument and
ceremony, veterans and group of people who attended the
ceremony. Includes digital content. |
|
| Frances Densmore: An Inventory of Her Papers | 01331 |
 Essays, addresses, and articles
prepared by Densmore, a Red Wing (Minn.) native and
authority on American Indian music, accompanied by
photographs (some taken by Densmore) used in
publications of the U.S. Bureau of American Ethnology.
Includes digital content. |
|
| Ecolab Inc.: An Inventory of Its Records | 00309 |
| Records of a multinational developer and manufacturer of industrial and household cleaning and sanitizing products, systems, and services. Includes unpublished annual reports, employee newsletters and magazines, brochures and company publications, photographs, product formulas, news clippings, press releases, and scattered letters and memoranda. | |
| Gallery of Prominent Men of Minnesota: An Inventory of the Album | sv000416 |
 Portraits of 51 men listed as
prominent in the state of Minnesota. Includes digital content. |
|
| Charles Robert Hansen: An Inventory of His Mississippi River Bridge Photos Album | sv000425 |
 Views of the construction of
the Ford Bridge crossing Mississippi River between
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Includes digital content. |
|
| Helen Spink Henton: An Inventory of Her Papers | 00019 |
| Personal papers, including biographical and genealogical information, related to Helen Spink Henton and her husband, Robert Beach Henton, both lawyers and long-term residents of Olivia, Minnesota. | |
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Buildings in Minneapolis Album | sv000395 |
 Exterior views of business buildings, hospitals,
public buildings, schools, etc., mainly in Minneapolis, Minn. Also includes interior views of the T.B. Walker
Art Galleries. Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Bridges and Dams Album | sv000396 |
 Views of bridges and dams on
the Mississippi River, including St. Anthony Falls area
of Minneapolis and Ford Bridge in St. Paul. Also
includes Upper Mississippi River views and the Mendota
Bridge near Fort Snelling as well as the area around Red
Wing. Many images stamped for successor of Hibbard:
Norton & Peel. Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Buildings in Minneapolis Album | sv000395 |
| Exterior views of business buildings, hospitals,
public buildings, schools, etc., mainly in Minneapolis, Minn. Also includes interior views of the T.B. Walker
Art Galleries. Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Flowers Albums | sv000398 |
 Views of flowers, flowering
shrubs, fruit and fruit trees, trees, gardens and
greenhouses. Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Fourth Liberty Loan Drive and Opening of Victory Memorial Drive, Minneapolis Album | sv000386 |
 Views
of the campaign in downtown Minneapolis to raise money for the war effort and the dedication of Victory Memorial Drive in Minneapolis
on June 11, 1921.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His General Hospital Album | sv000393 |
 Exterior and
interior views of General Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn., including staff and patients.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Minneapolis Business-men's Excursion, May 22-30, 1910 Album | sv000387 |
 Views of
men traveling on a Great Northern train to North Dakota and Montana. Includes views of the excursion
members and their activities, railroad employees, and railroad stations in towns along the route.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Minnesota the State of Opportunities Album | sv000390 |
 Views of the
Minnesota State Fair buildings and grounds, including views of exhibits and the grandstand.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Nicollet Hotel Album | sv000389 |
 Exterior and
interior views of the new Nicollet Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn., including views of the Nicollet
Hotel that was razed in 1923 for the construction of the new building and views of Gateway Park
located next to the hotel.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Park Scenes Album | sv000391 |
 Scenic
views in Minnesota, mainly views of Camden Park and Loring Park in Minneapolis, Minn.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Plymouth Congregational Church Album | sv000394 |
 Exterior and
interior views of Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Scenic Views of Minnesota Album | sv000397 |
 Views of various sites in
Minnesota, many in the Minneapolis area, includes
statues, markers, parks and a few non-Minnesota views.
Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His Street Scenes Album | sv000392 |
 Views of
street scenes in Minneapolis, mainly in the downtown area.Includes digital content. |
|
| C. J. Hibbard: An Inventory of His University of Minnesota Album | sv000388 |
 Views of
the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses of the University of Minnesota.Includes digital content. |
|
| Jerome Hill: An Inventory of His Papers | 00565 |
 Correspondence, personal
papers, photographs, and legal files belonging to this
artist and philanthropist, a grandson of St. Paul
railroad magnate James J. Hill. The collection is
particularly strong in photography, as Hill documented
his life with the camera for over 50 years. |
|
| Holm & Olson Incorporated Landscape Department: An Inventory of the Album | sv000410 |
 Views of flowers and shrubs and
various residential and commercial landscape projects,
including St. Paul Campus, University of Minnesota and
West High School, Minneapolis, and view of Holm & Olson
greenhouse at 159 Duke, St. Paul. Includes digital content. |
|
| T. W. Ingersoll: An Inventory of His Views of St. Paul, Minnesota Album | sv000409 |
 Views of street scenes,
business buildings, public buildings, parks, schools,
residences, churches, the Mississippi River and the
State Capitol. Also includes views of Minnehaha Falls in
Minneapolis and Fort Snelling. Includes digital content. |
|
| Kandiyohi County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Coroner's Inquest Files | gr01641 |
| Inquest files and related material from the Kandiyohi County Coroner. | |
| Monroe P. Killy: An Inventory of His Photograph Album | sv000411 |
 Views of Monroe P. Killy, his
family and friends. Includes Killy home at 3849 Second
Avenue South, Minneapolis, scenic views of Minneapolis
and various vacation and tourist areas in Minnesota,
including northern Minnesota, Leech Lake and Itasca
State Park; views of the Eastman Kodak store at 114-116
South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, store employees and
employee parties; scenic winter views, hunting, picnics,
Minnesota State Fair, vaudeville show at the Orpheum
Theater, trips to the Chicago World's Fair in 1933 and
Canada in 1937. Includes digital content. |
|
| Monroe P. Killy: An Inventory of Photograph Album | sv000412 |
 Views of Monroe P. Killy, his
family and friends. Includes views of Eastman Kodak
store employees and employee parties, maple sugaring at
Maple Plain, winter sports, hunting, ice fishing at
Prior Lake, 1939 Anoka tornado, Minneapolis Photographic
Society, Minneapolis Cine Club, Killy home at 3849 2nd
Ave. So., Minneapolis, Monopoly party, scenic views of
Minnesota and Minneapolis, 1937 trip to the western
United States and 1939 trip to New York and the east
coast. Postcard views are from eastern and western
United States.Includes digital content. |
|
| Helmut Kroening: An Inventory of His Railroad Transportation Photographs Album | sv000423 |
 Views of locomotives, trains,
depots and railroad structures, mostly in and around St.
Paul, Minnesota. Includes digital content. |
|
| Launching of the S.S. Floyd B. Olson, June 28, 1943: An Inventory of the Album | sv000415 |
 Album presented to Mrs. Floyd
B. Olson with views of the construction and launching of
the S.S. Floyd B. Olson at the Permanente Metals
Corporation, Shipyard Number One, Richmond, California.
Includes digital content. |
|
| League of Women Voters of Minnesota: An Inventory of Its Records | 00191 |
 Records documenting the activities of the state league founded in 1919, its
local leagues, and their participation in the national League of Women
Voters.Includes digital content. |
|
| Legislature: Senate: An Inventory of Its Committee Books | gr00074 |
| Minutes and record of bills acted upon by standing committees and their subcommittees. Beginning in the 1970s, the committee books (disbound for microfilming and placed in file folders) also include related background materials and other agenda items. | |
| Legislature: Senate: Elections and Reapportionment Committee: An Inventory of Its Records | gr01650 |
| Minutes, transcripts of meetings, correspondence, legislation, newspaper clippings, district court case documents, and reapportionment maps, plans, reports, and analyses dealing mainly with the reapportionment of Minnesota's legislative districts. The 1980-1982 files were maintained by committee chair Senator Peter Stumpf. | |
| Oscar A. Lindstrom: An Inventory of His Gutches Grove Photograph Collection | sv000435 |
 Views taken by Oscar Lindstrom
in the Gutches Grove area near Reynolds and Little Sauk
Townships depicting the daily lives of the rural Swedish
immigrant community. Images organized by original
numbering system with series of groups; individuals;
couples; buildings; transportation; interiors, caskets,
and graves; animals; work scenes;and lake and boating
scenes. Volume is original inventory of numbering
system, subjects, and identification. Selected images
have identification maps available online. Includes digital content. |
|
| James McConvill Portrait Album: An Inventory of the Album | sv000385 |
 Portraits
of family members and famous people, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin.Includes digital content. |
|
| Mendota Bridge Construction Photograph Collection: An Inventory of His Gutches Grove Photograph Collection | sv000465 |
 Early views of the construction
of Mendota Bridge over the Minnesota River in Hennepin
and Dakota Counties. Collection also includes view of
Sibley House in Mendota. Majority of images are credited
to American Hoist & Derrick Co. and the rest are
unidentified creators. Includes digital content. |
|
| Metal Products Companies Photograph Collection: An Inventory of The Photographs | sv000464 |
 Interior and exterior
views of factory production of metal milk cans, including workers and equipment. Images are from locations at 311
Chestnut Street and 509 Front Avenue in St. Paul of the Deslauriers Metal Products Company and Superior Metal
Products Company. Includes digital content. |
|
| Mexican-American Cultural Center, St. Paul, Minn.: An Inventory of the Album | sv000402 |
 Views of the center's building
at 550 Gorman, St. Paul and activities, including a
remodeling project, driver's education, children's
dancing class, softball tournament and youth boxing
program. Includes digital content. |
|
| Mexican Independence Celebration, St. Paul, Minn.: An Inventory of the Album | sv000401 |
 Views of Mexican Fiesta Queen,
Jo Ann Saucedo, and celebration activities. Includes digital content. |
|
| Maud Meyers Family Album: An Inventory of the Album | sv000403 |
 Views of family and friends,
primarily women and children in outdoor settings.
Includes views in St. Paul, Minnesota; Wisconsin; and
family travels. Includes digital content. |
|
| Minneapolis Municipal Hiking Club (Minneapolis, Minn.): An Inventory of Its Records | 01258 |
| Minutes, corporate and membership materials, historian's files, trip files, records of awards and memorials, photographs, and miscellany of this hiking and social club founded in 1920 under the auspices of the Minneapolis Park Board. With its membership dwindling, it dissolved in 2010 and transferred its remaining funds to the Park Board. | |
| Minnesota Boat Club Scenes: An Inventory of the Album | sv000408 |
 Views of Minnesota Boat Club
members, rowing crews, races, and social events. Includes digital content. |
|
| Minnesota National Guard Under Major Libbey at Leech Lake: An Inventory of the Album | sv000422 |
 Views of the Minnesota National
Guard at Leech Lake during the Battle of Sugar Point,
includes views of their camp and personnel. Includes digital content. |
|
| Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota: An Inventory of the Album | sv000414 |
 Exterior and interior views of
Northwestern Hospital, includes views of the hospital's
nurses home and nurses at work in the hospital. Includes
27 pages of hospital and nursing school forms and
charts. Includes digital content. |
|
| Peaceful Lighting: an Amusement Room: An Inventory of the Album | sv000405 |
 Views of art deco room lighting
installed in the amusement room at the
Burbank-Livingston-Griggs House, St. Paul. Installation
done by Commercial Electric Inc., St. Paul. Includes digital content. |
|
| Public Examiner: An Inventory of Its Bank Examinations and Reports | gr01646 |
| Reports on the financial condition of banks. Reports include such information as the bank's capital at incorporation, the bank's officers, the list of shareholders, detailed statistics on resources (i.e., assets) and liabilities and owner's equity, as well as evidence of public notice of the examination results. Most are 4 or 5 page reports detailing the financial condition of the bank at a certain date (probably done annually). Also includes financial institutions' liquidation files, correspondence concerning banking, building and loan associations' incorporation papers, and abstract of State Bank reports. | |
| Public Safety Commission: An Inventory of Its Farm Crop and Labor Reports | gr00953 |
 Data collected during a statewide farm census
conducted by the Public Safety Commission in order to determine the adequacy of
Minnesota's food supply during World War I. There are report forms for
individual farms, and for statistical summaries. Includes digital content. |
|
| Ramsey County: St. Paul: School Records: Independent School District No. 625: An Inventory of Its Miscellanous School Materials | gr00531 |
| Photographs, histories, dedication programs, design development proposals, correspondence, reports, newsletters, handbooks, scrapbooks, and other assorted materials documenting over 100 St. Paul elementary, junior high, high, and special schools. | |
| Red River Lumber Company, Westwood, California: An Inventory of the Album | sv000406 |
 Views of logging operations of
the Red River Lumber Company, owned by T.B. Walker.
Includes digital content. |
|
| Reid H. Ray Film Industries: An Inventory of Its Reid H. Ray Film Industries, Inc. Album | sv000424 |
 Exterior and interior views of
the production facilities of Reid H. Ray Film
Industries, 2269 Ford Parkway, St. Paul. Includes views
of staff, equipment, and film production in studio and
on location. Includes newspaper and magazine artciles
and text describing the company. Includes digital content. |
|
| William F. Roleff: An Inventory of His Logging Operations in Northern Minnesota Album | sv000400 |
 Views of lumberjacks, lumber
camps, cutting trees, loading and transporting logs,
mainly the Alger Smith & Co. Includes a portrait and
brief biography of William Roleff. Includes digital content. |
|
| Roseau County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Default Judgment Record | gr01642 |
| Roseau County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Judgment Dockets | gr01643 |
| Roseau County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Judgment Records | gr01644 |
| District court civil judgment records (1895-1919, 1930-1968) and family division judgment books (1968-1980). | |
| Roseau County: District Court: An Inventory of Its Real Estate Tax Judgment Record | gr01645 |
| Soapbox and Chug Derby Races, St. Paul, Minnesota: An Inventory of the Album | sv000404 |
 Views of contestants and races,
includes newspaper clippings. Includes digital content. |
|
| Isaac Staples and William Bronson Families: An Inventory of the Album | sv000420 |
 Portraits of family members,
many identified, including cabinet views,
cartes-de-visite and tintypes. Includes digital content. |
|
| State of Minnesota Department of Conservation: An Inventory of the Album | sv000417 |
 Scenic views of Minnesota
including trees, lakes and state parks. Also includes
views of an erosion dam at Houston, Minnesota; a view of
C.C.C. work on the North Shore; and Minnesota Forest
Service's fire school in 1934. Includes digital content. |
|
| Transportation Department: Bridge Division: An Inventory of Its Subject Files | gr00598 |
| Records documenting numerous aspects of the construction and maintenance of Minnesota's bridges. | |
| 20th Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project.: An Inventory of Its Records | oh30 |
 These 70 interviews document
the role of left-wing radicalism in shaping Minnesota's
political culture. Radicals who were active in the
decades up to 1960 were interviewed, including men and
women, members of various left-wing political parties
and unaffiliated activists, artists, organizers and WPA
workers. 37 interviews were generated between 1986 and
1989 as part of the Radicalism Project at the Minnesota
Historical Society, under project director Carl Ross. 33
interviews were transcribed from previously collected
interviews and added to the project. Includes digital content. |
|
| 20th Company, 5th Regiment, Marines: An Inventory of the Album | sv000383 |
 Views of the
regiment in France, Germany and the United States during World War I. Includes digital content. |
|
| Washington County: Pine Point Nursing Home: An Inventory of Its Pine Point Nursing Home Records | gr00338 |
| Minutes of the nursing home's governing board (1954-1974), audit reports (1955-1961) and a financial statement (1977), reports on income from patients (1955-1963), historical data (1990), a financial feasibility study (1976), and sample patient documents and miscellany. The nursing home was formerly the county poor farm. | |
| Washington County: Welfare Board: An Inventory of Its Records | gr00341 |
| Minutes and related papers documenting various operations and interests of the Washington County Welfare Board. | |
| C. E. Waterman: An Inventory of His Madison School, St. Paul, Minn. Album | sv000399 |
 Views of the exterior of the
Madison school in Saint Paul, the school's faculty, and
class photographs for each grade. Photographs taken by
C. E. Waterman of Chicago with stamp on back of images
for studio address 202 Washington Avenue South,
Minneapolis. Includes digital content. |
|
| Noemi Weygant: An Inventory of Her Fort St. Charles Album | sv000418 |
 Views of Fort St. Charles and
the surrounding area and the Annual Pilgrimage Mass at
the Fort St. Charles Chapel, July 15, 1967. Includes a
letter written by Sister Noemi Weygant and a copy of the
sermon delivered by Reverend Vincent G. Tegeder at the
Annual Pilgrimage Mass, July 15, 1967. Includes digital content. |
|
New and Updated Catalog Records
| Coggswell, James. Duluth & Iron Range Railroad Company photograph collection, 1897-1898. |
| Images of Duluth & Iron Range Railroad Company workers, structures, and camps, including corduroy roads and mining. Additional image of North Shore area forest fire. |
| Hannaford, Jule M., 1850-1934. Jule M. Hannaford and family papers, 1872-1987 (bulk 1872-1873). |
| Papers include a letter book (1872-1873) written by the former president of the Northern Pacific Railway Company Jule M. Hannaford, and a typed transcription of the letters (undated). The papers also consist of General Lien Railway and Land Grant Gold Bond of the Northern Pacific Railway (1897), and accompanying documentation regarding the bond valuation legal case Rieman v. Burlington Northern Railroad Company (successor to the Northern Pacific Railway), and documents regarding its subsequent settlement, including a "Method of Distribution of Settlement Amount" letter, and a letter of transmittal regarding settlement terms and agreements (approximately 1985-1988). The bond and legal settlement documents were maintained by Jule Hannaford's granddaughter Charlotte Hannaford Drake, presumably a Burlington Northern bondholder. |
| Lindstrom, Lorenz R. Lorenz R. Lindstrom Civilian Conservation Corps camp letters, 1935-1938. |
| Includes 161 letters written once or twice weekly (undated and 1935-1938) by Lorenz Lindstrom (1909-1984) of Lakeland (Minn.) to his girlfriend Shirley Anderson (1907-1987) in St. Paul (Minn.) while working as a foreman for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Minnesota Arrowhead region. |
| Minnesota National Guard photograph collection, 1898. |
| Images of the Minnesota National Guard at Camp Lakeview and Deer River, the Guard with townspeople in Deer River, and United States Marshals on horseback. All photographs include penciled notes referring to Frank P. Bruce, First Lieutenant, Battery B of the Minnesota National Guard. Battery B of the Minnesota National Guard was sent to Deer River as a police unit after the Battle of Sugar Point. |
| Saint Paul: City Planning Board: Growth of Saint Paul shown graphically, 1921 March. |
| An outline map showing boundary changes and increases in the square mileage of the city of St. Paul, 1849-1887. A chart at the bottom of the map lists each legislative act that increased the city's size, with the area added under each, and the resultant total square mileage. |
