00246.xml Cornelia Gjesdal Knutson: An Inventory of Her Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul, MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by J. Huebscher May 2012 Finding aid written in English. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Knutson, Cornelia Gjesdal, 1912- Coya Knutson papers. 1930-1999 (bulk 1954-1958). Materials in English. Congressional files and biographical materials documenting Minnesota's first female member of Congress (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, 1955-1958). 1.75 cubic feet (2 boxes). See Detailed Description for shelf locations. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Cornelia Genevive Knutson, or "Coya" as she was commonly known, was born in Edmore, North Dakota, August 23, 1912, the daughter of Christian and Christine (Anderson) Gjesdal. She received a B.S. degree in English and music at Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) and did post-graduate work at Moorhead State Teachers College and at the Julliard School of Music. She began her career as a high school teacher in Oklee, Minnesota, and married Andrew Knutson on March 21, 1940. She served in the state Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1941-1942), as a member of the Red Lake County Board (1948-1950), and as a representative from the 65th district in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1951 to 1954. As a Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate in Minnesota's ninth congressional district, Knutson defeated Harold Hagen, a twelve year incumbent, to become the first Minnesota woman to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. She held that position from 1955 to 1958. Knutson was defeated in 1958, and campaigned unsuccessfully for the seat in 1960 and 1976. She died in Minneapolis October 10, 1996.

 SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The papers include biographical information (1953-1996), congressional subject files and correspondence (1952-1958), copies of bills authored by Knutson (1955-1958) and her Congressional Record inserts (1957-1958), correspondence and related materials documenting her campaigns for the ninth district congressional seat (1954-1958), transcripts of her speeches (1955-1958), press releases (1957-1958), photographs, and newsletters (1955-1958).

 RELATED MATERIALS

Research materials on Coya Gjesdal Knutson are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Agricultural laws and legislation -- United States. Agricultural subsidies -- Red River Valley (Minn. and N.D.-Man.). Agriculture -- Minnesota. Business enterprises -- Minnesota -- Government policy. Cooperative societies -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota. Elections -- Minnesota. Electric power-plants -- Minnesota. Nuclear power plants -- Minnesota -- Elk River. Political candidates -- Minnesota. Rural electrification -- Minnesota. Women -- Political activity -- Minnesota. Organizations: Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. United States. Congress. House. United States. Rural Electrification Administration. United States. Small Business Administration. United States. Department of Agriculture. United States. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Places: Oklee (Minn.) Red Lake County (Minn.) Red River Valley (Minn. and N.D.-Man.) Document Types: Speeches. Occupations: Politicians. Women legislators -- Minnesota. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Knutson, Cornelia Gjesdal, Coya Knutson Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 8452; 15,085; 16,657

 Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 001733113

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION 147.G.6.1B 1 Biographical information, undated, 1953-1996. Certificates and awards, 1952-1998. Clippings, 1958-1964, 1990, 1996-1999. 5 folders.

Includes clippings related to the Coya Come Home biography, her death and possible memorial, and a made for television movie.

 Congressional subject files:

Contain correspondence from constituents and government officials, printed materials, and newspaper clippings. There is information on the depressed farm economy; loans and other assistance to farmers; power cooperatives, particularly the atomic reactor at Elk River (Minnesota); telephone services for rural constituents; construction of power transmission lines; loans made by the Rural Electrification Administration to local cooperatives; loans made by the Small Business Administration; and legislation relating to independent banks and curbs on larger business firms.

 Agriculture, 1954-1958. 2 folders. Appropriations, 1956. Army, Department of, 1956-1957. Civil Service Commission, 1956. Commerce, Department of, 1952-1957. Cystic fibrosis, 1958. Farmers Home Administration, 1955-1956. Federal Communications Commission, 1956-1958. Federal Housing Administration, 1956-1958. Federal Power Commission, 1956. Foreign Affairs Committee, 1956-1957. Health, Education and Welfare, Department of, 1954-1958. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1955-1956. Interior, Department of, 1954-1958.

Includes American Indians.

 Interstate Commission and Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee, 1956-1958. Justice, Department of, 1956-1957. Moorhead State Teachers College library: repository for federal documents, 1956. Post Office, Department of, 1955-1958.

Includes rural mail service.

 Rural Electrification Administration, 1955-1956. 3 folders. Small Business Administration, 1955-1958. 3 folders. Society Security, 1958. State, Department of, 1956. 2 folders. Student loan bill, 1958. Congressional correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1954-1959. 2 folders. Constituent mailing lists, 1956-1958. 3 folders. Congressional bills introduced by Knutson: 84th Congress, 1955-1956. 2 folders. 85th Congress, 1957-1958. 2 folders. Congressional Record inserts and mailings, 1957-1958. 5 folders. "Coya Come Home" letter and press release, 1958.

Photocopies of the letter and press release sent by Knutson's husband that asked Knutson to quit her reelection campaign and return to being a wife and homemaker.

 Interview, 1959-1960.

Interview by Annette Culler and Esther Coopersmith with Knutson regarding the "Coya Come Home" letter and related events.

 147.G.6.2F 2 Memorial, 1997.

Legislation related to the Coya Knutson memorial.

 Miscellaneous congressional materials, undated, 1954, 1958. News releases, 1957-1958. Newsletters: Coya's Capital Chat, 1955-1958. 2 folders. Weekly Press Checklist, 1956-1957. Photographs, 1930s-1990s. Political files:

Include correspondence on Knutson's election to Congress in 1954, support for her reelection in 1958, and her subsequent defeat. There is also some correspondence from her post-congressional career and materials regarding some of her political activities regarding student loan provisions, news releases, and statements.

 Activities, 1956-1958. 1954 campaign correspondence, 1954. 3 folders. 1958 campaign correspondence, 1958. 5 folders. Correspondence, 1959-1990. Miscellaneous political materials, 1954-1977. Scrapbook, 1950s.

Covers Knutson's political activities, kept by her son Terry Knutson.

 Speech transcripts, undated, 1955-1958. 2 folders.

Given at Democratic Party events, Farmers Union meetings, Townsend Clubs, conventions, and other events.

 Terry Knutson papers, 1990s.

Includes correspondence, materials regarding the Coya Knutson Foundation, student paper, and a one-woman play.

[.25 cubic feet empty, legal sized]