OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota folk art
survey and exhibition research files.
1945-1989.
Records documenting the results of a survey
(1984-1985) of Minnesota folk arts and artists, and an exhibition based on the
survey (1989). The records include photographs, slides, negatives, contact
sheets, standardized research forms, correspondence (1947-1951, 1984-1989),
grant proposals (1983, 1985), a bibliography (1950), press releases and
clippings (1984-1989), and posters.
5.25 cu. ft. (7 boxes
and 1 oversize folder, unboxed).
See [Detailed Description](a9) for shelf
locations.
HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA FOLK ART SURVEY AND
EXHIBITION
The exhibition, entitled "Circles of Tradition: Folk Arts in
Minnesota," was held at the University Art Museum and brought together more
than 200 objects fashioned by Minnesota artisans.
The survey (Oct. 1, 1984-Sept. 30, 1985) established a network of
interested contributors including practicing folk artists, regional arts
councils, academic personnel, and historical societies. It documented with
slides and standardized field research forms the location and processes of folk
art in Minnesota including artifacts, architecture, ritual process, folk songs,
and narratives, and also gathered biographical information about 350 folk
artists. The survey was funded through a grant from the National Endowment for
the Arts, administered by the University Art Museum of the University of
Minnesota, and conducted by Willard Moore, a Minneapolis folklorist.
The exhibition at the University Art Museum (April 9-June 18, 1989)
was based on an analysis of the data gathered through the survey and brought
together more than 200 objects fashioned by Minnesota artisans working in three
traditions defined by Moore: the "integrated" tradition where the folk art is
inseparable from the general culture; the "perceived tradition" in which the
techniques of older generations are followed; and the "celebrated tradition" in
which artists honor the idea of tradition and work to please clients and
collectors.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
The bulk of the collection consists of slides, photographs, negatives,
and contact sheets. The slides and photographs include a series documenting
artists and objects represented in the survey and exhibition arranged
alphabetically by artist name; a series arranged by ethnic group; and another
documenting artists and objects represented in other collections. There is also
a corresponding series of individual artist files containing the survey
research forms, correspondence, and biographical data.
There are a few administrative files including press releases,
clippings, and a National Endowment for the Arts grant proposal (1985), which
provide a detailed description of the history and objectives of both the survey
and the exhibition. There is also a small amount of material related to the
Folk Arts Foundation including a reprint from Western Folklore entitled, "North
Star Folklore in Minnesota History: A Bibliography," by Bertha L. Heilbron.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION
The collection materials are organized into the following
sections:
- Traditional Artists of Minnesota Photograph Files
- Other Image Files
- Individual Artists Files
- Administrative Files
RELATED MATERIALS
Circles of tradition: folk arts in Minnesota, with essays by Willard
B. Moore, is found in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings..
Topics:
Folk art -- Minnesota --
Photographs.
Folk art -- Minnesota --
Exhibitions.
Ethnic art -- Minnesota --
Exhibitions.
Arts -- Minnesota -- Surveys.
Persons:
Heilbron, Bertha L.
(Bertha Lion), 1895-1972.
Moore, Willard B.
(Willard Burgess), 1931-.
Organizations:
In the Heart of the Beast
Puppet and Mask Theatre
National Endowment for
the Arts. Folk Arts Program.
University of Minnesota.
University Art Museum.
Places:
Minnesota -- Social life and
customs.
Document Types:
Photographs.
Slides.
Occupations:
Folk artists.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Minnesota Folk Art Survey and Exhibition Research Files.
Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,116
Processing Information:
Processed by: Frank Hennessy, July 1996
Catalog ID number: 09-00041743
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Traditional Artists of Minnesota Photograph
Files
143.J.13.3B
1
Slides and Photographs (mounted in 3-ring
binders):
Aas, Elizabeth, Warroad, Minnesota.
Abbott, Carolyn, Brainard, Minnesota.
Abramowicz, Henry, St. Paul, Minnesota.
AIDS Quilt Project.
Alexis, Cliff, Dekalb, Illinois.
Anderson, Myrtle E., Aitkin, Minnesota.
Ange, Monsieur Bernard, Eveleth,
Minnesota.
Austin, Truman, Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Barvels, Mary, Montevideo, Minnesota.
Bayers, Max A., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Beedle, Hannah.
Benoit, Virgil, Red Lake Falls, Minnesota.
Berge, Marjorie, Milan, Minnesota.
Berkmier, John, Marshall, Minnesota.
Berlin Work (Berlin Wool Work).
Bernier, Nancy Munoz, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Bessy, Tuula, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Beverage, Marian, Appleton, Minnesota.
Blake, Jeanne, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Blanck, Helen, Princeton, Minnesota.
Boquist, Terry, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Borstad, Stella, Dawson, Minnesota.
Bredeson, Nelle A., New Brighton,
Minnesota.
Brightnose, Terri, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bromley, Victor, Askov, Minnesota.
Brustuen, Selma, Appleton, Minnesota.
Bucklin, Joyce, Mountain Lake, Minnesota.
Carlson, Mary, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Carlton, Mauria, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Chaney, Michael, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Chang, Yee, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Chanthraphone, Bounxou, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Cheung, Bik Yin, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Christenson, Lars.
Cieslak, Malgorzata, Westbrook, Minnesota.
Clarine, Barb, Brainard, Minnesota.
Clark, Susan, Clearwater, Minnesota.
Clauson, Anges, Bismarck, N. D.
Cook, Emeline Dziabas, Akeley, Minnesota.
Cooney, Richard, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Cotter, Mike, Austin, Minnesota.
Crawford, Wilma, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Dahl, Gayle, Byron, Minnesota.
Dahlin, Judith B., St. Paul, Minnesota.
Dalen, Agnes.
Dalen, Thelma, Milan, Minnesota.
Damer, William, Long Prairie, Minnesota.
Davis, Barb, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Davis, Mack, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Davis, Peggy H., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Demeules, Joni, Plymouth, Minnesota.
Dietmaier, Edward, La Crescent, Minnesota.
Doberstein, Thora, Braham, Minnesota.
Dodge, Harry, Duluth, Minnesota.
Drift, Roberta, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Een, Andrea, Northfield, Minnesota.
Ellison, Nancy, Hayfield, Minnesota.
Elmstrom, Eleanor, Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Esping, Ruth, Waseca, Minnesota.
Falk, Mamie, Murdock, Minnesota.
Falling, Patrick, Cloquet, Minnesota.
Farnell, Oscar.
Fields, Diane, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Fitzgerald, Arlene, Brainard, Minnesota.
Flemming, Mary, Little Canada, Minnesota.
Fordell, Macy, Guthrie, Minnesota.
Fulop, Magdolna, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gelpe, Dennis, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gemmill, Beulah, Sherburn, Minnesota.
Gilberston, Florence, Milan, Minnesota.
Gingerich, Susie, Utica, Minnesota.
Gjerset, Verna, Renville, Minnesota.
Glewwe, Wesley, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Glowka, Mietek, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Goga, Karen (and Larry), Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Goggleye, Jess, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Gonske, Edna, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Good, Carl, Stockholm Township, Minnesota.
Goodsky, Gene, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Goodsky, Hank, Tower, Minnesota.
Goodsky, Harold, Orr, Minnesota.
Gruhlke, Lois, Mazeppa, Minnesota.
Guerrero, Pat, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Gundersen, John H., Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Gunderson, Knut, Vining, Minnesota.
Gunvalson, Olaf, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Hall, Melvin, Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Hammel, Ginger, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Hanna, Rose, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Hanson, Arnold, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Hanson, Mary, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Harder, Eva.
Harmala, John, Cloquet, Minnesota.
Harris, Richard, Belgrade, Minnesota.
Haymarket Press Workers' Coop, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Heglen, Lois, Bemidji, Minnesota.
Hemmington, Alta J., Fergus Falls,
Minnesota.
Hengel, Christy, New Ulm, Minnesota.
Herron, Elaine, Fairbault, Minnesota.
Hershberger, Fanny, Preston, Minnesota.
Hershberger, Lydia, Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Holcomb, Lyli, Kelly Lake, Minnesota.
Homme, Lena, Wilmar, Minnesota.
House, Lawerence, Spring Valley,
Minnesota.
Huggenvik, Ina, Preston, Minnesota.
Hyatt, Burt, Waubun, Minnesota.
Immanuel Lutheran Christian Day School, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
In the Heart of the Beast Theatre Puppet and Mask,
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Isham, Linda, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
143.J.13.4F
2
Jackson, Jewelean, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jedlicke, Al, Underwood, Minnesota.
Jenson, Karen, Milan, Minnesota.
Jenson, Larry, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Johnson, Helga, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
Johnson, Mel, Red Wing, Minnesota.
Johnson, Rollie, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jokinen, Senja, Angora, Minnesota.
Jorgenson, Sharlene, Montevideo,
Minnesota.
Juhala, John, Makinen, Minnesota.
Juslin, Victor, Brimson, Minnesota.
Kakaygeesick, Karen, Warroad, Minnesota.
Karron, Constantino Demitrios.
Kaufman, Emma, Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
Kege, Maude, Milaca, Minnesota.
Kelley, Helen, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kessel, Brandon, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
King, Arlene, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Kittleson, Alicia, Milan, Minnesota.
Kittleson, Ted, Ceylon, Minnesota.
Kleven, Ruth, Milan, Minnesota.
Klinger, Bill, Wadena, Minnesota.
Kmit, Ann, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kohl, Mabel, Atwater, Minnesota.
Koskie, John, Angora, Minnesota.
Kramer, Arnold, Wabasso, Minnesota.
Kramer, Riet, Milan, Minnesota.
Kroshus, Allan, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Kuha, Jalmar, Sebeke, Minnesota.
Kurkowski, Gloria, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Kydd, Emma Jean, Roseville, Minnesota.
Landscape, Arboretum, Chanhassen,
Minnesota.
Landwehr, Roman, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lang, Lillian, Milan, Minnesota.
Langos, Ole, Brandon, Minnesota.
Landsverk, Halvor, Whalan, Minnesota.
Larson, Gustaf, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Larson, Ralph, Minneosta, Minnesota.
Lee, Kathryn, Sherburn, Minnesota.
Lee, Lao, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lee, Ma, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lee, Viola Kjeldahl, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Lensegraz, Arthur.
Lindstrom, Mary (and Bergman, Miranda), Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Lomen, Elisabeth, Zumbrota, Minnesota.
Long, Larry, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lowell, Lester.
Lucius, John M., St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lucker, Dean (Wood, Ann), Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Lundahl, Ruby, Alpha, Minnesota.
Lundberg, Ole, Butterfield, Minnesota.
Lyson, Mabel, Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Maaki, Axel, Angora, Minnesota.
Makinen, August, Britt, Minnesota.
Malwitz, William, Red Lake Falls,
Minnesota.
Mannausau, Joseph, Loman, Minnesota.
Mansfield, Susan, Golden Valley,
Minnesota.
Mast, John (and Mary), Wadena, Minnesota.
Mattson, Martti, Esko, Minnesota.
McLeod, Edith Peterson, Edina, Minnesota.
Meany, Janet, Duluth, Minnesota.
Melgaard, Leif, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Melheim, Herman, Lake Kabetogama,
Minnesota.
Menchaca, Carlos, (Acosta, John), St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Mertes, Pat, Winona, Minnesota.
Miller, Lovina, Canton, Minnesota.
Miller, Rachel V., Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Mills, Mike, Buffalo, Minnesota.
Mizens, Anna, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mizra, Frank, Ely, Minnesota.
Montzka, Tim, Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Moore, Jennifer (and Joshua), Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Morton, Larkspur, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Morton, Shirley, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mouja, Yee, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Muas, Xaiv, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mueller, Pauline, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Muller, Karen, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Myles, Quan Ester, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Judith, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Niemala, Mike.
Nusbaum, Alice, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
O'Keefe, Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Olson, Albert H., Redwing, Minnesota.
Olson, Franklin, Henning, Minnesota.
Olson, Hans, Lanesboro, Minnesota.
Oum, Phom (Oung, Leng), St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Owen, Amos, Welch, Minnesota.
Perchyshyn, Luba, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Perderson, Roy (Mrs.), Battle Lake,
Minnesota.
Pelkie, Mae, Tower, Minnesota.
Petersheim, Jacob (Mrs.),
Petersen, Alta, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Peterson, Carl E., St. James, Minnesota.
Peterson, Lois, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Pickek, Pearl, Angora, Minnesota.
Pittlekow, Addie, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Plamann, Carrie, Glenwood, Minnesota.
Porter, Mary, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Prebich, Liz, Virginia, Minnesota.
Puutio, William, Idington, Minnesota.
Quaal, Mathilda, Appleton, Minnesota.
Quiring, Sam, Mt. Lake, Minnesota.
Raschka, Gladys, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
143.J.13.5B
3
Rasmuson, Severt, Detroit Lakes,
Minnesota.
Redick, Mary, Brandon, Minnesota.
Reid, Avis, Glencoe, Minnesota.
Reimer, Jakey, Jarrett, Minnesota.
Rein, John, Hendrum, Minnesota.
Rennie, Alexander, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Richter, Franz A., Clarkfield, Minnesota.
Ricke, Ben, Cottonwood, Minnesota.
Ritter, Pauline, Aitkin, Minnesota.
Robinson, Ellen Mae, Park Rapids,
Minnesota.
Robinson, William, Bagley, Minnesota.
Romo, Margaret, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Ronning, Irene, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
Rosebear, Robert, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rosen, Lynn, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rosendahl, Georgia, Spring Grove,
Minnesota.
Rosenstein, Betty, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Roth, Marty, Minneapolis Minnesota.
Saari, Edwin, Angora, Minnesota.
Saari, Katri, Angora, Minnesota.
Salo, Marvin, Embarrass, Minnesota.
Sandom, Hans, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Sauber, Dorothy, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Schabel, Ray, Long Prairie, Minnesota.
Schatzlein, Gerald, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Schmidt, Ivadell (and Joe), Lake Crystal,
Minnesota.
Schmiedel, Oscar, St. Peter, Minnesota.
Schmitz, Bernard, Red Lake Falls,
Minnesota.
Schriock, Ed, Mt. Lake, Minnesota.
Schroeder, Robert, Thief River Falls,
Minnesota.
Sevenson, Gina.
Sevenson, Irene.
Shave, Martin, Sebeka, Minnesota.
Sherburne, William, Spring Grove,
Minnesota.
Shetler, Andy, Utica, Minnesota.
Silva, Maria, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sjogren, Oscar.
Sjoli, Pedar O., Ottertail County,
Minnesota.
Smisek, Rose A., Lonsdale, Minnesota.
Smoley, (Family), St. Stephens, Minnesota.
Sperling, Carol, Eveleth, Minnesota.
Stebring, Irene, Brewster, Minnesota.
Stevermer, William, Easton, Minnesota.
Stillwell, Milo (and Trygg, Peter), Cloquet,
Minnesota.
Stimac, Albert, Hoyt Lake, Minnesota.
Storhof, Henry, Lansboro, Minnesota.
Storlie, Betty, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Straka, (Rev.) William J., Vineland,
Minnesota.
Strom, Rora, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
Strong, Rosemary, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Stutzman, John, Utica, Minnesota.
Swain, Earle, Elysian, Minnesota.
Swenson, Sander, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Swiderska, Magdalena, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Svoboda, Joseph, Lonsdale, Minnesota.
Sylling, Dagny (Mrs. James), Spring Grove,
Minnesota.
Thompson, Phil, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Thompson, Margaret, Milan, Minnesota.
Thrana, George, Duluth, Minnesota.
Thyen, Elizabeth, Farming, Minnesota.
Tiegen, Archie, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Tokheim, Gene and Lucy, Dawson, Minnesota.
Torfin, Walter, Duluth, Minnesota.
Torstenson, Angela, Montevideo, Minnesota.
Torstenson, Selma, Appleton, Minnesota.
Tucker, Angora, Minnesota.
Ueke, Dennis, Vesta, Minnesota.
Upitis, Lizbeth, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Vang, Mai, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Van Ornum, Harry, Cook, Minnesota.
Volovets, Shura, St. Louis Park,
Minnesota.
Vue, Tong Vang, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Wallace, Gerta, Kansas City, MO
Warren, Peg, Marine-on-St.-Croix,
Minnesota.
Weberg, Emil, Maynard, Minnesota.
Wen, Der Sho, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Wendinger, Paul (and Peter), New Ulm,
Minnesota.
Wexler, Ardis, Edina, Minnesota.
Whiteman, Edna, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Whiting, Almon, Clitherall, Minnesota.
Widen, Julie, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
Wilczek, Peter, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Wildgrube, Richard, Preston, Minnesota.
Wilkins, Leona, Crookston, Minnesota.
Wilson, Dorothy, Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Witherspoon, Shirley, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Yang, Vu, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Yoder, Catherine (Mrs. Amos), Bertha,
Minnesota.
Yoder, Ervin, Bertha, Minnesota.
Yoder, Martin, Pine City, Minnesota.
Zastawny, Katherny, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Other Image Files
143.J.13.6F
4
Ethnic groups: Slides and photographs.
2 volumes.
Folk art in other collections: Slides and photographs.
3 volumes.
Huldah Curl and Joe Ordos' survey of ethnic craftspeople
in Minnesota: Slides,
1982.
132.J.13.7B
5
Photographs by Willard B. Moore (curator): Black and
white contact sheets and negatives.
Photographs by Tim Rummelhoff and others: Black and
white and color negatives.
2 volumes.
Contact sheets.
2 volumes.
Miscellaneous negatives and prints.
Individual Artists Files
Consists of two separate alphabetical sequences.
143.J.13.7B
5
Aas-Lundahl.
143.J.13.8F
6
Mannausau-Yoder.
AIDS-Swiderska.
143.J.13.9B
7
Thompson-Yang.
Administrative Files
143.J.13.9B
7
Folk artists' addresses.
First draft.
Photograph exhibits text.
National Endowment for the Arts: Folk Arts Grant,
April 1, 1985.
Public relations:
Press releases,
1984-1989.
Press clippings,
1984-1985, 1989.
Folk Arts Foundation,
1945-1951.
Minnesota Territorial Centennial: Folk Arts Section
(exhibition material),
1945-1949.
+263
Posters and brochure from Heart of the Beast Theatre,
[198-], 1986.
1 oversize folder, containing 3 items.
Includes two posters and a brochure promoting performances by
the Heart of the Beast Theatre in Minneapolis including the presentation of the
Christmas holiday stories, "The Hunt" and "La Befana," and the annual May Day
parade and festival.