OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Holbert, Sherman.
Sherman Holbert and family
papers.
1888-2005.
Materials in English.
Business and personal files of this lifelong resident of
Onamia and the Mille Lacs region of Minnesota documenting his many entrepreneurial
undertakings in the area including the development of his property near Onamia, his
maple sugar business, his wild rice business, his collection of Indian photographs
and artifacts, the operation of his tourist attraction, Fort Mille Lacs, and the
eventual sale of the property to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
4.5 cu. ft. (5 boxes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) section for
shelf locations.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Sherman Holbert was born in Texas in 1915. His parents soon separated and he came to
live with his grandparents in the Mille Lacs area and grew up in Sherman's Point,
adjacent to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indian reservation. As a child he played
with the Indian children and learned the Ojibwe language. Following his service in
the Army Air Force during World War II, Holbert returned to the Mille Lacs area and
began his career as a business entrepreneur. In 1946 he started a maple syrup
business in which sap from the maple trees of local landowners was processed in his
factory in Onamia. The maple syrup business was closed in 1952. Holbert then started
a business to collect and nationally market the wild rice of the Mille Lacs area.
Rice was collected primarily from Mille Lacs Band members and processed and sold by
Holbert. This venture was the largest distributor of wild rice in the United States
during the 1950s and 1960s. Holbert sold the wild rice business in 1969.
In the meantime, Holbert and his wife Maxine began developing a gift shop and tourist
stop with the old maple syrup factory buildings. During the 1950s and 1960s they
developed "Fort Mille Lacs," a landmark tourist attraction along Highway 169 near
Onamia. It included an Indian village, gift shop, museum, and restaurant. Over the
years more than thirty members of the Mille Lacs Band were hired to demonstrate
craftmaking, staff the Indian village, and perform traditional dances. In the years
following World War II, Holbert began amassing his extensive collection of American
Indian objects and became a noted expert in woodland Indian artifacts. His
collection was displayed as part of the exhibits at the Fort Mille Lacs tourist
attraction. During this time Holbert produced several educational films on wild rice
and maple sugaring and on local Ojibwe culture. After the Fort Mille Lacs site
closed, Holbert turned his attention to developing his collection and to buying and
selling Indian artifacts and handcrafts. He also undertook several development
projects with his property which were operated under his corporation, the Fort Mille
Lacs Development Corporation. The Fort Mille Lacs site was eventually sold to the
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in the 1990s.
Sherman's maternal grandfather, Cyrus A. Sherman, was a typesetter and invented the
"circus type" font used for posters. He owned the Standard Printing Company in St.
Paul and the National Lithograph Company in Chicago. He later retired in the Mille
Lacs area and was the publisher of the Mille Lacs
Messenger, the newspaper of the Mille Lacs area. Georgia Sherman Holbert
(1888-1981), born in Wisconsin to Gertrude Hall and Cyrus A. Sherman, was educated
in music and sang professionally until her marriage to Ben Holbert in 1915. Ben and
Georgia had three sons: Ben Jr., Sherman, and Frederic Patten (Pat).
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection mainly consists of the files of Sherman Holbert relating to his life
and business ventures in the Mille Lacs area of Minnesota. It documents his many
entrepreneurial undertakings including the development of his property near Onamia,
his maple sugar business, his wild rice business, his collection of Indian
photographs and artifacts, the operation of his tourist attraction, Fort Mille Lacs,
and the eventual sale of the property to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Most of the
business files relate to the development, management, and sale of his property
during the 1990s. There are also several files relating to the Fort Mille Lacs
attraction mainly during the 1950s and 1960s. The collection contains information on
the development of the Mille Lacs area as well as Holbert's interactions with the
local Ojibwe Indians including their employment at Fort Mille Lacs and through his
collecting efforts.
Included are organizational records of the various businesses entities, minutes,
correspondence, legal documents, sales agreements, photographs, postcards and
tourist memorabilia, subject files with letters, clippings, photographs, articles,
organizational records, and miscellaneous materials. There are also photographs of
Ojibwe Indians of the area engaged in traditional craftmaking. The collection also
includes a scattering of family history materials relating to Holbert's mother,
Georgia Sherman Holbert, and his grandparents, Gertrude Hall and Cyrus Sherman.
These materials include miscellaneous letters, photographs, journals and
reminiscences of Holbert and Sherman family members, some relating to the Mille Lacs
area.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Fort Mille Lacs Development Corporation Records
- Fort Mille Lacs Village Materials
- Miscellaneous Business and Subject Files
- Sherman Holbert Collection of Indian Photographs
- Sherman-Holbert Family Materials
RELATED MATERIALS
Additional Sherman photos of Mille Lacs area Indians and Mahnomen: Harvest of the North, a film co-produced by Holbert, are in
the sound and visual collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.
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:
Indian land transfers -- Minnesota.
Indians of North America -- Antiquities -- Collectors and collecting --
Minnesota.
Ojibwa Indians -- Basket making.
Ojibwa Indians -- Boats.
Ojibwa Indians -- Material culture -- Minnesota.
Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Mille Lacs.
Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Onamia.
Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Photographs.
Tourism -- Minnesota.
Wild rice -- Minnesota.
Maple syrup.
Entrepreneurship -- Minnesota.
Places:
Mille Lacs Lake (Minn.).
Onamia (Minn.).
Persons:
Holbert, Brockton.
Holbert, Georgia Sherman, 1888-1981.
Holbert, Maxine.
Sherman, Gertrude Hall.
Sherman, Cyrus A.
Organizations:
Fort Mille Lacs Development Corporation.
Fort Mille Lacs Village.
US Highway 169 Safety and Development Association.
Wigwam Point Company.
Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians.
Mille Lacs Lake Association.
Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association.
Minneapolis Aquatennial.
Types of Documents:
Photographs.
Postcards.
Occupations:
Businessmen -- Minnesota.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Use Restrictions:
Copyright in that portion of the [photographs](b1) associated with the
Film Research Company has been reserved by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Federated Cultural Resources Board. Reproduction or publication requires written
permission. For further information concerning copyright status and/or
permission to publish, please consult the reference staff.
Alternate Form Available:
Images from this collection are also
available in Collections Online.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].
Sherman Holbert Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 16,085; 16,501
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: 006178125
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fort Mille Lacs Development Corporation Records
Sherman Holbert was president and board chair of the Fort Mille Lacs
Development Corporation. It was the corporation under which he operated
various businesses associated with his property including a gas station and
motel. The records include board of directors files, correspondence and
legal files connected with several legal actions with which the Corporation
was involved, including the bankruptcy of Brockton Holbert. There are files
relating to the various business operations, the leasing of property, and
the sale of property to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
147.H.13.3B
1
Board of directors minute book with articles of incorporation,
minutes, stock information, correspondence, leases, deeds, tenants,
1986-1996.
2 folders.
Stockholders meeting minutes, financial statements, and
correspondence, mostly with Brockton Holbert concerning business
operations, 1994-1996.
Stockholders correspondence: Copies of Sherman Holbert's outgoing
letters, 1993-1996.
Correspondence: Copies of Holbert's outgoing letters concerning
legal actions, business with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Brockton
Holbert, and Larry Yule, 1995-1996.
Correspondence: Holbert's incoming and outgoing letters,
1994-1996.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: Sale agreements with Fort Mille Lacs
Development Corporation, finals and rough drafts, 1997-1999.
3 folders.
Brockton Holbert and Larry Yule, business partners:
Correspondence and legal agreements, 1992-1993.
Board of directors meetings and miscellaneous,
1992-1993.
Paid invoices, 1991-1992.
Tourist information center/concessions, business proposals,
1992.
Petrol Plus, Brockton Holbert, and the Fort Mille Lacs
Operations, Inc., and the possible sale of property to the Mille Lacs
Band of Ojibwe: Correspondence with attorney Donna Strusinski and legal
documents, 1995.
2 folders.
Stockholders: Correspondence, stock certificates, and
miscellaneous, 1993-1999.
Sale of stock: Correspondence and certificates, 1998.
Board of directors meeting notes, 1994.
Financial statements, meeting minutes, and miscellaneous
corporate records, 1993-1998.
2 folders.
Land appraisals, 1994.
Zorbaz of Fort Mille Lacs, Inc.: Court case involving leasing of
property, correspondence with attorney William Lines, legal documents,
notes, 1998-2001.
147.H.13.4F
2
Brockton Holbert estate and bankruptcy: Correspondence with
attorney Ralph Mitchell and legal documents, 1996-1998.
Brockton Holbert bankruptcy and HNK Development, Inc.:
Correspondence with attorney Ralph Mitchell and legal documents
concerning operations of Econolodge and possible sale to the Mille Lacs
Band of Ojibwe, 1997-1998.
Brockton Holbert bankruptcy: Correspondence and legal documents,
1996-1997.
Leach Property: Titles and abstracts, correspondence and legal
documents relating to sale to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe,
1995-1998.
Fort Mille Lacs Village Materials
Photographs, postcards, clippings and articles and other memorabilia from the
Fort Mille Lacs Village tourist attraction. Most of the materials date from
the 1950s-1960s during the high point of operations at the site. There are
black and white and color photographs of the site grounds and interiors as
well as many local Indians demonstrating craftmaking. Many of the Indians in
the photos are identified by name.
147.H.13.4F
2
Miscellaneous photos (including some photocopies) of Holbert's
Fort Mille Lacs Village and of Indians and their crafts,
1955-1993.
Newspaper clippings on Fort Mille Lacs Village, Ojibwe Indians,
and the Mille Lacs region, 1948-2000.
3 folders.
Miscellaneous articles, brochures, and newsletters describing
tourist programs at Holbert's Fort Mille Lacs Village and the Holbert
collection of Indian artifacts, 1957-2004.
4 folders.
Brochures, menus, pow wow programs, and other advertisements,
undated.
Receipts for Indian handcrafted items, either for consignment in
store or possibly for the Holbert collection, and notes on Indian
artisans, 1990-1999.
Postcards of Fort Mille Lacs Village and local Indians (some
identified), and photographic postcards made for sale in giftshop,
1950s-1960s.
Fort Mille Lacs Village color and black and white photos of
grounds, gift shop, café interiors, local Indians, and Maxine and
Sherman Holbert, 1950s-1970s.
Fort Mille Lacs Village color and black and white photos and
negatives of grounds, local Indians demonstrating handcrafts, gift shop
and café interiors, 1950s-1970s.
Advertising,
undated, 1985.
Miscellaneous Business and Subject Files
These files were created by Holbert and represent his various business
undertakings and interests. There are files concerning the development of
the Mille Lacs area including the US Highway 169 Safety and Development
Association and the Mille Lacs Lake Association, Holbert's collection of
Indian artifacts, topics relating to the Ojibwe Indians, the wild rice
industry, and the maple syrup industry including the Minnesota Maple Syrup
Producers Association. The files contain letters, clippings, photographs,
articles, organizational records and miscellaneous materials.
147.I.17.2F
3
US Highway 169 Safety and Development Association: Articles of
Incorporation, bylaws, correspondence, financial statements, and
miscellaneous, 1979-1988.
2 folders
Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Ayer and Mille Lacs Indian Museum:
Miscellaneous documents, 1919-1931.
Ojibwe history: Miscellaneous materials and translations of
Ojibwe words, undated, 1970s.
Miscellaneous documents relating to the Pillager Band of Chippewa
Indians, 1930s.
Allard Auction and the sale of items from Holbert's Indian
collection, 2003-2005.
American Wildlife Art Galleries brochures and catalogs, undated,
1987.
Mille Lacs Lake Association minute book, 1965-1970.
"The Wild Rice Industry" promotional booklet, circa
1963.
Mille Lacs Lake miscellaneous maps, undated, 1982.
Kathio State Park: Opposition to establishing park, miscellaneous
documents, 1958.
Maple syrup: Miscellaneous articles, booklets, photos, and notes
relating to Holbert's maple syrup operations and to maple syrup in
general, including documents from the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers
Association, 1952-2001.
2 folders.
United Wild Rice Inc.: Correspondence and miscellaneous materials
relating to Holbert's promotion of wild rice, 1973-1974.
Photographs of East Lake and wild rice harvesting,
1950-1972.
Indian Bay development: Legal documents, correspondence,
abstracts of title, engineering review and proposal relating to
Holbert's attempts at commercial development and land title claim by the
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, 1978-1983.
2 folders
Birchbark canoes, clippings, letters and miscellaneous,
1959-1984.
Miscellaneous, 1961-1994.
Joe Fellegy's fishing digest,
1987-1996.
Sherman Holbert Collection of Indian Photographs
These files contain many of the photographs Holbert had as part of his
collection of Indian artifacts. Most depict local Ojibwe Indians at work in
craftmaking or wild rice operations, but there are some portraits as well.
Many of the Indians in the photos have been identified by name. Most of the
photos are black and white, but some are color. There are also photos of
Holbert's maple syrup operations and an Minneapolis Aquatennial birchbark
canoe trip. Also included are general information on Holbert's artifact
collection and photocopies of further photographs from Holbert's collection
that have been separated out into the sound and visual collection.
147.I.17.2F
3
Information on donation to the Minnesota Historical Society,
2005.
Photographs relating to C. A. Sherman, his family, and time spent
on the reservation,
circa 1905-1938.
Digital Images:
Images from this folder are also available in Collections Online.
Digital images.
Georgia Sherman with Zaagajiw's wife and child,
1910.
Canoe making at Zaagajiw's camp with Georgia Sherman second
from left,
1910.
Canoe making at Zaagajiw's camp,
1910.
Zaagajiw outside dwelling,
1908.
Children outside wigwam at Lake Mille Lacs, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1922.
Jim Boyd's son Moqua,
1911.
C. A. Sherman's residence at 1023 White Bear Avenue in St.
Paul,
1905.
Chippewa Home, Lake Mille Lacs,
1910.
Georgia Sherman holding Naabaw's mat,
1906.
Wild rice that has been tied in preparation for
harvest,
1910.
Charley Boyd (Quaykosh) with his wife Poeschewzigan, and
their baby Raining Boyd,
1910.
Billie Bedasky's wife Equay with their children, George,
Selma (Misasowagside) and Rose (Gaybagbe),
1911.
Naabaw at Zaagajiw's wigwam, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1911.
C. A. Sherman and Zaagajiw at Sherman (Wigwam)
Point,
1910.
C. A. Sherman and Jim Boyd, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1915.
Unidentified baby in cradle board, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1910.
Weaver making anakin, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1910.
Group of Ojibwe women and children, Mille Lacs Indian
Reservation,
1910.
Canoe that Zaagajiw made for Georgia Sherman, Mille Lacs
Indian Reservation,
1906.
Canoe that Zaagajiw made for Georgia Sherman, Mille Lacs
Indian Reservation,
1906.
Howard Crosby, Eddie Butterfield and Violet Butterfield
inside Blue Goose Liquor Store, Garrison,
1938.
The Queen Ann on Lake Mille Lacs,
1905.
Holbert Collection catalog and miscellaneous,
undated.
Photographs collected by Holbert showing local Indians
handcrafting items:
Basket making, 1950s.
Canoe building, color and black-and-white photos,
1950s-1960s.
Mat making, 1950s-1960s.
Bull rush cattail harvest (color photos), 1970s.
Artisans showing their handcrafted items (color and
black-and-white photos), 1960s-1980s.
King family ricing business on Net Lake, 1950s.
East Lake ricing, 1950s.
Rice camp at Harrison Creek, Northwest Angle Manitoba,
1958-1961.
Miscellaneous negatives.
Portraits of Indian people (color and black-and-white
photos).
Holbert Brothers maple syrup operations, 1940s.
Blueberry/raspberry drying, 1950s.
Lodge building, 1950s-1960s.
Grand Portage, circa 1960.
Ricing and miscellaneous, 1960s.
Aquatennial birchbark canoe trip from Mille Lacs to
Minneapolis, 1964.
Photographs associated with the Film Research
Company,
1950s-1960s.
20 items.
Use Restricted: Items in this folder are
for research purposes only and cannot be reproduced.
John Clark and Dennis Pendagayosh with a tamed blue
heron.
Three boys in traditional Native American dress at Fort
Mille Lacs.
Chippewa woman sewing bow of canoe with spruce root at
Fort Mille Lacs.
Two Native Americans working on a canoe at Fort Mille
Lacs.
A Native American man making a paddle.
Two Native Americans working outside a hut.
A Native American woman working on her
crafts.
View of Native Americans setting up a tent.
Native American women doing some washing.
4 items.
Native American men at a table outside a tent, Earl Sam
at the left.
View of Native American men in canoes with sacks of rice
from Canada.
3 items.
Sherman Holbert and some Native American men including
Norman Clark, John Clark, and Darrel Kegg, with sacks of
rice.
View of Frank and Starry Skinaway getting
rice.
View of Native Americans in their canoes.
Three Native American boys in traditional dress by the
shore.
Sherman-Holbert Family Materials
Family materials mainly include items from Sherman Holbert's mother, Georgia
Sherman Holbert, and his grandparents, Gertrude Hall and Cyrus Sherman, and
most materials date from their time in the Mille Lacs area. There are also a
few later items from Sherman and Maxine Holbert. Included are miscellaneous
letters, photographs, journals, reminiscences, and a scrapbook. Some of
Georgia's materials date from before she was married and was involved in
singing. A photo album of Georgia includes snapshots of the Mille Lacs
family cabin and of local Ojibwe Indians. Cyrus Sherman materials include
documents relating to his business venture, the Wigwam Point Company.
147.H.13.5B
4
Georgia Sherman Holbert, Gertrude Hall Sherman, and Cyrus
Sherman: Miscellaneous letters written or received by Georgia and her
parents Gertrude and Cyrus, at least some written during periods of
treatment for tuberculosis, 1888-1923.
Georgia Sherman Holbert: Snapshot photo album,
1910s-1920s.
Tne first part of the album depicts life in Texas, later in Minnesota
around Mille Lacs, some images showing local Indians, sugar camp,
Georgia, her father Cyrus A. Sherman, her mother Gertrude Sherman, and
the Sherman cabin.
Digital Images:
Selected images from this album are also available in Collections Online.
Digital images.
Georgia Sherman scrapbook, mostly pertaining to her singing
activities, 1904-1913.
Georgia Sherman Holbert: Reminiscences of her life at Mille Lacs,
undated
Georgia Sherman Holbert: Will, 1971.
Georgia Sherman Holbert: Dictabelt recordings of conversations
between Sherman Holbert and his mother, 1972.
Georgia Sherman Holbert: Miscellaneous clippings and similar
material, 1891-1981.
Gertrude Hall Sherman journals, 1906, 1918.
Wigwam Point Company (business venture of Gertrude and C. A.
Sherman): Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1914.
Family snapshots of Georgia Sherman Holbert and children,
Gertrude Hall and C. A. Sherman, Sherman and Maxine Holbert and family,
Georgia Sherman Holbert with local Indians (1900s),
1900s-1990s.
Link Trainer Instruction Manual, edited by Sherman Holbert and
Truman Plantz,
January 1, 1943.
1 volume in folder.
Georgia Holbert. Letters from sons,
1945.
Georgia Holbert. Interview transcript,
October 13, 1973.
Georgia Holbert. Interview transcript,
December 23, 1973.
Loose clippings from album/scrapbook,
1938-1948.
Loose photographs from album/scrapbook,
1940s.
[.5 cubic feet empty, letter size.]
142.H.12.1B-2
Photograph album/scrapbook,
1940s.
1 volume.
Probably kept by Georgia Sherman Holbert; contains mostly unidentified
family photographs, including some of her sons in the military; also
contains some newspaper clippings.
Photographs of Indians in canoe,
undated.
2 items in folder.
Loose photographs from photograph album/scrapbook.
[.5 cubic feet empty, oversize.]