P2066 VICTOR J. TEDESCO: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Kathryn A. Johnson. Minnesota Historical Society

St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

Finding aid encoded by Dennis Meissner, July 13, 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Tedesco, Victor J., 1922- . Victor J. Tedesco papers. 1964-1987. Newspaper clippings, campaign literature, advertisements and other printed materials, correspondence, and other miscellany documenting the career of a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the St. Paul (Minn.) City Council (1966-1987). 0.2 cu. ft. (1 box). P2066 BIOGRAPHY OF VICTOR J. TEDESCO

Victor J. Tedesco was born (1922) in the Swede Hollow neighborhood of St. Paul's East Side, the son of Antonio and Aida Tedesco. He attended local elementary and high schools, and during World War II (1942-1946) he was an instructor at the Fort Knox (Kentucky) armored school. In 1947 he married Florence Valento.

A radio and television station owner, publicist, and amateur musician, Tedesco was active in many civic organizations in St. Paul, including the St. Paul Association for Retarded Children. He served as publicity director for a number of Catholic churches; was active in the National Council of Catholic Men; had a financial interest in the Phalen Park State Bank, the Trans-Mississippi Development Corporation, and the Life Insurance Company of Minnesota; and was a member of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (1977-1978). He, along with his brothers, owned and helped manage twelve radio stations, including radio station KCHY (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and the Northern States Broadcasting Corporation of the Black Hills (Rapid City, S.D.).

He was also involved in professional sports activities. In 1963, along with Don Riley and Jack Douglas, he began Impala Productions, which produced fifteen-minute radio sports broadcasts and also produced the newspaper Touchdown USA, covering professional football.

His political career began in 1966, when he was elected to the St. Paul City Council, later serving (1982-1987) as its president. He also served as Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Public Buildings (1966-1972), and was credited with preserving many park areas in St. Paul. He retired from the council in 1987.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Two folders of chronologically arranged newspaper clippings, campaign literature, advertisements, printed ephemera, correspondence, and related materials document Tedesco's career and personal activities. Included are newspaper clippings devoted mainly to his activities on the city council; advertisements for Impala Productions and Touchdown USA (and a copy of the first issue); an invitation and program (1980) commemorating the renaming of Collins Street to Tedesco Street; publicity materials (undated) with details on Tedesco and his career, which may have been used for political campaigns; a copy of The MAC Family (1978) containing an article on Tedesco's contributions to the Metropolitan Airports Commission; and correspondence, Congressional Record inserts by Senator David Durenberger and Congressman Bruce Vento, newspaper clippings, and commemorative booklet, all relating to his retirement in 1987. Biographical information is found in an issue of Skyway News (June 24, 1987) and in the commemorative booklet (June 30, 1987).

ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION

In chronological order.

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: Catholics--Minnesota--Saint Paul. City council members--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Football--Minnesota. Italian Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Municipal government--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Parks--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Radio stations. Sports--Minnesota. Television stations--Minnesota. Places: Saint Paul Metropolitan Area (Minn.). Organizations: Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Impala Productions (Saint Paul, Minn.). Touchdown USA (Minneapolis, Minn.). Saint Paul (Minn.). City Council. Types of Documents: Campaign literature. Occupations: Musicians--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Politicians--Minnesota--Saint Paul. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Victor J. Tedesco Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,104

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, October 1995

Catalog ID number: 09-00042289