ADOLPH OLSON EBERHART:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical
Society
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| Creator: | Eberhart, Adolph
Olson, 1870-. |
| Title: | A. O. Eberhart
papers. |
| Date: | 1831-1945. |
| Abstract: | Biological and family information
(1831-1913), correspondence and miscellaneous papers (1910-1914), and
autobiographical reminiscences (undated and 1943) describing Eberhart's
immigration to the United States from Sweden (1882), his life in St. Peter and
Mankato, Minnesota, and in Nebraska (1883-1893), and his subsequent political
career in the Minnesota State Senate (1902-1914), as lieutenant governor
(1905-1909), as governor (1909-1914), and as a member of the Speakers Bureau
for the Federal Housing Authority (1934-ca. 1938). |
| Quantity: | 0.25 cu. ft. (1
box). |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for shelf
location. |
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A. O. Eberhart was born in Kil Varmland, Sweden (June 23, 1870), the
son of Andrew and Louise Olson. Because of bad economic conditions, Andrew,
Louis and all of the family except Adolph emigrated to St. Peter, Minnesota. In
1882, Adolph joined the family there. Eberhart graduated from Gustavus Adolphus
College, St. Peter (1895); studied law in a law office in Mankato; served as a
deputy clerk of United States Circuit and District Court in Minnesota; and
served as United States Commissioner for the District of Minnesota.
His political career began thereafter with his election as a
representative (1902) in the Minnesota Legislature from the Eleventh District.
He served in that position until 1905, served as lieutenant governor
(1906-1909), and became governor upon the death of John A. Johnson (Sept.
1909), retaining office until 1914. His other major public activity was his
service on the Federal Housing Authority Speakers Bureau (1934-ca.1938).
Eberhart married Adele Koke (1898) and died in the Masonic Home,
Savage, Minnesota, on December 6, 1944.
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| The original documents are in the Landsarkievet, Goteborg,
Sweden. |
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| 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: |
| | Church records and
registers--Sweden. |
| | Education, Higher--Minnesota--Saint Peter. |
| | Education, Rural--Minnesota. |
| | Educational law and legislation--Minnesota. |
| | Government executives--Minnesota. |
| | Governors--Minnesota--Election. |
| | Governors--Minnesota--Nomination. |
| | Governors--Minnesota--Staff. |
| | Political candidates--Minnesota. |
| | Political parties--Minnesota. |
| | Politics, Practical--Minnesota. |
| | Primaries--Minnesota. |
| | Schools--Minnesota--Centralization. |
| | State governments--Minnesota. |
| | Swedish Americans--Minnesota. |
| | Universities and colleges--Minnesota--Saint Peter. |
| | World War, 1939-1945. |
| Places: |
| | Minnesota--Politics and
government--1898-1918. |
| | Nebraska--Description and travel. |
| | Saint Peter (Minn.). |
| | Sweden--Economic conditions. |
| Persons: |
| | Brown, Rome G. (Rome Green),
1862-1926 |
| | Eberhart family. |
| | Johnson, John Albert,
1861-1909. |
| | Olson family. |
| | Preus, J. A. O. (Jacob Aall Otteson), 1883-1961. |
| Organizations: |
| | Democratic Party (U.S.). |
| | Gustavus Adolphus College. |
| | Minnesota--Legislature. |
| | Minnesota--Legislature--Senate. |
| | Republican Party (U.S. : 1854-). |
| | State School for the Blind--Minnesota--Faribault. |
| | United States--Federal Housing Administration. |
| Types of Documents: |
| | Birth records--Sweden. |
| | Death records--Sweden. |
| | Reminiscences--Minnesota. |
| Occupations: |
| | Lawyers--Minnesota. |
| | Legislators--Minnesota. |
| | Politicians--Minnesota. |
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| Preferred Citation: |
| | [Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. A. O. Eberhart Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. |
| | See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples. |
| Accession Information: |
| | Accession number: 5485; 5803; 10,180; 11,717 |
| Processing Information: |
| | Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, March 1995. |
| | PALS ID number: 09-00321752 |
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Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the
location and box numbers shown below.
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Location
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Box
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| P2205 | 1 |
Biographical materials.
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| | | Biographical sketches of Eberhart from the Minnesota Legislative Manual (1903, 1905, 1909, 1913)
and photocopied household registers, and parish and death records (1831-1879),
of members of the Olaf Adolf Olsson family (Eberhart's original name). The
records are from Fryherud and Stora Kil parishes and contain information on
Eberhart's parents, Anders and Louise Andersdotter Olsson. The materials were
located in Sweden by Bruce Larson, Mankato State University. |
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Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1910-1914.
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| | | Correspondence, campaign literature, printed matter, and other
materials concerning Eberhart's gubernatorial campaign (1914); the Minnesota
Soldier's Home (undated); Minnesota representation at the Panama-Pacific
International Exposition in San Francisco (1914); the state school for the
blind (1910); Rome G. Brown's address to the Minneapolis Bar (1914); plans for
improving internal waterways, especially the Mississippi River (1914); and the
appointment of delegates to the Minnesota Good Roads Federation (1914). |
| | | Also included is a broadside (1913) detailing Eberhart's record as
governor, with information on his support of state primaries, reapportionment,
and other issues; a typed transcript (Jan. 3, 1910) of testimony critical of
the State School for the Blind, discussing discipline, food, social events,
church attendance, and similar matters; and a publication, "Forward St. Louis"
(May 4, 1914), relating to the proposed Great Waterway Movement organized to
facilitate development of inland water transport. |
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| P2205 | 1 |
"The American Way of Life: A True Story,"October 1943. Typed, 138 pages. 3 folders.
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| | | A detailed autobiographical account of Eberhart's birth and early
life in Sweden; his immigration to the United States (1882); the family's
cattle ranch and farming activities in Cedar Grove, Nebraska (1883-1893); his
attendance and graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College, and Eberhart's
gubernatorial program, which included abolishing the railroad rebate system,
abolishing capital punishment, instituting the state primary law, establishing
the state highway commission, and the beginnings of school consolidation. He
also reorganized state agencies and was interested in bicameral legislative
districts. There are many details on his speeches in many parts of the of the
United States supporting the work on the Federal Housing Authority. |
| | | The final chapters contain information on his children, the
Masonic home where he lived, Swedish contributions to the world (especially the
United States), and World War II. The latter contains perceptive observations
of the Soviet Union, its future, and its future relations with the United
States. |
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"The American Way of Life," Chapter 1: Published
version.
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| | | Photocopied from the Bulletin of the
American Institute of Swedish Arts, Literature and Science (Minneapolis,
January 1945). At the end of the article is a brief biographical sketch of
Eberhart with information on his death. |
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| P2225 | 1 |
"Reminiscences of St. Peter," undated. Typed, 9 p.
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| | | An abridged version of "The American Way of Life," which focuses
on the influence that St. Peter and Gustavus Adolphus had on his life and
career. |
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