P2543 MERRILL C. BENSON: An Inventory of His Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Miranda Nighbor. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Miranda Nighbor, August, 2002. 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. Benson, Merrill C. Merrill C. Benson family papers. 1919-1949. Courtship correspondence (1921-1923) between Harmony (Minn.) farm couple Borghild Bjorge and Merrill C. Benson, as well as material (1941-1949) related to Quentin M. Benson's involvement in a 4-H Club. 0.5 cu. ft. (1 box). P2543 SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

This collection consists largely of love letters exchanged between Merrill C. Benson and Borghild Bjorge between 1919 and 1923. The couple eventually married and owned a family farm near Harmony, Minnesota. The love letters represent a style of courtship correspondence from the 1920s. Topics of the letters include weather, health, illness, family, and local events. Borghild writes in her letters to Merrill about her career as a school teacher. The letters are largely to Merrill from Borghild. The remainder of the collection is related to Quentin M. Benson and his involvement in 4-H during the 1940s.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION

Materials within each section are arranged chronlogically.

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: Courtship -- Minnesota. 4-H club -- Minnesota. Farm life -- Minnesota -- Harmony. Persons: Benson, Quentin M. Bjorge, Borghild. Places: Houston (Minn.). Harmony (Minn.). Document Types: Love letters. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Merrill C. Benson Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,540

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Miranda Nighbor, August 2002

Catalog ID number: 09-00323188

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION P2543 1 Borghild Bjorge and Merrill C. Benson courtship correspondence, undated and 1919-1923. 6 folders.

The letters are mainly from Borghild Bjorge to Merrill C. Benson, with a few from Merrill. The main topics are health, family, weather, and local events.

 Quentin M. Benson 4-H club materials, 1941-1949. 2 folders.

The materials include the various projects Quentin M. Benson was involved in including raising livestock, improving his health, maintaining tractors, and other projects. There is also material related to his involvement in state fairs and the war effort with his 4-H Club.