Government Records
The international guest program, chaired by former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Eugenie Anderson, recognized that Minnesota's heritage included settlers from many nations. Invitations to participate in the Statehood Week celebration were sent by Governor Orville L. Freeman to a large number of foreign governments; twenty-six accepted and sent representatives. The May 8 arrival of the Scandinavian delegation, including Norway's Princess Astrid, Sweden's Prince Bertil, and the Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish prime ministers, began the international guests festivities. Other countries represented were Yugoslavia, Iceland, Rumania, India, Lithuania, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Latvia, Greece, Great Britain, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Lebanon. Throughout Statehood Week special events were held for the international guests, culminating with the Parade of the Century and Minnesota Statehood Centennial Banquet and New Century Eve Ball on Saturday and the Statehood Day Commemorative Ceremony on Sunday.
The files also contain information on distinguished American guests, particularly U. S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Allied Powers in Europe supreme commander General Lauris Norstad.
The subject files, which include correspondence, programs, invitations and response cards, seating charts, protocol documents, itineraries and schedules, remarks and program notes, and related materials, cover such topics as airline schedules, biographical data, courtesy automobiles, Centennial Banquet planning, the Governor's letter of invitation, protocol arrangements, security, the Governor's 1957 Scandinavian goodwill tour, the University of Minnesota's Scandinavian Convocation, and a special breakfast for Princess Astrid. Also included is a Military Aides Manual, official directions provided for aides assigned to Norstad, Dulles, and each of the international guests.
The country files, arranged alphabetically by country, mainly contain correspondence, biographical data, and sometimes a photograph, about each country's official representative(s). There are also folders for several countries that were unable to send a representative.
The records are organized into the following two sections:
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
Accession number(s): None
Processed by: Charles Rodgers and Cheri Thies, October 2003
Catalog ID No.: 0900323729
RLIN ID No.: MNHV1700-A
Details the Scandinavian delegation's chartered Northwest Airlines flight from New York to Minneapolis, with a list of the official party.
Biographical data.
Detailed information on cars used for each dignitary and those used in the Parade of the Century.
Includes floor/table plans, menu, and program notes.
Concerns gift of The Face of Minnesota to dignitaries.
Includes seating list and opening remarks, order of program, and information on a small reception held before the dinner.
Contains samples of the invitation, response card, dinner ticket, reserved seat card, and invitation to the pre-dinner reception. Also agendas, reserved table seating charts, and regrets letters.
Letters, both accepting and regrets, from non-international dignitaries, including Willard Munger, Owen Wangensteen, Albert Quie, Hubert H. Humphrey, Edward Thye, Mrs. O. E. Rolvaag, J. A. A. Burnquist, and C. W. Mayo.
Includes a copy of the program.
Details airport reception for the Scandinavian delegation.
Includes copies of both Eugenie Anderson and Governor Orville L. Freeman's responses to a political statement made by Republican National Committeewoman, Mrs. F. Peavey Heffelfinger, regarding Anderson's appointment.
Contains correspondence between Anderson and Freeman, a draft of Freeman's initial letter of invitation to the international community, and a list of invitees by country, with information on acknowledgement, acceptance/declination, and name and rank of representative.
Volume given to military aides assigned to all dignitaries; includes program of events, arrival schedule, arrival of royalty ceremony, briefing on arrival ceremony at airport, list of aides' assignments, memo to all aides, instructions to drivers, car assignments, precedence list of dignitaries, security, accommodations, and packets, with itinerary, time schedule, security, and escort requirements, for General Norstad, Secretary of State Dulles, and each country represented.
Correspondence, mainly between the Minnesota Congressional delegation, Anderson, the U. S. Department of State Public Affairs Advisors, and consuls/attaches of the various countries, detailing the protocol for all events involving the royals and ambassadors.
Mainly planning documents and correspondence detailing Anderson's involvement in the 1957 Governor's goodwill trip to Scandinavia.
Covers an honorary degrees discussion and the May 9 Scandinavian Convocation, including the program and script.
Correspondence, program, invitation and response card, notes, and seating chart for this event in honor of Norway's Princess Astrid.
A folder for each country represented at the Centennial celebration; may include correspondence, biographical data, and photographs of the country's representative(s). The Scandinavian files contain a great deal of information on the royalty and prime ministers attending the events. There are also several folders from countries who were invited but not represented.