Over the course of the project, Society curators will be collecting items that document the lives of Minnesota's Greatest Generation — the men and women who were born after the First World War and who came of age during the World War II era. Items will be sought for both the Society's permanent collection and for an exhibit scheduled to open in 2008. The list will change periodically as items are acquired and exhibit topics are developed. If you have an item of interest, please contact the Society's Collections Department at (651) 296-9984.
Tell us about a potential acquisition.
Items/topics we are seeking to document:
- Published works documenting Minnesotan's experiences from 1930 to1960
- Childhood and adolescence in Minnesota during the 1920s and 30s
- Minnesota military units:
- 47th Naval Reserve
- Company "A", 194th Tank Battalion
- 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Division
- 175th Field Artillery, 34th Division
- 109th Observation Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard
- 205th and 206th Infantry Regiments, Minnesota National Guard
- Military Intelligence Service Language School at Camp Savage and Fort Snelling
- Minnesota defense industries
- Opposition to the war
- Home front activities and experiences
- Sweetheart jewelry
- Postwar employment
- The baby boom and suburban development
Items not being sought at this time include:
- Items not associated to a Minnesotan
- Reproductions
- National magazines
- Newspapers
- World War II posters
- Ration books and stamps
- Dress uniforms
- Foreign military items
- Scanned images
- Postcards after 1960
- Photographic negatives
