Recent State Archives Acquisitions: April 2012
Background Information
Records transferred this month to the State Archives will be useful for various types of historical research, but also protect the civil and property rights of Minnesota citizens.
Received from Beltrami County are assessment rolls and tax lists (dated 1990-1991), which continue an existing set of records dating from 1876.
Also, tax lists (dated 1893-1901, and subsequent sample years 1910-1911, 1920-1921, 1931, 1941, 1950-1951, 1960-1961, 1970, 1980-1981, 1990), were transferred by Big Stone County; the tax lists continue an existing set dating from 1875. These records are valuable for family and community history research. Thanks to the Collections Management staff, the records have already been fully cataloged, shelved, and are ready for immediate use.
The Chisago County District Court transferred civil case file exhibits (dated 1949) regarding a land survey dispute. The exhibits complement existing Chisago County District Court civil case files preserved in the State Archives.
With assistance of the Collections Department staff, photographs of the Governor’s Residence Council, were removed from the Sound and Visual Collections backlog, and added to existing records in the State Archives. The photographs (undated, 1970-1997) depict the Governor’s Residence interior, Garden Memorial, staff, and Christmas decorations. Also included were official and family photographs of Governors Harold LeVander, Karl Rolvaag, Wendell Anderson, Al Quie, Rudy Perpich and Arne Carlson; most of which were added to existing sets of photographs in the gubernatorial records of the respective governors.
A set of records useful for family history research are microfilmed records concerning Kanabec County. The microfilm includes probate case files (dated 1895-1920) of the Probate Court; deed records (dated 1859-1965; bulk dated 1859-1902), and birth, death and marriage records (dated 1880-1998) of the Recorder; and birth, death, and marriage compilations (dated 1884-2004) of the Kanabec County Historical Society. The microfilm was produced by the Genealogical Society of Utah (Family Search), and per agreement with the State Archives, duplicate negative microfilm was provided to the State Archives.
Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone Counties Public Health Services (a joint powers agency) transferred its meeting minutes and agendas (dated 1978-2011); the agency was established in 1978 and dissolved in December 2011.
Received from the Natural Resources Department is a variety of records concerning a wide range of topics. Probably the most interesting record is a complete set of state park permits - the decals placed on a car windshield to gain admittance to Minnesota’s state parks. The park permits date from 1953 to 2008, and are a colorful addition to the State Archives collection. With permission of the Natural Resources Department, the park permits have been digitized and a slide show of the park permits will soon be posted on the Society’s web site. Also included in the transfer are correspondence (dated 1999-2006) and selected subject files (dated 1987-2005) of Commissioners Allen Garber and Gene Merriam; timber sales books (dated 1946-1983) and timber trespass record books (dated 1957-1990) of the Forestry Division; aerial photographs (dated 1934) along the Minnesota River from Montevideo to the South Dakota border, and watershed documentation for Public Law 566 (dated 1954-1966); county biological survey maps (dated 1990-2001) of the Ecological and Water Resources Division; selected subject files (dated 1988-2001), and Tettegouche Camp photographs and negatives (dated 1989) of the Parks and Trails Division. Documenting the state’s protection of its natural resources is a collecting priority of the State Archives, and many of these records continue existing records already preserved in the collection.
Complementing an item in the three-dimensional objects collection, and the criminal case files of the Ramsey County District Court, is an unusual expense document received from a private donor. The two page document is an itemized and verified statement of expenses incurred in carrying out the February 1906 execution of William Williams who was convicted in 1905 of homicide in Ramsey County. The itemized expenses include the lumber and labor for constructing the gallows, clothing for the condemned man, and the rope. The document is signed by Ramsey County Sheriff Anton Miesen. The botched hanging of William Williams led to the abolishment of capital punishment in Minnesota. Williams’ was the last execution to take place in Minnesota and the death penalty was removed from the state criminal law in 1911. A short length of the execution rope is preserved in the three dimensional objects collection. Williams’ Ramsey County District Court criminal case file is preserved in the State Archives.
Continuing the set of land survey records (dating from 1847) preserved in the State Archives collection are land resurvey field notes and a plat (dated 2010-2011) for sections in Township 144, Range 38 West, 5th Principal Meridian. The records were received from the U.S. Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management, and are cataloged as part of the Secretary of State's records.
Acquisitions
1. Beltrami County. Auditor. Assessment rolls and tax lists (dated 1990-1991). 24 boxes.
2. Big Stone County. Tax lists (dated 1893-1901, and subsequent sample years 1910-1911, 1920-1921, 1931, 1941, 1950-1951, 1960-1961, 1970, 1980-1981, 1990), school district records (dated 1881-1903), and town and school officers records (dated 1915-1930) of the Auditory; real estate tax judgement books (dated 1934-1991) of the District Court. 57 boxes.
3. Chisago County. District Court. Civil case files exhibits (dated 1949) regarding a land survey dispute. 1 oversize folder.
4. Governor’s Residence Council. Photographs (undated, 1970-1997). 7 folders.
5. Kanabec County. Probate case files, dated 1895-1920, of the Probate Court; deed records, dated 1859-1965 (bulk dated 1859-1902), and birth, death and marriage records, dated 1880-1998, of the Recorder; birth, death, and marriage compilations, dated 1884-2004, of the Kanabec County Historical Society. 48 reels of 35mm duplicate negative microfilm.
6. Lincoln, Lyon, Murray and Pipestone Counties Public Health Services. Meeting minutes and agendas (dated 1978-2011). 2 boxes.
7. Natural Resources Department. Records (dated 1934-2011) of various divisions of the department, and from the period (pre-1971) when the department was known as the Conservation Department. 23 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 oversize roll.
8. Ramsey County. Sheriff. Expense document concerning the execution of William Williams, 1905-1906. 2 items in folder.
9. Secretary of State. Land resurvey field notes and plat (2010-2011) for sections in Township 144, Range 38 West, 5th Principal Meridian. 1 folder, 1 oversized folder.
Back to Recent Acquisitions.
May 1, 2012
