Recent State Archives Acquisitions: August 2011
Background Information
Government records added this month to the State Archives collection relate to contemporary issues, will be of significant research use to our patrons, and help fulfill collecting priorities of the State Archives. With the assistance of the NHPRC backlog reduction project staff, many of these records are already fully processed, cataloged and shelved, and now ready for immediate use by our patrons. The project has greatly enabled greater access to and use of Minnesota government records preserved in the State Archives.
The daughter of the late Sandra J. Hale, former commissioner of the state Administration Department, donated records dated circa 1969-2004. Ms. Hale was the Administration Department Commissioner for the years 1983-1991 for Governor Rudy Perpich. Commissioner Hale was known for developing, implementing, and promoting the STEP (Strive Toward Excellence in Performance) management philosophy and tool, which sought to improve the quality, quantity and cost effectiveness of state government services. Records concerning STEP are included in this acquisition, plus selected subject files, correspondence, biographical information, photographs, and speeches. The issue of reforming state government is a current topic, but one that has been under consideration for over 20 years.
With the unfortunate fire at the Isanti County Historical Society, and the destruction of archival records in their collection, records received a few years ago from the Isanti County Auditor have special value for researchers. Among the records received, the most significant are tax lists (dated 1869-1980).
Documenting the state legislature is a collecting priority of the State Archives, and records (dated 2003-2005) of the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (previously known as the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources) were transferred; the records continue existing record series dating back to the 1960s.
Another collecting priority, and an on-going contemporary issue, is documenting how Minnesota government has protected the state’s natural environment. Helping fulfill these two goals, are records (dated 1996-2011) of the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District, specifically records dealing with a proposed water management plan.
Researchers will be pleased to use a variety of records transferred by Sibley County, and may be used for different research topics. The most significant records transferred are tax lists (dated 1863-1901), but several different types of records were added to the State Archives; see below for details. A truly unusual record is included in the Henderson Township justice of the peace docket book-a record of grasshoppers collected. Every summer from 1873 to 1877, Minnesota farmers saw their crops destroyed by swarms of grasshoppers. The five-year plague in the 1870s was particularly devastating, leaving thousands of families without the basic necessities, including seed for the next year's crop. The information, dated June-July 1875, includes the name of person, pounds of grasshoppers turned in, and the bounty amount paid (2 cents per pound). Grasshopper plagues were a disaster for farmers, comparable to current day disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and forest fires. In a sense, the bounty paid for destroyed grasshoppers was a form of disaster relief. During the four week period recorded in the volume, 84,896 pounds of grasshoppers were turned in, for a total payment of $1,697.92.
Also of great use to researchers are Willmar State Hospital patient index cards (dated ca. 1907-2006). The patient index cards will enhance access to other records of the Hospital preserved in the State Archives, and are regularly used by Library patrons. The Willmar State Hospital was established 1907 as the Hospital Farm for Inebriates. It admitted patients who voluntarily sought treatment for addiction to alcohol or drugs. In 1917, the hospital expanded its program to include treatment of the mentally ill and became known as the Asylum for the Insane at Willmar. The hospital provided care and treatment for patients who were transferred from other state institutions until 1951, when it became a receiving hospital.
Finally, Winona County (one of Minnesota’s oldest counties) transferred particularly valuable records, with records dating from the territorial period and early statehood years. The records are particularly useful for family and community history research, and include assessment rolls and tax lists (dated 1858-1903).
Acquisitions
1. Administration Department. Commissioner’s Office. Records (dated ca. 1969-2004; bulk dated 1980s-1990s) of Sandra J. Hale. 2 boxes.
2. Isanti County. Tax lists (dated 1869-1901, 2910-1921, 1930-1931, 1940-1941, 1950-1951, 1960-1961, 1970-1971, 1980), school district plats (undated, 1894-1951), school petitions (1880s-1890s), wolf bounties (1893-1899) of the Auditor; assessment rolls (dated 1871-1882) of the Assessor; School District No. 44 treasurer’s books (dated 1939-1950). 46 boxes, 2 oversize volumes.
3. Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. Minutes and meeting files (dated 2003-2005), and project files (dated 2003). 10 boxes.
4. Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. Minutes and agenda packets (2005-2010) of the Board of Managers; and proposed water management plan hearing records (dated 1996-2011), including correspondence, hearing documents, memoranda, planning proposals, reports, and project planning files. 5 boxes.
5. Sibley County. Tax lists (1863-1901), delinquent tax lists (1863-1875), wolf bounty records (1884-1897), record of persons committed to public institutions (1900-1914), school district organization and consolidation records (1952-1976), and school district plats (1876-1940s) of the Auditor; assessment rolls (dated 1863, 1869, 1950) of the Assessor that are missing from the microfilmed set of assessment rolls preserved in the State Archives; register of criminal actions (1884-1922) of the County Attorney; jail registers (1876-1934) of the Sheriff; clerk’s book (1875-1885) of School District No. 11; justice of the peace docket (1868-1871) of Henderson Township. 41 boxes, 1 oversize volume.
6. Willmar State Hospital. Patient index cards, dated ca. 1907-2006. Information includes patient number, date committed, residence, birth date, gender, race, religion, social security number, discharge or transfer date, diagnosis, and family contacts. 22 boxes.
7. Winona County. Winona County. Assessment rolls (dated 1858-1903) of the Assessor; tax lists (dated 1856-1901), warrant registers (1859-1927), lists of county and local government officers (dated 1869-1957), record of roads (1855-1897), school district plats (undated), wolf bounty record (1893-1897), agricultural extension committee meeting minutes (1923-1970), and mother’s pension record (dated 1913-1918) of the Auditor; special state aid record (dated 1912-1913) of the County Superintendent of Schools; financial journal (dated 1856-1862) and trial balances (dated 1916-1932, 1969-1972) of the Treasurer. 52 boxes, 9 oversize volumes.
Back to Recent Acquisitions.
September 2, 2011
