Recent State Archives Acquisitions: February 2009

Background Information

A collecting priority of the State Archives is documenting the State of Minnesota’s protection of the natural environment, and three units of records added this month address that priority.

Received from the Attorney General/Environmental Protection Division are administrative rules proceedings files, dated 1972-1992, concerning aquaculture facilities, solid waste management facilities, and other topics; correspondence, dated 1980-1988, regarding low level radioactive waste; and environmental quality review files, dated 1974-1983.

Also received were records dated 1940s-2001, of long-time Natural Resources Department Commissioner Joseph Alexander, including selected photographs, awards and certificates, and subject files. Mr. Alexander started his career in natural resources management as a Minnesota game warden, and was the commissioner of the Natural Resources Department for the years 1978-1991.

Documenting a slightly different type of environmental change are the Railroad Abandonment Summaries from the Transportation Department. For many years the railroads have abandoned railroad right of ways, and turned the land over to the state and local governments to convert to hiking trails, bike paths, transit ways and other uses. The Transportation Department had a significant role in monitoring the railroad abandonments, and this month the Department transferred railroad abandonment summaries dated 1972-1996; the summaries complement other railroad abandonment files already in the State Archives.

Documenting the Minnesota Legislature is another collecting priority of the State Archives, and Senate Bills, on microfilm, for the 2007-2008 legislative session were transferred; the bills continue an existing series already preserved in the State Archives.

 

Acquisitions

 

1. Attorney General. Environmental Protection Division. Administrative rules proceedings files (1972-1992) concerning aquaculture facilities, high pressure piping, solid waste management facilities, workers compensation, and other topics; correspondence (1980-1988) regarding low level radioactive waste; environmental quality review files (1974-1983). 12 boxes.

2. Natural Resources Department. Records of Commissioner Joseph Alexander, ca. 1940s-2001. Include selected photographs, awards and certificates, and subject files of this long-time and well-known commissioner of the Natural Resources Department. Videotapes (1990s) of the television show, Environmental Journal, which was hosted by Mr. Alexander are also included. 4 boxes.

3. Transportation Department. Railroad Abandonment Summaries, 1972-1996. Summary information regarding railroad abandonments in Minnesota, including decisions, certificates and orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission, maps, and correspondence. 4 folders.

4. Legislature. Senate. Senate bills, engrossments, resolutions and concurrent resolutions for the 2007-2008 legislative session. 7 reels of 16mm master negative that continues a microfilm set of Senate Bills dating back to 1957.

 

Back to Recent Acquisitions.

 

March 9, 2009