Recent State Archives Acquisitions: January 2009
Background Information
Diverse records were added this month to the State Archives collection, and enhance existing records already preserved in the State Archives.
Governor Anderson’s family transferred the records from his home, which include speeches (1965-1980), schedules (1976), subject files (1950s-1978), correspondence (1960-2005), photographs (1930s-2004), drawings and political cartoons (1971-1982), awards and certificates (1950-1971), and scrapbooks (1953-1977). Governor Anderson served as Minnesota’s governor for the period 1971-1976, and the bulk of the records are from his gubernatorial terms, with some notable exceptions. There are selected photographs of the governor and his family, and scrapbooks dating from his childhood through his U.S. Senate term. Also included are the governor’s high school diploma and his U.S. Army officer commissions, plus several pieces of original artwork by editorial cartoonist, Jerry Fearing. The records will nicely complement existing records of Governor Wendell Anderson already preserved in the State Archives. The State Archives collection preserves records of all of the Minnesota Territory and State of Minnesota governors from Alexander Ramsey to Jesse Ventura.
Records, dated 1940-2004, of the Moose Lake State Hospital that is now closed, were transferred to the State Archives. These records continue, and inter-file with existing records of the hospital already preserved in the State Archives collection. One of the State Archives’ collecting strengths is records of the state hospitals (now called regional treatment centers) which over the past few years have closed or been significantly downsized; the records are particularly valuable for use by family historians, and other researchers.
A Municipal Board (now defunct) file regarding the Village of Gem Lake, that was missing when a set of records was transferred to the State Archives two years ago was transferred this month. The set of records document the State of Minnesota’s oversight of annexation, consolidation, detachment and incorporation activities in Minnesota cities for the period 1964-1999.
The Secretary of State’s office transferred records of the December 15 Electoral College Assembly for the 2008 presidential election. Included are the certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors, 10 elector ballots for presidential candidate Barack Obama, 10 elector ballots for vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, a news release, the assembly program, a color photograph of the 10 electors and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and an engraved pen of the type used for the signings. This Collections Department blog pictures some of the items transferred.
Acquisitions
1. Governor. Wendell R. Anderson. Records, dated ca. 1930s-2005, including speeches, schedules, subject files, correspondence, photographs, and scrapbooks. 9 boxes.
2. Moose Lake State Hospital. Records, dated 1940-2004, of this now closed state hospital. Records include admission registers, dated 1962-1995; and selected records (meeting minutes, reports, and policy and procedure manuals) of hospital committees and administrative units, dated 1971-2004. 7 boxes, 2 volumes.
3. Municipal Board. File D-101 for the Village of Gem Lake, 1972-1974. This file was missing from a set of Municipal Board records transferred in 2006. 1 file folder.
4. Secretary of State. Records of the December 15 Electoral College Assembly for the 2008 presidential election. 1 file folder.
Back to Recent Acquisitions.
February 10, 2009
