Recent State Archives Acquisitions: November 2012
Background Information
Records added this month to the State Archives collection will be useful for such topics as consumer protection and public safety, protecting the civil rights of individuals and family history, and documenting an important and historic portion of the state’s transportation infrastructure.
The Commerce Department transferred meeting minutes and selected subject files (dated 1991-2000) of the Building Contractor Advisory Board. The Board was established in 1991 as an advisory council to the Commissioner of Commerce, and was integrally involved in the implementation of the Residential Contracting Licensing Program. Also, the Board advised the Commissioner about education requirements, local compliance problems, and additional areas requiring licensure.
Received from the Electricity Board are meeting minutes and agenda packets (dated 1968-2008), rulemaking files (dated 1967-2005), selected subject files (dated 1899-2007), and published records and reports 1899-1999). The Board, established in 1899 was initially mandated by the legislature to provide for the public’s safety in the rapidly expanding use of electrical power. Over the past 100 years the Board’s responsibilities have expanded to include adopting the electrical code, including any amendments; adopting rules that regulate the licensure or registration of the electrical industry; and issuing final interpretation of the electrical code. The State Archives collection preserves selected records of other State of Minnesota regulatory and licensing boards ( e.g., Barbers, Boxing, Cosmetology, Dentistry, Medical Examiners, Nursing), but the records of the Electricity Board are probably the most comprehensive. The meeting minutes continue an existing set dating from 1899.
Court records for northwestern Minnesota are underrepresented in the State Archives collection, and records were transferred from the district courts in Kittson and Marshall Counties. The records include Kittson County District Court civil (dated 1880-1903), and criminal (dated 1880-1903, 1932-1960) case files. The Marshall County District Court transferred civil case files (dated 1928-1955) that continue an existing set of case files, dating from 1881, preserved in the State Archives. Such case files are important to protect the civil and property rights of individual Minnesotans, but are also very valuable for family history and local history research.
Also useful for family history and local history research, are records transferred by the City of Ada. Included in the transfer are civil and criminal dockets (dated 1890-1963) of the justice court and municipal court, and lock-up registers (dated 1936-1963) of the police department. The dockets pre-date and inter-file with an existing set of docket books preserved in the State Archives.
Former Lt. Governor Marlene Johnson, who served with Governor Rudy Perpich, donated five handwritten journals (dated 1983-1990) that inter-file with an existing set of her handwritten journals preserved in the State Archives. Lt. Governor Johnson used these journals during meetings, and in preparation for meetings and for follow-up. The detailed journals contain notes from budget briefings, strategy sessions, and meetings with Governor Perpich, the Governor’s office staff, state agency heads, state legislators, the Governor’s Cabinet, the management team, and other persons. These journals also include to-do lists, notes for speeches, names of contacts, lists of follow-up tasks, major topics and issues, questions, quotes, and notes concerning her political activity and future plans.
The Tax Court transferred a closed (completed) decision file (dated 2002-2004) that inter-files with the set Tax Court closed decision files (dated 1939-2009) preserved in the State Archives collection. The Tax Court is an independent agency with the Department of Revenue, but not subject to the supervision or control of the commissioner. It consists of three members, each appointed by the governor for a six-year term. The court has the power to review and re-determine orders or decisions of the commissioner upon appeal. Appeals may be made in respect to taxes, fees, or assessments, by an affected person, political subdivision of the state, or by the attorney general on behalf of the state.
Received from the Transportation Department are the original drawings (some in color) of roadside structures (dated 1933-1972) for structures such as waysides, rest areas, parking lots, buildings, signs, retaining walls, and stone markers. Many of the designs were done by, or in cooperation with, Minnesota landscape architect Arthur Nichols. Many of the structures represented in the drawings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps or other Federal relief agencies in the 1930s. To date, the Transportation Department has identified 110 roadside structures within the right-of-way of Minnesota’s highways; many of the structures (56 or more) are either eligible for, or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 75-80 of the 110 roadside structures are represented in this collection. Notable examples of roadside structures include the Cascade River Overlook, several locations in the Garrison area around Mille Lacs Lake, the Highway 169 wayside adjacent to the Oliver H. Kelley Farm Historic Site, and the state line markers on the highways as one enters Minnesota.
Press releases (dated 1941-1954) of the U.S. Selective Service Minnesota Headquarters were transferred from the Library collection with the assistance of Collections Management Department staff. The press releases inter-file with an existing set preserved in the State Archives.
Acquisitions
1. Commerce Department. Building Contractor Advisory Board. Meeting minutes and selected subject files (dated 1991-2000). 2 boxes.
2. Electricity Board. Meeting minutes and agenda packets (dated 1968-2008), rulemaking files (dated 1967-2005), selected subject files (dated 1899-2007), and published records and reports 1899-1999). 15 boxes.
3. Kittson County. District Court. Civil (dated 1880-1903), and criminal (dated 1880-1903, 1932-1960) case files. 13 boxes.
4. Lieutenant Governor. Marlene Johnson. Five handwritten journals (dated 1983-1990). 5 bound volumes.
5. Marshall County. District Court. Civil case files (dated 1928-1955) that continue an existing set of case files dating from 1881. 25 boxes.
6. Norman County. City of Ada. Civil and criminal dockets (dated 1890-1963) of the justice court and municipal court, and lock-up registers (dated 1936-1963) of the police department. 6 boxes.
7. Tax Court. Closed [completed] decision file: docket # 7521 (dated2002-2004). 1 folder.
8. Transportation Department. Original drawings (some in color) of roadside structures (dated 1933-1972) for such structures as waysides, rest areas, parking lots, buildings, signs, retaining walls, and stone markers. 4 oversize folders.
9. U.S. Selective Service Minnesota Headquarters. Press releases (dated 1941-1954). 1 folder.
Back to Recent Acquisitions.
December 10, 2012
