Recent State Archives Acquisitions: October 2011
Background Information
A wide variety of research topics are represented in this month’s government records acquisitions. While most of the records were transferred by Minnesota state and local government agencies, some of the acquisitions were purchased or donated by private individuals. Many of the records continue, or inter-file with, existing records already preserved in the State Archives.
Useful for documenting the policies and delivery of public assistance of health and human services by a local government are the meeting minutes of the Chisago County Health and Human Services Board. The records continue an existing series dating back to 1918, when it was previously known as the Chisago County Child Welfare Board.
The delivery of public assistance at the state level is documented in Control Board correspondence (dated 1903-1915), and concerns licensing and inspection with private adoption agencies and orphanages located in the Minneapolis and St Paul area. Names of children are not present in the correspondence. The correspondence was donated by a private individual. The Control Board was a predecessor to the current day state Human Services Department.
Purchased at an auction, is a proclamation of Governor Henry A. Swift. The proclamation (issued November 10, 1863) proclaims November 26, 1863, a day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation was issued in accordance with a proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln proclaiming November 26, 1863 as a national day of Thanksgiving. Prior to 1863, the dates of thanksgiving had been decided by each state on various dates. Prior to this year’s Thanksgiving Day, the proclamation will be digitized and posted on-line with an accompanying blog.
Century College library staff transferred selected subject files and published records (dated 1958-2009) concerning fire safety, training and protection of the Fire, Information Research and Education (FIRE) Center. Also, selected annual reports and published records of local government firefighting agencies were received. The FIRE Center was established in 1968, and at one time was a unit of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The FIRE Center was discontinued in circa 2005. It was known for housing one of the world’s few publicly accessible libraries dedicated solely to fire-related research and information.
Valuable for family history research are patient index cards (dated 1930s-2000) of the Moose Lake State Hospital. The patient index cards include information, such as patient name and file number, date admitted, birth date, religion, and date discharged or transferred. The Moose Lake State Hospital started admitting patients in 1938, mostly transfers from the Fergus Falls and St. Peter state hospitals. The patient index cards will enhance access to Moose Lake State Hospital records already preserved in the State Archives.
Also useful for family history research are pupil record cards (dated 1930s-1940s) of School District No. 87 in Pine County; the records were donated by a private donor.
The Ramsey County Community Corrections Department transferred published records and reports (dated 1953-2005; bulk dated 1990s) of the Community Corrections Department, County Attorney, Community Human Services Department, Detention and Corrections Authority, and Probation Department. The records continue, or inter-file with, existing records already preserved in the State Archives.
A State Archives volunteer found a document among the records of the State Auditor that she is reviewing, arranging and describing. The document, the Articles of Incorporation (dated 1868) of the Ramsey County Agricultural Society, will be added to an existing set of records of the Ramsey County Register of Deeds preserved in the State Archives.
Additional land re-survey records (dated 1991-2011) of the Secretary of State were transferred. The records continue the existing set of land survey and land re-survey records, dating back to the 1840s, preserved in the State Archives.
Acquisitions
1. Chisago County. Health and Human Services Board. Board meeting minutes (dated 1996-2005), and meeting minutes (dated 1996-2006) of the Chisago County Citizen Review Panel. 2 boxes.
2. Control Board. Correspondence (dated 1903-1915) concerning licensing and inspection with private adoption agencies and orphanages located in the Minneapolis and St Paul area. 1 folder.
3. Governor Henry A. Swift. Proclamation (issued November 10, 1863) proclaiming November 26, 1863, a day of Thanksgiving. 1 item in folder.
4. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Fire, Information Research and Education (FIRE) Center selected subject files and published records (dated 1958-2009) concerning fire safety, training and protection. 2 boxes.
5. Moose Lake State Hospital. Patient index cards, dated 1930s-2000. 10 boxes.
6. Pine County. School District No. 87 (Kerrick Township). Pupil record cards, dated 1930s-1940s. 1 folder.
7. Ramsey County. Published records and reports (dated 1953-2005; bulk dated 1990s) of the Community Corrections Department, County Attorney, Community Human Services Department, Detention and Corrections Authority, and Probation Department. 1 box.
8. Ramsey County. Register of Deeds. Articles of Incorporation (dated 1868) of the Ramsey County Agricultural Society. 1 item in folder.
9. Secretary of State. Land re-survey records (dated 1991-2011). 2 folders, 2 oversize folders.
Back to Recent Acquisitions.
November 1, 2011
