Collecting pieces of Minnesota's past for the future
About
The Minnesota Historical Society preserves and makes available a wide range of materials chronicling Minnesota's history and culture. The goals of the Collections Department are to collect and preserve; provide access and interpretation; and engage in education and outreach. This blog is a tool to share these stories and let people know what is happening in the department.
Title IX Library Lobby Display
After taking a break during the pandemic and the reopening of the Library, we have a new small display in the Library Lobby!
It celebrates the 50th anniversary of what is commonly referred to as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school that receives funding from the federal government.
The display contains photos, books, and artifacts relating to women and girls in sports. Take a look if you're in the vicinity!
This photos show here is the Women's hockey team from the University of Minnesota in 1925.
National Lighthouse Day
This coming Sunday, August 7, is National Lighthouse Day.
To recognize that we share this United States Light House Service uniform hat, worn by Orren Young, the first head light keeper at Split Rock Light Station.
The wool flannel hat has a lighthouse badge, an oilcloth visor, and a patent leather chin strap. It was made by D. Klein and Brothers in Philadelphia and used between 1910-1928.
Minnehaha Map
This is a map of from our collection of Minnehaha Park, showing land for sale by the Minnehaha Park Syndicate in 1891.
Mississippi Steamboats
This carte-de-viste shows a gathering of steamboats on the Mississippi in 1865.
It forms part of Views of Dakota, Ojibway and Winnebago Indians and other early Minnesota views, Reserve Album 58, from Whitney’s Gallery.
Equality Button
35W Bridge Plans
On this date fifteen years ago the 35W Bridge collapsed.
In remembrance of that, today we share one of the original bridge plan from our collection. This is just one in a series of over 90 sheets relating to this bridge.
Learn more about the 35W Bridge in this MNopedia article.
https://www.mnopedia.org/event/i-35w-bridge-collapse
Castone Painting
These are the last days of our fantastic "Art Speaks" exhibit! It closes July 31!
On view is this painting is called "River Scene." It is an oil on canvas by George Castone, 1914.
Born in Missouri, George William Castone was the son of a formerly enslaved woman. In 1911, after years working as a butler in Evanston, Illinois, Castone moved to St. Paul with his wife and four children. He took up painting and worked as a waiter at the Ryan Hotel. He was nine days short of his 100th birthday when he died.
Post #5
These are the last days of our fantastic "Art Speaks" exhibit! It closes July 31!
On view is this fantastic photograph by Xavier Tavera from his series titled "Post #5", 2012-2015.
It features Lorenzo Rangel wearing a veterans overseas cap and rolling up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo.
10,000 Lakes Pamphlet
This adorable little pamphlet was printed in 1925 by the Ten Thousand Lakes of Minnesota Association.
It served dual purposes in promoting Minnesota both to tourists and business people.
Parasol
With all the heat and sun of late we found ourselves wondering: will parasols make a come back?
This photo, taken by C.J. Hibbard, shows Mrs. Courtenay with a parasol in the garden, 1921.