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.
Two curlers getting their rock measured at the St. Paul Curling Club, January 13, 1951
ID: M.15.H.3 Packet 48 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11180830
Hallie Q. Brown Nursery School
ID: L3.1 r53 (Locator Number), YR1974.3968 (Accession Number)
Link: https://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10740084
The thunder before the storm: the autobiography of Clyde Bellecourt
On this day in 2022, Clyde Bellecourt, one of the founders and leaders of the American Indian Movement, died in Minneapolis. He was part of the Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington, D.C. in 1972, and the occupation at Wounded Knee in 1973. His autobiogrphy, "The Thunder Before the Storm," was published by MNHS Press in 2016 and is available at the Gale Family Library.
ID: E99.C6 B425 2016 (call number)
Link: https://mnpals-mhs.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01MNPALS_MHS/ge68j0/alma990087298730104294
Car and tree covered in ice after a January storm
Snowy enough for you? It's been an impressively wintery year, much like 1940, when this picture or an ice-caked car and tree was taken in January.
ID: M.18.C.3 Packet 78 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11118953
Newsboy distributing January 1937 Minneapolis Journal newspaper
Before we had the internet, reading the news in winter meant somebody was going to have to go out in the cold. This image shows a newsboy selling copies of the Minneapolis Journal on the street in January 1937.
ID: M.18.A.1 Packet 7 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11113488
Minneapolis Park Board Physical Fitness Class
We are one week into the new year, and these Minneapolis residents are here to remind you to keep up with those fitness resolutions! In 1942, a Minneapolis Park Board physical fitness class helped these citizens stay fit.
ID: GV3.47 r3 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10696861
Mondale button
On this day, Jan. 5, 1928, Walter Mondale was born in Ceylon, Minnesota. One of the state's most accomplished political figures, he was Vice-President of the United States under President Carter, and helped redefine the office. This button is from his unsuccessful 1984 campaign for president.
ID: 1998.299.1 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10297151
New Year Pow Wow button
Today's collection item is this button promoting a New Year Pow Wow celebrating the start of 1992. It is likely from the White Earth Reservation.
ID: 2003.88.12 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10300061
U of MN Gophers at the Rose Bowl
The Minnesota Gophers men's football team plays in the Pinstripe Bowl today. As we cheer them on, we share this video clip of the on-field celebration after another bowl game - the 1962 Rose Bowl, which the Gophers won 21-3 over the UCLA Bruins. From the KSTP archive.
ID: 15044 (Video Clip Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10489254
Handbill for New Year's Eve concert
Today's New Year's party promotion is for a 1981 concert featuring a number of Minneapolis musical mainstays of the era. Were any of you there that night?
ID: 2003.92.19 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10157253