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.
African American Music Month!
June is African American Music Appreciation Month!
It was initially created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to recognize and celebrate the African American musical influences on all types of music.
In honor of that we share this sign advertising the Sounds of Blackness, a Twin Cities-based music ensemble led by choir director Gary Hines. Three of the group's recordings have won Grammy awards. The sign was originally displayed on a bus operated by the Jefferson Transportation Company of Minneapolis during the 1970s.
Patrick Coleman!
Today's Item of the Day is not an item, rather a person!
Our dear colleague Patrick Coleman's birthday is today. Since he is retiring in early August, this is our last chance to celebrate/embarrass him!
We are not sharing his age, but he has worked here for 43 years as Acquisitions Librarian, making sure the MNHS Gale Family Library is always up to date on the best and most important printed works relating to our state and the upper midwest.
He is a font of knowledge and we will miss him!
Happy birthday!
Boats!
This lithograph print made by Alexander Oja is titled "Government Boat (copy 1)."
It shows a riverside scene with a small boat drawn up next to large stern-wheeler. Behind it on the shore is a locomotive, several buildings, and grain elevators.
It was made for the WPA art project in 1941.
Camping!
It's the time of year for camping adventures here in the great north!
This postcard is a generic one from 1940 showing several fun camping activities; there's a blank to fill in where one is sending the card from. This happened to come from Aitken.
Father's Day
We hope everyone had a good Father's Day yesterday!
Today we share this Poppin' Fresh Father's Day Sugar Cookies Refrigerated Dough packaging. It was created circa 1980.
Hope all you dads out there got cookies too!
Happy Juneteenth!
Juneteenth is the holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery in the United States as announced on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas.
Juneteenth has been celebrated as a community holiday for over 30 years in the Twin Cities; Minneapolis declared it an official holiday this year.
This "Minnesota Soul" T-shirt was designed and produced by Lee Jordan. It was sold at the 1990 Juneteenth celebration, Minneapolis.
Lake Superior
Too Hot!
We know it's been hot lately, but at least we haven't been driven to this yet!
This photo shows people sleeping outside in St. Paul parks to avoid the heat in 1936.
Anniversary of the Duluth Lynchings
On this day, June 15, 1920, police arrested several young black men accused of raping a white woman. That evening, three of them – Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie – were taken from jail by a mob and lynched. Learn more about the tragedy here.
https://www.mnhs.org/duluthlynchings/
Swimming!
Who doesn't want to swim these days!
This photo show people swimming at Fair Hills Resort in Detroit Lakes, ca. 1930.