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.
Nocturne
This 1950 screen print by Clement Haupers is titled "Nocture."
It shows a view from an interior through a window; in the foreground is a table with vase and 1 flower. A full moon and clouds can be seen through the window.
Boca Chica Menu
Who doesn't love an old menu?
Boca Chica was founded by Guillermo and Gloria Frias in 1964. This menu is from 1966.
Check out these prices!
Book Lovers Day
Today is International Book Lovers Day!
Oh, what to pick out of the over 500,000 printed pieces in the MNHS Library Collection...it's hard!
When in doubt, go with the earliest. This map came from the book by Father Louis Hennepin, sometimes called "Minnesota's first author," titled "A Description of Louisiana, newly discovered to the South-West of New Franc." It was published in Paris in 1683 and detailed his travels; life among the Dakota; and the "discovery" of St. Anthony Falls. However, from the get-go the book was a blend of myth and fact, which only got more elaborate with each subsequent editions. Regardless, it is still an early, important work that fed the European dreams of the New World.
Lewis's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Today is our beloved colleague Patrick Coleman's last day before retirement.
In honor of that, we present this Little Blue Book version of Sinclair Lewis's Nobel Prize speech, published in 1931. It was entitled "The American Fear of Literature."
The goal of Little Blue Books, which were cheap and widely available in the early 20th century, was to spread great literature and ideas as widely as possible, to as many people as possible. The size was such that they would fit into one's pocket.
Enjoy retirement and keep sharing those ideas, Patrick!
Baseball Player
This photo is of a St. Paul Saints baseball player signing baseballs in 1940.
It forms part of Minneapolis and St. Paul Newspaper Negative Collection.
Hair Jewelry
Every so often we need to pause and remember that this was a thing: hair jewelry.
These pieces, including matching brooch and the earrings, were made from the hair of the donor's mother and father in the late 19th century, probably around 1880.
Hair jewelry was very popular at that time both as a memento, hobby, and fashion.
Duck Boat
This green painted wood duck boat was made by John Freet of Parker's Prairie Boat Works located in Parker's Prairie, circa 1933.
MTV
Forty years ago this past weekend MTV came upon the cable scene. We have one item relating to MTV in our collection: a 1994 promotional booklet for MTV Latino, including several envelopes containing many full color, glossy promotional sheets describing the different shows on MTV Latino, in both Spanish and English and an autographed photo of Daisy Fuentes.
We have this because it was created by Uno Hispanic Branding, a Minneapolis firm.
Ice Cream
Dog Days
It's officially the Dog Days of Summer - those days associated with prolonged stretches of heat, drought, and supposedly mad dogs?
So thinking about dogs we share this drawing from 1910 by Alice Hoag.
It is sort of reminiscent "Pokey Little Puppy," isn't it?