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.
Dress your pet up Day!
It has come to our attention that January 14, this coming Friday, is National Dress Your Pet Up Day. This naturally led us to wonder what we might have to share along these lines; here is just one example.
This photo show an unidentified man holding a dog in a sweater. This forms part of the Rondo Neighborhood photograph collection. The photo taken by Marvin Anderson in 1964.
We encourage you to share photos of your fur friends here if you would like!
Artillery Observer's Kit
United States Army artillery observer's kit owned by Charles P. Clark. It includes a map case, ruler, and trajectory scale. The leather map case folds out to reveal an interior lined with yellowed transparent celluloid, under which maps can be inserted. It is dated 1917 and used in World War I.
An Artillery Observer is responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire in battle.
Voyageurs National Park
Tomorrow, January 8, is the anniversary of President Richard Nixon signing a bill creating Voyageurs National Park in 1971.
This photo shows Governor Wendell Anderson with former governors Harold LeVander, Elmer L. Andersen, and Karl Rolvaag and Representative John Blatnik in the governor's Reception Room, at the passing of the Voyageurs National Park Bill.
Learn more about it in this MNopedia article:
https://www.mnopedia.org/place/voyageurs-national-park
Recent Acquisitions Newsletter, November & December 2021
Click on the image to check out our new Recent Acquisitions Newsletter!
This is a double edition - two months!
Enjoy!
Recent Acquisitions Newsletter, November & December 2021
Click on the image to check out our new Recent Acquisitions Newsletter!
This is a double edition - two months!
Enjoy!
Walter Mondale's Birthday
Today is former Vice-President Walter Mondale's birthday; he was one of the many people we lost in 2021.
This is his membership medal for the Minnesota Young Democrats' Club, circa 1949-1950.
Kid's Winter Coat
This hand-embroidered green wool coat was made by Bessie Chaney for her granddaughter in Minneapolis in 1952. The red lining is also quilted. Coat was made as part of a winter snow set.
New Year
Happy New Year!
This 1928 calendar was created to promote the Northern Pacific Railway and its route through Yellowstone National Park.
"A Pretty New Year's Gift..."
This fascinating, tiny book is titled: “A pretty New-Year's gift; or, Entertaining histories : for the amusement and instruction of young ladies and gentlemen, in winter evenings.” The author is “Solomon Sobersides,” clearly an instructional nom de plume.
Originally published as “Christmas tales for the amusement and instruction of young ladies and gentlemen” in Glasgow in 1782, this second edition seen here was published in Worchester, MA in 1796. The idea behind the book was a collection of stories to be given as a gift to entertain young people and keep them out of trouble during the long winter nights.
