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.
Library Cart Judging Competition
Chickens
Did you know that September is National Chicken Month?
What great timing, as it allows us to share this great photo from the Minnesota State Fair in 1926. It is of a man and little girl with their prize-winning chickens. The photo was taken by Paul Hamilton.
Foshaw Tower
The Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis was dedicated on this day in 1929.
In honor of that, we share this postcard of the Foshay from 1965.
Foshay Tower
The Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis was dedicated on this day in 1929.
In honor of that, we share this postcard of the Foshay from 1965.
The Unchosen Ones
This is a fabulous State Fair-related fine press book by R.J Kern, "The Unchosen Ones." The MNHS Library hold copy number one of 200.
"The Unchosen Ones takes place on the sidelines of Minnesota county fair animal contests. These county fairs lead up to the Minnesota State Fair, one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world. The project consists of over 65 portraits made at 10 Minnesota county fairs in 2016. The photographs showcase the subject facing the camera, allowing the viewer to decide what connects and distinguishes these subjects. With a serial and systematic approach, the human condition is exposed in real-time."
State Fair Ticket
Votes for Women
On this date in 1919 the state legislature ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States granting women the right to vote.
In honor of that we present this triangular yellow women's suffrage badge, printed "Votes For Women," which was used in 1919.
Train crossing a bridge
This photograph from 1910 shows a train crossing bridge.
Check out the detail in this photo! Amazing.
Streetcar between St. Paul and Stillwater
On August 23 in 1899 the first Interurban streetcar service between St. Paul and Stillwater started. The ride cost thirty cents and lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes.
The clearest image of the route can be seen on this map, The Twin Cities: their famous lakes river, parks and resorts, from 1907.
Ice Cream Poster
Today's Item of the Day is a poster for Crescent Registered Pasteurized Ice Cream.
This is a poster that we can really get behind - ice cream is essential!
Maybe even more surprising than its message is that it was created during World War I (1914 - 1918)! It’s very different from most posters of that era.