State Archives Collection

No new accessions were added to the State Archives this month due to staffing capacity.  One collection was deaccessioned from the Minnesota Historical Society Institutional Archives and returned to the originating department.

Museum Collections Department: Accession Files, 1898-1969.    

The museum accession files are made up of 8 boxes of paper files from 1898 to 1969, as well as the Ayer Estate accession files which go up to 1982. This encompasses the first 10,000 accession files for the collections department, up to year 1961 at which point the numbering system was changed to the year and sequential number. At the time of transfer, there was not a full time employee in the Collections Department who routinely accessed the accessions files. Due to staffing and operational changes, there is now a regular need for these materials within the originating department. These materials were transferred to institutional archives in 1989 as MHS 1990-4. Based on the available records of the initial transfer, it seems that these accession files were transferred to the Institutional Archives before the historical society moved out of 1500 Mississippi. At that time, these records would have been housed in the same building as the Collections department and would have been much more accessible than the current set up provides. It is no longer the practice of the Institutional Archives to accept the transfer of accession files, as those materials are considered vital for the day to day functioning of the collections department.

Records added this month to the State Archives are welcome additions to the collection.    

The Education Department set includes a variety of standardized tests used at the elementary through high school levels by the Minnesota Department of Education from 1996 to 2019. These are the first materials of this type to be added to the Minnesota State Archive. Standardized tests have shaped the education of America and Minnesota particularly since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. These tests provide an insight into how education standards and requirements have changed over the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, and notably document the early adaptation of standardized tests for younger students in the 1990s.

Department of Revenue materials include correspondence, meeting minutes, and subject files for commissioners and assistant commissioners for the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Subjects represented in these materials include the 2011 government shutdown, as well as tax reforms and bills concerning sales, business, individual income and property taxes. 

• Department of Education, Statewide Assessment Tests. Records, 1996-2019. Basic Skills Tests, 1996-2009. Reading Tests, 2011-2013. Test of Emerging Academic English, 1999-2011. Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) 1998-2019. Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) 2010-2019. Limited English Proficiency Assessments, 1999-2004. Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma, 2009-2015.
• Department of Revenue, Commissioner’s Records: Cynthia Bauerly 2016-2019; Ward Einess 2001-2010; Myron Frans 2012-2015; Keith Getschel 1991-2012; Beth Kadoun 1993-2010; Jack Mansun 1994-2010; Matt Massman 1999, 2007-2012; Dan Salomone 1999-2013. Subject Files 2007-2010.

A wide variety of functions and topics, useful for a variety of research topics, are represented in records added to the State Archives this month.  

• Isanti County. Probate Court Records, 1889-1907. Probate Order Books B and C.
• Ramsey County. Human Services. Records, 1958-2018. Annual Reports, 1971-2018. Child Well-Being reports, 1986-2005. Disability Reports, 1986-2002. Facility Reports, 1988, 2001. Housing Reports, 1980-2002. Internal Administration, 1989-2016. Minnesota Family Investment Program, 1998-2002. Other Organizations/External References, 2000-2007. Program Evaluations, 1980-1998. Volunteer Reports, 1958-1980. Welfare Reform, 1992-1996. These records document the shift from Community Human Services to Human Services, and include external reviews of Ramsey County conducted for the Human Service’s reference. 
• Ramsey County. Saint Paul: Charters and Ordinances. Records, 1960. City Charter and Legislative Code, 1960. Third Edition.  
• Board of Water and Soil Resources. Minutes and Soil Surveys, 1970-2020. Monthly Board Minutes, Agendas, and Notices 2014-2020. Soil Health Surveys, 1970-1999.

A variety of research topics and important Minnesota government functions are represented in records added this month to the State Archives collection.

• Beltrami County, Liberty Township. Records, 1898-2021.  Birth and Death Registers, Clerk/Treasurer Registers, Election Registers, Report of the Board of Audit, Town Meeting Records, Road Records.  Prior to this transfer the state archives only had school district records from Liberty Township.
• District Court, Minnesota 4^th Division.  Welsch Consent Decree Files.  Records, 1985-1987.  Comments on Settlement.  Investigation into the death of John Dragoo, 1985-1986.  This is an addition to an existing collection on a landmark court case that led to major changes in treatment of Minnesota’s institutionalized developmentally disabled citizens.  These records were donated by a lawyer for the plaintiff who worked on this trial, and includes materials on the death of a patient at one of these institutions that is currently unaccounted for in the collection. 

A variety of research topics and important Minnesota government functions are represented in records added this month to the State Archives collection. 

• Legislative Auditor. Financial, Program Evaluation, and Special Report Audit Divisions. Records, 2025. This encompasses all of the reports published by the legislative auditor in 2025, compiled over the course of the year.

• Carlton County. Department of Public Health, Nursing Service History Records, Public Health Advisory Committee, 1951-2007.

• Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Peer Reviews and Subjects Files. Records, 1975-2020. Peer Reviews, 1991-2020. Minnesota Land Trust, 2008-2017. Strategic Plans, 1990-2002. Task Force, 2005-2006. Trust Fund, 1987-2011.

• Redwood County Auditor’s Office Records 1934-2015. Annexations, 1934-1977. Annual Financial Statements, 1924-2020. University of Minnesota Redwood Extension Committee, 1961-2015. Real and Personal Property Tax Rolls, 2000-2001.

A variety of research topics are documented in state and government records added this month to the State Archives collection, which will be valuable for family, local, and state history research.

• Martin County District Court. Civil Case Files records 1902-1957. Case files cover divorces, property disputes, judicial ditches, change of name, land condemnation, trusteeships, other civil matters. Does not include adoption case files. These materials have been digitized. These files interfile with the existing set of civil case files.

• Isanti County School Districts No. 3, 4, 5, 24, 30, 38/678, 40/679, 42, 53, 69. Records, 1904-1965. All Complete Record and Report System for Elementary Schools, Annual Reports, Applications for High School Tuition from State Funds, Attendance Registers, Class Records Grades 1-8, Clerk’s Books, District Treasurer’s Book, Ideal Class Register, Librarian’s Record, Pupil record cards, Register for Common School Districts, School Census, School Registers, Teacher’s Report to Superintendent, Textbook or Equipment Record, Transportation List of Students, Treasurer’s Book of Records.

No records were acquisitioned to the State Archives this month due to staffing transitions.

A variety of research topics are documented in state and government records added this month to the State Archives collection, which will be valuable for family, local, and state history research. 

• Blue Earth County. Kato Charter School records 2000-2025. These documents span from the school's founding as the Riverbend Academy to its closing in the summer of 2025.1 box.

• Chisago County.  Records dating from 1937 to 2010. Include minutes of various committees and task forces from 1995 to 2010,  concerning library services, land use and development, and power plant and wastewater services, as well as  Highway Department semi-annual and annual reports dated 1937-1967. 2 boxes.

• Conservation Department.  Forestry Division, Tower Office. Records dated between 1924 and 1976, including administrative files, correspondence, and employee association documents. The majority of these records are attributed to Walter “Buck” Lee Holter, a District Forester and Ranger who worked at the Tower Office from the 1920s to the 1970s. 1 box.

• Crow Wing County. Mission Township. Records dated 1942-2012, including Treasurer’s and Clerk’s Books, meeting minutes, as well as scrapbooks of local events. 3 boxes. 

• Governor. Mark Dayton. Records dated between 1978 and 2019, including bill presentation logs, executive orders and subject files dated 2011-2018, administrative rules files dated 2013-2018, and oversize items (proclamations, editorial cartoons and more) undated and 1978-2019;  administrative rules files, dated 2005-2012, of former Governor Tim Pawlenty; subject files, dated 2011-2014, of former Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon, and subject files, dated 2002-2005, from Ms. Prettner Solon’s tenure as state senator. 8 boxes.

• Health Department. Commissioner’s Office. Records dated between 2001 and 2019, including Commissioner’s files and councils, committees, task forces, and advisory council meeting files. 2 boxes.

• Health Department. Official Hearings on Rules and Regulations. Records dated between 2003 to 2017, mostly concerning the implementation of vaccination requirements in schools and the debate thereof. Some digital materials included. 3 boxes.

• Minnesota Film and Television Board. Records dated between 1980 and 2013, mostly “Minnesota Made Files”, documenting films and television programs filmed at least in part in the state of Minnesota. These files contain a variety of cast and/or crew lists, newspaper clippings, scripts, press kits, promotional materials, and funding requests. 6 boxes.

• Olmsted County. School district no. 7 (New Haven Township).  Buck School. Clerk’s book dated 1923-1927.  The school was established January 9, 1856 and consolidated with Independent School District No. 255 (Pine Island) May 13, 1954. 1 volume in 1 folder. 

A variety of topics are documented in state and local government records added this month to the State Archives collection.  They will be useful for family, local history and state history research.  

Purchased for the collection is a grasshopper bounty certificate, dated 1875, issued by the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners to Mrs. Margaret Jones who delivered 21 quarts of dead grasshoppers and was entitled to $210.00 as a bounty payment.  Complements other grasshopper bounty records preserved in the State Archives collection.  For further information about the grasshopper plagues in the 1870s, see the MNopedia article:  grasshopper plagues 1873-1877.

Court records are a strength of the collection, and besides their research value, are necessary to protect Minnesota citizens’ civil and legal rights.  Faribault County Court Administration transferred a large number of records, dated 1857-1989, including District Court plaintiff and defendant indexes (1858-1988), registers of civil (1858-1989) and criminal (1859-1989) action, registration and certificate records (1883-1982), criminal case files (1896, 1945-1960), and other records;  Juvenile Court adoption records (1959-1982);  Probate Court index to probate cases (1857-1990) and registers of probate action (1857-1989).  Many of the records will enhance access to existing court records preserved in the collection, while others are unique and valuable additions.

Department of Employment and Economic Development staff transferred Minnesota-Taiwan sister state documents dated 1984. Include a resolution of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly declaring the sister state relationship, and the agreement establishing the sister state relationship. The documents are in both Chinese and English, and signed by Taiwanese officials and Governor Rudy Perpich.  The documents will be cataloged with the records of Gov. Perpich in the collection.

An oral history transcript (dated 2022) with John H. Kari, a long-time planner with the Metropolitan Council is a unique and valuable addition to the Council’s records.  The interview is entitled “Reflections on Regional Planning: The Twin Cities Experience”.  The conversation with Mr. Kari covers the early years of the Council and the original development framework, the work of the Council from the 1980s and beyond, the impact of the Council’s investments on the region, and Prospect Park as an example of how neighborhood planning can relate to city and regional policies.  Includes a brief biography of Mr. Kari and color images.  

• Blue Earth County.  Board of Commissioners.  Grasshopper bounty certificate dated 1875. 1 item in folder.  
• Faribault County.  Records dated 1857-1989. 54 boxes.
• Governor Rudy Perpich.  Minnesota-Taiwan sister state documents dated 1984. 4 items in 1 folder.
• Metropolitan Council.  Oral history transcript:  John H. Kari, 2022.  1 item in folder.

A variety of research topics are represented in Minnesota state government records added this month to the State Archives collection. 

• Attorney General.  Minnesota Voters Alliance, et al v. Joe Mansky (Ramsey County elections manager), et al litigation files dated  2011-2018.  The case concerned the constitutionality of governmental speech restrictions in a polling place venue.  The lawsuit challenged a century-old Minnesota law that prevented voters from wearing clothing or items considered political while voting.  The U.S. Supreme County previously affirmed that political campaigning near polling places may be restricted, but the Minnesota law was challenged on being overbroad and violation of free speech rights under the First Amendment.  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Minnesota law was overbroad of what could be considered “political” speech and violated free speech rights and deemed unconstitutional.  2 boxes.

• Education Department.  Council on Quality Education.  St. Paul Public Schools Early Childhood and Family Education program photographs dated 1993.  The black and white photographs depict scenes of parent-child interaction, meetings with state legislators and Gov. Arne Carlson, advisory council members, parent education groups and home visiting.  Complement the existing set of records preserved in the collection: https://storage.googleapis.com/mnhs-finding-aids-public/library/findaids/gr00120.html. 1 folder.

• Public Service Department.  Telecommunications Access for Communication-Impaired Persons Board.  Records dated 1987-1995, including meeting minutes of the Board’s executive committee and equipment distribution program committee, and reports. Complement the existing set of records dated 1984-2001 preserved in the collection; the Board was established in 1987 by the state legislature to work on telecommunications access for the state’s hearing impaired citizens. 1 box.

• Secretary of State.  Session Laws and 1st Special Session Laws dated 2025 that continue the existing set of Session Laws dating from 1858 preserved in the collection:  https://storage.googleapis.com/mnhs-finding-aids-public/library/findaids/gr00487.html.  6 boxes. 

Records added this month to the State Archives continue existing sets of records preserved in the collection; below is a fuller description of the records.  The Douglas County tax lists are useful for family and local history research, and the Faribault County court records are valuable for family history research and to protect the civil and legal rights of individuals.  Over the years State Archives staff have had an ongoing relationship with former Lt. Gov. Marlene Johnson, and recently transferred records are a welcome addition to the collection.

• Douglas County.  Auditor.  Tax lists dated 2010-2011 which continue the existing set dating from 1867.  12 boxes.
• Faribault County.  District Court.  Civil case files dated 1937-1950 which continue the existing set dating from 1858, and adoption case files dated 1881-1944.  31 boxes.
• Lieutenant Governor.  Marlene Johnson.  Notebooks dated 1975-1992, subject files dated 1978-approximately 2016, and photographs and a scrapbook dated 1981-1990.  Most of the records document Ms. Johnson’s tenure as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Minnesota and the first woman to hold the office.  The records complement the extensive set of Ms. Johnson’s records preserved in the State Archives collection.  Lt. Governor Johnson focused on strengthening and expanding the state’s connections with the rest of the world in trade, tourism, education and the arts.  She was a particularly outspoken advocate of international educational exchange at the secondary and post-secondary level.  2 boxes.

Records added this month to the State Archives collection document important government functions, and will be valuable for a variety of research topics.  The records complement existing sets of records in the collection.

• Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Agendas and minutes dated October 2014-February 2025, chronological file (correspondence) dated 2014-2024, Olmstead Subcabinet meeting packets dated 2021-2023, newspaper clippings dated 1968, 1981-2025, and published records and reports dated 2002-2024.  Continue the Council’s records that date from 1973.  According to the Council’s mission statement, it promotes the development of a consumer and family-centered comprehensive system and coordinates an array of culturally competent services;  supports and provides assistance designed to achieve independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion into the community for individuals with developmental disabilities.  4 boxes.
• Ramsey County.  Saint Paul:  Mayor.  Photograph album:  sister city Lawaaikamp, South Africa, July-December 1989. Black and white, and color photographs documenting the City of St. Paul’s support of its sister city, Lawaaikamp, and its resistance to the forced removal of Lawaaikamp residents from their homes and the support of the anti-apartheid movement. Depicts the sending off ceremony for the trip to Lawaaikamp by St. Paul Council member Don Wilson and Rev. Oliver White; meetings with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the George Civic Association, Black Sash members, the Southern Committee Against Removals (SCAR), public officials and residents; locations include Johannesburg, Kleinskool, Lawaaikamp, Potsdam, Sandkraal, Soweto and Thornehill.  Also, depict scenes of the trip’s return ceremony of Mr. Wilson and Rev. White, the trip celebration at the  Martin Luther King Center, and a press conference, with St. Paul high school and Pilgrim Baptist Church Academy students present, celebrating the forestalling of the forced removal.  Complements existing sister city files in the State Archives and Manuscripts collection.  1 box.
• Zoological Board.  Files of Board Chair Patricia Davies, dated 1976-1987, 1999; annual report dated 2005; published records and reports dated 1985-1986, 2002.  Complements Board records dating from 1969. 1 box.