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.
Woman parching rice
As Women's History Month draws to a close, we want to recognize that much history has been made and lived by women whose identity and stories were not recorded or preserved, especially those who were members of marginalized groups. Without context about who they are and what they have done, these “unidentified” figures in the MNHS collection often go unseen. We are sharing a few of these images today. What untold stories have their clues hidden in these pictures?
Woman parching rice, about 1925: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10681383
Unidentified African American woman, 1905: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10720219
Woman and voting booth, about 1970: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10748213
Woman setting type, 1936: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10698169
Minneapolis baseball team
Today is opening day for Major League Baseball, which means spring must be here, right? While we wait for the snow to melt, here are team photos from Minneapolis (1905), St. Paul (1903) and an opening day tag from the old St. Paul Saints in 1916.
Image links:
http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10686508
http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10686505
http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10170490
Eugene McCarthy campaign button
On this day in 1916, Eugene McCarthy was born in Watkins, Minnesota. He would serve Minnesota as a U.S. Representative from 1948-1959, and as a U.S. Senator from 1959-1971. He ran for president three times, most famously in 1968, with the eventual Democratic nomination going to Hubert Humphrey, also from Minnesota. This button dates from that campaign.
ID: 2011.98.1 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10659920
Pronto Pup, Minnesota State Fair
Today is national Something on a Stick Day! In related news, the Minnesota State Fair opens in 149 days. This image shows a Pronto Pup stand in 1978.
ID: AV2017.30 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11460215
Aerial ferry bridge in Duluth
On this day, March 27, in 1905, the famous bridge spanning the shipping channel in Duluth opened. Don't recognize it from the picture? Originally, the bridge was an aerial ferry, carrying passengers, wagons and cargo across on a gondola hanging from the structure. It was remodeled to its current configuration, with a roadbed that lifts vertically, in 1929-30. This photo was taken in 1911.
ID: 12967-A (Negative Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display.php?irn=10865387
Advertisement for Northrup, King & Company's Sterling Seeds
As spring (slowly) approaches, it's time to think about planting. The Northrup-King Seed Company was founded in Minneapolis in 1884 and has helped start many a garden. This advertisement dates to 1912. You can see many of their seed packets in our collection at this link: https://search.mnhs.org/index.php?brand=cms&q=%22seed%20packet%22&startindex=1
ID: HF1.6 r30 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10463564
An airfield crew turning over a Navy Beechcraft JRB-4 airplane that flipped in the snow on March 23, 1951
We've all had days go like this, right? Hang in there. This image from our collection shows an airfield crew turning over a Navy Beechcraft JRB-4 airplane that flipped in the snow on March 23, 1951. It's part of Minneapolis and St. Paul Newspaper Negative Collection.
ID: M.15.E.2.A Packet 64 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11178264
Stirring Syrup After Boiling, Martin Kegg's, Lake Mille Lacs
It's sugarbush season in Minnesota! Making maple syrup and sugar from the sap of maple trees is a longstanding tradition in many communities still carried on today. This image from 1947 shows Martin and Maude Kegg stirring syrup after boiling near Lake Mille Lacs. Maude, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, was instrumental in the development of the Mille Lacs Indian Museum.
ID: Collection I.69.220 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10852726
Two women are flying to Alaska on an aerial vacation
Spring break is upon us or near for many Minnesota schools. Are you heading anywhere or do you have any other spring break plans? These two women were headed for Alaska in 1940 when this photo was taken.
ID: HE1.5 p20 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10732906
Spring Planting
At 4:24 local time this afternoon, the sun will be directly over the equator, the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. With current weather, we are still some time from planting season, so this painting titled "Spring Planting" by Henry Holmstrom (1940) will have to hold us over.
ID: AV2007.139.90 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10578786
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