Jane Grey Swisshelm (1815-1884) was an abolitionist and advocate of women's rights. She ran the newspapers "The St. Cloud Visitor" and the "St. Cloud Democrat."
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran Andrew Anderson, who lived in Granby Township, near Swan Lake. Anderson rose to the rank of corporal in Company H of the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, serving for nearly four years.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
Landscape view; address given for photographer is Merchant Block, 22 Washington Avenue, Minneapolis; building may be the Cataract House Hotel on Sixth Ave South; verso of card is advertising for a number of Minneapolis businesses
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Landscape view; address given for photographer is Merchant Block, 22 Washington Avenue, Minneapolis; building is identified as the Pence Opera House located at Hennepin Ave and 2nd Street; verso of card is advertising for a number of Minneapolis businesses.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Landscape view; address given for photographer is Merchant Block, 22 Washington Avenue, Minneapolis; building is identified as the Nicollet House Hotel located on Hennepin (view may be from 3rd St); awning on building in background says, "Williams Book Store." The verso of the card contains advertising for a number of Minneapolis businesses.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Proceedings of the city of St. Paul Common Council for 1860-1861, including: City Government officers. The book primarily concerns correspondence and city resolutions.
The Record of Plymouth Congregational Church Volume 1 is the first of nine volumes that provide a chronological record of the activities of Plymouth Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Contents include announcements, celebrations and events, membership records, meeting minutes and a few newspaper clippings. The Clerk of the church maintained the Record.
Street scene; streets are unpaved; can identify the first suspension bridge in background; places of business include a building advertising furniture.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
This undated letter is signed by James George, and includes a small greeting from Rhoda George written on the back They are starting for Lebanon, Kentucky and it was expected that Rhoda George would remain in Lebanon while James George went with his regiment. James George mentions meeting old friends from the Mexican War.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky to her children. She describes the trip from Fort Snelling to Lebanon, Kentucky and life with her son, George. A mortgage, property and James George's military duties are mentioned. She expresses concern over the state of the nation. On the last page, James George sends greetings and tells his family how to find the location of Lebanon on a map.
James George wrote a short greeting to his children at the beginning of the letter and tells them that his regiment will march out the next day. Rhoda and Ned were expected to stay in Lebanon, Kentucky, until other lodgings could be found. Rhoda mentions her cooking, Mr. Cilley and other acquaintances. The letter is continued by Rhoda the next day as she describes her loniness at the departure of her husband from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky.
Rhoda George wrote this letter to her family from Camp Anderson (Lebanon Junction, Kentucky) to her children. She describes her son Ned, meals she has made, the health and well-being of family friends, making clothes for Ned and other correspondence from home.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucy. She mentions her husband's military duties, family friends and life in Lebanon. She describes the bed bugs in her room and inquires about financial situations at home and money she has mailed home.
The letter starts with a short note to Helen from Clinton Cilley. Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. She describes her new lodgings and their Christmas dinner. She mentions details of their life in Kentucky.
Morgan May's handwritten farm journal from February 9, 1861, through April 14, 1871. Morgan May, a farmer from England, was the first settler in the part of Washington County, Minnesota, now known as May Township. His journal provides a detailed record of the day-to-day operation of a large commerical farm including entries about the weather, crops, livestock, farm hands, implement and household purchases, barn construction, wages, travel and visitors as well as personal comments.
R.B. McLean came to Superior, Wisconsin, in June of 1854 on the schooner "Algonquin." McLean recollects several trips along Lake Superior's North Shore, both before and after the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe, searching for veins of copper. He discusses early settlers on the North Shore, the first election in St. Louis County in 1855, the first mail route from Superior to Grand Portage (which McLean delivered), and the first cabins built in Duluth in the winter of 1854-55.
Publication detailing the establishment, evolution, and expansion of the state university system and all of its schools. The minutes detail the growth of the schools, campuses, hiring and the resignations of faculty, staff, and school presidents, finances of the systems and schools, curriculum, purchase and expansion of physical campus, including property and buildings, and the establishment of the St. Cloud Normal School, Mankato Normal School, Winona Normal School, Moorhead Normal School, and the Duluth Normal School.
Signatures of attorneys registered to practice law in the State of Minnesota. Names were verified and biographical data obtained from Minnesota Biographies (MHS 1912), Legislators Past and Present (website), State Board of Law Examiners register (1891-1921), Minnesota birth and death certificates indexes, Minnesota court system websites, published alumni directories of the University of Minnesota law school and the St. Paul College of Law, Minnesota Legal History Project (website), the Minnesota Historical Society's online catalog (PALS), and a variety of miscellaneous sources.
Small handbill listing seven requirements and four prohibitions of the Baldwin school. There is a space for a signature, showing the student "assents to the above requirements and prohibitions."
The first volume of Randolph M. Probstfield’s personal journals, which he wrote in a ledger book. Probstfield began writing this volume in the 186? when he lived in Georgetown, Minnesota, and worked as a Hudson’s Bay Company Agent. Probstfield mixed his accounting records with information on daily events. The first few pages of this volume contain undated ledger accounts of trade at the Georgetown post. The 1875 date first occurs when Probstfield inserted information on the daily activities of the family farm near Moorhead, Minnesota. These accounts discuss weather, agriculture, visitors, household expenses and many other details of family life.
Alexander Ramsey wrote this letter from Saint Paul. He discusses the rules and judgment that affect the appointedment of officers to new and existing regiments.
Ashley C. Riggs kept a ledger book journal from 1852-1873. The earliest entries are from Cold Spring (Stearns County), Minnesota and Watab (Benton County), Minnesota. The ledger's earliest entries record his activiites as an Indian Agent for the Winnnebago Indians for the years 1852-1853. The second portion of the ledger is Riggs' diary which documents his activities in and around Monticello, Minnesota for the years 1864-1873. Riggs was a key figure in the development of the Minnesota Territory and early Monticello, Minnesota community when he laid claim in 1854 to a piece of land on the Mississippi River. He built othe first ferry to shuttle people across the River. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Mrs. Alexander Ross (M. J. Ross) wrote this undated letter from Kingston to her cousin. She mentions her family and their health. The top portion of this letter is missing.
Logs were shipped by rail from northern Minnesota to Stillwater and made into rafts. They were then floated down the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. The rafts usually consisted of 8 to 10 strings of logs fastened side by side, each string measuring 16 across and about 400 feet long. Some of these enormous rafts stretched 4 or 5 acres in size.
Lumber was rafted downstream from Stillwater. Boards were arranged in cribs or heavy crates, each 16 feet wide and 32 feet long. A lumber raft might contain as many as 200 cribs.
At the boom, floating timbers chained between piers caught and contained logs for sorting and measuring and rigging into rafts. At one time, the Stillwater boom extended a distance of 9 miles and employed 400 men to sort, scale and raft timber.
The Record documents the formation of the Stillwater Library Association on Jun 7, 1859. The Constitution, a membership list and detailed meeting minutes including the election of officers and book acquisitions are meticulously recorded. The Stillwater Library Association was formed as a city library association in 1859, and the Stillwater Public Library still operates as a city library today.
This photograph shows Civil War Capt. Asgrim K. Skaro, who was killed in the battle of Nashville in 1864. Skaro served in the Second and the Ninth Minnesota Infantry Regiments. He was one of the founders of St. Peter in Nicollet County in 1853.
Nicollet Avenue is unpaved; buildings may include the G. F. Warner building on far right with mansard roof, and the Grand Opera House in center of block; on verso of card is written in pencil, BRK-484.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library