In this interview, recognized leader in the Minneapolis community Marvin Borman gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan, war veteran, and legal practitioner. He was born in Indianapolis in 1923 and attended the University of Michigan in 1940 as president of the Zeta Beta Tau Jewish Fraternity. Borman describes how his family owned a dry goods business in a poor part of Indianapolis. He recalls how entered the Marine Corps after Pearl Harbor, and how after service he entered Harvard Law School and relocated to Minnesota due to marriage. Borman explains that he worked for various firms as a business litigation lawyer, and that later in his career he became a community leader as president of the Minneapolis Club, head of the Art Institute, the University of Minnesota Foundation and others. Each phase of his life is discussed in the Jewish and anti-Semitic context. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Ron Meshbesher, one of the most well known lawyers in Minnesota, here gives an account of his career with special attention afforded to his major cases, the Jewish law community in Minnesota and anti-Semitism in the law community in general. He was born in 1933 and raised in North Minneapolis. He gives his family background and a description of North Minneapolis at the time, including some talk about racism and the riots in the 1960s. Meshbesher tells stories about law school at the University of Minnesota and the Jewish students there, mentioning one of his classmates was Walter Mondale, and continues to explain how he became a personal injury/criminal defense lawyer, along with issues associated such as Jewish values and representing African Americans. The cases discussed are the Congdon murder and Piper kidnapping. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Alan Stiegler gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan, World War II veteran and legal practitioner. He was born in 1925 and raised in Minneapolis. His family background in is Russia and he describes some of their stories that involve working in a sweatshop in St. Paul and homesteading in North Dakota. Stiegler describes how he was drafted at age 18 to fight in World War II, how he began specialized training but wound up in general infantry, having experienced some anti-Semitism. He describes how he fought through the Siegfired Line and the Battle of the Bulge, encountering new rocket propelled bombs developed by the Germans, and tells a story about how he was injured by a roadside bomb. In addition, he describes his life occupying Germany after the war and his subsequent career as a medical mal practice lawyer in great detail. He tells specific stories of anti-Semitism in Minnesota and North Dakota during his law career. He concludes with a description of his personal life after retirement and his family. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest World War II Veterans Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Roberta Levy gives an account of her life as a Jewish Minnesotan and legal practitioner. She was born in 1937 in Philadelphia to Russian immigrant parents who were persecuted abroad. Recalling her early life, she describes how her father had a store in Philadelphia and was a committed Socialist/Zionist. She gives a description of her childhood as a Jew in North Philadelphia, and mentions attending Gratz College and Temple University. Levy explains how her husband taught law school and took a job teaching at the University of Minnesota School of Law, causing her some anxiety due to rumors of Anti-Semitism in Minneapolis. She recalls enrolling in law school while her husband was on the faculty, how was the only woman, and describes the difficulty of finding a firm because she was both Jewish and female. Levy continues by describing her later career in a Jewish law firm and public defender, and how she was nearly appointed to the state supreme court by Rudy Perpich. Levy concludes her life story with how she became a district court judge functioning in that capacity between 1978 and 2002, including many stories from the period. The conversation closes with a discussion about the relationship between Judaism and the study of law. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Howard Gelb, a senior Jewish lawyer in the Twin Cities and also a veteran of World War II, discusses in this interview his family history, his father's interests, his childhood in Minneapolis, family, education, military experience, legal work (real estate), US Attorney work, prominent political associations, social clubs and values all from a Jewish Minnesotan perspective. This interview was conducted by Brian M. Krasnow as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest World War II Veterans Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Stillwater Territorial Prison was built in 1853 and operated from 1853 to 1914 in Stillwater, Minnesota. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places until it burned in 2002.
The Warden's House is a 14 room house constructed for the Wardens of the Minnesota Territorial Prison in 1853. The house is at 602 Main Street North and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Uniformed Sheriff's staff working at dispatch consoles with radios and telephones; county map on wall; reel-to-reel tape recording equipment in background.
Hennepin County Sheriff's Captain Richard Duggan, at control desk of jail in the Municipal Building -- also known as Minneapolis City Hall or Hennepin County Courthouse -- speaks to a deputy.
Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputy Jack Hacking, holding rifle, talks to helicopter pilot Bud Philips, seated in Sheriff's Department helicopter, with squad car in background.
Burnsville Township, Burnsville Minnesota, leased its first police car in 1964 from Allen's Dodge, Savage, Minnesota for $139 a month. Shown - Patrolman Ken Day and Mayor Roger Richardson.
Vehicle used to travel on thin ice, near the Seaton Channel Bridge on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County Sheriff Ed Ryan's head is visible above the vehicle; Deputy Floyd Lundeen is visible looking through its window.
Hennepin County Sheriff's deputy on bicycle with radio microphone in hand and Motorola radio on back of bike, next to squad car with houses in background.
Hennepin County Sheriff's deputy on bicycle with radio microphone in hand and Motorola radio on back of bike, next to squad car with houses in background. "Huffy" label is visible on bike.
Real photographic postcard showing an aerial view of the State Reformatory for Women in Shakopee. Seen are the prison's administrative building, detention units, and grounds. Printed in black at the bottom left corner of the image is "State Reformatory for Women/Shakopee, Minn." Card is unused. The Minnesota State Reformatory for Women officially opened in 1920 and was used until 1986, when a new facility was built.
Map of the city of Minneapolis showing incidents of juvenile delinquency by illustrating police calls in 1933 and 1934. Police calls regarding delinquency dropped from 283 to 108 between 1933 to 1934.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Tommy Kowaksi was one of New Brighton's first policeman, but also served as the town street sweeper. This photo was taken on present day Fifth Avenue, facing north, with the Hudoba Building and the Transit House Hotel in the background.
This portrait of Hiram Mendow was taken after his graduation from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1915. Mendow had a extraordinary career as a practicing attorney in Minneapolis, where he represented "Kid Cann" Blumenfeld, head of Minneapolis's bootleg syndicate, among others. The family immigrated from Lithuania, and Mendow began work at the age of six, delivering newspapers and shining shoes. Mendow litigated a number of famous cases, and continued practicing law well beyond his 100th birthday.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The report lists the names of probation officers, summaries of the duties of probation officers and the medical inspection program. Crime statistics by offense, nativity, religion, and sex are also listed. An account of detailed probation laws is included.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Haben began his career as a policeman sometime in the early 1900s. In a career that spanned nearly thirty years, he ascended to the rank of chief of police.
Interior view of an office at the county courthouse in Shakopee. Square room with tall window to left, bare walls. Radiator next to window. Two desks, left and right. Seated at the left desk is Hugo Hentges with arms folded, wears shirtsleeves and vest, watch chain visible. On his desk is a blotter, a piece of paper, glass pen/ink holder set, a small metal sculpture of a German Shepherd, and a telephone. Behind him is coat rack with two coats and two hats, ashtray and metal can on window sill beside him. At right desk is another man with spectacles and similar dress as Hugo. Desk is smaller, has open book, typewriter, and lamp upon it, chair in front of it. Back wall has a heavy, metal vault door and glimpse into room beyond, which houses another desk, file drawers and microfilm shelves.
First Grand Jury for the new courthouse, May 19, 1909. From left to right starting at the top. Top left: Frank Gillespie, Deputy Sheriff. Top row: F. Wazlahowsky, G. L. Lardon, R. Olson, L. W. Sevatson, A. Richter, H. A. White, H. Christoffers. Middle Row: L. F. Ashley, Geo Withers, W. Motl, P. Dilley, J. O. Conner, B. O. Rue, D. C. Coward, S. C. Case. Bottom Row: M. L. Ashley, J. P Brakke, F. Hampel, (or Homfel), F. Bailey, J. P. Greenland, E. A. Nasby, J. O. Lilleberg.
This photograph was taken probably at Superior Street between Eight and Ninth avenues east. The building in the background is First Baptist Church at 830 East First Street. Duluth police department's first paddy wagon three men and a uniformed policeman.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Diary kept by E. Fitch Pabody, juror in the trial of Frank Hamilton, who was convicted of first degree manslaughter for killing Leonard Day, Jr,. in the billiard room of the West Hotel. Includes list of jurors, sketches of the murder weapon and jury quarters, agenda of the trial and newspaper clippings on the jury.
Game wardens were important men in the backwoods of Minnesota. Noted above most was the Native American warden, John or Jack Linklater. Another of lasting fame was William Hanson.
Exterior view of the administration building which was originally called the Minnesota Reform School and is currently named the Minnesota Correctional Facility. It is also the bubject of Bob Dylan's song, "Walls of Red Wing", 1963.
Portrait of five police officers in uniform. The location of this photograph is unknown; but the Iron Range includes parts of the following Minnesota counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis.
Boys participating in a drill. The Minnesota Reform School is currently called the Minnesota Correctional Facility and was also the subject of Bob Dylan's song, "Walls of Red Wing", 1963.
Stereoscope view. Group of young people stand near jail. This jail, located on the corner of Mill Street and Junius Avenue, was built in 1885 and destroyed by the 1919 cyclone.
The Justice of the Peace docket is a handwritten record of civil and criminal cases heard by Justices of the Peace in Otsego, Minnesota from 1884 to 1921. These records include the names of plaintiffs and defendants, arresting constables, evidence presented, and judgments made. These details reflect local values, customs, and personalities. Included are Justices of the Peace: Z. L. Case, Charles Snow, A. W. Praught, A. Plaisance, Joseph McDonald, D. W. M Leod, and Edson Washburn, Jr. Also included are Constables A. J. Wood, L. B. Hamlet, Barnard Duffy, W. H. LaPlant, Theodore Aydt, Edmund Fisetle, and J. A. McEachern.
Group portrait of the posse that captured the Younger Brothers (Cole Younger, Jim Younger, and Bob Younger) at Madelia, Minnesota in September of 1876. The Younger Brothers were members of the James-Younger Gang.
Left to Right: Bob Younger; Cole Younger; and Jim Younger; portraits of the three notorious Younger . The Younger Brothers were captured by a local posse on September 21, 1876, on the bank of the Watonwan River.
The Jesse James - Younger gang fled from Northfield, Minnesota after a failed bank robbery. Young Sorbel recognized the gang as they passed his Hanska farm. Bob, Cole and Jim Younger would eventually surrender to this seven-man posse 8 miles west of Madelia on the banks of the Watonwan River. Charlie Pitts died in the shootout.
The Scriver Building in Northfield, Minnesota. This was the scene of September 7, 1876 bank raid by the James-Younger Gang, as shown circa 1874 without the stairway on Division Street.
William Dosland discusses his years as a lawyer, including his involvement with the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and his work for them during the acquisition of the American Crystal Sugar Company. His involvement as a Minnesota state senator, with the city of Moorhead and on the Board of Regents for the University of Moorhead. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927, William Dosland moved to Moorhead after World War II.
Judge James Garrity, a life-long Moorhead resident, describes the practice of law in Moorhead from late 1940s through the late 1970s when he became a judge. He reflected on his father;s practice as well. He discusses the varied personalities of other lawyers, interesting cases, and his perceptions of how the law has changed.
