In this interview, Rabbi Kassel Abelson (1924 - ) discusses his personal background, the details regarding the move of Beth El synagogue from North Minneapolis to Saint Louis Park, and the social-historical context in which the move took place. This interview was conducted by Jeff Norman, oral historian from California. "Urban Exodus: The Saint Louis Park Oral History Project" explores the post-World War II migration of Minneapolis's Jewish community from the city's North Side to the western suburb of Saint Louis Park. The 35 oral history interviews, representing diverse perspectives from within and beyond the Jewish community, tell the complex story of how, from 1945 to 1970, Saint Louis Park became a major center of Jewish life in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Rabbi Kassel Abelson speaks of his life, times, and views regarding Judaism. Abelson spent over forty years as senior Rabbi at Beth El synagogue in North Minneapolis and later Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, serving as a leader in the community and as a developer of national Judaic programs and policy. Abelson recalls his family background, his childhood in Brooklyn, his education culminating in the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in the 1940s (a focus of discussion), his chaplaincy, his arrival and experience at Beth El, relocating to Saint Louis Park from Minneapolis' North Side and actions in setting Judaic policy. The focus of the interview, in addition to Abelson's personal narrative, is on his vision of American Judaism and how it was enacted through various programs and organizations, such as the United Synagogue Youth, in addition to his social justice principles exemplified by his participation in organizations such as the Urban Coalition 1960s on Minneapolis' North Side. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Edie Abnet (1947-) is a painter who was married to the late Richard Abnet (1934-2011) , a potter and founding host of the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour. In this interview, Abnet discusses her husband's childhood in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and subsequent studies in ceramics at the University of Minnesota under Warren MacKenzie, and at the School for American Crafts in Rochester, New York, under Frans Wildenhain. Abnet also talks about the home and studio she and her husband shared in the St. Croix River Valley and his involvement in the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour. This interview was conducted by local oral historian and PhD Candidate from the University of Minnesota Anduin Wilhide. ""A Measure of the Earth: An Oral History of the Potters of the St. Croix River Valley"" explores the anomalous community of potters in Eastern Minnesota who host an annual cooperative tour for participating ceramic artists from around the world. This annual three-day event attracts art enthusiasts from across the country. Together the project's ten oral history interviews, representing diverse perspectives from within the local pottery community, tell the story of how, from the 1950s to today, Minnesota�s St. Croix River Valley has developed into a major center for pottery, and a destination for thousands nationally.
Abdisalam Adam grew up in Somalia, went to school in Nigeria, and came to the United States on a student visa. Adam worked for a magazine in Madison, Wisconsin, before coming to Minnesota. He has been married and raised a family since moving to Minnesota, and he currently works as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Subjects discussed include: Growing up in Somalia; attending school in Nigeria; living in Saudi Arabia; moving to the United States on a student visa; first impression of the United States; working for a magazine in Madison, Wisconsin; Somali communities in Minnesota; religious awareness of Minnesotans; Somali weddings; recently visiting Somalia and returning in the future; important aspects of Somali culture; maintaining Islamic and Somali culture in the United States; the role of families in Somali culture; influence of television; opportunities for Somali teens; working as an ESL teacher.
Indru Advani was born in a part of India which is now in Pakistan. He attended school and college in India. He did graduate work in Minnesota. Presently, he is retired. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Experiences in India before emigrating, experiences in Kenya, marriage and family, caste system in India, travels to India, family visits, memories of arriving in New York City and Minneapolis, religion, Indo-American Association at the University of Minnesota, experiences singing, socializing in the Indian community, work history, retaining and passing on cultural values, maintaining family ties, future plans, American values of home and homestead.
Philip C. Ahn was born in Korea in 1928 to a family of third-generation Christians. His father owned a jewelry business, and his mother was a deaconess in the Presbyterian Church. When Korea was partitioned after World War II, Ahn's parents feared that the Communist government in North Korea would not look favorably on businessmen and Christians, and the family fled to South Korea. They arrived in Seoul at the height of postwar chaos and unemployment. At age 18, however, with five years of high school English, Ahn got a job as interpreter at the U.S. embassy. He also enrolled at a pharmacy school which later became part of the National University in Seoul, and he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1949. During this period a good friend, Young Pai, who was a student at Macalester College in St. Paul, urged Ahn to join him in Minnesota to continue his studies. Ahn was eager to do so and took the government examinations required for study abroad in 1949. He passed the examinations but did not have the necessary financial resources. With the onset of the Korean War and the arrival of United Nations troops, however, the demand for translators and interpreters increased, and from 1950 to 1951 Ahn worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Army's 17th Regiment. In 1951 he joined the Korean Army and served as a lieutenant in the liaison corps, where he was an interpreter for the Korean Military Advisory Group, a group of American advisors. In 1953, at the end of the war, Ahn left Korea and enrolled at Macalester College just as Young Pai was leaving. Ahn majored in biology and chemistry and graduated in 1957. He took a job in Austin, Minnesota, as a junior scientist at the Hormel Institute of the University of Minnesota Graduate School. While in Austin Ahn married Betty Engel, also a graduate of Macalester College. Ahn stayed in Austin from 1957 to 1960 and then became an assistant scientist at the U of M Medical School in Minneapolis, where he worked as a physiological chemist from 1960 to 1962, a period in which the basic analysis of nutrition and heart disease was being launched. In 1962 he transferred to the nutrition division of the Home Economics Department on the St. Paul campus, where he worked as a lipid chemist. In the early 1970s Ahn became an associate scientist in the newly established Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the College of Home Economics and College of Agriculture. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Ahn discusses his family background and early experience in Korea during the post-World War II and Korean War periods - the close-knit group of Korean students at Macalester during the 1950s - interracial marriages - difficulties of childrearing in American society - Korean wives of American servicemen who have settled in Minnesota - and the history of the Korean churches in the Twin Cities area. Ahn provides valuable information on the early Korean students at Macalester College during the 1950s, who were the first significant group of Koreans to arrive in the state, many of whom remained as permanent residents. He also contributes useful insight into the acculturation of those who intermarried.
Simi Ahuja was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in Minnesota. She graduated from college in Minnesota and works in health care administration. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Parents, familiarity with parents' language, involvement in a women's group of second-generation children - family values - Indian community connections - spiritual life - self-acceptance, holiday celebrations - family trips to India - university experiences - future plans, advantages and challenges of being a second-generation child - struggle to balance cultural and familial expectations.
Title from caption. Manuscript (typescript, original copy). Penciled at head of caption: "Mar 3-28 1917 John Alexander"--Price list from an exhibition held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, entitled "Memorial Exhibition of Paintings by John W. Alexander", March 3-28, 1917."A memorial exhibition of paintings by John White Alexander is to be given in the galleries of the Institute during March. The death of Mr. Alexander, May 31, 1915 ... "--Bulletin of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Volume VI, number 3 (March, 1917)), page 22. Includes names of organizations and individuals that lent items to the exhibition. 2 sheets (2 unnumbered leaves).
The main interest of this interview was Ms. Alvo's organization of Mi Cultura, a bilingual and bicultural day care center for children in St. Paul. Subjects discussed include: Mi Cultura Day Care Center - the human resources to be found in St. Paul's West Side community.
Interview with former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Douglas K. Amdahl on his legal and judicial career. Douglas K. Amdahl was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1980 and was Chief Justice from 1981 to 1989. Subjects discussed: his early life and education, and his experiences as a judge. Interviewed by James Morrow in Landmark Towers.
American Federation of Arts; National Academy of Design (U.S.)
Date Created:
1913?
Description:
Exhibition catalog from an exhibition sponsored by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, parent and governing body of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Title from cover. At head of title: "Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts". "Selected by the American Federation of Arts"--Page 2. [some] "Works ... were chosen from the N.A.D. Winter Exhibition."--Page 3. Prices included with some items. Rectangular logo of the society with headless winged figure printed on front cover. 1 folded sheet (4 unnumbered pages).
American Society of Illustrators; American Federation of Arts
Date Created:
1912?
Description:
Variant titles: Illustrations by the American Society of Illustrators; Catalogue, Society of American Illustrators, exhibition. Title from cover. Catalog from an exhibition sponsored by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, parent and governing body of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Typescript (mimeographed). Rectangular logo of the society with headless winged figure printed on front cover. 6 unnumbered leaves.
An annual report documenting the main activities of the charity for the years 1917-1918. Departmental reports include: the relief department, visiting nurses, Wilder public baths, day nursery, health center, central registration bureau, food conservation, survey work and research.
First volume from the organization, describing the original formation and activities of the charity in the early 20th century. The handwritten record book predates the official incorporation of the three family charities into a single charity, The Amherst H. Wilder Charity, in 1910.
A report published "on the occasion of the opening of the Amherst H. Wilder Health Center" to document the activities of the Wilder Charity from its beginning in 1906 to 1952. The report contains summaries of the organization's contributions to St. Paul health services, St. Paul community leisure time services, St. Paul's community organization services, and brief information on the Minnesota Foundation.
Manuscript of an article written about the history of the Wilder Child Guidance Clinic, which began in 1924. It includes general information on the running of the clinic as well as details about the clinic's connections to other Wilder programs, such as the dispensary, and its relationship to external community resources.
An annual report documenting the main activities of the Amherst H. Wilder Charity for the fiscal year 1912. The report includes the text of a letter from John Glenn, president of the Russell Sage Foundation, provisions of the Wilder family wills, details on plans to build a bath house, and reports extensively on the activities of the Visiting Nurses Department and those served.
An annual report of the Amherst H. Wilder Charity documenting the main activities of the charity for the fiscal year 1913. The report includes a financial statement, information about the new Wilder Administration Building, a general report on activities such as the public baths, day nursery and direct aid, and reports on the work of the visiting nurses and social service departments.
An annual report of the Amherst H. Wilder Charity documenting the main activities of the charity for the fiscal year 1914. The report includes information about activities in the Administration Building as well as detailed reports on the Relief Department, Visiting Nurses Department, Day Nursery and social service work at the city and county hospitals.
An annual report of the Amherst H. Wilder charity) documenting the main activities of the charity for the fiscal year 1919. The report includes a financial statement, information about the Administration Building and detailed reports from the Relief Department, Visiting Nurse Department, the Wilder Public Baths, the Day Nursery, the Wilder Health Center, the Social Service Department and the charity's cooperation with other agencies in St. Paul. The Visiting Nurses report discusses the recent influenza epidemic.
An annual report of the Amherst H. Wilder Charity documenting the main activities of the charity for the year 1919. The report includes a financial statement, information about the Administration Building and detailed reports from the Relief Department, Visiting Nurse Department, the Wilder Public Baths, the Day Nursery, the Wilder Health Centers and the Central Registration Bureau.
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Date Created:
1959
Description:
A report on the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and its associate organizations, the Minnesota Foundation and the Victor M. Watkins Convalescent Home. The report includes background on the Foundation and the Wilder family, information on its operating policy and current services, background on the convalescent home (named after the first director of the charity), and details about the incorporation and activities of the Minnesota Foundation. It also contains details of new Wilder programs established in the 1950s, including Bremer House, Camp Wilder and a community transportation system.
Anaya was born in New Mexico in 1927 and moved to St. Paul with his family in 1939. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: His role in organizing the St. Paul chapter of the American G.I. Forum - and his work with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Credit Union, with Brown and Bigelow, and since 1973 with the Metropolitan Economic Development Association, a private organization providing services to minority businesses.
Biographical Information: Anderson was President, board of directors of Cooperative Power Association. He was a farmer in Litchfield, Meeker County. Subjects discussed: Background. Impact of powerline on the area. Structure of Meeker Cooperative Light and CPA. Relationship of CPA with UPA. Mid-Continent Area Power Pool. Events leading to the Powerline project. Choice of a DC line vs. a AC line. Determining the need for more power. Opposition to the line-anticipating; reaction to; meeting with leaders. Financing the project. Vandalism and the subsequent costs. Effectiveness of hearing process. Being grandfathered out of siting process. Health and safety issues. Science court. Lawsuits. Use of security guards. Handling of controversy by the media. Government Accounting Office study. Future needs for energy. Impact of controversy on future powerlines. Mankato line. Establishment of and reaction to Rural Electrification Administration.