Additional Resources
This exhibit contains only a small fraction of the World War I-related items in the Minnesota Digital Library (MDL). We encourage you to browse our online collection to find more, including materials about the soldiers and those on the home front that were not included here.
Additionally, MDL contains several books created in 1919 documenting the wartime activities of many counties in Minnesota. These narrative histories include an honor roll listing those in the county who fought beside a photograph and description of their activities. The books also hold a wealth of information on the experiences of those who remained in Minnesota. View the entire collection via our website, or click on the images below to see some examples:
For more information on the war, please check out this list of additional resources. General resources are listed first, followed by ones specific to World War I.
General
- Johnson, Jack K. "At Home and Abroad: Minnesota at War." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/home-and-abroad-minnesota-war (accessed December 5, 2022).
- Kenney, Dave. Northern Lights: The Stories of Minnesota’s Past. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 2013.
- “Military History.” Historic Fort Snelling, Minnesota Historical Society. https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/military-history (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Quimby, Sarah and Hamp Smith. “Military Service Records Research.” Gale Family Library, Minnesota Historical Society. https://libguides.mnhs.org/milservice (accessed December 9, 2022).
World War I
- Alam, Ehsan. "Anti-German Nativism, 1917–1919." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/anti-german-nativism-1917-1919 (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Alam, Ehsan. "Origins of the American Legion in Minnesota, 1919–1922." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/group/origins-american-legion-minnesota-1919-1922 (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Eighmey, Rae. "Liberty Gardens, 1917–1919." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/liberty-gardens-1917-1919 (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Goetz, Kathryn. "Women on the World War I Home Front." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/women-world-war-i-home-front (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Hommerding, Christopher. "Victory Memorial Drive, Minneapolis." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/thing/victory-memorial-drive-minneapolis (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Jaquette, Ellen Q. “WWI: Minnesota in the Great War.” Gale Family Library, Minnesota Historical Society. https://libguides.mnhs.org/ww1 (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Johnson, Jack K. "151st Field Artillery Regiment." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/group/151st-field-artillery-regiment (accessed December 9, 2022).
- "Minnesota in WW1." The United States World War One Centennial Commission, 2017. https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/minnesota-in-ww1.html (accessed May 18, 2023).
- Reicher, Matt. "Minnesota Commission of Public Safety." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/group/minnesota-commission-public-safety (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Shirey, Sarah. "Gold Star Mothers in Minnesota." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.mnopedia.org/group/gold-star-mothers-minnesota (accessed December 9, 2022).
- Urban, Carla. “World War I on the Minnesota Home Front.” Primary Source Set, Minnesota Digital Library. https://mndigital.org/projects/primary-source-sets/world-war-i-minnesota-home-front (accessed May 9, 2023).
- "U.S. Entry into World War I, 1917.” Office of the Historian, Department of State. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi (accessed May 9, 2023).
- "U.S. Participation in the Great War (World War I).” U.S. History Primary Source Timeline, Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/united-states-participation-in-world-war-i/ (accessed May 9, 2023).
- "World War I Centennial.” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/topics/wwi (accessed May 9, 2023).
War Stories Exhibit Series
Throughout history people have fought wars for control over land and resources. They have also fought to defend their homes and freedom, for an ideal, or for political gain. Regardless of the reasons, wars have had a huge impact on American society.
The people who lived through these wars recorded their individual experiences through letters, diaries, photographs, video, and stories told over and over again. Together, these stories speak to the transformative effect of war on individuals – at times eye-opening and horrific, as well as inspiring. These personal experiences provide a glimpse of the service and sacrifice required during wartime, both abroad and on the home front.
Many of these stories can be found in the collections of the Minnesota Digital Library. We have highlighted a selection of them in an online exhibit series titled “War Stories.” Visit our other exhibits in this series using the links below:
Stephanie Hess, Exhibit Curator
Image Credits
The Minnesota Digital Library is grateful to our contributing organizations for sharing the primary and secondary sources highlighted in this exhibit, including the Big Stone County Historical Society, Blue Earth County Historical Society, Carlton County Historical Society, Cottonwood County Historical Society, East Polk Heritage Center, Faribault County Historical Society, Fillmore County Historical Society, Hamline University, Hennepin County Library, Hibbing Historical Society, History Center of Olmsted County, Kanabec County Historical Society, Macalester College, Martin County Historical Society, McLeod County Historical Society, Military Historical Society of Minnesota, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minnesota Streetcar Museum, Murray County Historical Society, New Brighton Area Historical Society, New Prague Area Historical Society, Nicollet County Historical Society, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections, Northfield Historical Society, Otter Tail County Historical Society, Plymouth Congregational Church, Pope County Historical Society, Robbinsdale Historical Society, Scott County Historical Society, St. John's Abbey, Stevens County Museum and Historical Society, Stewartville Public Library, Stillwater Public Library, Trondhjem Community Preservation Society, Watonwan County Historical Center, and the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society.
Return to the exhibit's home page using the link below.