Minnesota Historical Society

Minnesota Historical Society
Name	Minnesota Historical Society
Formation	1849
Headquarters	Saint Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota Historical Society. Founded in 1849, it is one of the oldest and most comprehensive state historical societies in the United States. Chartered by the first Minnesota Territorial Legislature just nine years before statehood, its mission is to preserve and share the state's rich history. The society operates numerous historic sites, museums, and a vast research library, serving as the primary steward of Minnesota's historical resources.

History

The society was established by a group of prominent territorial leaders, including Henry Hastings Sibley, the state's first governor, and Alexander Ramsey, its second governor. Its early efforts focused on collecting manuscripts, books, and artifacts related to the Upper Midwest, including materials from fur trading posts and early settlements. A significant early achievement was the publication of its first volume of Collections in 1850, documenting early explorations and the Dakota people. Following the American Civil War, the society played a key role in commemorating the state's involvement, and later, in preserving records from the Industrial Revolution and waves of immigration. In 1917, it moved into its own dedicated building, the current Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, which was later expanded and renovated in the 1990s.

Organization

The society is a private, non-profit organization governed by an elected board of trustees and is designated as the state's official historical society. It receives operational support from the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Department of Administration. Day-to-day operations are managed by a director and a professional staff of historians, archivists, archaeologists, and educators. Key internal divisions include the Library and Archives, the Sites and Museums department, and the Publications office. The society also collaborates extensively with local historical organizations across the state, such as the Olmsted County Historical Society and the St. Louis County Historical Society.

Collections

The society's collections are immense, containing over 550,000 books, more than 37,000 maps, 250,000 photographs, and one million archaeological objects. Its manuscript collections include the papers of notable figures like Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Sigurd Olson. The Gale Family Library at the Minnesota History Center houses extensive genealogical records, newspapers, and government documents. Significant artifact collections encompass materials from the Dakota and Ojibwe nations, items from the Flour milling industry that dominated Minneapolis, and objects related to World War II and the Cold War. The society also maintains an extensive digital archive, making many photographs and documents accessible online.

Programs

The society administers a wide array of public programs, including educational workshops for K-12 teachers, lecture series featuring scholars like Annette Atkins and David Vassar Taylor, and traveling exhibits that visit communities statewide. It manages the National History Day program in Minnesota, encouraging student research. Other key initiatives include oral history projects documenting diverse communities, such as Hmong Americans and Somali Americans, and preservation services that provide grants and advice for maintaining historic properties like the F. Scott Fitzgerald House in Saint Paul. The society also offers fellowships and research grants to support academic work.

Sites_and_Museums

The society operates a network of 26 historic sites and museums across Minnesota. These include the flagship Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, the Mill City Museum on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, and the Mille Lacs Indian Museum near Onamia. Significant state historic sites under its care are Fort Snelling, a United States Army post pivotal from the 1820s through World War II; the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site in Little Falls; and the Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior. Other sites preserve the homes of influential figures, such as the Alexander Ramsey House and the James J. Hill House.

Research_and_Publishing

The society is a leading center for historical research on the Upper Midwest. Its staff historians and archivists assist thousands of researchers annually, from genealogists to academics. The society's press publishes the quarterly journal Minnesota History, as well as scholarly books, exhibit catalogs, and educational materials. Notable publications have included works on the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, the history of Iron mining in Minnesota, and biographies of figures like Floyd B. Olson. It also provides online access to numerous primary sources, digitized newspapers through the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub, and research guides on topics ranging from women's suffrage to labor history.

Category:Historical societies in Minnesota Category:Organizations based in Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:State agencies of Minnesota