Research Center Finding Aids
Finding Aids are guides that summarize and describe archival collections. They contain two main components, the Summary Information and the Contents List. The Summary Information might include a date range, the size of the collection, a brief abstract of the collection, relevant background information, and more. The Contents List will include the books, manuscripts, photographs, and vertical files in each collection.
The following collections can be viewed in the Research Center. Please contact Archivist Bri Krumwiede at research@blueearthcountyhistory.com with any questions.
Title | Summary |
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Amboy Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Amboy churches including books, cookbooks, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, and United Methodist Church. |
Amboy Cooperative Creamery Association Records | This collection contains meeting minutes of the Amboy Cooperative Creamery Association, 1929-1951. |
Amboy High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Amboy High School yearbooks (1956-1968) as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to Amboy schools. |
Amboy-Good Thunder High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Amboy-Good Thunder High School yearbooks (1971-1979), as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to Amboy schools. |
American Association of University Women – Mankato Branch Records | This collection contains the records of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) – Mankato Branch including handbooks, ledgers, minutes, and other records (1918-2003). It also includes nine scrapbooks with membership rosters, photographs, newspaper articles, newsletters, and other materials. |
American Legion Lorentz Post 11 Commanders Photograph Collection | This collection contains portraits of Commanders of American Legion Lorentz Post 11 dated 1919-2012. |
Baptist Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Baptist churches in Mankato including books, directories, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials. Featured churches include Bethel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, and Hope Baptist Church. |
Beatty, John R. and Laura Maxfield Civil War Letters Collection | This collection contains a rough draft for a book consisting of 150 letters from John R. Beatty to Laura Maxfield during the Civil War. The book was compiled by Eugene Fair in 1942. |
Beauford Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Beauford Township churches including books and newspaper clippings. Featured churches include Beauford United Methodist Church. |
BECHS Scrapbook Collection | Blue Earth County Historical Society houses a collection of nearly 500 scrapbooks. These scrapbooks fall into the following categories: events and history; families and individuals; military history and veterans associations (scrapbooks created by or about individual veterans will appear in the “families and individuals” category); organizations, clubs, businesses, and institutions; schools; and other. The “other” category may have scrapbooks on poetry, recipes, stamps, etc. |
Blue Earth County Board of County Commissioners Minutes, 1978-1992 | This collection contains the meeting minutes of the Blue Earth County Board of County Commissioners for the years 1978-1992. |
Blue Earth County Education Association Records | This collection contains the records of the Blue Earth County Education Association including charters, constitutions, financial records, ledgers of secretaries’ and treasurers’ reports, and other records for the years 1946-1966. |
Blue Earth County Narrative Story Contest Collection | This collection contains records relating to the Blue Earth County Historical Society’s 1933-1934 narrative story contest for Blue Earth County students in 4-8th grade. Records include student essays, contest rules, and a mailing list of teachers. |
Brandrup Family, BECHS Collection on | Records in this collection include photographs, newspaper clippings, and other resources relating to the Brandrup family. This collection heavily features J. R. Brandrup, founder and president of the Mankato Commercial College. His publications include Saga of a Commercial Educator, a memoir, and A Travelogue: Trip to Europe, an account of his voyage aboard the Aquaitania and across Europe. |
Brewster Family Papers | This collection contains the papers of the George H., Carrie A., and Grace Brewster family. The collection includes letters, financial records, educational records, and other materials created or kept by the Brewster family including George Brewster’s diary. |
Burton, Daniel and Verona Papers | This collection holds the papers of Daniel and Verona Burton from 1961-1985. The collection primarily contains thank-you letters and cards from local, state, and national politicians for their involvement in the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and the Democratic Party. It also has programs, tickets, and other materials relating to politics. |
Butternut Valley Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Butternut Valley Township churches including books and photographs. Featured churches include Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. |
Cambria Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Cambria Township churches including books, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Salem Welsh Congregational Church and Horeb Presbyterian Church and Cambria Presbyterian Church. |
Catholic Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Catholic churches in Mankato including books, directories, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials. Featured churches include St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. John’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church. |
Cheever and Asleson Architects Records | This collection from Cheever and Asleson, Architects contains records from various architectural firms including Geo. Pass; Geo. Pass & Son; Geo. Pass Jr.; P. T. Rockery; and Pass, Rockey & Church. In particular, the collection contains the work diaries of Bruce R. Church of Pass, Rockey & Church (1957-1973); architectural drawings by Geo. Pass and Geo Pass & Son; and specifications by Geo. Pass, Geo. Pass & Son, and Geo. Pass Jr. The collection also contains photographs of schools, businesses, and other related buildings. |
Congregational Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Congregational churches in Mankato including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include First Congregational Church and United Church of Christ. |
Decoria Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Decoria Township churches including photographs and newspaper clippings. |
Duehring, Kiffe, Rasmussen, and Siebert Families Photograph Collection | This collection contains photographs of members of the Duehring, Kiffe, Rasmussen, and Siebert families. It also contains a scrapbook relating to the Duehring family and photograph albums relating to the Kiffe, Rasmussen, and Siebert families. |
Eagle High Flyers 4-H Club Records | This collection contains records of the Eagle High Flyers 4-H Club including minutes dated 1940-1960 and other records including programs, cards, and lists. |
Eagle Lake Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Eagle Lake churches including photographs and newspaper clippings. Featured churches include the Church of Christ, Epiphany Lutheran Church, and Salem Evangelical Church. |
Eagle Lake Jaycee Women Records | This collection contains the records of the Eagle Lake Jaycee Women from 1974-1985. Records include membership and attendance information, meeting minutes, by-laws and policies, financial records, correspondence, and publications, as well as records on specific projects and programs including the American Brittle Bone Society Project, the Camp Confidence—Brainerd—Project, the Make-A-Wish Project, and others. |
Echoes Newsletter Collection | This collection contains the Academy of Our Lady Good Counsel Newsletter “Echoes,” for the years 1921-1925. |
Episcopal Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Episcopal churches in Mankato including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include St. John’s Episcopal Church. |
Evangelical Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Evangelical churches in Mankato including books and newspaper clippings. Featured churches include First Evangelical Church. |
First Christian Church Records | This collection contains the records of the First Christian Church including books; documents including brochures, constitutions, letters, minutes, and reports; and photographs for the years 1968-2010. |
Garden City Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Garden City churches including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Garden City Christian Church and Methodist Episcopal Church. |
Good Thunder Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Amboy churches including books, bulletins, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church. |
Good Thunder High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Good Thunder High School yearbooks (1947-1970), as well as photographs, programs, and other materials relating to Good Thunder Schools including two architectural documents. |
Halverson, Esther Papers | Esther Halverson was accepted into the Mankato Commercial College in December 1930. The following collection includes her acceptance letter and course materials from her first year at Mankato Commercial College including ledgers, letters, and an account book. |
Hubbard, Minnie Schoyen Papers | This collection contains the papers of Minnie Schoyen Hubbard relating to her music career and personal life. These records include publications, correspondence, legal records, financial records, scrapbooks, and other materials, as well as photographs of Schoyen and Hubbard family members. |
Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Records | The collection contains records of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) including ledgers of the Mankato Lodge #15 (1866-1903) and the Minneopa Rebekah’s Lodge #72 (1900-1923), hand-written minutes of the meetings of the Past Noble Grands Club (1955-1975), photographs, and other records. |
Indian Lake Sunshine Club Records | This collection contains the records of the Indian Lake Sunshine Club including account books (1933-1997), minutes and membership lists (1926-1997), club constitutions and bylaws (1926-1931), other records. |
Jamestown Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Jamestown Township churches including books, directories, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other records. Featured churches include All Saints Catholic Church, Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Community Church. |
Judson Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Judson churches including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Bethany Lutheran Church. |
Kato Hiking Club Records | This collection contains the records of the Kato Hiking Club (formerly the YWCA Hiking Club and the Kato YWCA Hiking Club) including scrapbooks, ledgers, newsletters, and slide transparencies. |
Kelly-Johnson-Boman Co. Records | This collection contains records of Kelly-Johnson-Boman Co. from 1919-1934 including ledgers, letters, receipts, and a deed. |
Lake Crystal Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Lake Crystal churches including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include All Angels Episcopal Church, Carmel Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Jerusalem Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Baptist Church, and Zion Lutheran Church. |
Lake Crystal High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Lake Crystal High School yearbooks (1903-1985), as well as photographs, programs, and other materials relating to Lake Crystal High School. |
Loyola Catholic School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Loyola Catholic School yearbooks (1942-1985), as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to Loyola Catholic School. |
Lutheran Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Lutheran churches in Mankato including books, directories, magazines, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials. Featured churches include Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Hosanna Lutheran Church, Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. |
Mankato Commercial College, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Mankato Commercial College publications including catalogs (1903-1975) and student guides (1915-circa 1936) as well as other records and photographs relating to the Mankato Commercial College. |
Mankato East High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Mankato East High School yearbooks (1974-2004), as well as handbooks, newsletters, and other materials relating to Mankato East High School. |
Mankato High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Mankato High School yearbooks (1910-1973), as well as programs, invitations, and other materials relating to Mankato High School including microfilm reels of the school’s newspapers. |
Mankato State University Historic Survey of Mankato, 1976-1978 | This collection contains files on over 1,000 buildings in Mankato’s Downtown and Lincoln Park Neighborhoods created by Mankato State University students in Environmental Studies and Urban and Regional Studies courses from 1976-1978. The files may contain photographs, observations, and other details on the buildings’ condition, floorplan, and architectural elements. |
Mankato West High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Mankato West High School yearbooks (1974-2006), as well as newsletters, programs, and other materials relating to Mankato West High School. |
Mapleton Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Mapleton churches including books, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include St. John Lutheran Church; St. Teresa Catholic Church; and the Tri Parish office of St. Teresa Catholic Church, St. Matthew Catholic Church, and St. Joseph Catholic Church. |
Mapleton High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Mapleton High School reunion and history books, as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to Mapleton High School. |
Maurer Family Papers | This collection contains Maurer Family Papers from 1869-1929. The collection primarily contains financial and legal documents including account books, certificates, deeds, receipts, and financial statements. |
Medo Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Medo Township churches including books and photographs. Featured churches include Medo Lutheran Church. |
Medo Township Records | This collection contains contracts, forms, invoices, letters, meeting minutes, mortgages, pamphlets, records, and other materials from Medo township. Many of the records relate to elections, township development, taxes, and expenses from the years 1853-1972. |
Methodist Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Methodist churches in Mankato including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Centenary Methodist Church. |
Pemberton and Waldorf-Pemberton High Schools, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Waldorf-Pemberton High School yearbooks (1961-1980), as well as books, a program, and other materials relating to Pemberton and Waldorf-Pemberton High Schools. |
Pleasant Mound Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Pleasant Mound Township churches including books and photographs. Featured churches include St. John’s Lutheran Church. |
Presbyterian Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Presbyterian churches in Mankato including books, cookbooks, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include First Presbyterian Church. |
Project Rediscovery Lake Crystal Records | This collection contains records of Project Rediscovery’s activity in Lake Crystal in 1974 including architectural drawings, letters, and other materials. |
R. L. Polk & Co. City Directories | The following are city directories published by R. L. Polk & Co. from 1892-2014. |
Rapidan Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Rapidan churches including books, directories, and photographs. Featured churches include Calvary Lutheran Church and St. John Lutheran Church. |
Rapidan High School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains Rapidan High School yearbooks (1952-1963) as well as reunion books, commencement invitations, and other materials relating to Rapidan High School. |
Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Seventh-Day Adventist churches in Mankato including documents and newspaper clippings. |
Sibley, Billings Civil War Letters Collection | This collection contains letters sent by Billings Sibley to his mother, father, and sister during his service in the Civil War, 1861-1865. The collection contains the original letters; the letters have also been transcribed. |
Sibley, Clara Papers | This collection contains papers of Clara Sibley including letters and other records dated 1865-1920. |
Sierra Club-Big Bend Group Records | This collection contains records of the Sierra Club-Big Bend Group. Records include agendas, announcements, bylaws, letters, newsletters, minutes, programs, resolutions, reports, and other materials created by or used by the Sierra Club-Big Bend Group from 1972-1982. |
Silkey, Ludwig Family Papers | This collection contains the papers of the Ludwig Silkey family including correspondence, financial records, and other papers. The collection also contains records for the Silkey farm including certificates, forms, ledgers, and receipts. The collection also includes two ledgers for School District 104 of LeRay Township dated 1869-1895. |
Snow, John R. Family Papers | This collection contains papers from the John R. Snow family including a certificate, diary, ledger, letters, notebook, and pamphlets dated 1899-1949. The collection focuses on John R. Snow as well as his wife Margaret A. and his son, Cecil J. |
Sohre Family Papers | This collection contains the papers of the Sohre family including legal documents such as citizen certificates, wills, deeds, and mortgages; personal papers such as letters, programs, and a family tree; and business records such as receipts and bank books. The collection also includes legal records from the Sanborn family. |
St. Clair Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to St. Clair churches including books, directories, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. |
St. Clair School, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains St. Clair High School yearbooks (1947-1963) as well as photographs, books, and other materials relating to St. Clair School. |
Sterling Township Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Sterling Township churches including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include Sterling Church. |
The National Gold Star Mothers Records | This collection contains records of the National Gold Star Mothers including membership lists, programs, and membership applications for chapters in 17 states and Washington D.C. |
Unitarian Universalist Churches in Mankato, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Unitarian Universalist churches in Mankato including documents and newspaper clippings. |
Vernon Center Churches, BECHS Collection on | This collection contains records relating to Vernon Center churches including books, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Featured churches include St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Vernon Center Methodist Episcopal. |
Vogt, John Papers | This collection contains the papers of John Vogt featuring programs and photographs of the Orpheum Theatre in Mankato dated 1920-1924. |
Wiecking, Anna Papers | This collection contains the papers of Anna Wiecking including notes, outlines, drafts, and published writings as well as letters and other records (1868-1973). |
Willard, J. A. Papers | This collection holds the papers of J. A. Willard including agreements, articles of incorporation, certificates, contracts, deeds, estimates, invoices, legal documents, letters, notes, receipts, reports, financial statements, telegrams, tickets, and other records created or used by J. A. Willard. The Collection also includes several records created after his death including relevant financial reports, letters addressed to his sons, and his wife’s passport. |
Wise, Charles Papers | This collection contains the papers of Charles Wise including photographs and other records. Most notably, this collection contains correspondence between John C. Wise and Colonel John E. Tourtellotte including correspondence about Tourtellotte Hospital dated 1888-1891. |