Red River Valley Historical Society Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 243

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Red River Valley Historical Society Records have been organized into five series: Board of Directors minutes, Correspondence, Financial records, papers related to the publishing of the Red River Valley Historian, and Subject files. The Board of Directors minutes cover from 1964 to 1967 and are quite complete with only a few gaps. The Correspondence Series is arranged chronologically and includes both incoming and outgoing letters. The period covered is 1964 to 1970 with 1967 and 1968 the most complete. The correspondence is basically of Dr. Martin Lutter who was president from 1965 to 1969. The correspondence covers all facets of organizing and developing the new Society. The Financial Records Series covering the period 1966 to 1971 and include bills, cancelled checks, bank statements, clerical salary sheets and some financially related correspondence. These records give a very good account of the financial picture of the Society and how its income was used. The Red River Valley Historian Series contains draft manuscripts of some of the early issues as well as an incomplete run of the periodical. The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of material to include the Society's articles of incorporation and by-laws, programs and publicity for several of its banquets, publicity for several of its essay contests, and various membership lists and applications. The pamphlets have been organized by location and include a condensed history of Polk County, Minnesota, short sketch of Concordia College, and the 1966-67 annual report of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society. The North Dakota pamphlets include a copy of Margaret MacLeod's "The Frozen Priest of Pembina," and a history of the church in Pembina County. Other items of note include material on the Red River Valley and Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, grant application of the Red River Basin Television series, various newspaper clippings and pamphlets on the sesquicentennial of Assumption Catholic Church (1968), and material related to the Winnipeg tour sponsored by the Society in 1967.

Dates

1964-1971.

Creator

Red River Valley Historical Society. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.

History

The Red River Historical Society had its origins at a meeting called by Don Myrold in Crookston, Minnesota in December 1963. It was formally organized with its officers and charter board of directors elected at a meeting held at the University of North Dakota on March 15, 1964. Mr. Myrold became the Executive Director, a position he held until resigning in December 1976. In 1966 its name was changed to the Red River Valley Historical Society. Its stated purpose was "to coordinate activities of local historical groups and individuals, encourage dissemination of historical knowledge and provide a means for the identification and preservation of documents and objects of historical interest and value with emphasis on the Red River Valley of the North without regard to political boundaries."

Among their many projects over the years are establishment of liaison between various historical organizations, educational institutions and individuals, sponsor a high school historical essay contest and student-education awards programs, host Red River Valley History Seminars, publish the Red River Valley Historian and the Red River Valley Heritage Press, slide-tape presentations, field trips and most recently the possibility of establishing historical interpretive centers in the Valley. In January 1976 the Society established permanent offices in Fargo and Moorhead with a greatly expanded staff. In October 1976 the Society acquired a permanent home through the purchase of the Comstock School in Comstock, Minnesota where all offices were located.

Extent

1.2 Linear Feet (1.2 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Historical society founded to expand the public's knowledge of the Red River Valley of the North.

Provenance

Donated Dr. Martin Lutter, 1972 (Acc. 1858).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Red River Valley Historical Society Papers and have been sent to the sections indicated. Books (Library book collection, consult the catalog for call number and location.)

McCall, T.M., Centennial history of Polk County, 1961 Callan, F.G., A History of Richland County, North Dakota Beautiful Chahinkapa Park, Wahpeton, North Dakota  50th Anniversary, St. Dorothy's Catholic Church, Dorothy, Minnesota Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, Canada, Centennial year, 1967 Lower Fort Garry National Historic Park, 1967 Photographs (Phito 532)

65 items. Various award presentations by Dr. Lutter, Banquet scenes, Winnipeg tour (1967), Russell Fridley, Elwyn B. Robinson, and Dr. P.H.T. Thorlakson, with some negatives.