Red River Valley Fair Association Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 376
Scope and Contents
The Red River Valley Fair Association collection contains a number of scrapbooks from 1914 to 2008, with a large gap between 1924 and 1965. These scrapbooks include newspaper articles, photographs, and brochures. Included is also the Fair's first financial ledger, as well as a book containing concessions of the fair ground and some payroll information. There are also fair booklets including premium lists from 1909 to 1973, as well as various pamphlets and booklets. There are also a number of loose newspaper articles.
The Financial Records series includes a booklet from 1913 consisting of concessions of the fairgrounds by blocks and lots, as well as a blueprint of the fairgrounds and a payroll list. Also included is the Fair's first financial ledger, which has information about operating expenses and incomes, as well as costs of advertising, buildings, entertainment, and more.
The Premium Lists series consists of Fair premium list booklets from 1908-1973, with some gaps. These lists consist of rules and regulations for entering the contests and exhibits held at the Fair.
The Programs series consists of various programs of Fair activities, such as races, expositions, and includes the Freiburg Passion Play.
The Manuals series includes a manual for the Arts and Crafts fair in 1985, as well as two manuals for exhibitors in 1996 and 1997.
The Newspaper Clippings series consists of various loose articles from 1918 to 1950, as well as full newspapers from The Courier, The Ulen Union, and The Fargo Forum. Included in this series is the front page of The Courier on November 11, 1918, the day that World War I ended.
The Scrapbooks series consists of scrapbooks from 1914 to 2008, with a gap between 1924 and 1965. These scrapbooks contain primarily newspaper clippings, along with some photographs and pamphlets.
The Prints series contains limited edition print artworks sold at the Big Iron silent auctions every year from 1985 to 1991.
The Poster series contains a few posters of the Fair and Big Iron, with large gaps, as well as various special events, such as the Red River Valley Fair Truck and Tractor Pull.
The Ephemera series contains various artifacts, such as a pennant from the 1912 Fair. Also included are t-shirts, a silver belt buckle, and a few plaques awarded to different fair committee members.
Dates
- 1905-2012.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.
Biography
In 1906, the first Red River Valley Fair (RRVF) opened and included a large carnival, nightly stage shows, and races. At this time, Fargo held the state fair on even numbered years, and Grand Forks on odd numbered years. This went on until World War II in 1940, when the fair shut down for the next five years due to the foreclosure of Fair land by Fargo banks.
In the 1950s, the city of Fargo had grown to completely surround the fairgrounds, and nearby residents began complaining of the noise from the races, the smell of the barns, and the condition of the buildings. In 1963, the portion of the fairgrounds east of 10th Street were sold to the Fargo School Board. In 1964, the portion of the fairgrounds west of 10th Street were sold to the Alumni Association of North Dakota State University. The Fair board then purchased 166 acres of land west of West Fargo from Art Schollander, a retired farmer, and 78 acres to the east of the County Road from Mrs. Francis. The first buildings were the Judging Building (now Schollander Pavilion), the Livestock Barns, and accompanying service buildings.
In 1980, a new activity was added to the Fairgrounds facility. With the help of the Fair staff, the machinery people in the area organized the Big Iron annual machinery show, which has now become one of the largest machinery shows in the Midwest.
Extent
23 Linear Feet (23 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Red River Valley Fair Association collection contains a number of scrapbooks from 1914 to 2008, with a large gap between 1924 and 1965. These scrapbooks include newspaper articles, photographs, and brochures. Included is also the Fair's first financial ledger, as well as a book containing concessions of the fair ground and some payroll information. There are also fair booklets including premium lists from 1909 to 1973, as well as various pamphlets and booklets. There are also a number of loose newspaper articles. The Financial Records series includes a booklet from 1913 consisting of concessions of the fairgrounds by blocks and lots, as well as a blueprint of the fairgrounds and a payroll list. Also included is the Fair's first financial ledger, which has information about operating expenses and incomes, as well as costs of advertising, buildings, entertainment, and more. The Premium Lists series consists of Fair premium list booklets from 1908-1973, with some gaps. These lists consist of rules and regulations for entering the contests and exhibits held at the Fair. The Programs series consists of various programs of Fair activities, such as races, expositions, and includes the Freiburg Passion Play. The Manuals series includes a manual for the Arts and Crafts fair in 1985, as well as two manuals for exhibitors in 1996 and 1997. The Newspaper Clippings series consists of various loose articles from 1918 to 1950, as well as full newspapers from The Courier, The Ulen Union, and The Fargo Forum. Included in this series is the front page of The Courier on November 11, 1918, the day that World War I ended. The Scrapbooks series consists of scrapbooks from 1914 to 2008, with a gap between 1924 and 1965. These scrapbooks contain primarily newspaper clippings, along with some photographs and pamphlets. The Prints series contains limited edition print artworks sold at the Big Iron silent auctions every year from 1985 to 1991. The Poster series contains a few posters of the Fair and Big Iron, with large gaps, as well as various special events, such as the Red River Valley Fair Truck and Tractor Pull. The Ephemera series contains various artifacts, such as a pennant from the 1912 Fair. Also included are t-shirts, a silver belt buckle, and a few plaques awarded to different fair committee members.
Provenance
Donated by Brian Schulz, General Manager of the Red River Valley Fair Association, in 2014 (Acc. 2014-027irs).
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Red River Valley Fair Association Records
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu