Mid-Century Achievements 1930s - 1976

1930s - Publishing

In the 1930s the Society published two books: Five Fur Traders of the Northwest and Father Louis Hennepin’s Description of Louisiana, translated from the French by Minnesota Dame Marion Cross.

1945 - World War II Fort Snelling pillow

1953 - Eleanor Lawler Pillsbury created our International Student Scholarship at the University of Minnesota

Eleanor returned from a trip abroad and visited with Dr. Josef Mestenhauser, the University of Minnesota’s head of the International Student Center, about supporting students to help them complete their degrees at the University of Minnesota, promoting one-to-one international diplomacy.

1964 - Anna Ramsey Furness gifts Alexander Ramsey House

Upon the death of Miss Anna earl Ramsey Furness, President of the NSCDA-MN from 1936-1940, Alexander Ramsey House was given by bequest to the Minnesota Historical Society, with provision for NSCDA-MN to serve on its board of overseers.

1972-Representation on the board of Dumbarton House

Since 1972, Minnesota has been represented on the board of Dumbarton House, headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.

1976 - Our Nation's Bicentennial

One bicentennial project was assisting in funding the restoration of a painting by eighteenth century artist Benjamin West, Telemachus and Calypso.

In the 1930s the Society published two books: Five Fur Traders of the Northwest and Father Louis Hennepin’s Description of Louisiana, translated from the French by Minnesota Dame Marion Cross.

War work began again in 1942. We furnished rooms for the Induction Center at Fort Snelling and made generous donations to war relief funds and the U.S.O. in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Minnesota Dames worked to support all branches of the Red Cross, including the Grey Ladies, the motor corps, by preparing surgical dressings, and acting as nurses’ aides, blood donors, knitters and sewers.

A major undertaking, begun in 1953, was the annual giving of scholarship aid to foreign graduate students at the University of Minnesota. This scholarship continues to this day. It supports a program for students from other countries to promote international exchanges and person-to-person diplomacy. The International Student Services Program at the University of Minnesota manages the program, which has helped over 800 students.

Upon the death in 1964 of Minnesota Dame Anna Ramsey Furness, the Alexander Ramsey House and all its furnishings were given to the Minnesota Historical Society with the understanding that the Minnesota Dames be allowed to have three of its members sit on the Board of Governors of the Ramsey House . We now had a museum property without the responsibility of ownership!

During the nation’s Bicentennial, 1974-1976, the Minnesota Society participated in two efforts sponsored by the National Society. They were: writing biographical sketches of “Women, Colonial and Pioneer” about women famous in each state’s history; and conducting a pre-1914 national portrait survey to compile a record of portraits by famous artists held in private collections in each state. The completed biographical sketches were added to the archives of the Library of Congress, and the portrait records were submitted to the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The Society also participated in funding restoration of artist Benjamin West’s Telemachus and Calypso, a painting displayed in the State Capitol, circulated by the Minnesota Museum of Art, and on permanent exhibition at the Livingston-Griggs house.