The site of 21MO20 first came to Birk’s attention in 1972 via a Little Falls resident who recalled finding artifacts in an uncultivated corner of his uncle’s farm field in 1965. In 1978 Birk examined these artifacts and discovered that they contained 18th century ceramics. Research revealed a candidate for the site's identity: Fort Duquesne, build in the winter of 1752-1753 by voyageur Joseph Marin. Birk realized the potential of the site and conducted a quick survey in 1980 but had to wait until the newly-formed IMA could sponsor an initial dig in 1982. Further excavations in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988 produced many artifacts and structural details, but no definitive evidence of the site's identity. The site was added to the NRHP in 1984 and remained a centerpiece of the IMA's outreach activities throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Birk took an interest in the French presence in Minnesota early in his career, stemming from early projects for the MHS including testing at the site of Fort Saint Charles in 1974. As early as 1982, probably inspired by the discovery of 21MO20, Birk began considering a "major study" of French activities in the region that would synthesize archaeological investigations at various fort sites with the written historical record. Birk gathered material for this study throughout the 1980s and 1990s and published multiple articles and studies of limited scope with the intent of incorporating them as eventual book chapters in the larger study. By the late 1990s this planned study had the working title "The History and Archaeology of the French Regime in Minnesota." Birk seems to have worked on this project only sporadically following the collapse of the IMA and no extensive draft of the final manuscript is known.
In 1973 Birk began researching the fur trading fort along the Snake River long identified as "Connor's Post" after local fur trader Thomas Connor. Birk's research disproved that Connor, who was illiterate, could have authored the journal that described the construction of the fort, indicating instead the British North West Company trader John Sayer as author. In 1976 the MHS updated the site's name to the North West Company Post in recognition of this fact. Birk's research culminated in a nearly 500-page report on "the history, ecology, and archaeology" of the fort site published in 1980, by far his most ambitious publication to that date.
In 1989 Birk published a re-edited transcription of Sayer's 1804-05 journal, part of a series of regional history publications for the Cross Lake Association. He returned to Sayer again for his Master's thesis, completed in 1999, which incorporated much material from his 1980 publication. In 2004 Birk published a short treatment of the same material called "The Messrs. Buid Comodiously," written for a popular audience. Birk turned to Sayer once again in 2014 for an improved and expanded version of his thesis to be published as "Life at Sayer's Fort," a manuscript left finished but unpublished at the time of his death.
In 1985 Birk surveyed the site of an 1839 Methodist-Episcopal mission within the Little Elk Heritage Preserve, beginning an interest in Minnesota's nineteenth-century Protestant missions that lasted the rest of his career. In 1988 Birk, representing the IMA, collaborated with the Cross Lake Association (CLA) of Pine County to edit and publish three sets of historical documents: John Sayer’s Snake River Diary, a set of correspondence regarding the historic community of Chengwatana, and the records of the Pokegama Mission in the Snake River Valley. The first publication came out on schedule in 1989, but the project hit a snag the following year when the CLA pulled out, leaving the IMA to complete the work mandated by the project grant alone. Birk produced the second publication in 1992 as “Purveyors of Salvation: The Pokegama Mission and the Protestant Mission Movement among the Southwestern Ojibwe.”
Birk, however, immediately began working on an expanded version of the same work that was nearly published in 1997 before being dropped for unknown reasons. Birk seems to have returned to the project in 2009, but died before the final manuscript could be published.
St. Cloud State University was established by the state of Minnesota in 1869 as the Third State Normal School.
Learning Resources and Technology Services was a single entity under the leadership of a single dean until July 2011. It then split into two separate units - Learning Resources Services (LRS), which is the library, and Information Technology Services (ITS). ITS is headed by a Chief Information Officer.
Part of Finance and Administration
Faculty Wives and Women organization was formed in 1947 by Mrs. D. S. Brainard, wife of the St. Cloud State president Dudley Brainard, and three other faculty wives, Mrs. C.E. Daggett, Mrs. P.G. Rawland, and Mrs. J.E. Talbot. The organization was originally called the Faculty Wives Club but changed their names at a later date to include unmarried female faculty. The organization is mainly a social group designed to create community within the female members and spouses of the St. Cloud campus faculty. The club is currently still active as of 2022.
The David Frank Grether Central Minnesota Regional Science Fair was an annual event hosted by St. Cloud State University. Middle and high school students from an assortment of central Minnesotan schools presented demonstrations and papers pertaining to a scientific study of their choice. This event originated in 1951 (under the name of “The Science Congress”) and was sponsored by today’s Minnesota Academy of Science. The competition was originally envisioned as a program to help jump-start the professional careers of high school students with an interest in science, especially with the Cold War raging and the launch of the Sputnik satellite had firmly gripped public.
Over time, the program expanded in size and scope, incorporating projects from junior high school students in grades 6-8, in addition to offering prizes and scholarships for projects deemed exceptional by a panel of judges. The last event of this kind was held in 2019 and discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the fair’s former sponsor, the Minnesota Academy of Science, continues to host similar programs at the regional and statewide level to this day, such as the annual Minnesota State Science Fair held annually in St. Paul.
David Frank Grether was a former faculty member in the Department of Biology at St. Cloud State University. Throughout his time at the university, he served as one of the key organizers of the Central Minnesota Regional Science Fair, which was renamed in his honor to mark the event’s fiftieth anniversary.
Learning Resources and Technology Services was a single entity under the leadership of a single dean until July 2011. It then split into two separate units - Learning Resources Services (LRS), which is the library, and Information Technology Services (ITS). ITS is headed by a Chief Information Officer.
The name of Learning Resources Services later changed their name to University Library.
This office was established by St. Cloud State president George Selke in 1938.
Its main task has been to gather statistics on various functions of the university, including enrollment, credit hours, faculty/student ratios, salaries, faculty, and research, all to help administrative decision-making. At various times, this office was in charge coordinating external grants.
1938-1967?: Bureau of Research
1967-1969?: Bureau of Institutional Research
1969?-1979: Office of Institutional Research
1979-1981: Office of Institutional Studies and Research
1981-1983: Office of Institutional Studies and Sponsored Research
1983-1997: Office of Institutional Studies
1997-2002: Office of Institutional Research and Planning
2002-2005?: SUSPENDED
2005: Office of Institutional Research and Planning
2005-2010+: Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Heads of this unit include:
1938-1951?: E.M. Paulu
1951?-1964?: Marvin Holmgren
1964?-1979: Paul Ingwell
1979-1983: Lora Robinson
1983-1997?: Tom Stein
1997?-2002: Mary Soroko
2002-2005: SUSPENDED
2005: Guihua Li
2005-2009: Lisa Foss (interim)
2009-2010+: Lisa Foss
Using only records available from Archives, this history is likely incomplete.
Established in 1972, the unit changed its name to Student Affairs in November 2022.
The position of director of Alumni Affairs was first established in 1965. At that time, an alumni executive director was hired to help plan and expedite events and services offered through the Alumni Association. Though it’s not clear how this position related to the alumni executive director, its likely it was the same person doing two different but related jobs.
According the St. Cloud State faculty/staff directories the following have held the position, except where noted:
According the St. Cloud State faculty/staff directories the following have held the position, except where noted:
1965-67: Jay Blaha, Director of Alumni Relations (1)
1967-69: Warren Johnson, Director of Alumni and Development
1969-72: Michael Keable, Director of Alumni Services
1972-77: Richard Kisch, Director of Alumni Services
1977-78: Bruce Boehne, Acting Director of Alumni Services
1978-84: Tom Macgillivray, Director of Alumni Services
1984-87 Joanne Benson Director of Alumni Services
1987-96: Bob Dinndorf, Director of Alumni Relations
1996-2002: Jim Stigman, Director of Alumni Relations
2002-04: Calvin Miller, Director of Alumni Programs
2004-06: Mark Larson, Director of Alumni Relations
2006-08: Kurt Stelton, Director of Alumni Relations
2008-: Chris LeDuc, Interim Director of Alumni Relations
One of the main objectives of the office of Alumni Affairs was to correspond with former students, keeping the lines of communication open between the school and its alumnus. In addition, the office also raised money for scholarships.
The Alumni Affairs office began printing the newsletter, The St. Cloud State College Magazine, in 1973. The editor’s letter in the first edition states that the publication “will attempt to bridge the chasms of time and distance which separate you from the St. Cloud State College campus and other alumni.” The magazine was to be published four times a year.
The St. Cloud State College Magazine consisted of a variety of articles, including items on the Distinguished Alumni Awards presented by the Alumni Association, scholarships, homecoming events, and notices on former students. Also included were articles on new dorm policies, the move of the Alumni Association to the Lewis/Atwood home, and information on membership to the Alumni Association.
The Association of Central Minnesota Teachers of History was established in 1971. Dr. Calvin Gower, Dr. Marjorie Morse, and Dr. Edward Pluth and faculty members of St. Cloud State University helped to organize the group. The Association had two purposes: to establish a stronger bond between the teachers of history in Central Minnesota and to strengthen the position of history in the programs of the schools of Central Minnesota. The organization dissolved in 1980.
Organized on November 3, 1905 by St. Cloud State faculty member Isabel Lawrence, Gamma Sigma Sigma was originally known as the Story Teller’s Club. Its purpose as a literary society for women to develop literary powers and improve ability to tell stories. The club aimed to broaden culture through reading and discussion, promote friendship, and develop character.
In 1953, the Story Teller’s Club changed its name to Sigma Theta Chi. In April 1959, Sigma Theta Chi pledged to Gamma Sigma Sigma, a national service sorority. In March 1960, the name officially changed to Gamma Sigma Sigma, whose purpose was to "assemble St. Cloud State College women in the spirit of service to humanity." The last reference of Gamma Sigma Sigma was in academic year 1972/73 relating to their work with a blood drive.
The purpose of the Normal Athletic Club was to train its members, who were men, in athletics such as tennis, baseball, football, and rugby. The earliest record of the club is September 1890 and the last record is from an April 1897 issue of the Normalia regardarding selecting players for a new baseball team.
The Philomathian Society was an organization for young men whose purpose was the promotion of good fellowship, to develop individual thinking and expression, and to encourage debate and discussion. The first record of the society is January 1915 and the last record is May 20, 1921.
In March 1949, Sigma Gamma Phi sorority was established as the Aurora Society and whose purpose was to promote the cultural and social activities on the campus. In April 1951, the Aurora Society reorganized as a Greek organization, Sigma Gamma Phi. Its purpose was to promote fellowship and social experiences within the group and on campus. Ultimately, Sigma Gamma Phi wanted to be affiliated with a national sorority. In January 1966, Sigma Gamma Phi was reorganized as Delta Zeta through colonization. Delta Zeta's motto is "Enriching the Lives of Women."
Beginning in 1962, the St. Cloud State Departments of English and Art published a magazine that showcased the literary and artistic talents of students on campus. The first magazine was titled Parallels. In the first volume of Parallels, it stated that Parallels “was chosen as the name of this magazine because of the parallel nature of the arts. The word itself means that two or more things have the same course, or exhibit an analogy. The fine arts endeavor to give aesthetic pleasure; they follow different but parallel routes to this end.”
In the fall of 1970 Parallels was renamed Sticks & Stones. According to the St. Cloud State College Student Activities Budget Request Information and Evaluation Form (1970), the purpose of Sticks and Stones was “to provide an outlet for the publication of outstanding literary and artistic material as well as essays pertaining to the arts and sciences.”
Sticks and Stones was reborn as Wheatsprout in 1976. Crosscurrents was the new name in 1985, and in 1991 the artistic and literary magazine was published under the name Upper Mississippi Harvest. Why were there so many name changes? The Spring 1991 edition of the Upper Mississippi Harvest tells the reader that, “[e]very decade, nearly to the minute, this magazine has changed names: Parallels, Sticks and Stones, Wheatsprout, Crosscurrents, and now the Harvest. Change seems to be the only tradition this university can carry on. Besides, St. John’s has a magazine called Crosscurrents which publishes new Catholic hymns.”
Listed are year, editor, then faculty advisor:
1962, Vol. 1, No. 1; Carole Schauls and Roberta Christian; Mary Barrett and Dr. Paul Cairns
1963; Judy Reichel and Carol Schauls; Mary Barrett and Dr. Edward Lewis
1964; David McGovern and Jackie Stebner; Robert Coard and Charles Crane
1965 Karl Borgeson, Sonja Anderson, and Jymie Powers; Charles Crane and Edward Mitchell
1966; Joseph Stanton and Eileen Ondracek; Mr. Korte and Mr. Thompson
1967; Jim Berg and Judy Rice; John Rylander and Gerald Korte
Spring 1968; None listed; None listed
1969; Rick Glove and Merle Kessler; Dr. Marvin Thompson and Ted Sherarts
1969-1970; Richard Class and Dianne Hudson; Dr. Paul Cairns and Ted Sherarts
Fall 1970; Deborah Olsen; None listed
Winter 1971; Merle Kessler; Dean Armstrong, Dean Mattil, and Ruel Fischmann
Spring 1971; Merle Kessler; Dean Armstrong, Dean Mattil, and Ruel Fischmann
Spring 1973, Vol. 3, No. 1; Stephanie Borden; William Meissner and Richard Martin
Spring 1974, Vol. 4, No. 2; Chris Boros; William Meissner
Winter 1974, Vol. 4, No. 1; Chris Boros; William Meissner
Winter 1975, Vol. 5, No. 2; Tom Arnold; William Meissner
Spring 1975, Vol. 5, No. 3; Tom Arnold; William Meissner
Spring 1976; David J. Feela and Michael Hall; William Meissner
Spring 1977; Brian Longley; William Meissner
Spring 1978; Marcia Jagodzinske; William Meissner
Spring 1979 Michael Hall William Meissner
1980 Brenda Mann and Bruce Huisinga; William Meissner
Spring 1981; Jeff Kulow; William Meissner
Winter 1981/1982; Jeff Kulow; William Meissner
Spring 1982; Jeff Kulow; William Meissner
Winter 1982/1983; James J. Barrett; Sid Parham
Spring 1984; Elizabeth A. Pike; William Meissner
Spring 1985; Julie A. Jahnke and Denise Schaefer; William Meissner
1985-1986; Julie Surma and Paul Cannon; None listed
Spring 1987; Kristen Matheson; Bill Meissner and Connie Perry
1989; Lisa Meillier, Tracy Gilsvik, and Wayne Nelsen; Bill Meissner
1990; Caroline Bad Heart Bull; Bill Meissner and Steve Crow
Spring 1991; Doug Blumhardt and Caroline Bad Heart Bull; Bill Meissner
Spring 1992; Michelle Filkins and Heidi L. Everett; Bill Meissner
Spring 1993; Chris Jeub; Bill Meissner
Spring 1995; Emily D. Wicktor; Steve Klepetar
Spring 1996; Emily D. Wicktor; Steve Klepetar
Spring 1997; Heidi R. Gomez; Steve Klepetar
Spring 1998; Maggie Escalas; Steve Klepetar
Spring 1999; Jessica Gilbertson and Sara Wainscott; Bill Meissner
Spring 2000; Kelli Hallsten; Bill Meissner
Spring 2001; Anne Lewandowski; SallyJo Sorensen
Spring 2002; Jonathan Quijano; SallyJo Sorensen
Spring 2003; Patrick Markfort and Jonathan Quijano; William Meissner
Spring 2004; Jill Richter; William Meissner
Spring 2005; Stephanie Burnes and Bethany Frenette; William Meissner
Spring 2006; Allison Peipus; William Meissner
Spring 2007; Stephanie Burnes and Naomi Poppler; Bill Meissner
Spring 2008; Ben Doberstein; Bill Meissner
Spring 2009; Christy Gillen and Nichole Held; Bill Meissner
The bi-monthly publication, in which its first issue appeared on June 27, 1980, included historic reviews of the communities in the Wright County area. It also served as a vehicle for advertisers who wanted a large yet concentrated coverage for his/her business or company in the Wright County area.
On June 23, 1981, the name changed to Wright-Way...Sher-Way Shopper to include Sherburne County.
Born on July 14, 1898 to Henry E. and Rose H. Thompson, Ruth A. Thompson attended University High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and graduated in 1916. In 1919 at the age of 22, Thompson entered St. Cloud State University (then known as the St. Cloud Normal School) after completing teachers training courses in Minneapolis. After her 1921 graduation from St. Cloud State, she taught at Northfield Public Schools. Thompson died on January 27, 1982 at age 83 and buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Born in 1928, Don Sikkink arrived at St. Cloud State in 1963 as a faculty member in Speech. He was appointed dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in 1965 and served until 1970. He returned to the classroom. Don served as the acting director of International Studies in 1983/84, acting dean, and late, the permanent dean of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities from 1984 to 1988. For the 1988/89 academic year, he was the acting vice president for Academic Affairs. Don retired in 1990.
He received his BA (1949), MA (1951), and Ph.D. (1954) from the University of Minnesota. From 1956 to 1963, Don was a faculty member at South Dakota State.
His family included wife Arlene Angel and four children - Jeffrey, Kathryn, Lynn, and Julie.
Don passed away on January 23, 2018 at the age of 89.
Isabel Lawrence was born in 1853 in Jay, Maine. She graduated from the Oswego Normal School in Oswego, New York, in 1872.
Before coming to St. Cloud State, Lawrence taught fourth grade in Portland, Maine (1870-1871), was director of training at the Oswego Normal School in New York (1874-1876), assistant superintendent in Yonkers, New York (1877-1878), and then director of training at the Whitewater Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Lawrence came to St. Cloud State in 1879 and quickly became a beloved and influential faculty member. The first Lawrence Hall (1885) and the second Lawrence Hall (1905), both originally built as women's dormitories, were named in her honor. From late 1914 to summer 1916, she was acting president while Waite Shoemaker was on leave due to illness. Lawrence was St. Cloud State's first female president, acting or permanent.
She retired in 1921 after serving St. Cloud State as director of the training school for over 40 years. She received numerous letters from grateful former students, and the Alumni Association raised funds to pay for her medical care and retirement during the Great Depression. She passed away on March 21, 1936 and is buried in St. Cloud's North Star Cemetery.
Kenneth is an 1933 and 1934 SCSU graduate.
SCSU Printing Services staff member
Harry H. Goehring was born to George and Elizabeth (Melius) Goehring in Loyal, Wisconsin, ca. 1907. He graduated from Loyal High School in Clark County, Wisconsin in 1925. He received a bachelor's degree from the Wisconsin State University (1929), master's degree from the University of Wisconsin (1932), and his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota (1955).
Goehring joined the faculty at St. Cloud State in 1946, teaching ornithology and zoology. He would later teach in Biology and retired in 1971. He is best known studying bats thta lived in a Mississippi River sewer near campus and was nicknamed St. Cloud State's "Batman". In addition, Goehring developed a biology course for prospective elementary teachers. Goehring’s personal research included the discovery of two rare rhino mice in St. Cloud as well as a bat that survived sub-zero temperatures lower than had been previously believed.
Goehring married Thelma Keefer and they had three daughters - Donna, Dixie, and Dawn. Goehring passed away on April 15, 1997 in Concord, New Hampshire, at the age of 89.
World traveler William Marcellous Lindgren was born on September 26, 1922 to Roy and Rudy (Peterson) Lindgren in Braham, Minnesota, a small town just north of Cambridge on Highway 65. Lindgren was an only child.
In 1940, Lindgren entered the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1944 with a BA in Political Science and Economics. In early 1945, Lindgren joined the Royal Canadian Armed Forces and discharged in September 1945. After he was discharged, Lindgren enrolled at the University of British Columbia. He received his master's degree in Political Science and Economics in 1946.
With a connection through his University of Minnesota Sigma Nu fraternity, he was hired by the California Texas Oil Company (Caltex) in early 1947 and would arrive in Shanghai, China, in July of that year for training. In 1961, Lindgren left Caltex and was hired by Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company, then sent to Manila, Philippines. He resigned from Pfizer in 1964 and returned to the United States. Upon his return, Lindgren was hired in 1965 by St. Cloud State University to teach. In 1968, Lindgren resigned from St. Cloud State and was hired by R&D Products and then assigned to Hong Kong.
Lindgren resigned from R&D Products in 1974 and retired to Portugal, yet returned to Minnesota later that year permanently. In 1975, Lindgren was hired again by St. Cloud State to teach and held that position until he retired in 1988. After his 1988 retirement, Lindgren continued to travel extensively. In the spring of 1993, Lindgren learned he had terminal cancer and passed away on October 13, 1993 in Cambridge, Minnesota.
As an employee of Caltex, Lindgren began traveling across Asia in 1947. By the time he returned to Minnesota in 1966 after his stint with Caltex and Pfizer, he had been assigned to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, and Japan. Whenever possible he would visit other nearby locales, including Macao, Thailand, Cambodia, Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet, and Afghanistan. Given the time frame and locations, Lindgren found himself in the middle of many events that changed the geo-political landscape of the 20th century, among them the establishment of Communist China, its invasion of Tibet and the Dalai Lama’s flight to India, the French-Viet Minh conflict and subsequent Vietnam War, and Cold War movements among the United States, the Soviet Union, and China in the border regions of Central Asia. This also made Lindgren a valuable source of information for American intelligence agencies, which often took advantage of his proximity and ability to move relatively freely in these areas by debriefing him for information.
Lindgren never married and had no children.
Ralph Heimdahl of Willmar, Minnesota, was born on March 22, 1909. After two years of study, Heimdahl graduated from the St. Cloud State Teacher’s College in 1930 where he studied art, played multiple sports including football and basketball, and participated in a wide variety of campus activities. After graduation, he was the principal at Miltona during the 1930/1931 school year, and he also taught at the State School for the Deaf at Faribault. He also took classes at the Minneapolis School of Art.
In 1937, Heimdahl entered a national competition that Walt Disney held to find artists. Heimdahl drew sketches of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and was hired. He moved to California to work at the Walt Disney Studios' animation department. There he met his future wife Esther, who was also a Disney employee. They married in 1938.
While at Disney, Heimdahl worked on classic feature length animated films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Fantasia (1940), Pinocchio (1940), Dumbo (1941), and Bambi (1942). During the Disney studio strike in 1941, Heimdahl left Disney and moved to a farm in Brookfield, Vermont, where he lived for a year hoping to draw and sell his own cartoons. By the winter of 1942-1943, Heimdahl was working as a mechanical engineer for Hardinge in Elmira, New York. In the mid-1940s, Heimdahl was ultimately drawn back to California where he worked as a mechanical engineer in the city of Alhambra in suburban Los Angeles.
In 1946, Heimdahl joined the Western Publishing Co. where he drew comic books. In October 1947, Heimdahl began drawing the Bugs Bunny Sunday comic strip for Warner Bros. and the Newspaper Enterprises Association (NEA). He drew the new Bugs Bunny daily strip from its inception in November 1948. Heimdahl drew both the daily and Sunday strips until the fall of 1978. At one point, the Bugs Bunny comic strip appeared in over 450 newspapers worldwide.
Additionally, Heimdahl created the British version of the “Yogi Bear” comic in the 1960s which was based on the Hanna-Barbera character of the same name. Another hobby of Heimdahl’s was filmmaking. He and his daughter Martha won the Bolex Silver Medallion award in 1962 for a 16mm film entitled “Autumn Madness.”
Heimdahl died on November 12, 1981 at the age of 72. He was a longtime resident of Arcadia, California in suburban Los Angeles where he and his wife, Esther, had three daughters - LaVerne, Linda, and Martha.
John C. Boehm, M. D., was born in Vienna, Austria on June 12, 1860. His family moved to America in 1867 near Black Earth, Wisconsin. In 1885 he entered the St. Cloud State Normal School, graduating in 1887. Afterwards, he moved to Euclid, Minnesota to teach. He later attended the University of Minnesota to become a physician and graduated in 1893. In July 1894, he began his professional practice in St. Cloud, MN. He married Mittie A. Adamson on November 28, 1896. He was an active member of the community, including serving on the St. Cloud Board of Education and the Stearns-Benton County Medical Society.
Boehm died in June 1931.
The writings of “John Fischer,” pseudonym, represents a collaboration between Ruel E. Fischmann and Joanne Fluke, husband and wife.
Ruel E. Fischmann was born on July 3, 1939 and passed away on January 7, 2013. He lived in Granada Hills, California.
Fischmann received both his bachelor of arts (1961) and master of arts (1967) degrees from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). After graduation, Fischmann landed a faculty position in Philosophy at St. Cloud State College (later University) in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
In 1984, Fischmann left St. Cloud State to pursue a career as a television writer.
Joanne Fluke was born in 1943 to Cliff and Esther Gibson. Fluke grew up in Swanville, Minnesota, graduating from Swanville High School in 1960. After attending St. Cloud State, Fluke graduated from California State University at San Bernardino.
They have one son, John Fluke.
In 1843, William Henry Jackson was born in Keeseville, New York. As a child, Jackson became interested in photography. After service in the Civil War, he opened a studio in Omaha, Nebraska. Here, Jackson photographed local Native American tribes and scenes from the Union Pacific Railroad. From 1870 to 1878, Jackson was the official photographer for the United States Geological and Geological Survey of the Territories. Photographs taken by Jackson during this time showed the remarkable surroundings of the United States’ American West, including Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and the cliff dwellings of Colorado (Mesa Verde National Park). When the survey was finished, he opened a studio in Denver, CO, in 1879.
In 1897, William A. Livingstone, Jr., one of the founders of the Detroit Photographic Company, persuaded the William Henry Jackson to join the firm. By doing so, the Detroit Photographic Company added the thousands of negatives produced by Jackson to the company’s image inventory. Jackson's photographs included city and town views, images of important buildings, scenes along railroad lines, and views of hotels and resorts from all over the world, including North and South America and Europe.
In the 1890s, the Detroit Photographic Company purchased the rights to use the Swiss "Photochrom" process of converting black-and-white photographs into color images, printing them by photolithography. This process allowed large scale production of color postcards, albums, and photographic prints for sale to the general American public, including those images taken by Jackson.
James M. McKelvy came to St. Cloud, Minnesota, from Pennsylvania in 1857. He was related to the Swisshelm family, and he boarded with the Garlingtons, who were also related to the Swisshelms. In 1863 he married Margaret Garlington. Their children were James E., Rosa, Jesse, Eva, Margaret, Mary, and Wilbur McKelvy served in Company, I. Seventh Minnesota Volunteers. He attained the rank of captain and was wounded in the Battle of Nashville. He was a lawyer by profession, and after the war he became a district judge in Stearns County. His son, James E. McKelvy, served in the Spanish-American War. His rank was captain, and he was a member of Company M, Thirteenth Minnesota Regiment. James McKelvy died in 1884.
Bruce Gerald Nelsen was born on March 22, 1935 near Hutchinson, Minnesota. He was raised in the area on a dairy farm. After graduation from high school at Hutchinson, Nelsen studied agriculture at the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland. After serving in the U.S. Army from August 1954 to August 1956, Nelsen returned to Minnesota and attended the Staples Area Vocational School, where he studied machine shop. He was then employed by the 3M Company from 1967 to 1968.
In 1968, Nelsen became a machine shop instructor at the Staples Area Vocational School. After becoming a Minnesota state Representative, he served as the North Campus Supervisor, when the legislature was not in session.
Nelsen was elected to the Minnestoa state House of Representatives in 1974, 1978, 1980. He served as the Assistant Minority Leader of the Independent Republican House Caucus. The committees he has served on include: Agriculture, Appropriations, Rules and Legislative Administration, and Transportation. He was a Minnesota Representative to the Midwest Council of State Governments. In July 1980, he began a three year term on the Minnesota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education.
During his years as a State Representative, Nelsen paid special attention to the importance of education in Minnesota. During his last two terms, he felt that the state’s weakening economy was a major issue and worked for decreased spending and was for a balanced national budget.
In February 1982, Nelsen announced his intention to not seek reelection this year. His decision was based on a desire to spend more time with his family in Staples. He was then employed at McCourtney Plastics in Staples, Minnesota.
He and his wife Beverly have five children and reside in Staples, Minnesota.
Alvin Patton was born September 18, 1937 in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. He attended the Northwest Technical Institute and served in the U.S. Army. Patton is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Union Party. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 17A in 1972 and served until 1980. Patton served on various committees: Environmental/Natural Resources, Committee for Higher Education, and was Vice-chairman of the Governmental Operations.
Marvin C. Schumann was born on May 19, 1906 in Rice, Minnesota. He was raised in a family of eight on a rural farm. His father was a German immigrant, who came to the United States at age seven. After the completion of eighth grade, Marvin attended the School of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota. In 1944, he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of county commissioners where he served for ten years. Then in 1954, he decided to file for the office of Minnesota State Representative to which he was elected and served seven terms. He served in the Minnesota House from 1955 to 1962 for District 45, 1963 to 1966 for District 27, and 1967 to 1968 for District 51B. In 1939, he married Mildred E. Nelson, from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. They had three children: Julie Fay, Nancy Louise, and Ivan Charles.
John Davis “J.D.” Sullivan was born in 1862 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He was married to Elizabeth M. Schmidt in 1886, they had four children. J.D. served as a county attorney for Stearns County until his election to Minnesota District 45 in 1911. He served for twenty years in the Minnesota state senate, until 1931. John Sullivan died in 1933. Henry Holland Sullivan, the son of John D. Sullivan, was born in 1889. He married to Hazel J. Brown in 1913, until her death in 1841. By 1940, Henry was remarried to Ruth L. Henry was elected to the Minnesota state senate in 1935 and serve until 1955. Henry Sullivan died in 1959.
Romauld B. Thibault was born in 1918 in Garden, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. In 1945 he married Rachael V. Kramer, together they had two sons. During his life, he worked for the Great Northern Railroad and then later the Burlington Northern Railroads as a conductor and brakeman. He was an active member of the local labor lodges and the national labor unions who competed vigorously for the right to represent railroad workers in negotiations with the Railroad. He retired in 1980. While working, Thibault served as the local chairman of the O.R.C. & B (Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen) from 1956 to 1980. He also served as the National Vice-president of the O.R.C. & B in 1958. He passed away in 2002.
Francis H. Voelker was born in Thorp, Wisconsin on January 5, 1931 to Gilbert A. and Josephine Voelker.
After earning a bachelor of arts degree from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Fran served in the US Army. Upon discharge from the Army in 1955, Fran taught English and coached at Foley High School in Foley, Minnesota. In 1959, Fran left Foley High School and began his collegiate teaching career at St. Cloud State College (later University) in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Fran taught English and Mass Communications at St. Cloud State until his retirement in 1991. He also served as the first president of the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO) after collective bargaining was instituted in the state of Minnesota.
With wife Ludmila (Mil), Fran co-authored and edited three editions of the book Mass Media: Forces in Our Society, History and Legends of the Padrnos Family, and History of Big Birch Lake.
While a faculty member at St. Cloud State, Fran earned a master of science degree in 1959.
Fran married Mil Padrnos on December 27, 1954 at St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Holdingford, Minnesota. They had five children: Mary Jo, Marjorie, Catherine, Thomas, and Paul.
Gene Wenstrom was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1946. He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978 for District 11A. He campaigned unsuccessfully for the 7th Congressional district, Minnesota in 1982. He has two children, Daniel and Tamara, with his wife LeAnn.