Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1950s-2017 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Biographical history
Birk's boyhood home of Pine River was surrounded by remnants of the "golden era" of Minnesota's logging industry from the turn of the twentieth century. As a teenager Birk spent much of his free time speaking to elders in his community and tracing the routes of abandoned industrial railroads through nearby forests. This project continued as a semi-hobby throughout his career. In 2009 Birk began collaborating with colleague Jeremy Jackson on a two-volume book series that would publicize the results of his decades of research, a project left unfinished at the time of Birk's death.
Scope and content
This series contains some of the oldest records in the collection, dating to Birk’s teenage activities in the late 1950s. These files are information-rich but somewhat more chaotic than other series. Especially notable are Birk’s correspondence and interview notes with older community members, preserving a unique record of local history. Records of Birk’s later involvement with this project are largely digital, consisting of photographs and LiDAR maps.