CORNELIA GJESDAL KNUTSON:

Cornelia Genevive Knutson, or "Coya" as she was commonly known, was born in Edmore, North Dakota, August 23, 1912, the daughter of Christian and Christine (Anderson) Gjesdal. She received a B.S. degree in English and music at Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) and did post-graduate work at Moorhead State Teachers College and at the Julliard School of Music. She began her career as a high school teacher in Oklee, Minnesota, and married Andrew Knutson on March 21, 1940. She served in the state Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1941-1942), as a member of the Red Lake County Board (1948-1950), and as a representative from the 65th district in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1951 to 1954. As a Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate in Minnesota's ninth congressional district, Knutson defeated Harold Hagen, a twelve year incumbent, to become the first Minnesota woman to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. She held that position from 1955 to 1958. Knutson was defeated in 1958, and campaigned unsuccessfully for the seat in 1960 and 1976. She died in Minneapolis October 10, 1996.

Return to top

The papers include biographical information (1953-1996), congressional subject files and correspondence (1952-1958), copies of bills authored by Knutson (1955-1958) and her Congressional Record inserts (1957-1958), correspondence and related materials documenting her campaigns for the ninth district congressional seat (1954-1958), transcripts of her speeches (1955-1958), press releases (1957-1958), photographs, and newsletters (1955-1958).

Return to top

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Knutson, Cornelia Gjesdal. Coya Knutson Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 8452; 15,085; 16,657; 16,824

Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 990017331130104294

Return to top

Research materials on Coya Gjesdal Knutson are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

Return to top

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Agricultural laws and legislation -- United States.

Agricultural subsidies -- Minnesota.

Agriculture -- Minnesota.

Business enterprises -- Minnesota -- Government policy.

Cooperative societies -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota.

Elections -- Minnesota.

Electric power-plants -- Minnesota.

Nuclear power plants -- Minnesota -- Elk River.

Political candidates -- Minnesota.

Rural electrification -- Minnesota.

Women -- Political activity -- Minnesota.

Organizations:

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

United States. Congress. House.

United States. Rural Electrification Administration.

United States. Small Business Administration.

United States. Department of Agriculture.

United States. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Places:

Oklee (Minn.)

Red Lake County (Minn.)

Red River Valley (Minn. and N.D.-Man.)

Document Types:

Photographs.

Speeches.

Occupations:

Politicians.

Women legislators -- Minnesota.

Return to top