OTTO A. SILHA:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator:Silha, Otto A., creator.
Title:Otto A. Silha papers.
Dates:1941-2003.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Biographical information, speeches, articles, correspondence, and other papers of Otto A. Silha, a Twin Cities journalist, president (1973-1979), publisher (1975-1976), and chairman (1979-1982) of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune newspaper, and chairman of Cowles Media Company (1982-1984). After retiring from Cowles, he formed Silha Associates, a national media and management consulting organization, and he also founded and chaired the urban expertise organization City Innovation.
Quantity:12.8 cubic feet (14 boxes).
Location: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseARRANGEMENT

These papers are organized into the following sections:

Biographical information
Speeches
Articles
Correspondence
Silha Associates
Cowles Media
Associations
Subject files
City Innovation records
Miscellaneous
VIP miscellany


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Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Otto A. Silha Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 16,189; 17,524; 17,560; 17,959

Processing Information:

NHPRC logo

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: 990072645990104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Expand/CollapseBIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

LocationBox
123.D.1.1B1Articles and clippings, 1944-1993. 4 folders.
Awards, 1953-1997. 8 folders.
Biography, undated and 1964-1999. 4 folders.
Bohemian Grove, 1979-1995. 2 folders.
Calendars:
1985-1988. 5 folders.
LocationBox
123.D.1.2F2 1989. 2 folders.
Genealogical reports, undated.
Inaugural invitations, 1965, 1985.
Notes, 1960-1974.
Photographs, undated and 1945-1993.
Presidential bid, 1988.
Press releases, 1986.
Retirement, 1982-1984. 2 folders.
Reunions, 1964-1972, 1980, 1990. 2 folders.
Miscellaneous correspondence and printed materials, 1971-1985. 2 folders.
Otto A. Silha obituaries, 1999.

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Expand/CollapseSPEECHES

Includes transcriptions of talks and speeches, background materials, and related correspondence. Materials are designated as 'talks' from 1954-1975, and 'speeches' from 1976 through 1999. Additional materials labeled 'speeches' cover speaking engagements over the period of 1941-1987.


LocationBox
123.D.1.2F2 1941-1966. 22 folders.
LocationBox
123.D.1.3B3 1964-1977. 63 folders.
LocationBox
123.D.1.4F4 1977-1999. 47 folders.
LocationBox
123.D.1.5B5Selected speeches by others, 1944-1981. 4 folders.

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Expand/CollapseARTICLES

LocationBox
123.D.1.5B5 1970-1998. 51 folders.
Miscellaneous articles:
1958-1992 2 folders.
Location
123.D.1.6F 1963-1999. 5 folders.

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Expand/CollapseCORRESPONDENCE

Materials are arranged chronologically and include notes, clippings and replies.


LocationBox
123.D.1.6F6 1960-1986. 22 folders.
LocationBox
123.D.1.7B7 1986-1987. 5 folders.

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Expand/CollapseSILHA ASSOCIATES

Silha Associates is a national media and management consulting organization formed in 1984. Included materials are representative of client files and correspondence.


LocationBox
123.D.1.7B7Copley Press incorporated, 1989-1993. 8 folders.
ECM Publishers, incorporated, 1993.
Haverhill Gazette report and recommendation, 1993.
Hearst Corporation, 1988-1989. 3 folders.
Media consultations, 1991.
Minnesota Times, 1987.
Press releases, 1984.
San Fransisco Chronicle, 1988.
San Fransisco Examiner versus the Independent, 1990.
Scripps League newspapers, 1992-1993. 5 folders.

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Expand/CollapseCOWLES MEDIA

LocationBox
123.D.1.8F8Announcement of the Chairman of the Board of Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company, 1979.
Cowles Media 1985 budget, 1984.
Cowles Media business planning and revenue statements, 1981-1987.
Cowles Media clippings, undated and 1997.
Cowles Media Company consolidated statement of earnings, 1984.
Cowles Media Company 1984 plan notebook, 1983.
Cowles Media Company Executive Vice President and Publisher announcements, 1968.
Cowles Media Company memos and correspondence, undated.
Cowles Media Company major asset disposition analysis, 1981.
Cowles Media Company notes, correspondence, and reports, 1981-1982.
Des Moines Register and Star and Tribune merger, undated and 1977-1982.
Financial and economic analysis, 1979.
Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company annual reports, 1982.
Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company 1983 budget materials, 1980-1984. 6 folders.
Minneapolis Star and Tribune reorganization, 1981-1982.
Minneapolis Star merger, 1982-1983.
Newspaper readership, 1977-1983. 2 folders.
New York merger meeting, 1981.
Possible sale of Cablescope evaluation, 1981.
President of Minneapolis Star and Tribune announcements, 1973.
Resumes, miscellaneous, 1977-1983. 2 folders.
WDRB-TV Station Louisville Kentucky sale, 1983.

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Expand/CollapseASSOCIATIONS

LocationBox
123.D.1.9B9Miscellaneous 1983-1991.
Cedar Riverside development, 1974, 1988.
Center for Disease Control, 1993.
Children's Express, 1987-1996. 2 folders.
City Innovation, 1992, 1998. 2 folders.
CLIMB [Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body] Theatre Company, 1987.
Communication Studies Task Force, undated and 1997-1998.
Corporate Philanthropy reports, 1987-1988. 2 folders.
Delta Tau Delta, 1948, 1980, 1993-1995.
Minneapolis Club, 1981-1983.
Minneapolis Stadium Site Task Force 1973-1978. 2 folders.
Minnesota News Council, 1984-1987. 2 folders.
Minnesota Newspaper Foundation, 1989.
Minnesota Super Speed Train Commission, 1990.
National Retiree Volunteer Coalition, 1985-1993. 2 folders.
Northstar Research Foundation, 1981-1999. 3 folders.
Principia College, 1976.
Republican Presidential Task Force, 1983.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 1989.
Sigma Delta Chi, 1948-1967.
Silha Center, 1984-1996.
Super Speed Rail Commission, 1987-1996.
LocationBox
123.D.1.10F10Who's Who, 1983.
United Press International, 1956-1983.
World Congress of Philanthropy, 1988.

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Expand/CollapseSUBJECT FILES

LocationBox
123.D.1.10F10Brown, Willis (Bill), 1987.
Buckminster Fuller, 1985-1995.
Kelso, Louis, 1983-1991. 2 folders.
Lebedoff, David, 1988.
Media and Philanthropy, 1987.
Norris, William C., 1978-1981.
Neuharth, Allen H., 1985-1996.
Spilhaus, Athelstan, 1987-1988. 2 folders.
Super Bowl, 1992.
Tisch, Alfred E. II, 1974-1987.
[0.2 cubic feet empty, legal sized]

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Expand/CollapseCITY INNOVATION RECORDS

Records regarding a national non-profit organization founded and chaired by Silha, which was formed to mobilize urban experts to volunteer to assist city organizations. Includes governance records (1990-2000), publications (1986-1999), subject files (1986-2000), and meeting tape recordings (1986-1992).


LocationBox
123.E.13.8F11Governance records:
Articles of incorporation and by-laws, 1990-1995, 1999.
Brochures and background, undated, 1994-1999.
Board background book, 1996-1998.
Includes forms, statements of purpose, fact sheets, and project summaries.
Board meeting files, 1991-2000. 3 folders.
May include agendas, minutes, notes, and financial statements.
Board member mailings, 1998-1999.
Financial statements, 1994-1999.
Internal Revenue Service/state registrations, 1990-1996.
Publications:
Executive Summaries, 1986-1999. 4 folders.
Occasional papers, undated, 1994-1998.
This Works, 1993-1999.
Crescent Corridor Project, 1992-1998.
Subject files:
Bertrand Goldberg, 1996-1997.
Includes Silha's eulogy for Goldberg.
Metro Chicago Information Center "Evaluation of City Innovation", March 1997.
Miscellaneous memoranda, undated, 1986-2000. 2 folders.
Multi-Housing World Conference (Washington, D.C.), March 1988.
LocationBox
123.E.13.9B12New York Leadership meetings and luncheons, 1991-1999.
Steering Committee materials, December 15-16, 1986.
National Steering Committee materials, 1987-1997.
Tenth Anniversary celebration, 1996.
Volunteers, 1991.
Correspondence:
Otto Silha (chronological), 1986-1997.
Otto Silha marked by Silha for MNHS, 1983-2000. 3 folders.
Unarranged. Includes list of boards on which Silha service.
Committee correspondence, 1987-1989. 3 folders.
Correspondence (alphabetical), 1986-1999. 4 folders.
Mainly with potential members of the advisory committee.
Donna Anderson, 1999-2003. 2 folders.
LocationBox
Shelf S-9-G (Room B105.7)13Meeting tape recordings:
December 15-16, 1986. 8 audiocassettes.
March 4-5, 1987. 2 audiocassettes.
October 5-6, 1987. 10 audiocassettes.
October 17-18, 1988. 5 audiocassettes.
September 18, 1989. 3 audiocassettes.
October 10, 1990. 2 audiocassettes.
May 22, 1992. 2 audiocassettes.
LocationBox
154.L.16.3B14The Crescent Corridor and the Lake Calumet Airport, City Innovation, January 1992.
City Innovation - general, 1988-1999.
City Innovation - Calumet - Crescent Corridor, 1992-1998.
City Innovation - Blue Collar Jobs Campaign, 1998-1999.
The Works newsletter, 1993-1999.
An Occasional paper from City Innovation newsletter, 1994-1998.
City Innovation - New York, 1988-1996.
City Innovation chronology binder, 1990-1999. 2 folders.
Disassembled.
City Innovation - general, 1987-1989, 1995-1999.
[0.5 cubic feet empty, letter sized]

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Expand/CollapseMISCELLANEOUS

LocationBox
123.E.13.9B12Minnesota Experimental City Authority, circa 1972-1986.
Minnesota Experimental City Authority summary report 1965-1975, January 1987.
Minnesota Historical Society correspondence and related papers, 1972-2000.
Veterans housing development, Minneapolis, 1946-1948.

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Expand/CollapseVIP MISCELLANY

LocationBox
123.E.13.9B12Correspondence with Walter Mondale and photograph, 1964-1976, 1979.
Twenty seven letters and one photograph received by Silha from Walter F. Mondale.
VIP miscellany, 1965, 1976-1977.
Includes an invitation to the Lyndon Johnson inaugural (1965), a Christmas card from Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson (1976), and an invitation packet to the Jimmy Carter inaugural (1977).

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Expand/CollapseCATALOG HEADINGS

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:
Executives -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Journalists -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Media consultants -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Newspaper publishing -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
City planning -- Minnesota.
Organizations:
Cowles Media Company, author.
Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company, author.
Silha Associates (Minneapolis, Minn.), author.
Minnesota Experimental City Authority, author.
City Innovation, author.
Persons:
Mondale, Walter F., 1928-2021, author.
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
Carter, Jimmy, 1924-2024.
Anderson, Wendell Richard, 1933-2016.
Document Types:
Speeches.
Photographs.
Audiocassettes.

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