VIRGINIA E. MCKNIGHT BINGER AND FAMILY:

An Inventory of Their Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Binger, Virginia E. McKnight, 1916-2002, creator.
	Title:	Virginia E McKnight Binger and family papers.
	Dates:	1920-2004.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Correspondence, clippings, photographs, writings, and ephemera concerning Virginia Edith McKnight Binger, a Minnesota philanthropist and her family.
	Quantity:	3.25 cubic feet (4 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Virginia (Ginnie) Edith McKnight Binger was born in St. Paul on September 6, 1916, the only child of Maude L. (nee Gage) and William L. McKnight. William L. McKnight was president and chief executive officer of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M). Virginia attended Summit School in St. Paul, and later Briarcliff College in New York. In 1939 she married St. Paul native James (Jim) Henry Binger, who later served as chairman and CEO of Honeywell. She and Jim Binger had three children together: James (Mac) McKnight Binger, Judith (Judy) McKnight Binger (Billing), and Cynthia (Cynnie) McKnight Binger (Boynton). Jim and Virginia were well-known philanthropists, horse enthusiasts, and arts supporters.

Virginia’s parents established the McKnight Foundation in 1953 as a private philanthropic organization. Virginia served as president of the Foundation from 1974-1987. During her presidency the organization gave away some $235 million, and its assets grew from less than $8 million to almost $800 million.

Virginia died in Wayzata, Minnesota December 22, 2002. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Binger Billing, in 1987. James Henry Binger died in Minneapolis in November 2004.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The collection documents the personal life of Virginia McKnight Binger and her family through her personal writings, correspondence, and photographs. Included are materials concerning her husband, James Binger; Honeywell; 3M; her father and mother, William L. and Maude McKnight; the McKnight Foundation; as well as her three children, James, Judith, and Cynthia.

The papers include materials from Virginia’s childhood and young adult years in St. Paul; college in New York; love letters from and subsequent marriage to James H. Binger; her treatment for cancer; social and philanthropic activities; and her interest in charity, theater, travel, and horses.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Binger, Virginia E. McKnight. Virginia E. McKnight Binger and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 16,209

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: 990073807550104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

VIRGINIA E. MCKNIGHT BINGER

Location

123.C.1.6F

Autograph book, 1926-1931. 1 volume.

Awards, 1993.

Clippings, 1930s-1970s. 3 folders.

Includes clippings relating to social activities in Minnesota, New York, and Florida; the McKnight Foundation; horse racing, particularly Tartan Farms, initially owned by William L. McKnight and later chaired by Virginia and James H. Binger; and clippings regarding Virginia's mother's death and her father's subsequent marriage to his second wife.

Correspondence:

Most materials are addressed to Ginnie, although there are also letters to other members of the Binger and McKnight families.

1920-1939. 13 folders.

Arranged chronologically, materials discuss childhood; peers; engagements; friendship; school; and travel. May include clippings; photographs; and miscellaneous related ephemera.

Location

123.C.1.7B

undated and 1934-2004. 25 folders.

Includes several folders of letters from Jim before and during his engagement to Virginia; treatment for cancer in 1951; as well personal and business correspondence regarding the death of her parents, Maude (1973) and William L. McKnight (1978).

Diary, circa 1930. 1 volume.

Ephemera, undated and circa 1930s-1950s. 2 folders.

Includes invitations; programs; receipts; itineraries; graduation announcements; and miscellaneous related materials.

Location

123.C.1.8F

Journal, 1930-1931.

Last will and testament of Virginia McKnight and James Binger, 1979.

Medical records, 1949-1959.

Materials cover the periods of Virginia's diagnosis of cancer, including reports; records; correspondence; and miscellaneous related papers.

Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, 1973.

Personality tests, 1964.

Receipts, undated and 1930s-1960s.

School-related papers, undated. 1 volume.

Includes notes from Summit School; Briarcliff class schedule; and related miscellaneous ephemera.

Wedding ephemera and related papers. 1938-1939. 5 folders.

Includes receipts; wedding dress design and fabric; planning materials and correspondence; brides books; invitations; and miscellaneous related papers.

Writings, undated, circa 1920. 1 volume.

Contains a booklet titled, "My Life", written by Virginia when she was in the second grade. Discusses school and home life; travel; hobbies; and friends.

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BINGER FAMILY

Location

123.C.1.8F

Clippings, James H. Binger, undated and 1961-1978.

Materials included relate to James' employment and Honeywell news.

Ephemera, undated and 1949-1950.

Mainly items relating to James (Mac) Binger's time at school. Includes invitations; school saving account book; homecoming catalogs; and sketches.

Passports, James H. Binger, 1952-1960. 2 volumes.

Polo items from James H. Binger, 1962-1966.

Includes photographs and clippings.

Report cards and related papers, 1948-1959. 4 folders.

Materials are arranged by family member and include report cards; correspondence to and from schools; school work; attendance; and miscellaneous related records of James H., James M., Cynthia, and Judith Binger.

Scrapbook, Binger family, 1995.

Genealogical scrapbook of the Binger family compiled by E. Thomas Binger. Includes birth and death certificates; photographs; and related miscellaneous materials.

Travel itineraries, Binger children, circa 1963.

Wedding ephemera and related miscellaneous materials, Binger children, 1964-1970. 3 folders.

Includes invitations; receipts; clippings; correspondence; cards; and other miscellaneous wedding planning materials for each of the three Binger childrens' weddings.

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MCKNIGHT FAMILY

Location

123.C.1.8F

Clippings, undated and 1974-1978.

Last will and testament of William L. McKnight, 1975-1978.

Travel diary, Maude G. McKnight, circa 1925.

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PHOTOGRAPHS AND ALBUMS

Location

123.C.1.8F

Photographs and coloring book, Virginia M. Binger, undated and 1925.

James H. Binger, undated.

Virginia McKnight Binger, undated.

Binger-McKnight children,

undated and circa 1950s.

Location

123.H.2.8F-2

undated and 1946-1950s.

Binger family,

undated and 1908-1960s.

Location

123.C.1.8F

undated.

Photo album, 1960s. 1 volume.

Includes photographs from a business trip taken by Jim Binger to Tokyo, accompanied by Virginia; as well as family snapshots of the Binger-McKnight children.

McKnights, undated and 1920-1940.

25th wedding anniversary of Virginia and James H. Binger, 1964.

Miscellaneous,

undated and 1992.

Location

123.H.2.8F-2

undated.

Photo album, Virginia M. Binger, 1993.

Includes photographs and materials from The Alumni Association of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award, presented to Virginia M. Binger.

[0.5 cubic feet empty, oversize box.]

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CATALOG 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:: Philanthropists -- Minnesota.

Persons:: Binger, James Henry, 1916-.; McKnight, William L. (William Lester), 1887-1978.; Binger family.; McKnight family.

Document Types:: Photographs.

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