MICHAEL J. AND JENNIE B. DOWLING:

There is biographical data on Dowling; information on his Republican Party activities and his campaigns for several Minnesota public offices; on his participation in a federally commissioned study of education in the Philippine Islands (1900); on the Dowling School for Crippled Children in Minneapolis and on a fund drive to support a similar school in St. Paul; on his career as a newspaper publisher in Renville, Minn. (1890s) and as a banker in Renville and in Olivia, Minn.; on his loyalty and rehabilitation speeches during and after World War I; and on other aspects of his varied business and civic career. A small group of clippings, letters, and memorabilia reflect Jennie's parallel political and civic activities. There is also a film clip that shows Michael Dowling engaging in everyday activities despite his disability.

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These documents are organized into the following sections:

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Access Restrictions:

Originals are closed. Access and use requires the curator’s permission.

Please consult reference staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Michael J. and Jennie B. Dowling Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Location of Master Files:

A digital master of the motion picture film transfer is maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and is managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.

Microfilm Production:

St. Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1981.

Available for sale and interlibrary loan from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Clippings were disposed after microfilming.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 5798; 6050; 11,657; 13,783; 16,587

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).

Digital film transferred from the original 35 mm. motion picture film by Delden Film Lab in 2010.

Digitized by: Minnesota Historical Society, May 2019

Catalog ID number: 990017351650104294

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Location

Reel

M411

1

Biography, approximately 1943.

Typescript draft of an unpublished 120-page biography of Dowling by John Culbert Faries.

Digital version

Printed biographical materials, 1895, 1902-1924, 1930, 1944.

Includes brochures, biographical sketches, booklets, and articles.

Digital version

Obituaries, 1921.

Obituaries and memorial articles from over two hundred Minnesota newspapers and newspapers from other states.

Digital version

Correspondence and related papers, 1883-1899, 1910-1923, 1929, 1944.

Contains correspondence, clippings, brochures, and programs, many of which concern his war-related appearances, and a letter written by Dowling stating the need to retrieve county records from private individuals.

Digital version

Politics, 1890-1902, 1913-1921, 1932, 1938.

Includes but is not limited to materials relating to his election as a Renville County delegate, his candidacy as chief clerk of the State Legislature, his service as National Republican League Secretary, his 1902 U.S. Senate candidacy, and his 1919 candidacy for governor. A photo with Dowling and President McKinley is also included.

Digital version

Philippine Islands Commission, 1900, 1921.

Correspondence, reports, and articles pertaining to Dowling's federally commissioned tour of the Philippine Islands. They contain very descriptive daily entries on life aboard the army transport ship and detailed observations of and comments on the Islands, particularly their schools, people, weather and American military influence. Some clippings describe his meeting with the local Philippine tribal heads.

Digital version

Banking, 1919-1922.

Includes but is not limited to items related to Dowling's banking career at the state and national level.

Digital version

Yellowstone Trail Association, 1919, 1921, approximately 1933.

Contains clippings and articles about his involvement with this national organization that promoted the construction of a highway to Yellowstone National Park.

Digital version

Dowling School for Crippled Children, Minneapolis, 1920-1923.

Primarily contains clippings regarding events at the school, including Dowling's first visit, and exhibits and parties. Also of interest is the school's use of Dr. Emil Coue's method of healing by auto-suggestion.

Digital version

Michael J. Dowling memorial fund, 1921-1923.

Consists mainly of clippings of promotional articles, local drive statistics, and general information. Some non-clipping materials are included.

Digital version

Michael J. Dowling Memorial School for Crippled Children, St. Paul, 1923-1924.

Clippings concerning the school wing built from the memorial funds that describe the legislative appropriation bill and physical layout of the wing.

Digital version

Location

Reel

M411

2

Speech drafts, undated, 1918.

Contents of drafts discuss the federal reserve system and socialism, and a citizenship speech given in Fergus Falls.

Digital version

Certificates, 1919-1921.

Dowling's two appointments to the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Tidewater Commission, and an acknowledgement of his war services by the Minnesota Commission on Public Safety.

Digital version

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Location

Reel

M411

2

Scrapbook, 1913, 1917-1919.

Digital version

Scrapbook, 1918-1921.

Digital version

Scrapbook, 1919-1920.

Digital version

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Location

Reel

M411

2

Correspondence and related papers, 1897, 1914-1928, 1934-1944.

Consists mainly of materials documenting her life after Dowling's death, including letters to her daughters describing a Red Cross tour of London, clippings related to the Minnesota League of Women Voters and GAR Women, and articles and brochures pertaining to the Minnesota Association for Crippled Children and Disabled Adults.

Digital version

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RESTRICTED

Manuscripts

Moving Images

Location

Shelf Q-18-H (Room B-105.7)

American Medical Association film, approximately 1918. 1 master film reel (9 min.): silent, b&w; 35 mm.

Film shows Michael Dowling driving a car, traveling, and conducting regular business operations. The film was made to be used in the rehabilitation of wounded World War I veterans and premiered at the American Medical Association meeting on June 29, 1918.

MP4 transfer of motion picture film: Minneapolis, Minn.: Delden Film Lab, 2010.

Digital version

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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:

Amputees -- Rehabilitation.

Artificial limbs.

Camps for people with disabilities.

Children with disabilities -- Education.

Disabled veterans.

Education -- Philippines.

Governors -- Minnesota -- Election -- 1920.

Hospital schools.

Newspapers -- Minnesota -- Renville County.

Patriotism -- Minnesota.

People with disabilities -- Rehabilitation.

Political campaigns.

World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Red Cross.

World War, 1914-1918 -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Bordewich, Henry, 1844-1912.

Dowling, Jennie L., 1872-1943.

Eustis, William Henry, 1845-1925.

Faries, John Culbert, b. 1867.

Organizations:

Dowling School for Crippled Children (Minneapolis, Minn.).

Gillette State Hospital for Crippled Children.

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater Association.

Michael J. Dowling Memorial School for Crippled Children (Saint Paul, Minn.).

Minnesota Association for Crippled Children and Disabled Adults.

Minnesota Bankers Association.

National Republican League.

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Yellowstone Trail Association (U.S.)

Places:

Philippines -- Description and travel.

London (England) -- Description and travel.

Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1858-1918.

Document Types:

Microforms.

Motion pictures.

Functions:

Bankers

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