PERCY ROSS:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator:Ross, Percy (Percy N.), creator.
Title:Percy Ross papers.
Dates:1967-1998.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Subject files relating to Percy Ross, a Minneapolis businessman, and his private philanthropic endeavors, consisting mainly of original or photocopies of newspaper clippings, including Ross' column, "Thanks a Million," and other public relations materials.
Quantity:1.4 cubic feet (2 boxes), 1 master audio file: WAV (100 MB), and 1 user audio file: MP3 (14.1 MB).
Location: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Percy Nathan Ross was born November 22, 1916 in Michigan. He arrived in St. Louis Park, Minnesota around 1946-1947. He was associated with Ross and Ross Auctioneers. In 1959 he purchased a company called Poly-Tech, which made polyethylene plastic bags. He amassed a substantial fortune and turned to giving away small amounts of money in parades and other public venues. In 1983, he began a newspaper column called "Thanks a Million," which ran until September 19, 1999. He died in Edina, Minnesota on November 10, 2001.


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Expand/CollapseARRANGEMENT

The files are arranged sequentially according to a numerical system imposed prior to their arrival at the Minnesota Historical Society.


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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]. Percy Ross Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 16,407

Location of Master Files:

Digital master of the audiovisual material is maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and is managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.

The original audiocassettes were disposed after the material was digitally reformatted into WAV files.

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).

Digital audio transferred from the master audiocassette by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation purposes, (May, 2019).

Catalog ID number: 990074233010104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Location
123.E.12.4F21. [General interest] (1 thru 91), 1967-1976.
22. General interest, 1977-1980.
23. Iran, American hostage situation, 1980.
24. Special news articles, 1977-1980.
25. Wabasha Riverboat Days, June 14, 1979.
26. Aquatennial parade, 16,500 silver dollar give-away, 1978.
27. Foreign articles, 1979-1981.
28. Christmas bicycle party, 1977, 1988.
29. Auctions (benefits and charities), 1979-1983.
30. Special parties, 1972-1977.
31. Special news articles, 1980-1981.
32. Reverend Clennon King, 1977-1983.
33. Calumet-Laurium, Michigan, visit, 1980.
34. TV and radio shows, 1978-1980.
35. Native American news articles, 1980.
36. Copper country party (Dearborn, Michigan), 1978.
37. Salvation Army, Christmas, 1980.
38. Sky cap party, 1977.
39. Conversation with Hubert H. Humphrey, December 25, 1977. 1 folder, 1 master audio file (19 minutes, 58 seconds): WAV (100 MB), and 1 user audio file: MP3 (14.1 MB).
Percy Ross recounts his last phone call with former Vice President Humphrey and Muriel Humphrey Brown.
Conversation with Hubert H. Humphrey, December 25, 1977 Digital audio
40. Political, 1972-1973.
41. State v. Ross, 1981.
42. Percy Ross photographs.
43. Minnesota Kicks soccer team, 1981.
44. Hospitals, churches, schools, 1978-1982.
45. Christmas bicycle party, Salvation Army, Rochester, 1981.
46. Carrie Torres, Christmas, 1981.
47. Robert F. Kennedy gravestone, 1982.
48. Special news articles, 1982-1983.
49. Ross' 66th birthday, Rockford, Illinois, 1982.
50. Des Moines Register & Tribune Syndicate, sales circular, 1980.
51. Thanks a Million, 1983.
52. Thanks a Million, 1983.
53. Thanks a Million, 1984.
54. IRS tax matter, 1984.
55. Tabby Venable, hearing aid recipient, 1984.
56. Miscellaneous, 1984-1985.
57. Church sermon, June 24, 1984.
58. James Williams, Valdosta, Georgia, birthday party, 1984.
59. Mount Carmel, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce, 1985.
61. Teacher's Institute speech, Birmingham, Alabama, 1985.
62. Connie Cash, cancer victim reunited with sister from England, 1985.
63. Thanks a Million, 1985-1987. 2 folders.
64. Thanks a Million, 1987.
64-A. Garretson-Hobson matter, Chicago, Illinois, 1986.
65. Charleston, West Virginia, Majorette Festival, 1987.
66. Chorus Line musical play, 1987.
66-A. Twins vs. St. Louis, last game of World Series, 1987.
67. Minneapolis Star Tribune story, 1988.
68. Miscellaneous, 1988.
Location
123.E.12.5B69. Honors awards banquet, guest speaker, 1988.
70. United Way Campaign, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, guest speaker, 1988.
71. United Way Campaign, Glens Falls, New York, guest speaker, 1988.
72. Joseph Roger O'Dell, death row matter, 1988.
73. Katharina Linz, Kettle Drive, Moline, Illinois, 1988.
74. Thanks a Million, 1989.
75. Kent State University, Warren, Ohio, speech, 1989.
76. Tri-state regatta and parade, Huntingdon, West Virginia, 1989.
77. World trip, 1989.
78. Thanks a Million, 1990.
79. Hero Award, 1990.
80. Thanks a Million, 1991.
81. Thanks a Million, 1992.
82. Foreign articles, 1992.
83. Thanks a Million, 1993.
84. Foreign articles, 1993.
85. Lubavitch Cheder Day School banquet, 1993.
86. Thanks a Million, 1994.
87. Miscellaneous, 1995-1997.
88. Miscellaneous, 1997-1998.
[0.6 cubic feet empty, letter size.]

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:
Businessmen -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Philanthropists -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Persons:
Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
Document Types:
Sound recordings.
Transcripts.

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