ALEXANDER MACDONALD KEITH:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For
details, please see restrictions.
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Keith, A. M., 1928-, creator. | |
| Title: | Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith papers. | |
| Dates: | 1953-2015. | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | Papers of Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith, former Minnesota Senate member, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, and Associate and Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Papers include: court opinions (1989-1992); chronological and alphabetical correspondence (undated, 1989-1997); Korean War correspondence (1953-1955); congratulation correspondence (1966); post conference memoranda (1992-1998); appointment books (1989-1997); speeches (1985-2015); awards (1996, 1998); subject files; organizational files; campaign materials (1966); photographs (undated, 1960s-1990s); and scrapbooks (1950s-1960s). | |
| Quantity: | 14 cubic feet (14 boxes), 1 master audio file: WAV (159 MB) and 1 user audio file: MP3 (14.4 MB), and 1 user video file: MP4 (20 GB). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith was born in Rochester, Minnesota to parents Norman M. Keith and Edna Keith on November 22, 1928. He graduated from Amherst College in 1950, finishing magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He attended Yale Law School in 1953, and shortly after joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as 1st Lieutenant in the Korean War.
After his military service, Keith returned to Rochester, and married Marion Sanford in 1955. Together they had two sons: Ian and Douglas.
Keith joined the legal department of Mayo Clinic in 1955. In 1959, he successfully was elected to the Minnesota Senate as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), representing Olmstead County from 1959 to 1963.
In 1963, he was appointed Minnesota Lieutenant Governor under Governor Karl Rolvaag, serving until 1967. Keith challenged Rolvaag for the DFL Party nomination in the 1966 General Election. He successfully earned the DFL endorsement, but lost to Rolvaag in the primary election.
Following his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign, Keith practiced family law at his own legal practice in Rochester. In February 1989, Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich appointed Keith to the Minnesota Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. He became Chief Justice in December 1990, and served in this role until his retirement in 1998.
Keith died in Rochester, Minnesota on October 3, 2020.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Access Restrictions:
The video recording in copyright in this collection is not available online, but can be accessed upon request for use in the Gale Family Library reading room. Please consult reference staff for more information..
Location of Master Files:
Digital masters of digital audio and video recordings are maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and is managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Alexander MacDonald "Sandy" Keith Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 17,843; 17,851
Processing Information:
Processed by: Leif Kopietz, September 2021 and April 2025
Catalog ID number: 9989800739604294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.4F | 1 | Court opinions: | |||||||||
| Includes annotated opinions, notes, memoranda, and other related documentation for cases filed in the Minnesota Supreme Court, which Keith adjudicated or participated in as an Associate and Chief Justice. | |||||||||||
| Record of opinions, indexes, 1989-1991. | |||||||||||
| Participation in opinions and record of opinions, 1989-1991. 13 folders. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.5B | 2 | Record of opinions, 1990-1992. 3 folders. | |||||||||
| Chronological correspondence: | |||||||||||
| Includes personal and professional correspondence during Keith's tenure on the Minnesota Supreme Court. | |||||||||||
| 1989. 12 folders. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.6F | 3 | 1991-1993. 14 folders. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.7B | 4 | 1993-1994. 13 folders. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.8F | 5 | 1994-1996. 13 folders. | |||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.9B | 6 | 1996-1997. 8 folders. | |||||||||
| Campaign contribution thank you letters, A-Y, 1966. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Thank you letters sent to campaign contributors from Keith during his 1966 gubernatorial campaign. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.15.10F | 7 | Correspondence, A-Z, 1966. 19 folders. | |||||||||
| Includes correspondence when Keith served as Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, and was simultaneously running for the Minnesota governorship. | |||||||||||
| Sandy Keith letters to parents during Korean War, approximately 1953-1955. | |||||||||||
| Congratulations telegrams, January 1966. | |||||||||||
| Telegrams from Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) leadership congratulating Sandy Keith on his DFL gubernatorial nomination. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.1B | 8 | Post conference memos: | |||||||||
| Each memo generally consist of a typed summary with statements and facts for a particular case, and Keith's attached handwritten notes. | |||||||||||
| 1992-1995. 12 folders. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.2F | 9 | 1995-1998. 6 folders. | |||||||||
| Appointment books, 1989-1997. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Awards: | |||||||||||
| B-46 Leadership Award, 1996. | |||||||||||
| The Conference of Chief Judges of the State of Minnesota, Resolution, A.M. Keith, April 19, 1996. | |||||||||||
| The Conference of Chief Judges of the State of Minnesota to honorable A.M. (Sandy) Keith, January 16, 1998. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.3B | 10 | Speeches: | |||||||||
| A.M. Keith speeches, 1998-2000. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Stevens, Christina: Investiture, December 3, 2010. | |||||||||||
| Swearing in ceremony given by Keith for judge Christina Stevens. | |||||||||||
| Support the Troops Rally, June 25, 2005. | |||||||||||
| Inhouse | Support our Troops Rally II, Soldiers Field Veteran Memorial, June 25, 2005. 1 video file: MP4, color, sound; 20 GB. | ||||||||||
| IN COPYRIGHT. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.3B | 10 | Minnesota Korean War Commemorative 50th Anniversary, 2002. | |||||||||
| Veterans Memorial speech, Hastings, Minnesota, August 25, 2001. | |||||||||||
| 50th Anniversary Commencement of Korean War, June 25, 2000. | |||||||||||
| Conference of Chief Judges, speeches, 1990-1997. | |||||||||||
| Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) speeches, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith speeches, 1989-1997. 9 folders. | |||||||||||
| Criminal Justice Institute speeches, 1991-1997. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.4F | 11 | Reference speeches and articles, 1970s-1990s. 3 folders. | |||||||||
| Landmark Center remarks, 1985. | |||||||||||
| Meditation Seminar, correspondence, July 19, 1989. | |||||||||||
| Meditation Seminar, miscellaneous printed material, July 19, 1989. | |||||||||||
| Justice Thurgood Marshall Memorial, St. Peter's AME Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chief Justice A.M. Keith, February 7, 1993. | |||||||||||
| Annual Conference of Judges, 1997. | |||||||||||
| Swearing in speech and drafts. | |||||||||||
| Domestic violence, 1990-1991. | |||||||||||
| Arbitration/mediation speeches, 1994-1996. | |||||||||||
| Speech on China visit, 2000. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith speeches, 2001-2004. 4 folders. | |||||||||||
| Internet | Sandy Keith Veterans Day speech, Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial, recorded by KROC Radio, November 11, 2003. 1 master audio file (15 minutes, 48 seconds): WAV (159 MB) and 1 user audio file: MP3 (14.4 MB). | ||||||||||
Digital audio
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| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.16.4F | 11 | Memorial service for William Kubicek, St. Leo's Catholic Church, St. Paul, Minnesota, January 17, 2002. | |||||||||
| Jim Powers funeral, February 6, 2002. | |||||||||||
| Judicial speeches, 1996-2015. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith speeches, 2005-2006. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Rochester Civic Theatre speech, October 4, 2007. | |||||||||||
| Memorial service for Marian B. Robinson, December 3, 2008. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith speeches, 2007-2008. | |||||||||||
| Lansing retirement, May 20, 2011. | |||||||||||
| Rochester Tea Party Patriots, Rochester, Minnesota, March 2011. | |||||||||||
| Rochester speeches, 2008-2009. | |||||||||||
| Photographs, undated, 1960s-1990s. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| The Lawyers of Professional Responsibility-Phillip Ferguson, 1986-1994. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.19.1B | 12 | A.M. Keith election, 1990. | |||||||||
| A.M. Keith 1992 election, Lawyers Volunteer Committee: | |||||||||||
| 1992 General Election State Canvassing Board report. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1992-1993. | |||||||||||
| Notes, 1991-1992. | |||||||||||
| Organizational meeting, July 31, 1992. | |||||||||||
| Filing documents, June-July 1992. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith 1992 election (other materials filed at home), August-November 1992. | |||||||||||
| Minnesota Lawyers Volunteer Committee to retain incumbent judges on Supreme Court, 1992. | |||||||||||
| Media, 1992. | |||||||||||
| 77th Minnesota Congressional Session, 1991. | |||||||||||
| Swearing in correspondence, 1989-1991. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Swearing in materials, 1989-1990. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Appellate Court materials, 1979-1990. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.19.2F | 13 | Legal Services and Legal Aid correspondence, 1991, 1995-1998. | |||||||||
| International Conference Foundation, 1995. | |||||||||||
| First Unitarian Society, 1989-1990. | |||||||||||
| American Experiment, 1994-1996. | |||||||||||
| Moral Rearmament -- El Salvador: | |||||||||||
| Exchange program between the Salvadoran Supreme Court and the Minnesota Supreme Court led by Sandy Keith. The program focused on judicial reform of El Salvador's court systems following the country's civil war. Participating members consisted of judges and lawyers from Minnesota and El Salvador. | |||||||||||
| Moral Rearmament correspondence, 1991-1998. 7 folders. | |||||||||||
| Articles, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Media, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Miscellaneous publications, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians: | |||||||||||
| Meeting with Sandy Keith and Greg Scott, January 1998. | |||||||||||
| Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians information toolkit. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1995-1997. | |||||||||||
| Dedication of Minnesota Judicial Center, May 11, 1995. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions: | |||||||||||
| Family law non-profit that focused on providing mediation services to low-income and underserved communities throughout Minnesota. Sandy Keith served on the organization's Board of Directors. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1989-1997. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Bylaws, mission statements, Board of Directors, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Minutes, 1989-1997. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Crookston-Northwest Minnesota, 1994-1996. | |||||||||||
| Budget, December 31, 1994. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Austin area, 1994-1997. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Grand Rapids Office, 1993-1997. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Fergus Falls area, 1994, 1997. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Virginia Medical Center, October 1993. | |||||||||||
| Cooperative Solutions, Winona Office, April-May 1995. | |||||||||||
| Legislation, February 1997. | |||||||||||
| Blandin grant proposal, 1989-1993. | |||||||||||
| National Mediator Referral Service, February 4, 1997. | |||||||||||
| Mediation reports, 1993. | |||||||||||
| Mediation survey, USA, October 12, 1993. | |||||||||||
| Report to the Hewlett Foundation, 1994-1995. | |||||||||||
| Northwest Minnesota Initiative Fund grant, August 2, 1994. | |||||||||||
| EMI divorce classes, trainer's manual, 1993. | |||||||||||
| Brochures, 1990. | |||||||||||
| A.M. Keith speech, Minnesota/Manitoba Bar Associations, 1989. | |||||||||||
| Media, 1990-1993. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 147.I.19.3B | 14 | Minnesota court statistics, July 1996. | |||||||||
| Current issue material, 1966. | |||||||||||
| Urban affairs, 1966. | |||||||||||
| Court strategic planning, 1995-1997. | |||||||||||
| Poverty, 1964-1965. | |||||||||||
| Taxes and sales tax, January-March 1965. | |||||||||||
| Press releases, 1962-1966, 1988, 1990. | |||||||||||
| Richard Moe, 1963, 1965. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence with Richard Moe, Administrative Assistant to the Minnesota Lieutenant Governor. | |||||||||||
| Karl Rolvaag, undated, 1962, 1965. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence between Keith and Rolvaag, and press releases, articles, and schedules regarding Rolvaag. | |||||||||||
| Campaign materials, 1966. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Campaign buttons, 1960s. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence relating to retirement from the Minnesota Supreme Court, 1997-1998. | |||||||||||
| Retirement party sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association, January-February 1998. | |||||||||||
| Judges: Demographic information: | |||||||||||
| Overheads for speeches, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Minnesota courts: Basic structures, processes, and policies, 1990s. | |||||||||||
| Scrapbook, 1950s-1960s. | |||||||||||
| Disassembled. | |||||||||||
| Political scrapbook, 1960s. 1 volume. | |||||||||||
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:
- Judicial opinions -- Minnesota.
- Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American.
- Political campaigns -- Minnesota.
- State courts -- Officials and employees -- Minnesota.
- Marriage law -- Minnesota.
- Persons:
- Rolvaag, Karl F., 1913-1990, author.
- Moe, Richard, author.
- Organizations:
- Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
- Minnesota. Legislature. Senate.
- Minnesota. Supreme Court, author.
- Minnesota. Office of the Lieutenant Governor, author.
- United States. Marine Corps.
- Document Types:
- Photographs.
- Speeches.
- Video recordings.
- Audio recordings.
- Occupations:
- Judges -- Minnesota.
- Legislators -- Minnesota.
- Politicians -- Minnesota.
- Lawyers -- Minnesota.
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