MINNESOTA CONSERVATION FEDERATION:
An Inventory of Its Organizational Records at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
Creator: | Minnesota Conservation Federation, creator. | |
Title: | Organizational records. | |
Dates: | 1939-2017. | |
Language: | Materials in English. | |
Abstract: | Administrative and other records of a Saint Paul-based nonprofit organization created to coordinate conservation efforts in Minnesota and to promote outdoor recreation in the state. | |
Quantity: | 18.5 cubic feet (18 boxes, 24 folders in 2 partial boxes, and 2 oversize folders, unboxed). | |
Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Minnesota Conservation Federation was established in 1936. It is a coalition of individuals, groups, and communities dedicated to outdoor recreation and to the conservation and ethical use of Minnesota’s natural resources.
The Federation holds as its objectives the advocacy of sound conservation legislation, the promotion of conservation education, and public action towards the wise use and restoration of natural resources. Members include anglers, hikers, hunters, paddlers, and others. A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, it is the Minnesota affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection includes correspondence, minutes, resolutions, financial records, audio recordings, newspaper clippings, subject files, some photographs, hunting safety posters, and similar materials. There are numbered wildlife giclee prints made from paintings by several Minnesota artists, and several issues of the Federation's Minnesota Out-of-Doors newsletter missing from the separately-cataloged microfilmed set. The materials document the activities and concerns of the Federation, its education efforts, its finances, Minnesota sportsmen's clubs, state member affiliates, and its interaction with the National Wildlife Federation.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
Historical Background | ||
Minutes | ||
Annual Federation Assemblies | ||
Financial Records | ||
Correspondence | ||
Conservation Education and Other Programs | ||
Minnesota Sportsmen's Clubs | ||
Subject Files | ||
National Wildlife Federation | ||
Audio Recordings | ||
Minnesota Out-of-Doors Newsletters | ||
Fine Art Wildlife Prints | ||
Posters |
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota Conservation Federation Organizational Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 12,328; 13,590; 17,920
Processing Information:
Processed by: John M. Wickre, June 1978; Bonnie Palmquist, September 1985
Additions by: David B. Peterson, February 2024
Catalog ID number: 990017351160104294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.2.8F | 1 | undated, 1958-1974. |
Articles of incorporation, undated, 1943, 1954. |
Constitution and bylaws, undated, 1958, 1970-1974. |
Fifty remarkable years (1936-1986), 1986. |
General file, 1955-1971. |
Clothing patches and decal, undated. |
MINUTES
Minutes of board and executive committee meetings. Many files include resolutions. There are also resolutions in the Annual Federation Assemblies files.
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.2.8F | 1 | 1939-1940. |
1942-1943. |
1944, 1946, 1948-1949. |
1950, 1952-1989. 23 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.B.13.4F | 18 | 1990-2014. 26 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.2.9B | 2 | 2015-2017. 3 folders. |
ANNUAL FEDERATION ASSEMBLIES
Minutes, correspondence, reports, resolutions, event tickets, and other supporting documents.
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.2.9F | 2 | General forms and data, 1954-1955. |
Mimeographed forms used by the organization, 1953-1957. |
Prospects: Club affiliations, 1951-1954. |
Prospects: Commercial and life members, 1953-1954. |
Registration cards, 1953-1971. |
Registrations, 1953-1972. |
Resolutions passed, 1953-1959. |
1939. |
1942-1944. 3 folders. |
1946. 2 folders. |
1953-1960. 33 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.2.10F | 3 | 1961-1964. 41 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.1B | 4 | 1965-1971. 42 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.2F | 5 | 1971-1972. 7 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
153.I.13.7B | 19 | 1973-2004. 13 folders. |
FINANCIAL RECORDS
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.2F | 5 | Financial miscellany. |
Reports of the treasurer, 1940s-1970s. 6 folders. |
Office money entries, 1955-1973. 3 folders. |
Reports of cash income, 1964-1973. 2 folders. |
Yearly financial reports, 1973-1976. 6 folders. |
Calendar sales reports, 1962-1970. |
Record of delinquent dues paying sportsmen's clubs, 1954-1971 |
Bills owed to the Minnesota Conservation Federation, 1953-1964. |
Approved expenses, 1967-1969. |
Minnesota Conservation Federation deposits, 1970-1973. |
CORRESPONDENCE
Includes officers and committee chairmen.
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.3B | 6 | Beresford, Victor, 1958-1959. |
Brodin, Keith, 1962-1966. 2 folders. |
Carlson, Lawrence, 1969-1971. 5 folders. |
Clark, Otto, 1958-1959. |
Clemens, Fred, 1958-1971. |
Farmes, Al, 1968-1973. |
Herbst, Robert, 1967-1968. |
Johnson, R. C., 1966-1967. 2 folders. |
Joslin, Verne E., 1960-1962. |
Koll, Lawrence, 1971. |
Luick, Homer, 1962-1971. |
McGowan, Marty, 1967-1972. |
McKinley, Marion, 1970-1972. |
Nierengarten, Phil, 1968-1972. |
0’Konek, Jack, 1965-1967. 2 folders. |
Preuss, Roger, 1959-1970. |
Riis, Richard, 1970-1971. |
Rose, John, 1966-1974. 8 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.4F | 7 | Sahlstrom, Howard, 1972. |
Sakry, Cliff, 1952-1955. 7 folders. |
Schneider, Carl, 1973. |
Sekula, Joe, 1966-1970. |
Shields, Ted, 1969-1970. 2 folders. |
Sterle, Anton, 1960-1964. |
Theel, Clarence, 1971. |
Weddington, Martin, 1958. |
Wiese, Emil, 1963-1972. 4 folders. |
Wilson, Chester S., 1955-1960. |
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1939-1975. 28 folders. |
CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.5B | 8 | Miscellaneous conservation education material. 2 folders. |
Minutes and miscellany of the Minnesota Conservation Federation Education Committee. 5 folders. |
Minnesota Conservation Federation Achievement Program. 12 folders. |
Minnesota Conservation Federation nominations for the National Wildlife Awards Program. |
MINNESOTA SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS
Files typically include lists of club members, dues statements, Minnesota Out-of-Doors subscription lists, club correspondence with the Federation secretary, applications for affiliation with the Federation, a few scattered snapshot photographs, and similar material dating from approximately 1956 to approximately 1971.
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.6F | 9 | Lists of Minnesota sportsmen's clubs. |
Federation of Aitkin County Sportsmen's Club - Lake George Conservation Club. 62 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.7B | 10 | Lake Superior Steelhead Association - Town & Country Sportsmen's Club. 67 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.8F | 11 | Tracy Sportsmen's Club - Zumbro Valley Sportsmen's Association. 18 folders. |
SUBJECT FILES
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.8F | 11 | Big Stone Whetstone Project, 1960-1962. |
Boundary Waters Canoe Area, undated. |
Central Conservation Association, 1959-1962. |
Clean Air Clear Water Unlimited, 1959-1961. |
Conservation Achievement Program, 1966-1967. |
Conservation teaching aids: a bibliography, undated. |
Dinndorf, Don - Minnesota Out-of-Doors, 1947, 1955, 1986. |
Ducks Unlimited, 1959. |
Environmental Impact Statement, 1974. |
Films on conservation. | |||||||||||||
Films are not present. |
Fort Snelling State Park, 1961-1962 |
Johnson v. Seifert case, 1959-1960. |
Keep Minnesota Green, 1961-1966. |
Lake Heron Project, 1974. |
Lake States Forest Experiment Station, 1960-1961. |
Land O' Lakes Boat Show, 1960. |
Long Lake Conservation Center, 1968-1975. |
McGregor, George, 1964-1966. |
Marshall County tour, 1962. |
Michigan United Conservation Clubs, 1960. |
Minnesota Arrowhead Association, 1958-1960. 2 folders. |
Minnesota Conservation Department, 1958-1968. |
Minnesota Conservation Federation miscellaneous material, 1940s-1970s, 3 folders. | |||||||||||||
[0.2 cubic feet empty, letter size] |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.9B | 12 | Minnesota Conservation Federation: | |||||||||||
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1950s-1970s. 3 folders. | |||||||||||||
Anoka County Tour, 1962. | |||||||||||||
Bulletins and releases, 1944-1972. | |||||||||||||
Conservation clubs material: | |||||||||||||
Affiliated clubs, 1949-1962. | |||||||||||||
Affiliated clubs by districts, 1963-1971. | |||||||||||||
Club awards, 1962. | |||||||||||||
Clubs participating in conservation programs, 1966. | |||||||||||||
Correspondence with non-affiliated clubs, 1962-1968. | |||||||||||||
Clubs: Questionnaires, 1970. | |||||||||||||
Reports of district club meetings, 1963-1968. | |||||||||||||
Commercial membership, 1972. | |||||||||||||
Committees: | |||||||||||||
Committee appointments, 1971-1972. | |||||||||||||
Committee functions and descriptions, 1971-1972. | |||||||||||||
Credentials Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Farm Programs and Land Owner Sportsmen Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Legislative committees, 1960-1972. | |||||||||||||
Legislative and Resolutions Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Meetings Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Membership and speakers panel, 1973. | |||||||||||||
National Affairs Committee, 1964-1965, 1973. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
Nominating Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Pollution Committee, 1966-1967. | |||||||||||||
Public Relations Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Resolutions Committee, 1959-1961. | |||||||||||||
Rules and Bylaws Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
Wildlife Week Committee, 1973. | |||||||||||||
1977 committees (members of committees), 1977. | |||||||||||||
Districts and divisions, undated. | |||||||||||||
Film George Washington’s River, 1960-1962. | |||||||||||||
Information about this movie. The film itself is not present. | |||||||||||||
Governor's Dinner, January 22, 1955. | |||||||||||||
Historical files, 1949-1960. | |||||||||||||
Insurance Sportsmen's Fund Drive, 1954-1972. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.3.10F | 13 | Insurance, 1955-1956. | |||||||||||
Invitations to speak, 1970. | |||||||||||||
Job descriptions, 1969-1970. | |||||||||||||
Legislative reports and literature, 1958-1970. 4 folders. | |||||||||||||
Life Membership Award, 1974. | |||||||||||||
Man in the Field Awards, 1956-1970. | |||||||||||||
Memberships, commercial, 1958. | |||||||||||||
Membership forms, undated. | |||||||||||||
Merchandise for sale: | |||||||||||||
Fisherman Press: Eschmeyer Books, 1954-1959. | |||||||||||||
Roger Preuss Calendars, 1959. | |||||||||||||
Minnesota Conservation Federation and Minnesota Education Association conventions, 1966-1968. | |||||||||||||
MOOD (Minnesota out-of-doors newsletter) advertising, 1962-1972. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
MOOD photographs/images, undated. | |||||||||||||
National Wildlife Federation: Certificates of affiliation from the Federation, 1956-1962. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
Past presidents, 1962. | |||||||||||||
President's Award, 1974. | |||||||||||||
Resolution on Drainage and Insecticides, 1960. | |||||||||||||
Resumes, 1971-1972. | |||||||||||||
Ross-Clancy Agreement concerning MOOD, 1976. | |||||||||||||
Sherman Kelly & Associates, 1970-1972. | |||||||||||||
Speakers reports, 1970. | |||||||||||||
Summer employment applications, 1963-1964. | |||||||||||||
Wetlands, 1963-1975. |
Minnesota Conservation Foundation: Board of trustees miscellaneous correspondence, 1972. |
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1972-1975. |
Minnesota Environment Control Citizens Association, 1971. |
Minnesota Game Protective League, 1953. |
Minnesota Natural Resources Council, 1961-1962. |
Minnesota Newspaper Association, 1962-1969. |
Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission, 1966-1968. 2 folders. |
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 1970. |
Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society. |
Minnesota Soil Conservation Service, 1959-1962. |
Minnesota Watershed Congress, 1958-1959. |
Minnesota Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Inc. | |||||||||||||
Folder missing, February 2024. |
Mississippi River at Winona, 1970. |
National Wildlife Federation: Photograph of a group of unidentified persons at an Atlanta meeting, 1984. |
Newspapers. 2 folders. |
Northern Environmental Council, 1973-1975. |
North Dakota Wildlife Federation, 1965. |
Northwestern National Bank, 1972. |
Office manager's reports to the Board, December 3, 1960-June 9, 1962. |
Officers and directors, 1940. |
"Our environmental quality is deteriorating rapidly," undated. |
Pelletier, Milt, 1974-1985. |
Philip's Legislative Service, 1957-1961. |
Photographs. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.4.1B | 14 | Power plant siting information, 1972. |
Resolutions of other state groups, 1961-1962. |
Soil Conservation Society of America, 1963. |
South Dakota Wildlife Federation, 1961-1962. |
South Dakota Wildlife News, 1960-1966. |
Southern Minnesota Conservation Association, 1966-1967. |
Tamarac Refuge, 1974. |
United States Department of the Interior, 1975. |
United States House of Representatives, 1958-1964. |
United States Senate, 1958-1964. |
Veteran's pheasant dinners, 1959. |
Voyageur's Park, 1968. |
Wilderness Bill, 1958-1962. |
Wildlife Management Institute, 1958. |
Miscellany, 1953-1970. |
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.4.1B | 14 | Miscellany, 1954-1975. 4 folders. |
Executive Committee meetings, 1951-1953. 5 volumes. |
Board of Directors meetings, 1950-1957. 10 volumes. | |||||||||||||
[0.1 cubic feet empty, letter size] |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.4.2F | 15 | Board of directors meetings, 1958-1972. 17 folders. |
Annual meetings, 1951-1966. 24 folders. |
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.4.3B | 16 | Annual meetings, 1967-1974. 7 folders. |
Affiliates, 1958-1972. 2 folders. |
Brownridge, J. A., 1960-1964. |
Conservation Award, 1961. |
Conservation report bulletin, January-April, 1965. |
Distinguished Service Award, 1962. |
Great Lakes Affiliate meeting, 1976-1977. |
Kimball, Tom, 1961-1975. 3 folders. |
Magazine (National Wildlife), 1962, 1969. |
Merchandise-price list, 1962. |
Morgan, Bud, 1961-1971. 2 folders. |
National Affairs Committee, 1960-1962. |
Organization manual, 1950-1967. |
Patch, 1961-1962. |
President's Letter, 1967-1970. 1967-1970. |
Wildlife Week, 1960-1973. 9 folders. |
AUDIO RECORDINGS
State and national meetings, interviews, and miscellaneous conservation subjects. Includes a folder of reel lists.
Box | |||||||||||||
149.G.4.4F | 17 | Seven-inch reels: | |||||||||||
1. Annual meeting (Winona State College), December 2, 1961. | |||||||||||||
2. Resolution Committee meeting (Duluth), September. 15, 1961. | |||||||||||||
3. Resolution Committee meeting (Alexandria), September 18, 1964. | |||||||||||||
4. Board meeting (St. Cloud), December 5, 1964. | |||||||||||||
5-7. Annual meeting (Detroit Lakes), September 17-19, 1965. | |||||||||||||
8. Resolution Committee (Detroit Lakes), September 17, 1965. | |||||||||||||
9. Board meeting (Willmar), December 11, 1965. | |||||||||||||
10. Board meeting (Delano), July 9, 1966. | |||||||||||||
11-12. Board meeting (Quadna Mountain Lodge, Hill City, Minn.), September 17-18, 1966. | |||||||||||||
13. Resolution Committee (Quadna Mountain Lodge), September 16-18, 1966. | |||||||||||||
14-15. Community Leadership Training Program, February 11, 1967. | |||||||||||||
16. Board meeting (Robbinsdale), April, 1967. | |||||||||||||
17. Annual meeting (Ely), July 8, 1967. | |||||||||||||
18-19. Annual meeting (Duluth), September 16-17, 1967. | |||||||||||||
20-21. Board meeting, 1968. |
Five-inch reels: | |||||||||||||
1. Carlson Larry, Rose John, McGowan: What is the Minnesota Conservation Federation doing? 2 reels. | |||||||||||||
2. Olstad, Jerry: Scouts and soar. 2 reels. | |||||||||||||
3. Schaeffer James, Luick Homer: The National Wildlife Federation in action. | |||||||||||||
4. Fernette Greg, Crossley Alan: Environmental lectures to high school students along the Mississippi River. | |||||||||||||
5. Grosslein Roger, Miller John: New pilot program in Minnesota in Environmental Education. | |||||||||||||
6. Hubert Jim, Swenson Lou: Federal Wetlands Project. | |||||||||||||
7. Gerchy Ed: Outdoor Environment Page and Youth. | |||||||||||||
8. Deutz Ron, Job Louis: Outdoor ED; Summer ED; conservation scholarships. | |||||||||||||
9. Fischer, Dan: State parks and outdoor classrooms. | |||||||||||||
10. Coulter John: Environmental education for elementary teachers. | |||||||||||||
11. Haag, Ken: Backyard ecology—trees—birds. | |||||||||||||
12. Schramm, Ed: Outdoor education—responsibility--liability. | |||||||||||||
13. Ridlington, Kern, Marcum, Jim: The Long Lake Conservation Center--a beacon light. | |||||||||||||
14. Jopp: The St. Cloud water facility--water more precious than diamonds. | |||||||||||||
15. Jopp, Harlan: Conservation in action projects. | |||||||||||||
16. Schramm, Earl: Colorado outdoor experiences at National Wildlife Federation Estes Park, July 1970. |
"B" series five-inch reels: | |||||||||||||
1. McKane, John: What's doing with the volunteer? | |||||||||||||
2. Kech, David: Wolves: an ecological study. | |||||||||||||
3. Schoenecker, Roger: Objectives of the I & E Trust. | |||||||||||||
4. Larson, Goodman: Birds in Winter and the annual census. | |||||||||||||
5. Severson, Bill: Outdoor Safety Program. | |||||||||||||
6. Sharp, Robert W.: Oil and chemical spills and the environment. | |||||||||||||
7. Elder, James: Pesticides and our environment. | |||||||||||||
8. Thoma, Ben: The Summer Naturalist Program at Itasca Park. | |||||||||||||
9. Jorgenson, Samuel E.: Endangered species. | |||||||||||||
10. DeBates, Larry: Wetlands history and values. | |||||||||||||
Miscellaneous reels. 3 reels. |
Audiocassettes: | |||||||||||||
Haver, Luick: Interview, 1986. | |||||||||||||
Sakry interview: Part 1, Spring 1986. | |||||||||||||
Second Sakry interview, Summer 1986. |
Reel lists, undated, 1970-1971. |
MINNESOTA OUT-OF-DOORS NEWSLETTERS
Hard copies of some issues of this publication that are not included in the microfilm set.
Box | |||||||||||||
153.I.13.7B | 19 | May 1957. |
September/October 1993. |
July/August 1997. |
November/December 1997. |
March/April 2005. |
Winter 2009. |
Summer 2009. |
Fall 2009. |
Summer 2013. |
FINE ART WILDLIFE PRINTS
Editioned (numbered) giclee reproduction prints of animals and birds. The reproductions were made from original paintings by the artists identified.
Folder | |||||||||||||
+360 | 1 | Wild Wings Collection of Fine Art Prints by Ron Van Gilder: | |||||||||||
On the Lookout--Wolves, 1989. | |||||||||||||
41/950 | |||||||||||||
Winter Wood--Red Fox, 1991. | |||||||||||||
41/950 | |||||||||||||
Winter Watch--Bobcat, 1992. | |||||||||||||
41/950 | |||||||||||||
Something's Up--Black Bear, 1993. | |||||||||||||
41/950 |
Folder | |||||||||||||
+360 | 2 | Minnesota Conservation Federation Stamp Prints: | |||||||||||
November Whitetail by Richard W. Plasschaert, 1982. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
North Country Loon by Phil Scholer, 1983. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
Winter Evening Serenade--Timber Wolves by Michael Sieve, 1984. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
Cane Break--Canada Geese by Gary W. Moss, 1985. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
Pepin Heights--Bald Eagle by Wayne Meineke, 1986. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
Winter Run--Ringneck Pheasant by Marc R. Hanson, 1987. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 | |||||||||||||
Monarch of the North--Moose by Michael Sieve, 1988. | |||||||||||||
41/1500 |
Folder | |||||||||||||
142.G.2.1B-1 | 3 | Minnesota Conservation Federation prints by Cyndi Nelson (Walker, Minn.): | |||||||||||
Wilderness Pride (Bald Eagles), 1994. | |||||||||||||
41/950 | |||||||||||||
Showtime (Turkeys) (Brush with Nature Studio), undated. | |||||||||||||
41/950 |
POSTERS
Folder | |||||||||||||
142.G.2.1B-1 | 4 |
Deer hunters: What will YOUR bag be? undated. |
Hunters: How will your hunting end? undated. |
Warning to hunters: Play it safe and come home alive! undated. |
Why? Guess I'm all set for the deer hunting season, undated. |
$50.00 reward for information leading to the arrest of any person or persons willfully damaging the property..., undated. |
RELATED MATERIALS
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:
- Conservation of natural resources--Study and teaching--Minnesota.
- Conservation of natural resources--Minnesota--Citizen participation.
- Hunting and fishing clubs--Minnesota.
- Nonprofit organizations--Minnesota.
- Outdoor recreation--Minnesota.
- Wildlife art--Minnesota.
- Wildlife artists--Minnesota.
- Wildlife conservation--Minnesota.
- Persons:
- Moss, Gary, author.
- Sakry, Cliff, author.
- Sieve, Michael, author.
- Van Gilder, Ron, author.
- Organizations:
- National Wildlife Federation, author.
- Document Types:
- Audiotapes.
- Giclee prints.
- Photographs.
- Posters.
- Serials (publications).
- Titles:
- Minnesota out-of-doors.