DONALD D. ALSOP:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Alsop, Donald D., creator. | |
| Title: | Donald D. Alsop papers. | |
| Dates: | 1960-2010. | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | Papers of lawyer and United States District Court of Minnesota Justice Donald D. Alsop. Includes subject files, background information on judgeship appointments, correspondence, and his criminal and civil case files during his 50 year tenure on the Minnesota District Court. | |
| Quantity: | 9.8 cubic feet (10 boxes). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Donald Douglas Alsop was born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1927. He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1946. Following his service, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Law (BSL) from the University of Minnesota in 1950, and later a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1952.
His early career began as a clerk for Justice Thomas F. Gallagher in the Minnesota Supreme Court (1951-1952). He worked for a St. Paul law firm for two years before he settled into a private practice in New Ulm, Minnesota, where he worked from 1954 to 1974.
On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon nominated Donald Alsop for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota to fill the judgeship vacated by Phillip Neville. The following day, Richard Nixon resigned from office. Despite Nixon’s resignation, incoming President Gerald Ford upheld Alsop’s nomination. Alsop received his commission on December 20, 1974 and took the oath of office on January 17, 1975.
Donald Alsop served as Chief Judge from 1985 to 1992 before obtaining senior status on August 28. 1992.
ARRANGEMENT
These papers are organized into the following sections:
| Subject files, correspondence, and background information | ||
| Criminal Files | ||
| Civil Files | ||
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Donald D. Alsop Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 17,989
Processing Information:
Processed by: Leif Kopietz, January 2025
Catalog ID number: 9989873939904294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
SUBJECT FILES, CORRESPONDENCE, AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Includes subject files on various legal topics, training materials and minutes for training workshops, professional correspondence, and background information on Alsop and colleagues.
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.1B | 1 | Stories, undated, 2000, 2005. | |||||||||||
| 505. Pretermission of 1st and 2nd Divisions, 1949, 1960. | |||||||||||||
| 506. Caseload handling, 1975-1978. | |||||||||||||
| 508. Community Defender, 1972-1977. | |||||||||||||
| 510. Correspondence, 1974-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Evidence, 516-I, undated, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| 517. Hearing - Judgeship appointment, January 1975. | |||||||||||||
| 523. Naturalization, 1993-1994, 2016. | |||||||||||||
| 533. Swearing in Ceremony, January 12, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| Includes proceedings of Alsop's induction as United States District Judge, committee assignments, remarks, correspondence, ephemera, and case load information. | |||||||||||||
| 546. Voir Dire - Civil, undated, 1985, 2002. | |||||||||||||
| 550. "Crank" letters, 1991-2007. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| 552. Prisons (Bureau of), 1975, 1985. | |||||||||||||
| 553. Speech material, 1970s-2010s. | |||||||||||||
| 556. Seminar - new Judges, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| 570. History - Minnesota Federal Judiciary. | |||||||||||||
| 588. Correspondence, 1970s-2010s. | |||||||||||||
| 591. Tax protest cases, 1983. | |||||||||||||
| 596. Judges' workshop, 1995, 1998. | |||||||||||||
| 603. Federal Judicial Center, 2005, 2009. | |||||||||||||
| 613. Attorney fees, undated, 1987, 2001. | |||||||||||||
| 658. Crazy cases, 1970s-1980s. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.2F | 2 | 660. Judge Miles Lord, 1980-1988. | |||||||||||
| Subject file regarding fellow United States District Judge of Minnesota Miles Lord. Includes correspondence, interview transcripts, court orders and proceedings, and newspaper clippings. | |||||||||||||
| 679. Criminal Justice Act: | |||||||||||||
| Criminal Justice Act - meeting history, 1976-1988. | |||||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1979-1988. | |||||||||||||
| Honolulu, Hawaii meeting, July 1983. | |||||||||||||
| New Orleans, Louisiana meeting, January 1983. | |||||||||||||
| San Francisco, California meeting, June 1982. | |||||||||||||
| St. Petersburg Beach, Florida meeting, January 1982. | |||||||||||||
| Martha's Vineyard meeting, June 1981. | |||||||||||||
| Criminal Justice Act meeting, 1981. | |||||||||||||
| Criminal Justice Act meeting, January 1980. | |||||||||||||
| 683. Abstention Doctrine, 1989-1990, 1995, 2001. | |||||||||||||
| Congratulatory letters, 1985. | |||||||||||||
| Includes letters congratulating Alsop as his appointment of Chief Judge. | |||||||||||||
| Metropolitan District Chief Judges, 1985-1992. | |||||||||||||
CRIMINAL FILES
Includes jury instructions, notes, and case files for criminal court cases Alsop presided over (1970s-2000s).
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.2F | 2 | Jury instructions: | |||||||||||
| 18:1341 Mail Fraud; 18:371 Conspiracy. Geo. Conzemius, 1977 September-October. | |||||||||||||
| 18:371 Conspiracy; 18:600 Hatch Act; 18:1341 Mail Fraud; and 42:4220 Embezzlement. Pintar, Michael and Barbara, undated. | |||||||||||||
| 18:371 Conspiracy; 18:1001 False state; 18:1341 Fraud scheme. Gilbertson, Rob, July 1977. | |||||||||||||
| 12:1709-2 Equity skimming. Darlene Spars 3-86-110, Jury Trial, November 1986. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1202(a)(1) Convicted felon receiving firearm. Clifton Liggons, January 1976. | |||||||||||||
| 26:7201 Evade income tax. Vanelli, May 1978. | |||||||||||||
| 26:7201 Tax evasion; 26:7206(1) False return. Larson, Russell L. 3-78 Cr. 62, January 23-30, 1979. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1201 Kidnap. Larson, Donald and Callahan, Kenneth, October 15-December 6, 1979. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1341 Mail fraud - 8 cts. U.S. v. Kenneth Kube jury trial Cr. 3-88-86, February 1989. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1341 Mail fraud (check kiting). Fish, Bernadine and Charles, September 15-18, 1980. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1341 Mail fraud; 18:371 Conspiracy. Flemino, D. 3-79-23-1, October 1981. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1708, 1707, 1707 Mail theft. Strand, Anna 3-83-69, September 1983. | |||||||||||||
| 18:2423 - Mann Act; Aiding and abetting; Conspiracy. U.S. v. Gary Allen Kelly Cr. 3-91-127, Jury trial, February 1992. | |||||||||||||
| Currency transaction reports 31 USC 1059(2), etc. Davis, Gerald and Princeton Credit Union, September 1983. | |||||||||||||
| 26:7212(b) Attempt and endeavor to forcibly rescue property after seizure by IRS. Pilla, Daniel, May 4-6, 1976. | |||||||||||||
| 21:841(a)(1) Possible with intent to distribute cocaine; 18:952(a) Interstate Commerce with intent to distribute. U.S. v. Guy Joseph Duchi, Jury trial, November 1991. | |||||||||||||
| 21:848 Cont. criminal enterprise. USA v. John Roley, Jury trial, August 1988. | |||||||||||||
| 21:841(a) Narcotics. Lambros, John G., February 1977. | |||||||||||||
| 18:2113(a)(d)(e) Bank robbery with dangerous weapon. Earl Lee Williams, July 28-August 12, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| 15 USC 77(a) Securities fraud. Rubin, William and Karki, Janet 3-85 CR 27(1)(2), November 1985-January 1986. | |||||||||||||
| 18:1952 Prostitution. Phipps, Johnny Louis, July 7-14, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| Judge notes, 1981-1982. | |||||||||||||
| DDA Criminal files: | |||||||||||||
| Arranged alphabetically. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-86-75. Burton, Barbara Lynn, 1986-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Court File No. 3:89-CR-23 (2). Burch, John, 1989, 2011. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-92-90. Bush, Christopher Scott, 1992-1993, 2002. | |||||||||||||
| Callahan, Kenneth 4-77 Cr. 84-1 (Judge Alsop), 1977-1984. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.3B | 3 | Cr. 3-90-25 (C91). Coleman, Isaac Jay, a/k/a Zachary I. Saunders, 1990-1998. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Cr. 3-77-8 (5). Conzemius, George, 1977-1978. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 4-77-70 (1). Cooper, William L.D., 1976-1989. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Cooper master file 4-76 Cr. 54 (C90) - Judge Alsop - fugitive, 1976-1989. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Fee, Richard M. 4-75 Cr. 28 - Judge Alsop, 1975-1977. | |||||||||||||
| Flemino, Daniel 3-79 Cr. 23-1 (Judge Alsop), 1982. | |||||||||||||
| Huie, Wing Keung 5-88 Cr. 13, 1988-1992. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-85-27 (2). Karki, Janet Riggs a/k/a Eva Lou Wagoner, 1985-1995. | |||||||||||||
| Knotts, Leory Carlton 3-80-49-1, 1980-1983. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 5-89-21. Kronholm, Craig G., 1989-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-89-79 (1). Krzyzaniak, Michael J. a/k/a Michael J. Crosby, 1979, 1989-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-89-122 (2). Lee, Bruce Roy, 1989-1994. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-85-28. McGovern, James F., 1985, 1988. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-85-95. McGovern, James Francis, 1985-1988. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-89-135. Moore, Eric Allen, 1985-1988. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.4F | 4 | United States v. 3m, et al, 1973-1977. 5 folders. | |||||||||||
| Court File No. 79-CR-5. Napier, William F., 2011-2012. | |||||||||||||
| Pilla, Daniel M. 3-74 Cr. 124, 1976-1978. | |||||||||||||
| United States of America v. Daniel M. Pilla, 1974. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-88-33 (01). Roley, John Stephen, 1988, 1993-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Groebner v. Wickes - pre-Alsop, 1988-1990. | |||||||||||||
| File is part of John Stephen Roley case file. | |||||||||||||
| United States v. Darlene Louise Rooney, Criminal No. 3-93-45, 1993-1994. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.5B | 5 | Cr. 3-85-27 (1). Rubin, William Mark, 1984-1998. | |||||||||||
| United States of America v. Rubin & Karki 3-85-27, 1985-1992, 2005. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| United States v. Darlene Jean Spars - 3-86-110 (2), 1985-1987. | |||||||||||||
| Cr. 3-86-110 (1). Spars, Loran Michael, 1985-1987. | |||||||||||||
| Williams, Earl Lee 3-75 Cr. 69, 1975-1982. | |||||||||||||
| Destroyed files list: Civil and Criminal, 1970s-1990s. | |||||||||||||
CIVIL FILES
Civil files include: case files consisting of correspondence, reports, transcripts, depositions, exhibits, background and research information, and other legal and court documentation; jury instructions; and witness notes relating to civil court cases presided over by Judge Alsop (1970-2007). Notable case file materials include: abestos fiber water pollution case of U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining (1972-1982, 2007); abortion rights case Jane Hodgson v. State of Minnesota (1978-1990); abestosis related workers compensation cases of Conwed Corporation v. Union Carbide (1988-2003); and product liability cases filed against A.H. Robins for its intrauterine device (IUD) Dalkon Shield (undated, 1981-1990).
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.5B | 5 | DDA Civil files: | |||||||||||
| Arranged alphabetically. | |||||||||||||
| Aburime, Christopher D. v. Northwest Aitlines, Inc.: CIV 3-89-402 (C 8195), 1991, 1995. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-92-114. Adamson, Harold E., et al v. Armco Inc. November 1993. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-87-41. Albjerg, Leroy E. v. Stevens Yachts of Annapolis, Inc., et al. 1987 March-April. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-96-907. Children's Broadcasting Corporation v. Walt Disney Company, et al, 1998-2001. | |||||||||||||
| 4-77 Civ. 152. and C-82. Davidov, Marv v. Honeywell, Inc., 1977, 1984. | |||||||||||||
| [0.20 cubic feet empty, legal-sized] | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.6F | 6 | 4-77 Civ. 152. and C-82. Davidov, Marv v. Honeywell, Inc. - document dispute, 1970-1984. | |||||||||||
| Civil 3-95-696. Haghighi, Ali v. Russian-American Broadcasting, 1995-2000. | |||||||||||||
| Court Case No. 3-90-5. U.S. v. Thomas Robert Hubers, December 23, 2008. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-97-1773. Kennedy, Mary Beth and Denis A. v. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, et al, 2002-2003, 2012. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Lakeshore Bypass v. Elizabeth Dole 5-83 Civ. 180, 1983-1986. | |||||||||||||
| Lakeshore Bypass - Studies by City of Duluth, undated, 1975. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-97-2065. Melby, Carroll and Herbert, Iven v. Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, etc., 1997-2001. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-87-36. Minneapolis Star and Tribune Co., et al v. U.S.A., F.B.I., et al, 1987-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-99-1831. State of Minnesota v. U.S.A., 1999-2002. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-87-172. Miskavige, David Miles v. Charles Zacharias and Mark Nyvold, March 1987. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-99-1596. Mississippi River Revival, Inc. v. Administrator and City of Minneapolis, 1999-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-99-1597. Mississippi River Revival, Inc. v. City of St. Paul, et al, 1999-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.7B | 7 | Civil 3-82-1670. Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) v. Selective Service System, 1982-1984. | |||||||||||
| Civil 3-92-386. Nitti, Clarice, et al v. Edina Realty, Inc., et al, 1982, 1994-1995. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-83-1220. Norwest Cable v. City of St. Paul, 1988. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 4-72-167. Otten, Daniel F. v. Stonewall Insurance Co., 1974-1975. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-87-54. Perpich, Rudy, Governor, et al v. U.S. Department of Defense, et al, 1987-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 4-78-296. Planned Parenthood v. State of Minnesota, et al, 1978-1980. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-00-1817. Pierce, Catherine and Cindy Stotlie v. Fleming Companies, et al, 2000-2002. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-90-195. Robinson, Gerald S. and Sheryl v. United States of America, 1991-1993. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-91-241. Schneider (Europe) AG, et al v. SciMed Life Systems, Inc., 1991-1995. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-01-1239. SOB, Inc. dba Sugar Daddy's v. County of Benton, 2001-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-99-2039. Sonmore, Eric L., etc. v. Checkrite Ltd., et al, 1999-2003. | |||||||||||||
| U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining: | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-72-19. U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining, 1972-1982, 2007. 2 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-72-19. U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining correspondence, 1979-1982, 2007. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-72-19. U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining: 8th Circuit opinions, 1974, 1976. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.8F | 8 | Civil 5-72-19. U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining: Post-April 15, 1980 complaints regarding damages, 1980. | |||||||||||
| Civil 5-72-19. U.S.A. v. Reserve Mining: Post-April 15, 1980 complaints regarding jurisdiction, 1980. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 4-71-369. Soo Line R.R. v. Freuhauf, 1971-1981. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 5-96-143. Waldach, Reata D. and Mark S. v. Jevic Transportation, Inc., et al, 1996-1998. | |||||||||||||
| Non-alphabetized Civil files: | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-78-356. A.H. Robins Company, Inc., "Dalkon Shield" IUD litigation, 1978-1985. 3 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 4-75-187. Miskavige, Isadore v. Burlington Northern, Inc., 1975-1992. 5 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Jane Hodgson v. Hennepin Board of Commissioners and State of Minnesota: | |||||||||||||
| Civil 4-78-525. Hodgson, Jane, et al v. Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, et al, 1978-1981. 3 folders. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.9B | 9 | Civil 4-78-525. Hodgson, Jane, et al v. Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, et al, file 1, 1980. | |||||||||||
| Civil 3-81-538. Hodgson v. Minnesota: Trial materials - Judge, 1981-1987. | |||||||||||||
| Civil 3-81-538. Hodgson, Jane, et al v. Minnesota, et al, file 1, 1981-1986. | |||||||||||||
| Legal and miscellaneous, 1980-1982. | |||||||||||||
| Hodgson v. Minnesota 3-81 Civ. 538 (Merits), 1982, 1988, 1990. | |||||||||||||
| Hodgson v. State of Minnesota 3-81 Civ. 538, file 2, 1981-1984. | |||||||||||||
| Wilbert Brown, 1988-1989. | |||||||||||||
| Hodgson, et al v. State of Minnesota: Vacating judgement issue, 1981, 1988-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Jane Hodgson deposition transcript, 1985-1986. | |||||||||||||
| Summaries of testimony - Judge, 1986 February-March. | |||||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||||
| 154.L.15.10F | 10 | Witnesses (notes), undated. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| Conwed Corporation v. Union Carbide: | |||||||||||||
| Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide, 5-92 CIV 88 (DDA/RLE): Asbestosis cases, 1988-2003. | |||||||||||||
| Disassembled binder. | |||||||||||||
| Conwed v. Union Carbide: Mesothelioma cases, 1988-2002. | |||||||||||||
| Disassembled binder. | |||||||||||||
| Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide 5:92 CIV 88, 1988, 2006. | |||||||||||||
| Conwed v. Union Carbide 5-92 CV 88 jury trials: Mesothelioma and Asbestosis, August 2002 and September 2003. | |||||||||||||
| Schneider (Europe) AG and Schneider (USA) Inc. v. SciMed Life Systems, Inc., 1991-1993. | |||||||||||||
| Product liability (latex gloves) Kennedy v. Baxter 97cv1773. Jury trial, May 2002. | |||||||||||||
| Personal injury/fall off ship 5-80-143 Paquette v. Atlanska-Plovidba, May 1982. | |||||||||||||
| Negligence Jury Trial: Dardis v. Holiday Inns, et al, 2-76-152, May 1980. | |||||||||||||
| In regards: Grand Jury proceedings relative to Appert & Pyle and Norman Perl, 2016. | |||||||||||||
| A.H. Robins (Dalkon Shield): | |||||||||||||
| A.H. Robins cases, 1981-1984, 1990. | |||||||||||||
| Product liability Strempke v. A.H. Robins 3-80 CIV 168, February 1983. | |||||||||||||
| Settlement agreement, October 1984. | |||||||||||||
| Happke, Brenda v. A.H. Robins, Co. 3-80 Civ. 168, 1983-1984. | |||||||||||||
| Notes regarding general A.H. Robins information, 1983. | |||||||||||||
| Dalkon Shield - Jury instructions, 1983. | |||||||||||||
| Product promotion and lay testimony, undated. | |||||||||||||
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:
- Civil procedure -- Minnesota.
- Criminal procedure -- Minnesota.
- District courts -- Officials and employees -- United States.
- Trials (Products liability).
- Intrauterine contraceptives -- Complications.
- Dalkon Shield (Intrauterine contraceptive).
- Abortion -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota.
- Mineral industries -- Minnesota -- Waste disposal.
- Water -- Pollution -- Lake Superior.
- Organizations:
- A.H. Robins Company -- Trials, litigation, etc.
- Union Carbide Corporation -- Trials, litigation, etc.
- Reserve Mining Corporation -- Trials, litigation, etc.
- Persons:
- Lord, Miles, author.
- Hodgson, Jane E., author.
- Document Types:
- Photographs.
- Transcripts.
- Depositions.
- Occupations:
- Judges -- Minnesota.
- Lawyers -- Minnesota.
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