ADOLPH OLSON EBERHART:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Eberhart, Adolph Olson, 1870-. | |
| Title: | A. O. Eberhart papers. | |
| Dates: | 1831-1945. | |
| Abstract: | Biological and family information (1831-1913), correspondence and miscellaneous papers (1910-1914), and autobiographical reminiscences (undated and 1943) describing Eberhart's immigration to the United States from Sweden (1882), his life in St. Peter and Mankato, Minnesota, and in Nebraska (1883-1893), and his subsequent political career in the Minnesota State Senate (1902-1914), as lieutenant governor (1905-1909), as governor (1909-1914), and as a member of the Speakers Bureau for the Federal Housing Authority (1934-ca. 1938). | |
| Quantity: | 0.25 cubic feet (1 box). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for shelf location. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
A. O. Eberhart was born in Kil Varmland, Sweden (June 23, 1870), the son of Andrew and Louise Olson. Because of bad economic conditions, Andrew, Louis and all of the family except Adolph emigrated to St. Peter, Minnesota. In 1882, Adolph joined the family there. Eberhart graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter (1895); studied law in a law office in Mankato; served as a deputy clerk of United States Circuit and District Court in Minnesota; and served as United States Commissioner for the District of Minnesota.
His political career began thereafter with his election as a representative (1902) in the Minnesota Legislature from the Eleventh District. He served in that position until 1905, served as lieutenant governor (1906-1909), and became governor upon the death of John A. Johnson (Sept. 1909), retaining office until 1914. His other major public activity was his service on the Federal Housing Authority Speakers Bureau (1934-ca.1938).
Eberhart married Adele Koke (1898) and died in the Masonic Home, Savage, Minnesota, on December 6, 1944.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. A. O. Eberhart Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 5485; 5803; 10,180; 11,717
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, March 1995.
Catalog ID number: 09-00321752
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2205 | 1 | Biographical materials. | |||||||||
| Biographical sketches of Eberhart from the Minnesota Legislative Manual (1903, 1905, 1909, 1913) and photocopied household registers, and parish and death records (1831-1879), of members of the Olaf Adolf Olsson family (Eberhart's original name). The records are from Fryherud and Stora Kil parishes and contain information on Eberhart's parents, Anders and Louise Andersdotter Olsson. The materials were located in Sweden by Bruce Larson, Mankato State University. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1910-1914. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, campaign literature, printed matter, and other materials concerning Eberhart's gubernatorial campaign (1914); the Minnesota Soldier's Home (undated); Minnesota representation at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco (1914); the state school for the blind (1910); Rome G. Brown's address to the Minneapolis Bar (1914); plans for improving internal waterways, especially the Mississippi River (1914); and the appointment of delegates to the Minnesota Good Roads Federation (1914). | |||||||||||
| Also included is a broadside (1913) detailing Eberhart's record as governor, with information on his support of state primaries, reapportionment, and other issues; a typed transcript (Jan. 3, 1910) of testimony critical of the State School for the Blind, discussing discipline, food, social events, church attendance, and similar matters; and a publication, "Forward St. Louis" (May 4, 1914), relating to the proposed Great Waterway Movement organized to facilitate development of inland water transport. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2205 | 1 | "The American Way of Life: A True Story," October 1943. Typed, 138 pages. 3 folders. | |||||||||
| A detailed autobiographical account of Eberhart's birth and early life in Sweden; his immigration to the United States (1882); the family's cattle ranch and farming activities in Cedar Grove, Nebraska (1883-1893); his attendance and graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College, and Eberhart's gubernatorial program, which included abolishing the railroad rebate system, abolishing capital punishment, instituting the state primary law, establishing the state highway commission, and the beginnings of school consolidation. He also reorganized state agencies and was interested in bicameral legislative districts. There are many details on his speeches in many parts of the of the United States supporting the work on the Federal Housing Authority. | |||||||||||
| The final chapters contain information on his children, the Masonic home where he lived, Swedish contributions to the world (especially the United States), and World War II. The latter contains perceptive observations of the Soviet Union, its future, and its future relations with the United States. | |||||||||||
| "The American Way of Life," Chapter 1: Published version. | |||||||||||
| Photocopied from the Bulletin of the American Institute of Swedish Arts, Literature and Science (Minneapolis, January 1945). At the end of the article is a brief biographical sketch of Eberhart with information on his death. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| P2225 | 1 | "Reminiscences of St. Peter," undated. Typed, 9 p. | |||||||||
| An abridged version of "The American Way of Life," which focuses on the influence that St. Peter and Gustavus Adolphus had on his life and career. | |||||||||||
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:
- Church records and registers -- Sweden.
- Education, Higher -- Minnesota -- Saint Peter.
- Education, Rural -- Minnesota.
- Educational law and legislation -- Minnesota.
- Government executives -- Minnesota.
- Governors -- Minnesota -- Election.
- Governors -- Minnesota -- Nomination.
- Governors -- Minnesota -- Staff.
- Political candidates -- Minnesota.
- Political parties -- Minnesota.
- Politics, Practical -- Minnesota.
- Primaries -- Minnesota.
- Schools -- Minnesota -- Centralization.
- State governments -- Minnesota.
- Swedish Americans -- Minnesota.
- Universities and colleges -- Minnesota -- Saint Peter.
- World War, 1939-1945.
- Places:
- Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1898-1918.
- Nebraska -- Description and travel.
- Saint Peter (Minn.).
- Sweden -- Economic conditions.
- Persons:
- Brown, Rome G. (Rome Green), 1862-1926.
- Eberhart family.
- Johnson, John Albert, 1861-1909.
- Olson family.
- Preus, J. A. O. (Jacob Aall Otteson), 1883-1961.
- Organizations:
- Democratic Party (U.S.).
- Gustavus Adolphus College.
- Minnesota -- Legislature.
- Minnesota -- Legislature -- Senate.
- Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ).
- State School for the Blind -- Minnesota -- Faribault.
- United States -- Federal Housing Administration.
- Types of Documents:
- Birth records -- Sweden.
- Death records -- Sweden.
- Reminiscences -- Minnesota.
- Occupations:
- Lawyers -- Minnesota.
- Legislators -- Minnesota.
- Politicians -- Minnesota.
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