STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL COMMISSION:
An Inventory of Its Parade of the Century Files
Government Records
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission. | |
| Title: | Parade of the Century files. | |
| Dates: | 1956-1958. | |
| Abstract: | Files documenting planning and implementation of the parade that was one of the major events of Statehood Week. | |
| Quantity: | 0.5 cubic feet (1 partial box). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
HISTORICAL NOTE
One of the major events of Statehood Week, the Saturday, May 10 parade, coordinated by Ray P. Speer, featured the theme "Pride in Minnesota." It included 290 musical groups, floats, nationality groups, antique vehicles, riding clubs, clowns, and marching units from 59 counties and 23 nations. Over 1000 uniformed military personnel also marched behind massed colors. Beginning at the State Fairgrounds, where it was reviewed by officials and noted guests, the 3 1/2 hour parade then moved along Snelling Avenue past more than 200,000 spectators.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The files consist mainly of official entry forms, with supporting documentation (correspondence, publicity, photographs), for the participating bands, floats (county and non-county), military units, nationality groups, and specialty groups. There is also a set of correspondence relating to all aspects of parade planning and implementation including judges, route decoration, finances, concessions, programs, fairground negotiations, insurance, military protocol, sanitation, and parking, and a set of "official" materials, with form letters and entry forms, lists of participants by unit type, security directions, judging tally sheets, grandstand tickets and ticket sales tallies, prize winners, publicity material, press releases, radio and television spots scripts, and the official program and bulletin.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and folder title here]. Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission. Parade of the Century Files. Minnesota Historical Society. State Archives.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number(s): None
Processing Information:
Processed by: Charles Rodgers and Cheri Thies, October 2003
Catalog ID No.: 990017381500104294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| 107.I.10.2F | Bands, 1958. 2 folders. | ||||||||||
| Alphabetical by band name; include application letters, registration forms, acknowledgement letters, and acceptance cards. A few contain photographs and publicity materials. Most are high school marching bands. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence, 1956-1958. | |||||||||||
| Notes, letters, and memos covering all aspects of the parade planning and implementation including judges, route decoration, security, finances, concessions, programs, military protocol, fairground negotiations, insurance, sanitation, and parking. | |||||||||||
| County floats, 1958. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Alphabetical by county; official entry forms, most with a drawing or photograph of the float's design, detailed information sheet listing the theme, official titles and names of riders, and any historical background, and related correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Non-county floats, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Alphabetical by sponsor; official entry forms, most with a drawing or photograph of the float's design, detailed information sheet listing the sponsor, name of company building the float, theme, official titles and names of riders, and any historical background, and related correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Letters to [County] Parade Chairmen, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Military units, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Alphabetical by unit name; official entry forms, most with a detailed information sheet listing the sponsor and type of unit (musical, marching, etc.), and related correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Nationality groups, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Alphabetical by group; official entry forms, listing group name, person in charge, description of costumes, and previous parade experience, and related correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Official materials, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Form letters to statewide and county committees, blank entry forms and acknowledgments, information sheets for participants, participant lists by unit type (drafts and final), security directions, judging tally sheets, grandstand ticket sales tallies (April 17-May 8), list of prize winning units, advertising flyer, official program, grandstand tickets, radio and television spots scripts, news releases, official automobile signs, and the "Official Bulletin." The latter details time, assembly area, entries, route, floats, television, judging, massed colors, buses and mobile units, food facilities, lost children, and lists with both numbers and descriptions of all units. | |||||||||||
| Pre-parade entertainment, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Applications and correspondence for a square dance group, a clown with a mule, a Ukrainian marching group, and a Zuhrah mounted patrol. | |||||||||||
| Specialty units, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Alphabetical by group; official entry forms, listing group name, person in charge, description of costumes, and previous parade experience, and related correspondence. This grouping included drill teams, antique automobiles, clowns, historic vehicles, Indian dancers, Princess Kay, territorial pioneers, horses, and firefighters. | |||||||||||
| Unit lists, 1958. | |||||||||||
| Includes staging diagrams. | |||||||||||
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:
- Marching bands -- Minnesota.
- Parade floats -- Minnesota.
- Parades -- Minnesota.
- Places:
- Minnesota -- Centennial celebrations, etc. -- 1958.
- Persons:
- Speer, Ray P.
- Organizations:
- Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission -- Public relations.
- Types of Documents:
- Photographs.
- Press releases.
- Radio scripts.
- Television scripts.
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