HENNEPIN COUNTY: BICENTENNIAL PLANNING COMMISSION:

The Hennepin County Bicentennial Planning Commission was established by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in January 1974 via Resolution 73-12-21. Its purpose was to plan and coordinate bicentennial activities throughout the county in three thematic areas: past (heritage), present (festival), and future (horizons). Other goals were to involve as many Hennepin County municipalities and residents as possible in these activities; to emphasize human and natural resources of Hennepin County; and to tie some activities to the opening of the new Hennepin County Government Center and General Hospital during 1975.

The Hennepin County Bicentennial Planning Commission consisted of fifteen members, three designated by each of the five county commissioners. Chairpersons of the Commission were W. Ed Mansfield, director of the Hennepin County Affirmative Action Program, through August 15, 1975, and Emily Ann Staples from that date through the abolishment of the Commission in late 1976. Executive directors were Judy Just through July 29, 1975 and Mary Ann Brink from that date until the end of the bicentennial activities.

Among the commission's duties was to solicit proposals for activities from various groups and then select the best for funding from the Minnesota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (MARBC), the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), or from local businesses or foundations.

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Among the programs funded through HCBPC and documented in these files were research and an exhibit on Blacks in Minnesota by the Afro American Cultural Arts Center of Minneapolis; a series on Black Music for grade school children; and development of hiking, biking, and canoe routes by the County Park District. Other projects were theater productions emphasizing local history performed at libraries and community centers; a map display of old Indian trails; and publication of a county history by Gustav Rolf Svendsen. Also included in the records of the Commission are information on other projects that occurred with little or no help from the HCBPC, and celebrations and activities conducted in various Hennepin County municipalities.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Hennepin County (Minn.). Bicentennial Planning Commission. Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 978-50

Processing Information:

Weeded and processed by: Rich Arpi, September 1998

Originally prepared for microfilming by the Hennepin County records manager, but never actually microfilmed. Duplicates and routine financial transactional documents weeded in 1998.

Catalog ID number: 990017062410104294

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A copy of Svendsen’s Hennepin County History is cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society library.

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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:

American Revolution Bicentennial, 1976 -- Minnesota -- Hennepin County.

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