STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL COMMISSION:

An Inventory of Its International and Distinguished Guests Files

Government Records

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission.
	Title:	International and distinguished guests files.
	Dates:	1956-1958.
	Abstract:	Files relating to the work of the international guest program, chaired by former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Eugenie Anderson, which sought to involve dignitaries from outside the U.S. in statehood centennial activities.
	Quantity:	0.7 cubic feet (1 box).
	Location:	107.I.10.3B

The international guest program, chaired by former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Eugenie Anderson, recognized that Minnesota's heritage included settlers from many nations. Invitations to participate in the Statehood Week celebration were sent by Governor Orville L. Freeman to a large number of foreign governments; twenty-six accepted and sent representatives. The May 8 arrival of the Scandinavian delegation, including Norway's Princess Astrid, Sweden's Prince Bertil, and the Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish prime ministers, began the international guests festivities. Other countries represented were Yugoslavia, Iceland, Rumania, India, Lithuania, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Latvia, Greece, Great Britain, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Lebanon. Throughout Statehood Week special events were held for the international guests, culminating with the Parade of the Century and Minnesota Statehood Centennial Banquet and New Century Eve Ball on Saturday and the Statehood Day Commemorative Ceremony on Sunday.

The files also contain information on distinguished American guests, particularly U. S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Allied Powers in Europe supreme commander General Lauris Norstad.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The subject files, which include correspondence, programs, invitations and response cards, seating charts, protocol documents, itineraries and schedules, remarks and program notes, and related materials, cover such topics as airline schedules, biographical data, courtesy automobiles, Centennial Banquet planning, the Governor's letter of invitation, protocol arrangements, security, the Governor's 1957 Scandinavian goodwill tour, the University of Minnesota's Scandinavian Convocation, and a special breakfast for Princess Astrid. Also included is a Military Aides Manual, official directions provided for aides assigned to Norstad, Dulles, and each of the international guests.

The country files, arranged alphabetically by country, mainly contain correspondence, biographical data, and sometimes a photograph, about each country's official representative(s). There are also folders for several countries that were unable to send a representative.

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ARRANGEMENT

The records are organized into the following two sections:


		Alphabetical Subject Files (1956-1958)
		Country Files (1957-1958)

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and folder title here]. Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission. International and Distinguished Guests 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.: 0900323729

RLIN ID No.: MNHV1700-A

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

SUBJECT FILES, 1956-1958

Location

107.I.10.3B

Airlines, 1958.

Details the Scandinavian delegation's chartered Northwest Airlines flight from New York to Minneapolis, with a list of the official party.

American dignitaries, 1958.

Biographical data.

Anderson (Eugenie)/Swain (Thomas H.) correspondence, 1957-1958.

Automobiles, 1958.

Detailed information on cars used for each dignitary and those used in the Parade of the Century.

Centennial Banquet and New Century Eve Ball Program, May 10, 1958.

Centennial Dinner, 1958. 12 folders.

Discussion with the Governor, 1958.

Discussion with the Radisson and Leamington Hotels, 1958.

General Arrangements Committee, 1958.

Includes floor/table plans, menu, and program notes.

Gifts Committee, 1958.

Concerns gift of The Face of Minnesota to dignitaries.

Governor's Advisory Committee, 1958.

Head table, 1958.

Includes seating list and opening remarks, order of program, and information on a small reception held before the dinner.

Host Committee, 1958.

Invitations Committee, 1958.

Contains samples of the invitation, response card, dinner ticket, reserved seat card, and invitation to the pre-dinner reception. Also agendas, reserved table seating charts, and regrets letters.

Meeting with [Minnesota] State department heads, 1958.

Non-international responses, 1958.

Letters, both accepting and regrets, from non-international dignitaries, including Willard Munger, Owen Wangensteen, Albert Quie, Hubert H. Humphrey, Edward Thye, Mrs. O. E. Rolvaag, J. A. A. Burnquist, and C. W. Mayo.

Program Committee, 1958.

Includes a copy of the program.

Reception Committee, 1958.

Details airport reception for the Scandinavian delegation.

Festival of Nations, 1958.

Heffelfinger episode, 1958.

Includes copies of both Eugenie Anderson and Governor Orville L. Freeman's responses to a political statement made by Republican National Committeewoman, Mrs. F. Peavey Heffelfinger, regarding Anderson's appointment.

Location

107.I.10.3B

Invitations, 1958.

Contains correspondence between Anderson and Freeman, a draft of Freeman's initial letter of invitation to the international community, and a list of invitees by country, with information on acknowledgement, acceptance/declination, and name and rank of representative.

Meeting on March 5, 1958 with Consuls Other Than Scandinavians, 1958.

Military Aides Manual, 1958. 2 folders.

Volume given to military aides assigned to all dignitaries; includes program of events, arrival schedule, arrival of royalty ceremony, briefing on arrival ceremony at airport, list of aides' assignments, memo to all aides, instructions to drivers, car assignments, precedence list of dignitaries, security, accommodations, and packets, with itinerary, time schedule, security, and escort requirements, for General Norstad, Secretary of State Dulles, and each country represented.

News releases, 1957-1958.

Program of events, 1958.

Protocol, 1958.

Correspondence, mainly between the Minnesota Congressional delegation, Anderson, the U. S. Department of State Public Affairs Advisors, and consuls/attaches of the various countries, detailing the protocol for all events involving the royals and ambassadors.

Reception Committee for Non-Scandinavian Guests, 1958.

Scandinavian Press Attaches March 17-18 Visit, 1958.

Scandinavian Tour, 1957-1958.

Mainly planning documents and correspondence detailing Anderson's involvement in the 1957 Governor's goodwill trip to Scandinavia.

Security, 1958.

USIA (United States Information Agency), 1958.

University of Minnesota, 1957-1958.

Covers an honorary degrees discussion and the May 9 Scandinavian Convocation, including the program and script.

Women's May 10 Breakfast, 1958.

Correspondence, program, invitation and response card, notes, and seating chart for this event in honor of Norway's Princess Astrid.

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COUNTRY FOLDERS, 1957-1958. 37 FOLDERS.

A folder for each country represented at the Centennial celebration; may include correspondence, biographical data, and photographs of the country's representative(s). The Scandinavian files contain a great deal of information on the royalty and prime ministers attending the events. There are also several folders from countries who were invited but not represented.

Location

107.I.10.3B

Austria, 1958.

Belgium, 1958.

Canada, 1958.

Czechoslovakia, 1958.

China, 1958.

Denmark, 1957-1958.

Estonia, 1958.

Finland, 1957-1958.

France, 1958.

Germany, 1958.

Great Britain, 1958.

Greece, 1958.

Iceland, 1957-1958.

India, 1958.

Indonesia, 1958.

Ireland, 1958.

Israel, 1958.

Italy, 1958.

Japan, 1958.

Latvia, 1958.

Lebanon, 1958.

Lithuania, 1958.

Luxembourg, 1958.

Mexico, 1958.

Netherlands, 1958.

Norway, 1957-1958.

Pakistan, 1958.

Philippines, 1958.

Rumania, 1958.

Saudi Arabia, 1958.

South Africa, 1958.

Spain, 1958.

Sweden, 1957-1958.

Switzerland, 1958.

Syria, 1958.

Uruguay, 1958.

Yugoslavia, 1958.

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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:: Citizens' advisory committees -- Minnesota.; Diplomatic and consular service, Danish.; Diplomatic and consular service, Finnish.; Diplomatic and consular service, Icelandic.; Diplomatic and consular service, Norwegian.; Diplomatic and consular service, Swedish.; Diplomatic etiquette -- Minnesota.; Government etiquette -- Minnesota.; Radio broadcasting -- Minnesota.; Royal visitors -- Minnesota.; Visits of state -- Minnesota.; Volunteers -- Minnesota.

Places:: Denmark -- Foreign relations -- 1947-1972.; Finland -- Foreign relations -- 1945-1981.; Iceland -- Foreign relations.; Minnesota - -Centennial celebrations, etc. -- 1958.; Norway -- Foreign relations -- 1945-.; Sweden -- Foreign relations -- 1950-.

Persons:: Anderson, Eugenie Moore, 1909-.; Astrid, Princess, daughter of Olav V, King of Norway, 1932- -- Travel.; Bertil, Prince, son of Gustaf VI Adolf, King of Sweden, 1912- -- Travel.; Dulles, John Foster, 1888-1959.; Freeman, Orville L.; Heffelfinger, Elizabeth Bradley, 1900-1981.; Norstad, Lauris, 1907-1988.

Organizations:: University of Minnesota.

Types of Documents:: Photographs.

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