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Minneapolis History Resources

James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library at the Minneapolis Central Library has an extensive collection of materials related to the history of Minneapolis.  If you are interested in using any of the materials listed below or if you would like to discuss your research project with a librarian, please call 612-630-6350. If you would prefer to send your question via email, our address is specialcoll@hclib.org.  Many of the resources listed here need to be retrieved from locked storage areas before your visit, so please call to schedule an appointment prior to your visit.

Many of the books listed here are also available in our general history collection.  Click on the call number links below to access the library's online catalog to see which books can be accessed outside of Special Collections.

This is only a small sample of the resources available at the library. Librarians are always happy to recommend additional materials appropriate to your specific research topic.

§ Other resources in the Minneapolis Collection
§ Minnesota Digital Library's Minnesota Reflections Project

Books

General

Hudson’s Dictionary of Minneapolis and Vicinity: A Handbook for Strangers and Residents. An alphabetically arranged manual and descriptive index of the places, buildings, institutions, streets, resorts, churches, amusements, commercial enterprises, and societies in and around Minneapolis. Includes maps and illustrations. 917.765 H88

Atwater, Isaac. History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota. History of the City written in 1893, still a standard reference source. It contains early background history on exploration, early settlements, Ft. Snelling, Native American contact, and the organization of the city and county governments. F614.M5A8

Benidt, Bruce Weir. The Library Book: Centennial History of the Minneapolis Public Library. 1984. The history of the Minneapolis Public Library which has been a central institution in the development of the city. Z733.M667B46 1984

Brink, Carol. The Twin Cities. 1961. Descriptions of the setting of the cities, history of the area including early explorations, growth of the lumber, flour-milling, and railroad industries as well as cultural influences as seen through the eyes of Carol Ryrie Brink. F614.M6B7

Bromley, Edward A. Minneapolis Portrait of the Past. 1973. This reprint of Edward Bromley's Minneapolis Album published in 1890 is a fine example of both photographic and local history. It contains a special introduction by Ervin J. Gaines, Minneapolis Public Library Director. F614.M5B7 1973

Hudson, Horace Bushnell. Half Century of Minneapolis. Includes substantial biographies of the city's business and social elite in its first 50 years. F614.M5H7

Johnson, C. W. (Charles W.). Tale of two cities: Minneapolis and St. Paul compared. Early comparative history of the Twin Cities. 917.76 J66

Millett, Larry. Lost Twin Cities. Conveys the history of development of the area around the Falls of St. Anthony including mills built to supply Fort Snelling. Offers historic illustrations of Minneapolis as it was being settled. NA735.M5M55 1992

Millett, Larry. Twin Cities Then and Now. This is an engaging and startling look at the dramatic evolution of landscapes in Minneapolis and St. Paul from the vantage point of their relatively static streets. F614.M6M46 1996

Osteen, Mame. Haven in the Heart of the City: The History of Lakewood Cemetery. An examination of Lakewood Cemetery reveals the history of individuals, families, and the city itself. F614.M562L35 1992

Parsons, E. Dudley (Ernest Dudley). Story of Minneapolis. A useful companion to Marion Shutter’s history of Minneapolis. F614.M557P26 1913

Shutter, Marion. History of Minneapolis: Gateway to the Northwest. Vol. 1: begins with prehistoric Minneapolis proceeds chronologically through exploration, military occupation, settlement, development of local government, notable buildings, public utilities, parks, lumber and flour milling, churches, schools, social clubs. Vols. II and III: illustrated biographies of notable Minneapolitans. F614.M5S5

Stevens, John H. History of Hennepin County. Excellent resource about the founding of Hennepin County and its early years by a Minneapolis pioneer. It contains histories of towns in Hennepin Co.: Mpls. and St. Anthony plus Edina, Bloomington, Minnetrista, Plymouth, Eden Prairie. It also has a chapter entitled 'Hennepin County in the War of Rebellion.' F614.M5A87

Stevens, John H. Personal recollections of Minnesota and its people : and early history of Minneapolis. Excellent first-person account of Minneapolis in its early years by one of the major players. F606.S84

Stipanovich, Joseph. City of Lakes: an illustrated history of Minneapolis (1982). Conveys the history of Minneapolis including the economic development, population changes, politics and the sociology of the city. F614.M557S74.

Thompson, Ruth. Twin towns at the falls of St. Anthony. Another book written around the same time as Shutter’s history. 977.65 T47

Torbert, Donald R. Significant Architecture in the History of Minneapolis. 1969. This is a report on significant historic buildings and structures in Minneapolis. NA735.M5T7

Warnock, A.W. Good Way to see the Twin Cities. A folder containing early twentieth century maps and information for the visitor to the Twin Cities compiled by the General Passenger Agent for the Twin Cities Lines. F614.M6W37 1916

Webb, Val. Twin Cities Sketchbook. Interesting facts and anecdotes and sketches of Twin Cities landmarks combine to bridge a gap between a detailed history book and a tourist guide book.  F614.M6W38 1977

Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Minnesota. Minneapolis, the story of a city. A valuable, comprehensive history of the city. F614.M5W8

Business and Industry

Mill city: a visual history of the Minneapolis mill district. Published in conjunction with the opening of the Mill City Museum. Offers an introduction to the history of the falls area, starting with Father Hennepin’s naming of the falls. Rich in images and full of first-person accounts. F614.M557 M55 2003.

Hartsough, Mildred Lucile. Twin cities as a metropolitan market : a regional study of the economic development of Minneapolis and St. Paul. An economic history of the Twin Cities region. 330.973 H33

Hoverson, Doug. Land of amber waters : the history of brewing in Minnesota. A statewide history with a good focus on the breweries in the city that is the home of the Grain Belt sign. TP573.U5 H68 2007

Kane, Lucile M. The falls of St. Anthony: the waterfall that built Minneapolis. Great resource that focuses on the importance the water power of the falls and the communities and industries that rose around the falls. It focuses on the years of first settlement 1830s to the beginning of the twentieth century. F614.M557K36 1987.

Kenney, Dave. Grain Merchants: an illustrated history of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Although Minneapolis is no longer the biggest flour producer in the country, it still has an active grain exchange with a long and storied history. HD9038.M5 K46 2006

Millikan, William. Union against unions : the Minneapolis Citizens Alliance and its fight against organized labor, 1903-1947. Chronicles the history of the Citizens Alliance, an organization of powerful Minneapolis business interests that strived to keep Minneapolis a non-union town. HD6519.M6 M55 2001

Minneapolis Riverfront Development Coordination Board. St. Anthony Falls Rediscovered. With history of the East and West Side Milling districts (other districts as well), architectural overview of the mills and profiles of mills and buildings. Also with geological information about the falls and building inventory. Black and white photos. F614.M547D34 1990

Pearson, Marjorie. Force of nature, industrial resource, source of recreation : a study of the landscape of Mill Ruins Park. Historical survey of the area of Minneapolis that was the center of the milling district. F614.M557 P43 2004

Wills, Jocelyn. Boosters, hustlers, and speculators : entrepreneurial culture and the rise of Minneapolis and St. Paul, 1849-1883. Frontier towns in the 1800s were full of get rich quick schemes and hucksters, Minneapolis was no exception. HC108.M7 W55 2005

Entertainment and Sports

Collins, Cyn. West Bank boogie : forty years of music, mayhem and memories. The West Bank is where folk legends Korner Ray and Glover started as well as Bob Dylan and others. Still a destination for music now, this book chronicles the golden days of the West Bank scene. ML3477.8.M56 C65 2006

Grossman, Audley Mitchell. Phd thesis on the early days of Minneapolis theater. 2 Volumes. PN2277.M5G76 1981

Kenney, Dave. Twin Cities picture show : a century of moviegoing. This book is focused on movie theaters in St. Paul and Minneapolis areas and has a lot of information about current and former theaters in the city and how moviegoing changed as people moved to the suburbs. PN1993.5.U753 K46 2007

Thornley, Stew. Basketball's original dynasty : the history of the Lakers. Before they were the LA Lakers of Kareem and Magic, they were the NBA champion Minneapolis Lakers of George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen. GV885.52.M55T46 1989

Thornley, Stew. On to Nicollet : the glory and fame of the Minneapolis Millers. Before the Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins, the Millers were who Minneapolitans looked to for exciting professional baseball. GV875.M59 T56 2000

Immigrants/Ethnic Groups

Anderson, Philip J., Blanck, Dag. Swedes in the Twin Cities: Immigrant Life and Minnesota’s Urban Frontier. This collection of essays, twenty-four scholars from the United States and Sweden investigate various facets of Swedish life and culture in the Twin Cities.F614.M6S94 2001

Holmquist, June Drenning. They Chose Minnesota: a survey of the state’s ethnic groups. The Minnesota Ethnic History Project, begun by the Minnesota Historical Society has produced information on the major ethnic population elements that have resided in Minnesota from 1850-1980. Information on patterns of settlement nationally and within the state, organizations, politics, language retention, acculturation, mobility, and other economic, social, religious, and political aspects are incorporated in each chapter essay. F615.A1T45 1981

Lewis, Anne Gillespie. So Far Away in the World: Stories from the Swedish Twin Cities. These personal narratives present a fuller picture of the Swedish-American community in the Twin Cities, past and present. F615.S23L49 2002

Neighborhoods

Hart, Joseph. Down & out : the life and death of Minneapolis's skid row. Excellent photographic record of a neighborhood that no longer exists in Minneapolis. Skid Row in the loop or Gateway district used to be the home of hundreds of older retired migrant workers. It contained much of downtown’s original architecture which was torn down in the name of urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s. HV4506.M6 H37 2002

Imboden, Thatcher. Uptown Minneapolis. Wonderful pictorial history of the Uptown area. Excellent photos of forgotten buildings and businesses and the activities of Uptown residents over the years. F614.M56 U65 2004

Lanegran, David. A., Sandeen, Ernest R. The Lake District of Minneapolis: A History of the Calhoun-Isles Community. Known and loved throughout Minnesota for its charm and elegance, the Calhoun-Isles community is also alive with history. Minneapolis is “the City of Lakes,” and these neighborhoods contain the best known of those lakes. F614.M557 L36 2004

Linden Hills History Study Group. Down at the lake : a historical portrait of Linden Hills and the Lake Harriet district. Neighborhood history by an organization committed to preserving and documenting the history of Linden Hills. F614.M56 L56 2001

Martin, Judith A., Lanegran, David A. Where We Live: The Residential Districts of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The dynamic process of urban development in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul is reflected in its neighborhoods. HT371.M29 1983

Nord, Muriel. Lake of the Isles historic district. Report done by Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission on the Calhoun-Isles Community. F614.M56L24 1984

Pearson, Marjorie. Downtown Minneapolis : an historic context : final report. Historical survey of the architecture and neighborhoods of downtown Minneapolis. F614.M56 D686 2000

Pearson, Marjorie, Roise, Charlene K. South Minneapolis: An Historic Context. This historic context study is a framework for understanding related cultural resources based on historic themes, geographical area, and period of time. F614.M56S686. 2000

Petersen, Penny. Hiding in plain sight : Minneapolis' first neighborhood. History of the town of St. Anthony Falls, later know as East Minneapolis and finally as Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis. History is told through the surviving structure and offering biographies of some of the inhabitants of the town. The town of St. Anthony existed from 1849 to 1872, when it merged with Minneapolis. F614.M56 S2398 1999

Pudham, Joan Hunter. Memories of Prospect Park: Circa 1910-1950. Prospect Park residents share memories of growing up in the neighborhood. F614.M56P76 2001

Roise, Charlene K., Curran Christine A. Tower Hill Park – A History. Excerpts from the National Historic Register nomination for the Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park. F614.M57T69 1998

Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration. The Bohemian Flats. History of a settlement located close to the milling area, in a low area by the river. Inhabited by people who worked at the mills. F614.M56B64 1986

Social History

Mason, Karen. Women's history tour of the Twin Cities. Overview of the places and buildings relevant to women’s history in the Twin Cities. F614.M68M57

Schmid, Calvin. Social Saga of Two Cities. Excellent social history of Minneapolis and St. Paul up to the 1930s. HN 80 .M62 S35

Walker, Charles Rumford. American city : a rank and file history of Minneapolis. First published in 1937, a leftist popular history of labor in Minneapolis, specifically focused on the 1934 trucker’s strike. F614.M557 W35 2005

Transportation

Diers, John W. Twin Cities By Trolley : The Streetcar Era In Minneapolis And St. Paul. Pictorial history of the Twin Cities streetcar era from its start with horse drawn streetcars in the 1870s to the scandalous replacement of the streetcars by busses in the 1950s. TF725.M6 D54 2007.

Hofsommer, Donovan L. Minneapolis and the age of railways. This book covers the different railroads in Minneapolis, the locations of depots and railyards. HE2781.M6 H64 2005

Lowry, Goodrich. Streetcar Man: Tom Lowry and the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. Biography of the man who created a streetcar network that stretched from Stillwater to Lake Minnetonka. HE2754.L63L68 1979

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