Publishing
Featured Magazine Articles
The award-winning quarterly magazine published by the Ramsey County Historical Society is filled with wonderful stories, well-written articles, photos, and maps reflecting the lives, history, and culture of our capital county.
Please use our full catalog to search for specific topics or articles.
You may also research back issues of Ramsey County History in our Research Center.
Ramsey County History Spring 2024
Paul Nelson, Drew Ross, Wendy Rossi, Meredith CummingsVolume 59, Number 2: Spring 2024 Link to download PDF of full Ramsey County History Spring 2024 Articles in this issue: The Fraud of the Century Author: Paul Nelson According to author Paul Nelson, “The human desire for wealth without risk and the capacity for self-delusion make an…
Ramsey County History Winter 2024
Nicole Foss, Linda Kohl, Krista Finstad Hanson, Renoir Gaither, Mary Lethert WingerdVolume 59, Number 1: Winter 2024 Link to download PDF of full issue of RCHS Winter 2024 Magazine Articles in this Issue: Architect of St. Paul’s West Side: H. Emil Strassburger Author: Nicole Foss Link to N. Foss article PDF Additional Resources:…
Ramsey County History Fall 2023 – Full Issue
Daniel W. McGuiness, Maggie Lorenz, Deacon DeBoer, Eileen Bass, Justis Brokenrope, Ava Grace, Dr. Rev. Clifford Canku, Heather Menefee, ŠišókadútaVolume 58, Number 3: Fall 2023 Link to download full issue of Fall 2023 Ramsey County History magazine Articles in this Issue: A Sacred Dakhóta Site Inspires Community Renewal: From Lower Phalen Creek Project to Wakaŋ Tipi Awaŋyaŋkapi Authors: Daniel W. McGuiness, with Maggie Lorenz…
Featured Books
RCHS publishes fiction and nonfiction books and historical coloring books on a variety of historical subjects for readers of all ages.
Grasshoppers in My Bed: Lillie Belle Gibbs, Minnesota Farm Girl 1877
Terry Swanson, Author and Peggy Stern, IllustratorIt is 1876—Christmas day—which just happens to be the eleventh birthday of Lillie Belle Gibbs. Her mother and father present her with a new journal. Now she must decide how to fill the pages. Grasshoppers in her bed, a smudge pot to keep the mosquitos at bay, the one-room schoolhouse…
Neighborhood Architecture–Irvine Park, Saint Paul: a coloring book.
Jeanne Kosfeld, Illustrator and Richard Kronick, AuthorTwin Cities-based illustrator Jeanne Kosfeld and author Richard Kronick have together transformed a simple sketchbook featuring pen and ink drawings into a brief storytelling of the Irvine Park neighborhood’s unique 173-year history. Artists of all ages and abilities may colorize their own imagined versions of these historic edifices, including fanciful…
Featured March of the Governors Podcasts
The “March of the Governors” podcast series provides brief snapshots of Minnesota’s governors during their terms in office. As you might imagine, there’s far more to each of their stories, both positive and negative. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We hope you will be inspired to learn more.
Minnesota has been governed by forty-one leaders. RCHS uploads a new podcast at the start of each month. Check the publishing catalog frequently for the newest episode.
March of the Governors: Arne Carlson
Paul Nelson and Tom BeerArne Carlson, Minnesota’s thirty-seventh governor, was a Swede and a progressive Republican, like several before him, but unlike them, too. He grew up poor in New York City and had no connection to the dominant Harold Stassen political lineage. Carlson came to Minnesota for graduate school—then won election after election:…
March of the Governors, Governor #36: Rudy Perpich Part II
Paul Nelson and Anne FieldPart II: Following his gubernatorial defeat in 1978, Rudy Perpich (1928-1995) spent a few years in Vienna, Austria, working as a trade representative for Control Data Corporation, but it wasn’t long before he began planning another run for the state’s highest role. Voters remembered him fondly and ushered him back…
Featured RCHS General Podcasts
RCHS, with author and interviewer Paul Nelson, has developed a series of podcasts featuring interviews on subjects of historical interest.
Ramsey County History Podcast #5 – Spring 2016: Mayor for Life – George Latimer
Paul Nelson and George LatimerMayor for Life – George Latimer He was sometimes known as “mayor for life.” George Latimer served as mayor of St. Paul from 1976 to 1990, the longest consecutive term in St. Paul history. A lot happened on his watch: the Town Square and Lowertown developments; the…
Ramsey County History Podcast #1 – Spring 2014: The Saga of I-35; East Side Freedom Library
Paul Nelson, John Milton, and Peter RachleffThe Saga of I-35; East Side Freedom Library Part 1: John Milton tells the story of how citizen opposition delayed for many years the completion of Interstate Highway 35 through St. Paul. Part 2: Labor historian Peter Rachleff describes how he and his partner Beth Cleary plan…
Featured RCHS Videos and DVDS
RCHS has partnered with Twin Cities Public Television on two documentary films. Past History Revealed videos are available on the RCHS YouTube channel linked here.
RCHS/TPT Film – North Star: Civil War Stories
RCHS and TPTNorth Star Civil War Stories Ramsey County Historical Society is proud to partner with TPT-Twin Cities PBS to produce a ground-breaking new documentary, North Star: Civil War Stories, which uncovers hidden details of African-American men from Minnesota involved in the Civil War. Using emerging research and scholarship, North Star: Civil War…
History Revealed: Indian Wars Everywhere
Stefan AuneIndian Wars Everywhere Stefan Aune, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of American Studies, Williams College History Revealed Series Program Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 Video on YouTube In partnership with the East Side Freedom Library & Roseville…
History Revealed: The Hormel Strike
Peter RachleffThe Hormel Strike of 1985-1986: Historical Perspectives with Peter Rachleff History Revealed Series Program Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023 YouTube Video In partnership with the East Side Freedom Library and the Roseville Library. In August 1985 the nation’s attention turned to Austin,…
Featured Book Reviews
One sure thing about history – there’s a lot of it – and so, by default, there’s a lot written about it. We include reviews of the latest Minnesota and/or Ramsey County history books in our quarterly magazine, Ramsey County History, but sometimes we have more reviews than we have room to print in the thirty-two-page publication. Don’t worry. We will continue to share book reviews in the magazine, but as we move forward, one of our goals is to increase our online presence, so if you’re looking to read even more reviews, hop online and check our catalog to see what’s new – there’s always something new about all things old.
Browse our catalog and enjoy the reviews. Chances are they’ll lead you to stop by Ramsey County Historical Society to purchase the actual book. We have many of the books available for sale at the Landmark Center.
Prairie Imperialists: The Indian Country Origins of American Empire
Reviewed by Renoir GaitherPrairie Imperialists: The Indian Country Origins of American Empire Katharine Bjork Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019 352 pages; hard cover, 13 b&w photos, 5 maps, $64.95 Hamline University professor Katharine Bjork’s book, Prairie Imperialists: The Indian Country Origins of…
The Heart of the Heartland: Norwegian American Community in the Twin Cities
Reviewed by Mary Lethert WingerdThe Heart of the Heartland: Norwegian American Community in the Twin Cities David C. Mauk St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2022 472 pages; paperback, B&W illustrations, 7 maps, $29.95 As the title of this volume suggests, the Twin…
Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos
Reviewed by Meredith CummingsSpirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos Photography by Travis Novitsky; Text by Annette S. Lee St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2023 154 pages; paperback, 117 color illustrations, $19.95 “. .