Ramsey County History 2026 Issue 2

Volume 61, No. 2

Jeremiah E. Ellis, James Fleming and Paul Nelson, Frank M. White

PDF of full issue: Ramsey County History 2026, Issue 2

 

Articles in this issue:

“James and Frances Hughes and the Architecture of Black Excellence in Minnesota”

Author: Jeremiah E. Ellis

At a time when Twin Cities suburbs were described as “lily-white,” James and Frances Hughes bought and platted land in Maplewood that would become a close-knit enclave of Black families building their place in the middle class. Jeremiah E. Ellis traces the origins of this neighborhood through the lives of its founders, both of whom navigated segregation in education and career, and went on to become multifaceted community leaders and pillars of suburban Black life.

 

“Pierce Butler’s Seventeen Years Serving as St. Paul’s First US Supreme Court Justice”

Authors: James Fleming and Paul Nelson

Following the introductory article about Pierce Butler’s early life and career in Ramsey County, this second article of the series concerns Butler’s record on the US Supreme Court. Although his papers were burned after his death, James Fleming and Paul Nelson consider Butler’s public record, including his opposition to New Deal legislation and the sea change in constitutional law that took place during his tenure.

 

“Growing Up Dos Culturas“

Authors: Frank M. White

Rondo elder and historian Frank M. White reflects on his bicultural upbringing, focusing here on his mother’s Mexican American side of the family. These relatives, who lived on the West Side, were prominent “culture keepers,” supporting Mexican immigrants to Minnesota and sharing traditions of music, dance, and celebration with generations to come.

 

In Our Collection: Lexington Park Grandstand Signs

Author: Mollie Spillman

 

Viewfinder: Safety Patrol in Sneakers

Author: Renoir Gaither