Every Object Tells a Story

MN History special 56/4 8/22/07 1:48 PM Page 238 MHSCOLLECTIONS Every Object MARCIA G. ANDERSON WITH Tells a Story COLLECTIONS AND SITES STAFF I picture you seated in a comfortable chair at home, reading. As you settle in, take a moment to reflect on the value of objects in your everyday life and in the telling of history. Look around and note the things that hold stories for you, that connect to your past and play a part in your life. Often, it is an object’s story—not its intrinsic value—that pushes you to display it or keep it always close. Objects link us to the past in a way that no other medium can. People may give away file drawers full of business or personal records, books, photographs, and other printed or written material mainly because the information can be duplicated or saved in a number of formats. But when asked to consider letting go of a chair used by their great-grandparents, it’s another story. That chair is a tangible object, and its owner can share an intimate experience with previous owners or users by sitting in it or simply resting a hand on the back rail. The Minnesota Historical Society’s founders, con- cerned about preserving the history that they were making in the midnineteenth century, began collect- ing objects as soon as the institution was founded in 1849. At its annual meeting two years later, its presi- dent, Governor Alexander Ramsey, shared the vision: A Historical Society in a land of yesterday! Such an announcement would indeed naturally excite at the first glance incredulity and wonder in the general mind. Well might it be exclaimed, “the country which has no past, can have no history”; with force could it be asked, “where are your records?” and if we even had them, it would not be surprising if it were still demanded, “what those records could possibly record?—what negotiations?—what legisla- tion?—what progress in art or intellect could they possibly exhibit? Canst thou gather figs from thorns, or grapes from thistles?”1 Buckskin coat with quill embroidery, once owned by Those early acquisitions reflect their collectors’ Governor Alexander Ramsey and donors’ ideas of what was important in Minne- MH 56-4 Winter 98-99.pdf 92 8/22/07 1:58:04 PM MN History special 56/4 8/22/07 1:48 PM Page 239 sota’s history and culture at the time Another story included here and most are no longer relevant to and, as a result, relate stories of indi- shows what three-dimensional ob- Minnesota history or to the kinds of viduals from the majority culture— jects can offer when other informa- stories that museums preserve and primarily men. Later generations of tion is lacking. The quilt squares share or that historians will investi- curators have widened their view of that friends gave to Hamilton and gate today and in the future. Even what’s collectable, what’s valuable, Sarah Jane Clark(e) when they left so, some of these acquisitions do and what represents the broadest Pennsylvania in 1852 for their new reflect what types of things excited experiences of Minnesota’s popula- home near Shakopee are the only people, informed political and per- tion. Newspaper accounts from the record we have, at present, of these sonal decisions, or provided a place territorial period, photographs, cen- settlers. If they had been in a battle, in the world context for those who sus records, and personal letters and we’d have dates, illustrations, or, were charting new territory for journals give us some insight. None- perhaps, newspaper accounts. Be- themselves and their families. theless, many of the participants in cause these simple pieces of hand- this volatile period of Minnesota’s sewn and signed fabric were pre- On the other hand, much of what history—itinerants moving through served, we can ask why the Clarks early Minnesota Historical Society the territory, small business owners traded the life of a merchant’s fami- staff collected and documented was or manufacturers, Indians and other ly for that of farmers, what they important and contributes signifi- people of color, rural folk, women, looked like, and why they never cantly to our understanding of the children, and families—were under- assembled a quilt from the squares. past. For example, Mrs. Henry recorded in their time and remain We know that community was im- Jackson-Hinchley of Mankato do- underdocumented. As a result, we portant to them and their friends in nated St. Paul’s first post office, a continue to look for new, imagina- Pennsylvania; clearly, they sought to small, crudely made, nondescript tive ways to recreate the stories of retain that sense of belonging in pine box with 12 pigeonholes for these people’s lives. their new home, as they and their sorting mail. It was used between descendants saved the squares for 1842 and 1849 by her husband, Hen- The Society’s museum collections well over 100 years. Questions and ry, who served as postmaster. And in include approximately 250,000 deductions like these make us better 1890 a St. Paulite, Capt. Charles H. three-dimensional historical objects historians. Beaulieu, donated a fire steel used and nearly 1 million archaeological Some of the objects preserved by by “Aysh-ke-bug-e-co-zhay (Flat artifacts, with good representation the territorial movers and shakers Mouth) Head Chief of the ‘Pillager’ of the fur-trade era, Indian culture, and cared for by the early museum Chippewas.” The documentation of the Henry H. Sibley and Lac qui staff reflect an inherent flaw in doc- these two pieces is substantial for Parle sites, early entrepreneurial umenting one’s own culture: It’s the time period, although curators activity, and the precious family trea- hard to be objective. We tend to today would have asked more ques- sures brought here by territorial im- acquire things of personal interest. tions and sought photographs, jour- migrants. Many of these things can As a result, history museums have nals, and direct quotes regarding provide a tangible connection to many objects now referred to as usage, the users, and the makers. lesser-known people from that time. relics and curios. In the early years, One of the most significant ob- Sometimes objects come to the the Minnesota Historical Society’s jects in the Society’s collections from museum without much information, gifts included these 1856 donations the territorial period is a rare, quill- and curatorial and conservation from Samuel Whiting of Winona: decorated leather coat once owned staff must serve as historical detec- “Leaf from the large Banian Tree in by Governor Ramsey. Dating to the tives. By analyzing elements such as the East India Co.’s Garden, in Cal- mid-1800s, it is modeled on the west- the materials, manufacture, and use cutta, 1853” and “A Rose Geranium ern style of cloth coat worn by Euro- patterns and then tying together the Leaf, from the Grave of Napoleon I, peans of the time. The Ojibwe, Cree, facts available in other resources, we at St. Helena, together with some Eastern Sioux, and Red River métis can often assemble the story of an poetry in reference to it.” An un- made this type of garment, and simi- object and its makers and users, known supporter donated “A leaf lar ones are portrayed in illustrations placing them all in a broader histor- from the ‘Old Charter Oak,’ after of treaty signings and other signifi- ical context. Such is the case in the the tree fell, August 21st, 1856.” cant events of the period. story below of Sarah A. Sibley’s Many of these donations were lost Ramsey’s granddaughters, Laura ermine muff and tippet. when the capitol burned in 1881, and Anita Furness, donated this coat WINTER 1998–99 239 MH 56-4 Winter 98-99.pdf 93 8/22/07 1:58:07 PM MN History special 56/4 8/22/07 1:48 PM Page 240 to the Society in 1943; unfortunate- the Minnesota story as well as as- as well. William Golcher, born in ly, records describe it only as a white pects that diverge from prevailing England in 1834, emigrated to Phil- buckskin scout coat (Sioux) and say ethnic, religious, political, or socio- adelphia in 1840 with his father, a nothing about how it was used, why economic norms. We hope that the prominent gunsmith. Under his it was saved, who made it, or where objects and their stories below bring tutelage, Golcher mastered the art it was from. People have postulated each of you a meaningful encounter and by age 18 became foreman of that Ramsey bought it as a souvenir with the past, one that is relevant to his father’s shop. In 1855 Golcher of his role in negotiating an Indian your everyday lives and your person- moved west and opened his own treaty, but it is just as likely that it al reflections on history. establishment in St. Paul with asso- was made and presented to him as ciate James Simpson. a gift at a treaty signing or a similar —Marcia G. Anderson Golcher & Simpson produced occasion. Whatever its origins, cura- firearms suited to the rigors of fron- torial and conservation staff were tier life, including the half-stock able to date the jacket by style and HUNTING RIFLE plains rifle and the heavy double construction and can elaborate its shotgun. The quality of the firm’s The settlement of Minnesota’s fron- story by determining how the skin workmanship was renowned, and the tier coincided with the nationwide was prepared, identifying the animal partnership soon developed into one transformation of gunsmithing from source of quills and the dye used to of the most prolific gun trades in a craft to an industry.

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