Kris Nelson Community Based Research Program …a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) The Rondo Neighborhood & African American History in St. Paul, MN: 1900s to Current *** A Survey of Selected Sources Prepared in partnership with Rondo Avenue Inc. Prepared by Alisha J. Volante Research Assistant University of Minnesota 2015 KNCBR # 1402 This report is available on the CURA website: http://www.cura.umn.edu/publications/search The Rondo Neighborhood & African American History in Minnesota: 1900s to Current A Survey of Selected Sources Executive Summary & Research Goals ……………… [3] Rondo Neighborhood Sources Repositories and Abbreviations …………………… [4] Rondo Inc. Archive and Ephemera ………………… [5] Newspaper and Specific Articles ……………………[8] Oral Histories ……………………………………… [10] Archival and Manuscript Collections ……………… [23] Sound and Visual Collections ……………………… [25] Maps ………………………………………………. [26] Historical Periodicals ……………………………… [26] Book, Book Chapters & Articles …………………… [27] Thesis and Unpublished Papers …………………… [32] Websites …………………………………………… [33] Going Forward ……………………………………………[34] Project Partners: Marvin Anderson, Rondo Neighborhood Inc. Noel Nix, Principal Assistant to Commissioner Toni Carter Professor Chris Wells, Environmental Studies, Macalester College 1 Executive Summary & Research Goals Rondo Avenue Inc. (RAI) is a local Saint Paul Minnesota organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the cultural legacy of the historic Rondo neighborhood. In the last couple of years Rondo Avenue Inc. has been working to create the Rondo Commemorative Plaza and Gardens, a public space bringing the community together and celebrating Rondo history. In collaboration with the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), RAI has requested a comprehensive bibliography of historic Rondo neighborhood information to act as an archive for the organization itself, but potentially to inform the Rondo Commemorative Plaza. Historically, St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood drew in many African Americans migrating north from southern states throughout the twentieth century. Prior to the 1956 construction of highway 94 the Rondo neighborhood held a burgeoning working class community connected by men and women’s social clubs, many religious denominations, and community centers like Hallie Q. Brown. The construction of Highway 94 cut Rondo’s neighborhoods in half, an act that threatened to dissolve the community; families were forced to move from their homes, entrepreneurs forced to shut down businesses, and Rondo Community Interpretive Space Predesign community centers forced to relocate. The memory of Rondo from the 1960s to today has depended on community members, among the most involved are Marvin “Roger” Anderson and Floyd Smaller, to imagine an organization that would take seriously not only the preservation but also the celebration of Rondo from “Cornbread Hill” to “Oatmeal Valley.” In 2013, RAI celebrated their 30th Anniversary of Rondo Days, a yearly celebration of both St. Paul and broader Minnesota African American history. In a City of St. Paul Proclamation recognizing July 12th-21st, 2013 as “Rondo Days Festival,” St. Paul Mayor, Chris Coleman exclaimed that “after 25 years, Rondo Avenue continues to be a symbol of strong community pride, celebrating the best and brightest of Minnesota’s African-American stories, achievements and culture.” This survey of selection sources pertaining to the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul and its large African American community has been gathered as a continued effort to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in Minnesota. The bibliography forthwith was a collaborative effort of scholars at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota, Rondo Avenue Inc., community members, family and friends. 2 Repositories and Abbreviations Rondo Ave, Incorporated. (RAI) 1360 University Ave West, Ste. #140 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104 651-315-7676 Minnesota State Archives Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) 345 Kellogg Boulevard West Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 Wilson Library John R. Borchert Map Library (JRB) University of Minnesota 309 19th Ave South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Ramsey County Historical Society (RCH) 323 Landmark Center 75 W. 5th Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 Southern Minnesota Historical Center (OMankato) Mankato State University Mankato, Minnesota, 56001 Dedication of the Red Cap Room at the St. Paul Union Depot program cover. July 2013. Courtesy of Marvin Anderson. 3 A Survey of Selected Sources Rondo Inc. Archive Pamphlets and Ephemera Rondo Neighborhood Inc., has several articles, papers, and special ephemera items housed at their offices. This list contains items that may or may not be found in outside libraries and collections. It is the hope of all RAI organizers to have a permanent physical location to continue building a repository of historical Rondo neighborhood items. 1956 “Western Redevelopment Project, UR Minn. 1-2: Revisions to Redevelopment Plan and Supporting Documents.” St. Paul, Minn: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1956. Minnesota Historical Society. 1957 “The Proposed Freeways for Saint Paul.” Saint Paul, MN: City Planning Board of Saint Paul, June 28, 1957. 1959 “Renewal Program for Saint Paul.” Saint Paul, Minn: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1959. Minnesota Historical Society. “The Proposed Selby-Dale Renewal Plan: A Study of and Recommendations for Community Rehabilitation and Conservation.” Saint Paul, MN: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 60 1959. Minnesota Historical Society. 1961 Johnson, Robert J. R. “Progress through Low Income Housing and Urban Renewal.” Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1961. Minnesota Historical Society. 1962 Davis, F. James. “Freeway Exodus; Experiences in Finding Housing as a Result of the St. Anthony-Rondo Freeway Displacement from Western to Lexinton Avenues in St. Paul; a Research Report, August 1, 1962.” Hamline University, August 1962. James J. Hill Library. Minnesota Historical Society. 4 1966 “Summit-University: A Community in Crisis.” St. Paul: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1966. Minnesota Historical Society. Torstenson, Joel S. “Summit-University: Profile and Prospectus of an Inner-City Community.” Mineapolis, MN: Augsburg College, Social Science Research Center and Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1966. Minnesota Historical Society. 1967 “Relocation Report: Early Land Acquisition Program, Summit-University Urban Renewal Project.” Saint Paul, Minn: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, 1967. Minnesota Historical Society. “Urban Renewal Programs of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota.” Saint Paul, MN: St. Paul: The Authority, 1967. Minnesota Historical Society. 1971 Wickstrom, David, and John Holdridge. “Black Business in Minneapolis & St. Paul" A Comparative Study of Black and White Owned Businesses.” Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Urban League, March 1971. 1983 “Remembering Rondo,” An Original Play by Alexs Pate, 1983. 74p. Unpublished. Produced for the ‘In commemoration of the Remember Rondo Celebration.’ 1983 Remembering Rondo illustrated program for July 1-3, 1983. 1994 Weaver, Abram H. “The Sterling Club, Inc., 1919-1994: A Historical Review,” 1994. 2008 “Researching African-American Family History at the Minnesota Historical Society Library and Archives.” Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society, 2008. 2013 “ A Short History of the Saint Paul Union Depot Red Caps,” Marvin Anderson, 2013. “Calling All Red Caps: Dedication of the Red Cap Room,” Illustrated program. Dedication at St. Paul Union Depot, July 12, 2013. 5 “Red Cap Room Dedication Remarks,” Speech by Marvin Anderson. St. Paul Union Depot: Red Cap Room Dedication, July 12, 2013. 2013 Rondo Days Festival Illustrated Program. 57p. Undated Sources “Notes on the Newspaper Collector of Estyr Bradley Peake,” written by, Marvin Anderson. “(Unknown Title: Summary of I-35E Proposal).” Unknown Government agency, n.d. Copy at Rondo Neighborhood Inc. archive. 1983 Rondo Days, Remember Rondo, pamphlet cover courtesy of Marvin Anderson. 6 Newspapers and Specific Articles Listed newspapers can be located on microfilm or on the digital newspaper hub for MHS which can be accessed at the Downtown St. Paul, MN Historical Society building or online at newspapers.mnhs.org Minneapolis Spokesman: Black Newspaper, 1934-2000. Weekly. MHS holdings: 1:1 (Aug 10, 1934) – 65:29 (Dec. 30-Jan. 5, 2000) Minnesota Messenger: Minneapolis, Minn, 1920-1924. Weekly. MHS holdings: May 7, 1920 – Feb. 1924 Northwestern Bulletin: Saint Paul, Minn, 1922-1924. Weekly. This publication merged with the Appeal creating Northwestern bulletin-appeal. MHS holdings: Feb 1922 – Jan. 4, 1924 Northwestern Bulletin-Appeal, 1924-1925. Weekly. MHS holdings: Jan 12, 1924 – Aug 15, 1925 Northwest Monitor, Black Newspaper, 1930-1931. Weekly. MHS holdings: May 10, 1930 – Feb. 3, 1931 St. Paul Recorder: Black Newspaper, 1934- (2000?). Weekly. This publication merged with the Minneapolis Spokesman to form the Minnesota spokesman-recorder. MHS holdings: 1:1 (Aug 10, 1934) – ceased Jan. 2000? St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1909-1985. Daily. MHS holdings: 56:356 (Dec 22, 1909) – 136:450 (Jan 1, 1985) Saint Paul Sun, Black Newspaper, 1941 - 1976. Weekly. MHS holdings: May 7, 1941 – Apr 28, 1976. The Saint Paul Echo: Black Newspaper, 1925-1927.