Minnesota Books

Rhoda Gilman has written an authoritative and interesting account of Henry Hasting Sibley's life. Although Sibley's entire life and career centered around the upper midwest, he was involved in a number of different activities, from the fur trade to representing Minnesota as its first state governor. He had many dealings with the Sioux (and other) Indians in Minnesota and the Dakota Territory, producing the "Divided Heart" of Gilman's subtitle.

Sibley was born in Detroit in 1811, a town known for its cultural diversity at the time, and he knew French and French ways. He first worked for the American Fur Company on Mackinac Island, but then was put in charge of the company's operations on the upper Mississippi. This is when he built his famous stone house at Mendota, across the river from Fort Snelling. He went to Washington in 1848 to help secure recognition of Minnesota as a territory. He was able to cede lands from the Sioux in 1851 and was elected first state governor in 1857. He opposed the harsh policies against the Indians popular with the federal government at the time, but to no avail. In 1862, as the head of the state militia, he was instrumental in subduing the Sioux at Wood Lake during the Minnesota Uprising. The following year he led an expedition into Dakota Territory to reduce the remaining Sioux. After this successful campaign he retired to St. Paul, where among other things, he was president of the Minnesota Historical Society for a number of years.

Sibley left all his papers to the Society and Gilman makes excellent use of them. She writes in a very forceful style and her book should remain the definitive biography of Sibley for years to come. Highly recommended.

This is by far the best county histoy book that I have found. Unlike many of these book, it is supuberbly orginized and very well writen. The Heritage of Blue Earth County Minnesota book is a must have for Genealogists and people interested in Blue Earth County.

Michel de Certeau, who died in 1986, was one of France's leading intellectuals and considered by many to be one of the most brilliant and sensitive minds. A perfect example of the ideal interdisciplinary scholar, he studied and taught in the fields of literary criticism, anthropology, sociology, history, theology, and psychoanalysis. All these disciplines inform the essays of this volume.

First time readers of de Certeau will probably not want to start here, since the essays collected are on a variety of topics and in a variety of styles. "The Practice of Everyday Life" or "The Writing of History" might be better starting points (the former for anthropologists, perhaps, and the latter for historians).

Of course, despite their variety, these essays all reflect de Certeau's interests in ethics (along the lines of Levinas), theory (French post-structuralism), historiography, mysticism, speech, and politics (cultural studies). Broadly, there are a few essays on Freud and Lacan; a few on Foucault (of whom de Certeau is critical); one on "Mystical Speech"; and an excellent essay on history and ethical historiography. De Certeau assumes a familiarity with his subject matter, and individuals without the right background may find his already difficult language to be unmanageable. However, for those interested in French post-structuralism and looking for a perspective that shows the best of different academic disciplines (including a theological perspective -- de Certeau was a Jesuit), de Certeau is a wonderful find.

An excellent guide for hikes of all different lengths and for all abilities. Good maps and directions. Highly recommended.

Jeffrey Carlson displays a unique and intriguing blend of old fashion Minnesot-ian life in this radiant best-seller. With his old-school charm, he'll draw you into this historical album. So, you think you know all there is to know about Minnesota, eh? Jeff thinks you're wrong! Read this book today. Best historical album, hands down.

This is a 200+ paperback book, with plenty of photos included. The story of Minnesota Bible College (now Crossroads College, Rochester, Minnesota) from its beginnings in 1913 through 2000 is carefully recorded by longtime college Dean, Earl E. Grice. Events leading to and including the move from Minneapolis to Rochester are discussed.

Grice describes the setting for the college in the early 1900's, dreams of the founders and early leaders, obstacles that were overcome, and biographies of many college leaders throughout the years. Graduates for each year are listed. Copies of the school songs are also included.

Alumni/ae and anyone interested in the Stone-Campbell religious heritage will want to purchase this book, which is available from Crossroads College.

This interesting book was actually written as a Master's thesis, and was first published in 1938. The book begins with a history of the Mennonites, and then slides into a history of Mountain Lake, Minnesota from its beginnings to 1938. After that, the reader is treated with three chapters that discuss the development of Mountain lake in terms of economics, religion, and political/social changes.

Overall, I found this to be a very well written book, and surprisingly interesting. (You would expect a master's thesis to be a tediously boring read, and doubly so for something from 1938!) So, if you are interested in the history of the Russian Mennonites who came to this country, or just in the history of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, then you will find this to be a very informative book.

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Art history teacher Fred W. Peterson presents Homes in the Heartland: Balloon Frame Farmhouses of the Upper Midwest, the true story of the architectural phenomenon of balloon frame house construction that pervaded Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin from 1850 to 1920, which allowed settlers to establish affordable permanent frontier homes. Homes in the Heartland examines the social, economic, and aesthetic aspects of these homes, including their impact both on architectural history and on the lives of the people who lived in them. Enhanced with more than 150 black-and-white illustrations such as vintage photographs and house plans, as well as brand new preface for its paperback edition, Homes in the Heartland is a welcome addition to college library and American architectural history shelves.

An inventive look at localist twists and practices in cinema, literature, urban space, within contexts of transnational porousness and neo-nationalism. A poetics of distraction and late capitalist bemusement, useful and the mall and in the movies and poesy too.