New Collection: Minnesota Vikings Training Camp. Oral History Interviews and Collection, 2015

A screenshot of Vikings Training Camp interviews in ARCH.

During the summer of 2015 the University Archives collected oral histories to present the 50 year history of Vikings Training Camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Former and current Minnesota State faculty and staff, former Vikings players, and fans were interviewed. Most oral history videos are 1-3 minutes long.

This collection exists in two different locations:

1. The University Archives holds the physical materials created and collected during the course of the project. View the collection guide here: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc251.html
2. ARCH, University Archives Digital Collections holds the oral history videos. View the collection of videos here: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3Avideos 

A few notable videos include:

• Former Vikings player and Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Alan Page: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A56840
• Former Vikings player Dave Osborn: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40774
• Minnesota State Mankato faculty member Evan Rusch talks about attending camp as a child: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40577
• Fan Gerald Provost talks about his promotion on the field at the 50 yard line: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A43873
• Minnesota State staff member Jamie Dalbey talks about being a security guard one summer at Vikings Training Camp: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40393
• Former Vikings player John Swain: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40779
• Pam Hodapp Schreiner and Debra Hodapp talk about their memories of the beginning of Vikings Training Camp at Minnesota State and their father, John Hodapp, and his role in bringing the Vikings to Mankato: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A47772
• Fan Andy Haack talks about how camp is a tradition of his family’s: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A43858

Visit the Minnesota State Mankato’s University Archives!
Are you interested in viewing this collection? Contact us with any questions or to set an appointment for your visit: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/info/contact.html


Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

New Collections: July 2016

Our most recent graduate assistant, Josh Smith, processed several collections during his time with the University Archives. Listed below are a few collections we felt were worth highlighting. Don't worry, there will be more collection highlights in the future!

Republican Women of Mankato. Collection, 1949-1961. SMHC Manuscript Collection 249.
http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc249.html

A sample of the collection materials. Photo courtesy
 of University Archives at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

This collection consists of materials associated with the Republican clubs and individuals in the

Mankato area. The collection is focused on the Republican Party in Minnesota, and the Mankato and Blue Earth County area more specifically, but there is a considerable amount of documents involving the party on the national level. The collection contains newsletters, pamphlets, letters, and party policy papers.

Materials in this collection appears to come from Mrs. June Ogle, as there are letters addressed to her and her name appears multiple times at the top of documents. Mrs. Ogle was the wife of Republican State Representative and lawyer Arthur H. Ogle, who represented Blue Earth County in District 8. Mrs. Ogle was a member of the Mankato Federation of Republican Women, which is a branch of the Minnesota and National Federation of Republican Women. The Mankato branch no longer exists.

Tri-Sigma Sorority, 1989-2010. SMHC Manuscript Collection 253.
http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc253.html

This collection consists of scrapbooks put together by the Tri-Sigma sorority over the years and documents the sorority’s history at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The scrapbooks are broken into two types, with some being focused on events and others focused on member profiles.

The Mankato chapter is known as Epsilon RHO. Some of the other big events and days for the sorority throughout the year are bid day, homecoming, and their numerous trips and charity days. Today the Mankato chapter of Tri-Sigma continues to be an active part in the community and at the university.



Visit the Minnesota State Mankato’s University Archives!
Are you interested in viewing the two collections mentioned above? Contact us with any questions or to set an appointment for your visit.


Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.