The Cass County Historical Society Museum was located in Minard from 1955-1972. "In the basement of Minard Hall there exists a museum---Cass County Historical Museum. A place of interest to many, the museum contains antiques and relics ... Entering the museum one sees large rooms each containing objects of different interest. Furnished in living room style, one room features a Victorian horse-hair sofa, enchanting lamps, a grand piano and an old oil painting of Pat Devitt's 1886 Claim Shanty" (The Spectrum, October 11, 1957, p. 3). However, the museum did not stay in the basement. In an article in The Spectrum (October 17, 1958) the museum moved to the northwest corner of the first floor. The museum consisted of "three rooms filled with pictures, paintings, and other reminders of the colorful past of North Dakota and the United States." In 1959 the museum was located in room 218. The article explains that the Historical Society Museum was first organized in 1939 by Mrs.A.E. Minard, wife of the late A.E. Minard, Dean of Arts and Science, according to Mrs. Gertrude Hoag who is presently in charge of the museum" (The Spectrum, March 23, 1962, p. 7).
A Zoology collection of over 300 species once existed in Minard Hall. "How far do you have to go to see a truly representative collection of North Dakota birds, mammals, and reptiles? Only as far as the basement floor in Minard Hall," explained an article in The Spectrum. "You'll see more than 200 mounted birds and more than 1,000 bird study skins. You can view about 40 mammals and between 300 and 400 mammal study skins. In addition, there are 150 fish, amphibian and reptiles. After being housed somewhat indiscriminately in the library for ten years, the collection was finally organized, brought over to Minard and set up in glass cabinets in the north basement corridors. The collection was started in 1911-1913 (The Spectrum, March 23, 1962, p. 6). The collection is currently housed in Stevens Hall.
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 8/27/04 |