The Daily Circuit

Historic documents, autographs from Minn. collection in NY auction

by Tom Weber, Minnesota Public Radio,
Krystyna Pease, Minnesota Public Radio

11:52 AM, April 17, 2012

Larger view
Tuesday's auction in New York of items from the Minnesota Historical Society includes this letter written by James K. Polk shortly before his death, in which he volunteers to be a fireman. Swann Galleries estimates the item could garner $1,500to $2,500 in the auction. (Courtesy Swann Auction Galleries)

On the radio

  • Jennifer Jones: Minnesota Historical Society library and collections director

There will be two auctions Tuesday at Swann Galleries in New York that include several items from the Minnesota Historical Society.

The items include several autographs of presidents and other historic figures. There is also a large collection of letters and other documents from the Revolutionary War period, including letters signed by Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry and Benedict Arnold.

The Minnesota Historical Society has had all these items since 1965 when the widow of businessman Allyn K. Ford donated about 1,500 items.

The process of taking something out of a museum's collection is called "deaccessioning" and it happens more often than you might think.

Jennifer Jones, MHS library and collections director, spoke to The Daily Circuit about the collection. She said Ford's family recently contacted them and suggested MHS auction off the items.

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