Knutson plays her accordion for a group of children.

Coya Knutson (fourth from left) poses with other Minnesota DFL congresswomen. From the Coya Knutson papers, Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

Knutson poses in front of the Capitol Building with choir members from Concordia College, her alma mater.

Coya Knutson plays her accordion at a dinner organized by the Silver Spring Woman’s Democratic Club in Maryland, ca. 1958. Also pictured are Genevieve Wells, Ruby Hahn, and Ruth Fleming.

Coya Knutson enjoys a dinner with Estes Kefauver in 1956. Her support for Kefauver’s presidential campaign drove a wedge between her and DFL officials.

Coya Knutson connects with a voter during her congressional reelection campaign, ca. 1955.

A campaign button promoting Knutson for a second term in Congress, ca. 1955.

Coya Knutson inspects one of Generalissimo Trujillo’s cows while on a trip to the Dominican Republic with the Agricultural Committee. From the Coya Knutson papers, Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

Coya Knutson on tour with other members of the Agricultural Committee. From the Coya Knutson papers, Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

Knutson pours a cup of coffee for her mother, Christine Gjesdal, the day after winning the 1954 election.