Politics | Page 10

Minnesota state flag, 1983–2023

The design of the Minnesota state flag adopted in 1983 and used until 2023. The nineteen yellow stars, which form a star themselves, refer to Minnesota’s place as the nineteenth state admitted into the union.

Minnesota State Flag

What good is a state flag? According to flag expert Lee Herold of Rochester, Minnesota, a good flag creates a distinctive brand. Ideally, Minnesota’s flag should also create unity, representing our state’s values everywhere it flies. But this has not always been the case. The people of Minnesota have altered their state flag’s design in the past to meet changing needs. They continued to do so in 2023, when public input informed a redesign commission’s choice for a new flag.

1918 campaign-event poster (St. Paul)

Poster advertising an event in St. Paul related to the Republic primary election of 1918. Published by John J. Willinger Company, 1918.

1918 campaign-event poster (Minneapolis)

Poster advertising an event at Arcadia Hall in Minneapolis related to the Republic primary election of 1918. Published by Hamann Press in June of 1918.

Nonpartisan League car caravan

Caravan of Tin Lizzie cars following Nonpartisan League candidate Charles A. Lindbergh through rural Minnesota during the 1918 campaign for governor.

Minnesota Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist

Minnesota Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist. Photograph by Golling Studio, 1917. Forms part of Lee Brothers portrait collection.

Burnquist campaign poster, 1918

Joseph A. A. Burnquist gubernatorial campaign poster, 1918.

Republican Primary Election, 1918

The Nonpartisan League nominated Charles A. Lindbergh Sr. as its candidate to challenge Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist in the June 1918 Republican primary. Although Burnquist prevailed and went on to win the general election in November, the bitter, often violent campaign transformed Minnesota politics.

Traverse des Sioux

Prairie land at Traverse des Sioux, the site of the signing of the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, ca. 2010s. Photograph by John Cross courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.

It’s Time Minnesota button

Button produced by It’s Time Minnesota in 1993. The organization advocated for the amendment of Minnesota’s Human Rights Act to include protections of gay rights.

Gale Family Library