Minnesota on Paper: Collecting our Printed History

• By: Moira F. Harris & Leo J. Harris
• Format: Paperback, 400 pages
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Usually ships in: 1 to 3 business days
• ISBN: 0-8166-4555-8

Using a whimsical and engaging approach, Minnesota on Paper showcases some of the saved treasures that bring Minnesota history to life. With a nostalgic glimpse into the past, Moira and Leo Harris convey the aesthetic, historical, and cultural significance of particular ephemera, including beer labels, circus posters, postcards, and stamps, to name a few.

Collecting Minnesota’s history in the form of matchbooks, beer labels, stamps . . .

As the influence of popular culture increases, the collection of paper ephemera has emerged as a hobby. From bus tickets and postcards to shopping bags and matchbooks, these collectible memorabilia are usually discarded after their intended use. However, if properly stored and preserved, these items can record and illuminate our history and culture.

By examining the creation and design of the paper ephemera, Minnesota on Paper also reveals a great deal about the development of Minnesota business, the evolution of printing technology and graphic design, and the history of advertising. In a tribute to these bygone days, the authors investigate ephemera from a variety of different perspectives. Who designed and printed each item and why? How and why did the item change and then cease to be used? Why is the item of interest, and what is its meaning? Who collects this item and why?

A collection of treasures from the past, Minnesota on Paper features more than 240 color reproductions. Cultural historians, ephemera scholars, and Minnesotans intrigued by their history will appreciate these visual footnotes of Minnesota’s culture.