Clara Barton School

 Maryama Ali 

Minnesota History 

Jack Norton 

5/14/2019 

For the Bryant avenue project, Clara Barton open school has changed and improved throughout time, in year 1980through 2000 student who were going to Clara Barton were white students. Before blacks were not allowed to go to white children school. Going to School in Black and White offers unique opportunities for deepening our understanding about implicit biases and stereotypes by relating personal experiences to shared systemic concerns. Barton represents progress in the effort to increase racial and cultural diversity in the classroom.  

My first articles show the growth and improvement of the school and how time can improve and teach people to change things so the school can be a good environment where anyone can learn. It shows the schools achievements and them accomplishing their goals of making their school a better place.” About half the school is white and one-quarter is Somali, and staff said families ranging from American Indian to Somali are attracted by the school’s word-of-mouth reviews, community ties and progressive education”. 

Diversity is important for student a recent study in the journal “Child Development” found that students feel safer in and out of school when they have a diverse education. Learning about different cultures allows students to become comfortable with cultural difference across social groups and comfortable with themselves; leading to a deeper sense safety and self-confidence.  

Also, Clara Barton school start having Diversity classes, Because When students are given the opportunity to work with a diverse group of peers, or with topics that discuss diversity, they can confront stereotypes and discover similarities with their classmates. 

Sources  

1 Raghavendran, Beena. “At Minneapolis Magnet Schools, Diversity Is on the Rise.” Star Tribune. Star Tribune, 17 Apr. 2017. (Secondary, article)  

2 “Minnesota Report Card.” Minnesota Report Card, rc.education.state.mn.us/#demographics/orgId–30001106000__p–3/orgId–30001000000__groupType–district__p–3. (secondary)  

3 “Page 10.” CONTENTdm, digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll7/id/9350/rec/2. (primary, newspaper)  

4 “Barton Elementary School Planning for the Future.” _Minneapolis Public Schools History_, 1963, mpshistory.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/pff-1963-barton.pdf (primary,

https://www.kickboardforschools.com/blog/post/5-benefits-of-teaching-classroom-diversity

How the establishment of the Church of the Ascension demonstrates the increase in Irish immigrants and Irish culture in late 19th century Minneapolis.

In the 19th century Ireland faced many problems. Famine, strife, political instability, and other issues. Due to these issues many Irish immigrants made their way to the U.S. and as they spread out around the country, one of the places they chose as their new homes was Minnesota, more specifically, Minneapolis.

The Church of the Ascension was built in 1890 by Father Alexander Christie. it became a place of community for Catholic immigrants in Minneapolis in what is now the Old Highland neighborhood. The area consisted mostly of Irish immigrants as well as some Catholic German immigrants. The first look of the church can be seen in the image at the bottom of the page. The Church of the Ascension parish continued to become a bigger part of Irish culture in Minneapolis over time, In an Irish newspaper titled “Irish Standard” there are many things posted about the Church of the Ascension, which continued to demonstrate it’s presence as a physical place where Irish immigrants could come together under similar beliefs to gain a better sense of community in a foreign country.

The location in Minneapolis helped contribute to an increase in the size of the surrounding Old Highland neighborhood which became a heart for Irish immigrants in an ever-growing city. The original parish of the church consisted of only about four families but as time went on it grew to become a large place of meeting for immigrants. In 1894, Father Jeremiah Harrington opened the Ascension school which help provide many immigrant children with the opportunity to an education. The Church of the Ascension was an important part of the history and development of Irish culture and community in Minneapolis from the late 19th century all the way up through today.

References

Old Highland Neighborhood Association, “1723 Bryant Avenue North: Church of the Ascension,” Minneapolis Historical, accessed May 2, 2019, http://minneapolishistorical.org/items/show/7.

“The Irish Standard.” MNHS Hub – Viewer, The Irish Standard, newspapers.mnhs.org/jsp/viewer.jsp?doc_id=mnhi0031/1HMAPJ59/99101401&query1=&recoffset=0&collection_filter=All&collection_name=38baad88-7c77-44da-93ec-3f50ff215e88&sort_col=relevance&cnt=0&CurSearchNum=1&recOffset=0.

Map

http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=e0e82ddc0022469dbde4d09d6fa0bff7

“Catholic Church Records for St. Paul/Minneapolis.” Catholic Church Records for St. Paul and Minneapolis, irishgenealogical.org/cpage.php?pt=22.

 

The Guthrie Theatre

The Guthrie Theatre has brought a lot of history to the state of Minnesota. This exhibit is a huge part of history due to its great theatre shows and different cultures it has represented throughout time. It has also appeared on different TV shows over the years. It has also given many people a good education with the content of its shows.

It all started in 1959 when Sir Tyrone and his two colleagues Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler discussed “the notion of establishing a theater company outside of New York. They were disenchanted with Broadway. They wanted to create a professional theater with a resident acting company that would perform the classics in rotating repertory”. According to Minnesota Public Radio. So with the Guthrie Theatre being so old, there is going to be a lot of history to it. Then we can jump all the way to 1982 when the Guthrie received a Tony Award for its outstanding contribution to the American Theater. Also according to Minnesota Public Radio. This was a huge accomplishment for the theatre and it brought a lot of attention to the theatre. Now we can fast forward to 2003 when the Guthrie got some re-modeling done. Minnesota Public Radio had this to say: “January: The Guthrie unveiled its final design for the new complex. The most notable difference is the exterior color, which was changed to a midnight blue. Guthrie officials launched another push at the Capitol for $35 million in bonding money to help pay for construction. June: The Legislature approved $25 million, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed it into law. September: Guthrie officials and political leaders broke ground for the new facility, the cost of which is now at $125 million”.

The design of the building is quite unique. It gets its design from a couple different sources who ultimately made up a few ideas from each and put it all together into one building. When doing research I was able to find this on Wikipedia: “The Guthrie’s design arose out of Ralph Rapson’s work with the Walker Art Center, and concepts the Walker was considering for a small auditorium near their museum. The result was a theater designed by Rapson, that seated 1,441 people when it first opened its doors in 1963.” Now 1,441 people doesn’t seem like that much to us nowadays so they have added seats to get more people to come out and watch the shows they put on. I also went on to read this from Wikipedia: “In 2006, the Guthrie finished construction of a new $125 million theater building along the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The design is the work of Jean Nouvel, along with the Minneapolis architectural firm Architectural Alliance and is a 285,000 square foot facility that houses three theaters: (1) the theater’s signature thrust stage, seating 1,100, (2) a 700-seat proscenium stage, and (3) a black-box studio with flexible seating. It also has a 178-foot cantilevered bridge (called the “Endless Bridge”) to the Mississippi which is open to visitors during normal building hours. The outside of the building’s walls are covered in large panels which display a large mural of photographs from past plays visible clearly at night.”

According to Meet Minneapolis, The Guthrie Theatre partnered with Gustavus Adolphus College to give kids in grades ten through twelve who are serious about performing or being in the field of fine arts as their career. The program mostly showed you proper techniques and how to properly read a script for a play. “The Guthrie Theater values offering distinctive educational opportunities for young actors,” says Guthrie Director of Education Louise Chalfant. “We are thrilled to be working with Gustavus Adolphus College on this project. ”The weeklong camp will be directed by Henry MacCarthy, Gustavus assistant professor of theatre and dance. It will take place at Gustavus in its state-of-the-art facilities including its 280-seat thrust stage, black box, two dance studios and several classrooms. The daily schedule will incorporate instruction in ballet, movement, voice, acting and script analysis, as well as one-on-one coaching sessions.”

In 2015, the Guthrie needed a new artistic director as Joe Dowling took his last season as the director there. He was then replaced by Joseph Haj after a very long and serious search. “The 2014–2015 season was Joe Dowling’s final as the Guthrie’s artistic director. After an extensive search, on February 17, 2015, it was announced that Joseph Haj would become the Guthrie’s eighth artistic director on July 1, 2015. With his appointment, Haj’s professional journey comes full circle as he made his Guthrie debut as an actor during the theater’s 1989–90 season.”

After all the history that has taken place at this exhibit, there are plenty of reasons to respect and thank Sir Tyrone for coming up with the idea to make this theatre. It has provided us with lots and lots of information and education for the future.

Works cited:

1. Minnesota Public Radio. “A Timeline of the Guthrie Theatre” MPR: A Timeline of the Guthrie Theatre, May, 2006. http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2006/05/guthrietimeline/
2. Wikipedia. “Guthrie Theatre Production History” March 30, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthrie_Theater_production_history
3. “A History of The Guthrie Theatre”. https://www.guthrietheater.org/globalassets/pdf/guthrie_history.pdf
4. Guthrie Theatre. “About Us” https://www.guthrietheater.org/about-us/
5. https://www.minneapolis.org/media/news-releases/guthrie-theater-and-gustavus-adolphus-college-offer-summer-audition-boot-ca/

Ascension Place

Asiyo Mohamoud

Minnesota History

Jack Norton

5/14/2019

 For this exhibit I will be talking about the Ascension Place known as Haven Housing on 1803 Bryant Ave North. I will also be talking about how the place became a shelter for unique group of women. Haven Housing also helps and supports women as they stabilize and overcome their barriers. I decided to do this because I thought it was very interesting that this was a place for women who need help. The Ascension Place was first known as the “Old Highlands Association.” Three Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, along with Father Harrington, were the people that first began the ascension place in 1897. They began the program with 160 students in a three-room building. The Ascension complex is part of five special building. The oldest building was twin- towered Gothic brick building designed by E.J. Dona Hue of Saint Paul under the direction of Archbishop Ireland. The Ascension Place was also a good example of the English Renaissance style. Over the years the place became a housing for women who needed help. It became a shelter to them so that they can get away from the violence and abuse they were facing.

Haven Housing states that “Ascension Place provides transitional housing and comprehensive, individualized support to more than 70 women each year.” Haven Housing is for women who face chemical dependency, mental health issues, histories of abuse, homelessness and many more. They each have a case manager to work with so that they can start planning for a better opportunities and better future. I believe that this place has done an amazing job over the years helping people especially women. It is a safe place for both women and children.

First Convent for the Church of the Ascension.

“Guidestar.org. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-1396238. States that “Next Step Housing provides permanent supportive housing to women in our site-based apartment building in North Minneapolis and to women and women-led families living in scattered site apartments throughout Hennepin County.” I defiantly liked the idea of how they are trying to widen the place so that they can help more people. Haven Housing is a place that is willing to help their people and community. In the year of 2016 Haven Housing started doing trauma-informed care throughout their St. Anne’s Place emergency family shelter. This place helped so many women and children overcome the hardships they face and gave them a place to call home.

However, I believe My sources support my thesis because each article states different information on how the Ascension Place works. I don’t believe I would’ve had valid information if it weren’t for my sources. They have helped gather good information for both my thesis and project.

1. “Ascension Place | Haven Housing | Minneapolis, MN.” Haven Housing. Accessed May 02, 2019. https://www.havenhousing.org/ascension-place.( Primary Source)
2. “Old Highland Neighborhood Association. “1803 Bryant Avenue North: Ascension Place.” Minneapolis Historical. Accessed May 03, 2019. http://minneapolishistorical.org/items/show/8.  (Secondary Source)
3. “Guidestar.org. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-1396238. (Primary Source)
4. “1803 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS. Accessed May 03, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1803_Bryant_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota. (Secondary Source)

Building Communities on Bryant Avenue

Ascension Catholic School has taught moral education on Bryant avenue from 1920-1970 in helping build communities together.

            In my first source, it displays kids playing together in the school playground. I believe the school playground had some positive impact on helping children learn different skills in life such as how to interact socially during play time and meeting new kids. This helped bring the community together by allowing parents who live on Bryant avenue to know each other.  Source 1: “1723 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS. Accessed May 7, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1723_Bryant_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota.

            In my second source, the ascension club which is a part of the ascension catholic school played a role in the socialization of the community. The recreation areas provided a way for people to gather and socialize. This built a stronger relationship between different communities on Bryant Avenue. The bowling alley was a great way for people to come together and play games.”1704 Dupont Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS, Accessed May 7, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1704_Dupont_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota.

            Fr. Alexander Christie laid the groundwork for Ascension catholic parish and Fr. Jeremiah continued his legacy in 1894.  I believe having a vision becomes reality when you act upon it. Fr. Harrington knew the importance of education and carried out the vision by buying lots on Dupont Avenue for a school. The school opened its door in September 1898 by the help of three sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In the beginning, there were only 160 students but the school expanded in 1927 accepting many more students. All of this was possible through Fr. Harrington, who had an idea of building a school for the surrounding community on Bryant avenue in Minneapolis. In 1970, the community on Bryant avenue became culturally diverse. People from different backgrounds eventually enrolled in Ascension Catholic School. I admire Fr Harrington for valuing education and empowering the community by building this school. “History. “Ascension Catholic School. Accessed May 7, 2019.https://ascensionschoolmn.org/about/history/.

            In the book” They Came to Teach by Raiche, Annabelle. “reveals the importance of Ascension Catholic school and the great works done throughout the community. When the school expanded in 1970 it created a way for people of different faith denominations to enroll. For example, students can be a none Catholic and still get accepted. ” Ascension’s First Century,1890-1990, a Booklet Commemorating the 100th anniversary of ascension Parish in Minneapolis, p.41.p72. Raiche, Annabelle. Template They Came to Teach.

In conclusion, it’s evident how Ascension Catholic School helped shape the communities on Bryant Avenue. Thanks to Fr. Harrington for playing a tremendous role in establishing the school. He knew by earning education students would become more successful. Endurance and perseverance through Fr. Harrington is what kept the vision alive.

Minnesota history: Final project

Taha Hassan

The Allan spear colonnade

Minnesota history

Final project  

The Allan spear colonnade in Mueller park is a very historic location for Minnesota history not because of Allan spear but for what he did for others. This exhibit demonstrates the role Allan spear played in important legislation for the rights of the LGBT community. With the sources I found I will support my thesis. To begin who is Allan spear and why was the memorial placed in Mueller park. According to mnopedia Allan spear was the first openly gay man in the the untied states to serve as a state legislator. Allan Spear also fought for the rights of the LGBT community in Minnesota and was the leading reason for the amendment of the Minnesota human rights act in 1993. This amendment included the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Allan spear was born in 1937 to Esther and Irving spear on June 24 in Michigan city Indiana. He was impacted by the kidnap and murder of Emmett till at the age of 18 and took part in the walk on Washington on august 28 1963. These events led to his sense of justice and were the reason he studied and taught African American studies. Allan spear continued teaching and studying African American studies until he was elected as a member of the Minnesota senate. In the year 1974 after an interview with the Minneapolis star on December 9^th Allan spear became the first openly gay man to serve in state legislator in the united states.  from the years between 1974 to 1993 when the amendment was passed Allan spear fought for the LGBT community to be recognized in the human rights act of Minnesota. Now as for the reason to why the memorial/colonnade was placed at Mueller park. According to his autobiography Allan spear lived a block away from the park while he lived in Minnesota. the park was his local place to relax outside. This was the only reason why the colonnade was placed there. Now on to what he did for the LGBT community. As I stated many times before Allan spear was the main reason for the amendment of the Human rights act in the year of 1993. Before 1993 in Minnesota people could discriminate against people based on sexual orientation and sexual preference this was done in hotels, dinners and many more places. because of the amendment and the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and preference that Allan spear worked 20 years to obtain. the LGBT community can live freely in Minnesota. Now according to the current human rights act, the LGBT community is protected in employment, housing, public accommodation such as bathrooms, public service, education, credit and business. Allan spear set the precedent for other forms of LGBT rights in Minnesota as well some of them being the right to a legal marriage between two men and two women as well as the right to adopt children. All these freedoms exist because of Allan Spear. As Allan spear stated in the senate hearing “senate file 444 is an amendment to are state human rights law that would add the category of sexual or effectual orientation to the categories that are already protected under that law. it would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public accommodations, public service, access to education, and access to credit”. Allan spear also had Some other things that he tried to have amended that related to LGBT right, but did not see to completion during his lifetime. Allan spear passed away in the year 2008 due to heart complications but his legacy still lives on today.  As you can see Allan spear was the reason we have rights for members of the LGBT community in Minnesota. the amendment of human rights act with the help of Allan spear changed the lives of many LGBT Minnesotans in a historic manner. This change impacted and helped the lives of many in the  Minnesota homes of the LGBT community  around the state . The sources I provided in this blog show and prove my thesis to be true.  It is because of Allan spear and the role that he played in important LGBT legislator that many Minnesotans have the ability to live free in this state. if you want to learn more about Allan spear or the senate hearing check out the sites/sources below or checkout his autobiography at your local library.

1. Spear, Allan H. Crossing the Barriers : the Autobiography of Allan H. Spear . University of Minnesota Press, 2010.

2. Matheson, Jack. “Spear, Allan Henry (1937–2008).” MNopedia. Accessed May 04, 2019. http://www.mnopedia.org/person/spear-allan-henry-1937-2008.

3. Your Rights Under The Minnesota Human Rights Act. PDF. Minnesota Department of HUMAN RIGHTS, May 2013.

4. Services, Minnesota Senate Media. YouTube. May 12, 2013. Accessed May 04, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P6J3rJgyq0.

      

Theodore Wirth House 1905-1915

Theodore Wirth House 1905-1915

The Theodore Wirth House, which was constructed at 3954 Bryant Avenue South in Minneapolis, is colonial revival style house completed in 1910. Having stood for nine years longer than a century, it is a nationally and locally historically recognized house though at the time of its groundbreaking it was not without controversy. To understand the conflicts surrounding the construction, some background is needed.

Theodore Wirth was a parks superintendent who was responsible for nearly tripling the acres of publicly owned park land in Minneapolis. The Theodore Wirth house was built on Bryant Park land using public funds from the city of Minneapolis. Wirth was attracted to the post in Minnesota with an agreement, one which he enjoyed in his former career in Connecticut state parks. Among the concessions made in 1904 to lure him from his previous post was the construction of a home for Wirth on public land so that he may act as a caretaker of the new city parks lands. Though the home and it’s location anuihnd funding would prove to be controversial, the major argument ensued due to one simple problem above all the others. There was no written record of the agreement! There were legal challenges which nearly doomed the house. Finally, due in part to additional land being donated for the purpose by James J Hill and Thomas Lowry along with a positive decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court, the project was cleared to begin.

The Theodore Wirth House was the residence of Theodore Wirth from 1910, through his retirement in 1935, until 1945. Today, on a hill above a park and ballfields, continues to stand the sturdy stucco sided home which begins to show its age. Today is home mainly to offices for the parks and recreation board, though many parks superintendents have resided there over the years. Through the squabbles of the past was constructed the building acting as the center for the enduring parks department of Minneapolis.

Akre, John, director. Thedore Wirth’s History Book and Historic House Tour. YouTube, YouTube,

4 Dec. 2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HN3gAqq_PE.

Roberts, Kate. Minnesota 150: the People, Places, and Things That Shape Our State. Minnesota

Historical Society Press, 2007.

“Theodore Wirth House.” Theodore Wirth House – City of Minneapolis, 7 Feb. 2019,

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/hpc/landmarks/hpc_landmarks_bryant_ave_s_3954_theodore_wirth_house.

http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/nrhp/nomination/02000611.pdf