John Rolczynski Papers, 1919-1988

John Rolczynski Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: John Rolczynski Papers, 1919-1988

ID: OGLMC1341

Primary Creator: Rolczynski, John (1929-)

Extent: 15.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 05/07/1997

Subjects: Minto, North Dakota

Languages: English

Abstract

Chronicler and historian of Minto, North Dakota

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The John Rolczynski Papers were extensively damaged during the 1997 Red River Valley Flood. On May 8, 1997, the day after the donation of John Rolczynski Papers, the entire collection was delivered to a frozen food locker in Hope, North Dakota. The materials remained there for a year until they were shipped from Hope to Grand Forks Grocer in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Working with two to three boxes at a time, the Department of Special Collections unfroze and dried each document prior to appraisal and processing. The John Rolczynski Papers have been divided into five series as follows:

Series 1: Minto Subject Files

Series 2: Minto History Book

Series 3: General Correspondence

Series 4: Legal Materials

Series 5: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

John P. Rolczynski was born in Minto, North Dakota, on February 1, 1929. He was the son of Frank J. and Bertha Rolczynski. John Rolczynski served in the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957. He died on November 28, 2014, in Grand Forks.

Subject/Index Terms

Minto, North Dakota

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: John Rolczynski, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.97-2110

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). John Rolczynski Papers. OGLMC 1341, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in August 2014.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Minto Subject Files],
[Series 2: Minto History Book],
[Series 3: General Correspondence],
[Series 4: Legal Materials],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[Cassette Tape :],
[All]

Series 1: Minto Subject Files

This series consists of information about prominent Minto residents, businesses, events, the founding of the city, as well as many other various files, arranged alphabetically. Some of the files were previously arranged by Mr. Rolczynski and the original folder number is included in the Box and Folder Inventory alongside the collection's folder title. Additionally, identifiable newspaper articles, the majority of which came from the Minto Journal, included in the collection were separated, indexed chronologically within each subject, and disposed of because of their deteriorated condition. The index of these articles is included in each folder. Non-identifiable newspaper articles remain in the collection and are in the subject folders.

Box 1

Folder 1: Listing of Microfilm rolls of Minto Journal, 1905-1942 (see also separations record) and Newspaper Index Abbreviation Key
Folder 2: American Legion History and Archives (Rolczynski original file #1)
Folder 3: American Legion Financial 1920-29 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 4: American Legion Financial 1930-39 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 5: American Legion Financial 1940-49 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 6: American Legion Financial 1950-59 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 7: American Legion Financial 1960-69 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 8: American Legion Financial 1970-73 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 9: American Legion Membership 1921-29 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 10: American Legion Membership 1930-39 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 11: American Legion Membership 1940-49 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 12: American Legion Membership 1950-59 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 13: American Legion Membership 1960-69 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 14: American Legion Membership 1970-76, undated (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 15: American Legion Correspondence 1919-24 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 16: American Legion Correspondence 1925-29 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 17: American Legion Correspondence 1930-39 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 18: American Legion Correspondence 1940-49 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 19: American Legion Correspondence 1950-59 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 20: American Legion Correspondence 1960-69 (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 21: American Legion Correspondence 1970-79, undated (Rolczynski original file # 1)
Folder 22: Ardoch History
Folder 23: Automobile Advertising (Rolczynski original file #3)
Folder 24: Automobile Sales and Service (Rolczynski original file # 4)
Folder 25: Automobile Sales and Service (Rolczynski original file # 4)
Folder 26: Mrs. George Babinski

Box 2

Folder 1: Bank of Minto (Rolczynski original file # 5)
Folder 2: Bank of Minto (Rolczynski original file # 5)
Folder 3: Banks (Rolczynski original file # 30)
Folder 4: Baptist Church History and Activities (Rolczynski original file # 6)
Folder 5: Barber Shops (Rolczynski original file # 7)
Folder 6: James Barclay Family
Folder 7: Bars (Rolczynski original file # 8)
Folder 8: Corinne Forbert Beaupre
Folder 9: James Bell and Family
Folder 10: Blacksmith and Wagon Shops (Rolczynski original file # 9)
Folder 11: J.W. Boeing Family
Folder 12: Mrs. Boese Papers
Folder 13: Mrs. Borday
Folder 14: Brickyard (Rolczynski original file # 10)
Folder 15: Buildings on Minto Main Street
Folder 16: Bus Service
Folder 17: Michael Byrne
Folder 18: Carnegie Regional Library
Folder 19: Carpenters and Painters (Rolczynski original file #11)
Folder 20: Centennial Tidbits
Folder 21: Chaboillez
Folder 22: Changes in Indian Life
Folder 23: Children
Folder 24: George Coffey
Folder 25: Commercial Club Organization and Activities (Rolczynski original file # 13)
Folder 26: Commercial Club Organization and Activities (Rolczynski original file # 13)
Folder 27: Commercial Club Organization and Activities (Rolczynski original file # 13)
Folder 28: Confectionaries and Candy Stores (Rolczynski original file # 14)
Folder 29: Fr. Considine
Folder 30: Arthur Griswold Crane
Folder 31: Creamery-Produce Operations (Rolczynski original file # 15)
Folder 32: Crops (Rolczynski original file # 16)
Folder 33: Dakota Herald 1883
Folder 34: Dakota Territory (Rolczynski original file # 17)
Folder 35: Dick Tracy
Folder 36: George Dike
Folder 37: Doctors and Dentists (Rolczynski original file # 18)
Folder 38: Dolls
Folder 39: Dray Lines/Transfer Lines (Rolczynski original file # 19)
Folder 40: DuVall Family
Folder 41: Early Area Life: Indians and Exploration (Rolczynski original file # 21)
Folder 42: Early Area Life: Indians and Exploration (Rolczynski original file # 21)
Folder 43: Early Drugstores (Rolczynski original file # 20)
Folder 44: Early Minto History

Box 3

Folder 1: Early Settlement (Rolczynski original file #22)
Folder 2: Early Settlement (Rolczynski original file #22)
Folder 3: Early Settlement (Rolczynski original file #22)
Folder 4: Early Settlement (Rolczynski original file #22)
Folder 5: Early Transportation (Rolczynski original file # 130)
Folder 6: Electricity
Folder 7: Entertainment and Amazement (Rolczynski original file # 23)
Folder 8: Entertainment and Amazement (Rolczynski original file # 23)
Folder 9: Essays on Minto and Walsh County
Folder 10: Dr. R.M. Evans and Family
Folder 11: Farm Machinery (Rolczynski original file # 24)
Folder 12: Farm Machinery Dealers, Owners, and Operators (Rolczynski original file # 25)
Folder 13: Farming (Rolczynski original file # 28)
Folder 14: Farming Awards (Rolczynski original file # 26)
Folder 15: Farming: Livestock and Poultry (Rolczynski original file # 27)
Folder 16: Fashion over the years (Rolczynski original file # 118)
Folder 17: Martin Federowicz
Folder 18: Fire Department (Rolczynski original file # 29)
Folder 19: Fires
Folder 20: Floods, Blizzards, etc. (Rolczynski original file # 103)
Folder 21: Flora and Fauna (Rolczynski original file # 31)
Folder 22: Flora and Fauna (Rolczynski original file # 31)
Folder 23: Flora and Fauna (Rolczynski original file # 31)
Folder 24: Food and Cooking
Folder 25: Forest River (Rolczynski original file # 32)
Folder 26: Forest River History
Folder 27: Forest River: Names, Early Exploration (Rolczynski original file # 33)
Folder 28: Fraternal Organizations (Rolczynski original file # 34)
Folder 29: Furniture Stores (Rolczynski original file # 35)
Folder 30: General/Grocery Store Ads (Rolczynski original file # 37)
Folder 31: General Stores (Rolczynski original file # 38)
Folder 32: A.S. Gilbertson and Family
Folder 33: Gillespie Family
Folder 34: William Graham
Folder 35: Grain Elevators (Rolczynski original file # 39)
Folder 36: Grain Price Trends (Rolczynski original file # 40)
Folder 37: Great Depression (Rolczynski original file #129)

Box 4

Folder 1: Ben Gudajtes
Folder 2: Mrs. John D. Haley
Folder 3: Hardware Stores Owners and Operators (Rolczynski original file # 42)
Folder 4: Dr. N.A. Hardy and Family
Folder 5: Harness Shops (Rolczynski original file # 43)
Folder 6: George P. Harvey
Folder 7: Haus-Community (Public and Private)
Folder 8: Harry Hewitt and Family
Folder 9: Lorne Hewitt and Family
Folder 10: John Hewitt
Folder 11: W.J. Hewitt and Family
Folder 12: History of Ancestors, M.G. Gillespie
Folder 13: Horse Racing (Rolczynski original file #46)
Folder 14: Horses and Oxen for Farm Operations (Rolczynski original file # 45)
Folder 15: Horses for Transportation (Rolczynski original file # 44)
Folder 16: Hotels
Folder 17: Household Chores (Rolczynski original file # 124)
Folder 18: Hudson's Bay
Folder 19: Patrick Leo Hughes
Folder 20: Ice Cream Parlor
Folder 21: Immigration
Folder 22: Inkster
Folder 23: Inventors-Patents
Folder 24: Jewelry Stores
Folder 25: Andy Jones
Folder 26: Michael Kearns Family
Folder 27: Kids Amusement and Games (Rolczynski original file # 119)
Folder 28: Kids Amusement and Games (Rolczynski original file # 119)
Folder 29: The King Concept, Wallace E. King
Folder 30: Ambrose Langowski
Folder 31: Lawrence Koehmstedt Family
Folder 32: Valentine Koehmstedt Family
Folder 33: Land Acquisition
Folder 34: Vincent Langowski and Family
Folder 35: Lawyers
Folder 36: James Lindly
Folder 37: Livery Stables (Rolczynski original file #53)
Folder 38: Lumber Yards
Folder 39: John Wesley Major Family
Folder 40: Materials from Dorothy Spelhaug
Folder 41: John McGlinch and Family
Folder 42: Neil McIntyre
Folder 43: A.E. McKay and Family
Folder 44: Migrants (Rolczynski original file # 133)
Folder 45: Millinery
Folder 46: Archibald F. Miller, Sr.
Folder 47: A.J. and Guy Miller
Folder 48: John Miller
Folder 49: The Mint 1962, Minto High School Yearbook
Folder 50: 1981 Minto All-School Reunion Booklet
Folder 51: Minto Baseball (Rolczynski original file # 122)
Folder 52: Minto Centennial

Box 5

Folder 1: Minto City Hall
Folder 2: Minto Diamond Jubilee
Folder 3: Minto Government: Village to City
Folder 4: Minto High School Graduation Exercises (Rolczynski original file # 120)
Folder 5: Minto Journal (Rolczynski original file #71)
Folder 6: Minto Journal: Ads and Cartoons
Folder 7: Minto Opera House Uses and Attractions (Rolczynski original file # 73)
Folder 8: Minto Park Facilities: Land Acquisitions and Buildings (Rolczynski original file # 74)
Folder 9: Minto Park Festivities (Rolczynski original file # 75)
Folder 10: Minto Park Pavilion (Rolczynski original file # 76)
Folder 11: Minto People in Government (Rolczynski original file # 77)
Folder 12: Minto Police Staff and Activities (Rolczynski original file # 78)
Folder 13: Minto Post Office General History (Rolczynski original file # 79)
Folder 14: Minto Public Schools (Rolczynski original file # 83)
Folder 15: Minto Public Schools: Outstanding Graduates (Rolczynski original file # 84)
Folder 16: Minto Public School Plays (Rolczynski original file #123)
Folder 17: Minto Public Works Projects (Rolczynski original file # 85)
Folder 18: Minto Public Works Projects (Rolczynski original file # 85)
Folder 19: Minto Streets and Roads (Rolczynski original file # 106)
Folder 20: Minto Townsite Development
Folder 21: Minto in 1882
Folder 22: Dan Moga Family
Folder 23: Mrs. E.S. Mott
Folder 24: Move to New Townsite (Rolczynski original file #72)
Folder 25: Movies (Rolczynski original file # 86)
Folder 26: Musical Organizations (Rolczynski original file # 87)
Folder 27: B.J. Narloch and Family
Folder 28: North Dakota History
Folder 29: North Dakota Historical Society
Folder 30: North Dakota: A Last Frontier

Box 6

Folder 1: Old Crossing Celebration
Folder 2: Old Minto-Sandy's Corner Location (Rolczynski original file # 88)
Folder 3: Kay Orchitrow
Folder 4: Order of Pythias (Rolczynski original file #94)
Folder 5: Origin of Minto Name (Rolczynski original file # 131)
Folder 6: Original Art
Folder 7: Anton Osowski and Family
Folder 8: Alan Patterson Family
Folder 9: Petrified Man Case: Holmes vs. McPharren (Rolczynski original file # 98a)
Folder 10: W.R. (Bill Bob) Phelps
Folder 11: Photographers and Gallery Use (Rolczynski original file # 89)
Folder 12: Poems
Folder 13: Polish in Minto
Folder 14: Pool Halls (Rolczynski original file #90)
Folder 15: Potato Farming in Minto Area (Rolczynski original file # 91)
Folder 16: Potato Farming in Minto Area (Rolczynski original file # 91)
Folder 17: Presbyterian Church Activities (Rolczynski original file # 92)
Folder 18: Presbyterian Church History (Rolczynski original file # 93)
Folder 19: Progress 1979
Folder 20: Progress 1979
Folder 21: Progress 1979
Folder 22: Railroads (Rolczynski original file #95)
Folder 23: Red River Development
Folder 24: Red River Valley Fur Trade
Folder 25: Religious Order Followers: Priests, Nuns, Missionaries (Rolczynski original file # 96)
Folder 26: Restaurants and Cafes (Rolczynski original file # 97)
Folder 27: H.A. Robinson
Folder 28: Rolczynski Articles
Folder 29: Leon Rolczynski and Family
Folder 30: John Rolczynski Family
Folder 31: Roller Mill (Rolczynski original file # 98)
Folder 32: Peter Rose and Family
Folder 33: Sylvester Rose
Folder 34: Sacred Heart Church History (Rolczynski original file # 100)
Folder 35: Sacred Heart Church History (Rolczynski original file # 100)
Folder 36: Sacred Heart Church Activities (Rolczynski original file # 99)

Box 7

Folder 1: Sanborn Maps of Minto
Folder 2: Scotch Festivities (Rolczynski original file # 121)
Folder 3: Selkirk County
Folder 4: Service Stations (Rolczynski original file # 36)
Folder 5: Shoe and Boot Shops (Rolczynski original file # 101)
Folder 6: Dexter Sitzer Family
Folder 7: Sowka Family
Folder 8: Speculators/Investors
Folder 9: Sports (Rolczynski original file # 102)
Folder 10: John J. Sprafka and Family
Folder 11: St. Patrick's Church Activities (Rolczynski original file # 104)
Folder 12: St. Patrick's Church History (Rolczynski original file # 105)
Folder 13: St. Patrick's Church History (Rolczynski original file # 105)
Folder 14: Stagecoach
Folder 15: Mrs. Jack Stewart
Folder 16: James Donald Stewart
Folder 17: The Story Behind the Dikes, John Rolczynski
Folder 18: Street Departments (Rolczynski original file #106)
Folder 19: Sugar Beets
Folder 20: Robert Szczys Family
Folder 21: Tailors and Cleaners (Rolczynski original file #109)
Folder 22: Telephone and Telegraph (Rolczynski original file # 110)
Folder 23: Alexander Thomson
Folder 24: Charles Thomson and Family
Folder 25: David Thompson-Trading Post and Salt Factory
Folder 26: M.S. Titus and Family
Folder 27: Tobacco and Cigar Factory (Rolczynski original file # 12)
Folder 28: Tow Mill (Rolczynski original file # 111)
Folder 29: Tractors (Rolczynski original file # 112)
Folder 30: Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Folder 31: James Twamley Family
Folder 32: UFO's
Folder 33: UND
Folder 34: UND
Folder 35: Undertakers and Funeral Directors (Rolczynski original file # 113)
Folder 36: Charles D. Vernon Family
Folder 37: Hazel "Gypsy" Vernon
Folder 38: Voss History
Folder 39: H.H. Walker Family
Folder 40: George H. Walsh
Folder 41: Walsh County
Folder 42: Walsh County Development (Rolczynski original file # 115)
Folder 43: Walsh County History (Rolczynski original file # 114)
Folder 44: Walsh County in the World War, no author
Folder 45: Frederick C. Walther
Folder 46: Max Warczak Family
Folder 47: Warsaw Church (Rolczynski original file # 131)
Folder 48: Warsaw School
Folder 49: Waterworks and Sewer System (Rolczynski original file # 115)
Folder 50: R.B. Welch Family
Folder 51: Julius Wirkus
Folder 52: Women's Organizations (Rolczynski original file # 116)
Folder 53: World War I
Folder 54: World War II
Folder 55: Joe Wysocki
Folder 56: Zuelsdorf Family
Folder 57: 1st ND Company C (Rolczynski original file # 126)

Box 12

Microfilm Reel 5715: The Minto Journal: 1905-1908 (Missing Issues: September 19, 1907; November 7, 1908; October 15, 1908)
Microfilm Reel 5716: The Minto Journal: 1909-1912
Microfilm Reel 5717: The Minto Journal: 1913-1915 (Missing Issues: January 2, 1913; June 12, 1913)
Microfilm Reel 5718: The Minto Journal: 1915-1918 (Missing Issues: January 4, 1917; February-August 23, 1917)
Microfilm Reel 5719: The Minto Journal: 1919-1921 (Missing Issue: Sept. 8, 1920)
Microfilm Reel 5720: The Minto Journal: 1921-1923 (Missing Issue: August 9, 1923)
Microfilm Reel 5721: The Minto Journal: 1924-1926
Microfilm Reel 5722: The Minto Journal: 1926-1929 (March 24, 1927; October 25, 1928)
Microfilm Reel 5723: The Minto Journal: 1929-1932
Microfilm Reel 5724: The Minto Journal: 1932-1934
Microfilm Reel 5725: The Minto Journal: 1935-1937
Microfilm Reel 5726: The Minto Journal: 1937-1940
Microfilm Reel 5727: The Minto Journal: 1940-1942

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