Photograph Collection Featuring Snapshots of Everyday Life Acquired by Minnesota Historical Society

ST. PAUL, Minn (September 27, 2024) – Thousands of photographs that capture a view of community life in Minnesota will be available to the public, following the acquisition by the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS). The archive of photographs and related material are by artist, writer, educator, and photographer Wing Young Huie. 

The first year’s material, 1,000 images and supporting material, is available in the searchable Collections Online database and the Gale Family Library. The archive of 5,000 photographs and related material will become publicly available over the next five years.

“For the Minnesota Historical Society to acquire my collection is a capstone and legacy of my career,” said Wing Young Huie. “I am truly honored and grateful that my photographs, which reflect the everyday lives of Minnesotans and beyond, will be accessible to researchers, educators, the general public, and for the tens of thousands of people in the photographs.”

MNHS has long been a supporter of Wing Young Huie’s work. In 1993, he was the recipient of an MNHS research grant. MNHS Press has published four of his books, and he has authored articles for Minnesota History magazine. His exhibit, Chinese-ness: The Meanings of Identity and the Nature of Belonging, was exhibited in the Irvine Gallery at the Minnesota History Center. Wing Young Huie was also a featured photographer in the Minnesota 2000 Photo Documentary Project, which is part of the permanent photograph collection.

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.

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