Paj ndau (paj ntaub) or flower cloth, a traditional Hmong decorative textile.  The cotton cloth is square-shaped, reverse-appliqued and hand-embroidered.  Made in Saint Paul, Minnesota during the 1980s.

For details, view the paj ndau in our online collections database.

Hat made and worn by Maurice Carlton at special events hosted by the Inner City Youth League of Saint Paul, Minnesota in the 1980s. The wide-brimmed, boater-style hat has a red vinyl phonograph record for a crown, black cardboard sides, and a black vinyl record for a brim. Its top has a paper disc with a black and white photograph of the maker wearing one of his art hats, as well as a photo of the Youth League building. The sides of the hat have cut-out black and white photographs of children playing musical instruments. There is a band of green plastic tape around the top edge and diagonal stripes of red, green and black tape next to the brim. The hat’s interior is corrugated cardboard.

For details, view the hat in our online collections database.

45 rpm (7-inch) vinyl record picture sleeve of Prince’s “U Got the Look” backed with “Housequake.”  The single was released in 1987 on Prince’s Paisley Park imprint label and distributed through Warner Brothers Records.  ”U Got the Look” is the first track on the second disc of Prince’s double album “Sign ‘☮’ the Times.”

Learn more:

• Purple Rain and First Avenue
• Prince and the Revolution t-shirt
• Prince’s Purple Rain costume

Key to the City of Odin, Minnesota, presented to Ambassador Bruce Laingen on Febuary 14, 1981. Laingen, a native of Odin, was one of 52 United States citizens held in the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-1981. The key was presented to Laingen shortly after his release on January 20, 1981.

Learn More:

• Bruce Laingen papers

Rectangular 12-ounce tin bank with rounded corners.  Blue label reads “SPAM” with an illustration of a pork loaf dotted with cloves.  The reverse includes the Hormel trademark.  The lid has a horizontal slit in which to insert coins and reads “New Austin, MN Plant Dedication and Tour September 12, 1982.”  There is a can-opening tool affixed to the bottom of the tin.

Plastic articulated Renegade Robot Monster named Creepy (TM) from the GoBots series by Tonka.  The toy comes with an instruction sheet for changing the “fearsome creature” from “monster-robot to monster-vehicle.”  As a “weird intermingling of metallic and living parts,” it is recommended for children over 5 years of age.  Circa 1987.

In-flight drink kit distributed to the passengers of Republic Airlines.  The kit consists of Heinz apple juice, Smirnoff vodka, and a plastic mug.  The mug bears Republic Airlines’ flying duck logo and reads, “The Northern Light / Smirnoff & Apple Juice to Start the Apres Right / Smirnoff”.  Dates of use unknown, but limited to the years 1979-1986, when Republic Airlines was in operation.

Baseball used in the last Minnesota Twins game played at Metropolitan Stadium on September 30, 1981.

Lake Street by Larry Welo
Etching
AV1994.183.3

Lawrence (Larry) Anton Welo was born in 1951 and grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota. He worked professionally producing fine art prints in Minneapolis from the mid-1970’s until the mid-1990’s when he relocated to southern Wisconsin. This etching of Lake Street was done in 1982. At upper right is the Midtown Exchange building, formerly the Sears, Roebuck and Company Mail-Order Warehouse and Retail Store.

Sleeveless lilac cotton/polyester t-shirt with ‘Prince’ and black and white doves on front, ‘Prince/and/the Revolution/World Tour 1984-85′ in purple and yellow lettering on back. Created by Sneakers, made in U.S.A., 1984.