A trunk from World War I. The top of the lid is painted with the words “NO 16 / SGT ICL ERNEST B.L.ECKBERG / DIVISION DET / NO16 HQRS. 79 DIV” in black. On the left side there is a rectangular sheet of aged-yellow paper with a handwritten label that reads “E.B.L. Eckberg / Micalleh, Minn.”

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this trunk in our collections database.

A United States Navy pay corps lieutenant’s bluish black wool flannel full dress uniform cutaway tail coat. Used in 1918.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this coat in our collections database.

A French armed forces Model 1915 Chauchat 8 mm Light Machine Gun C.S.R.G. with a detachable crescent-shaped magazine that hold twenty rounds in line. The buttstock, scales for the pistol grip, and turned handle between the trigger and magazine are all walnut. Barrel housing has air-cooling perforations and the muzzle has a flash suppressor. Gun is mounted with a folding bipod that is painted olive drab; other metal parts are painted white. Left side of frame has two sling swivels. Rear of receiver and left side of frame are stamped “C.R.S.G. No. 148190″. From World War I.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this machine gun in our collections database.

United States Army aviator’s non-regulation “wings” badge (.1) in box (.2). The wings are hand-made of cast silver with a pin fastener on the back, which is stamped “STERLING / WING”. The box exterior is black leather, with black velvet interior. Worn by Major Harold Melville Clark of Saint Paul, Minnesota, for whom Clark Field in Luzon, Philippines is named. Circa 1918.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view these wings in our collections database.

The NPL practically invented grass roots organizing, and would support candidates from either party who supported its platform (hence “nonpartisan”). The League advocated for economic reforms to help farmers who were being exploited by business interests, such as grain elevators, stockyards, and other middlemen. “We’ll stick” was the group’s rallying cry, as seen on the pennant below.

The NPL was in operation in 13 states as well as Canada, but it met with its greatest success in North Dakota and Minnesota. This is an image of Minnesota members in 1917.

Pamphlets and newspapers played a hugely important role in the development of the movement, leading to corresponding anti-NPL pamphlets. While not as immediate as our instant commentaries of today, these pamphlets were a quick way to make arguments heard. The rise of the NPL was also one of the earliest political movements to be heavily photographed; seen here are members with The Nonpartisan Leader.

World War I brought about suspicions of the potentially socialist nature of the NPL, which was followed by prosperity in the 1920s for farmers. These two occurrences took away much of the need for the NPL. It eventually developed into the Farmer-Labor party in Minnesota, which later merged with the Democrats. The Democratic Party in Minnesota is still known as the DFL.

Learn more at the Minnesota Historical Society Research Guides and MNopedia!

Come see NPL materials on display in the Library Lobby, on view until mid-January!

Lori Williamson, Acquisitions & Outreach Coordinator

A brass matchbox holder depicting the applied insignia of Imperial Germany including the inscription “GOTT MIT UNS” (God with us). This military souvenir was collected by a Sergeant with the 45th Engineers while serving in France during World War I.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this matchbox in our collections database.

A model of an amphibious tank made of light-weight metal, possibly tin cans, and painted olive drab. The inscription reads “Made in 72 Camp”, and it features a 12-pointed star in white with red circle. Made around 1918.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this toy in our collections database.

A United States Army Model 1918 trench knife features a brass knuckle handle with individual finger loops and a double-edged dagger blade. Knives like this were used during World War I for close fighting in trenches.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this knife in our collections database.

Dark blue and gold felt pennant of the U.S.S. Maumee (AO-2), which was commissioned in 1916 and refueled destroyers at sea during World War I. The pennant reads “U S N [United States Navy] / U.S.S. MAUMEE”.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this pennant in our collections database.

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A pair of non-regulation United States Army officer’s leather calf-length boots worn by Dr. James Martineau of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. The pull-on type boots are equipped with U.S. Army-type German silver (nickel alloy) jack spurs.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view these boots in our collections database.

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An aviator’s brown wool knit hood. The hood covers the whole head and neck except for the face, and is made in two pieces sewn together along the midline. It was worn in France by First Lieutenant David H. Backus, who served as a pilot with both the French Lafayette Escadrille, and the 49th U.S. Aero Squadron during World War I.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this hood in our collections database.

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United States Army cavalry enlisted soldier’s dress uniform worn by Private Oscar V. Challander of the 12th Cavalry, Company H. The gold trimmed jacket is draped with a gold aiguillette, has gilt brass General Service buttons and a standing band collar with gilt brass crossed sabers pins at either side with “12″ and “H” in the angles.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this jacket in our collections database.

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United States Navy first class engineman’s dress blue cap that was worn by Seth A. Brown of Saint Paul, Minnesota, who served on the Pacific fleet tug USS Pinola (AT-33) after World War I. The cap (.C) has a disc-shaped crown on a standing band that is faced with black ribbon and embroidered “U.S.S. PINOLA” in gold. Cap is lined with blue silk inked “S.A. BROWN”.

For more information or to purchase a photograph of this item, view this cap and the rest of Brown’s uniform in our collections database.

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World War I United States Ambulance Corps pinstriped wool baseball uniform, consisting of a jersey and trousers. The jersey reads “AMBULANCE / USA” across the breast. The uniform was worn by Alva Asher, who enlisted in Proctor, Minnesota.

For details, view this uniform in our collections database.

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Dark blue and gold felt pennant of the U.S.S. Maumee (AO-2), which was commissioned in 1916 and refueled destroyers at sea during World War I. The pennant reads “U S N [United States Navy] / U.S.S. MAUMEE”.

For details, view this pennant in our collections database.

(Note: The comments section has been temporarily disabled while we upgrade the website. You can always leave comments on our Flickr Photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnesotahistoricalsociety/)

United States Army trench shovel with a pointed steel blade and a “T” shaped wood handle secured by riveted steel straps. The shovel is stamped “U.S.” on the blade strap and handle and has the remains of olive drab and reddish paint. Scratched on the blade is “ARGONE [sic] FOREST / NOVEMBER / 15th / 1918″. Stamped on the back of the handle strap is “370 CO A”. The 370th United States Infantry (part of the 93rd Division), was made up of African American troops from Illinois and fought under French command during World War I.

For details, view this shovel in our collections database.

A plaster cast of a bear painted a copper color, made as an occupational therapy project by Erminio Belletinio of Saint Louis, Missouri, while at the U.S. 29th General Hospital, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa World War I. Belletinio was a member of the U.S. Army 30th Division, 115th Field Artillery, Battery B.