This week in state history

Historic Minnesota events with anniversaries this coming week.

Nov. 1

1849 The legislature establishes funding for the territory’s public schools. By decree of the Northwest Ordinance, one section in each township had been set aside to support a school, and in Minnesota these lands are not sold for short-term cash but are rented out to provide a steady and long-term cash flow. Martin McLeod authored the bill, which Territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey would consider his administration’s most important piece of legislation.

Nov. 2

1948 Hubert H. Humphrey wins Minnesota’s race for U.S. Senate. During three consecutive terms he supports a Medicare bill, a nuclear test ban treaty, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He became President Lyndon Johnson’s vice president in 1965. After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1968, he returned to the Senate in 1970 and continued to serve until his death in 1978.

Nov. 3

1908 Bronislav “Bronko” Nagurski is born in Ontario. In 1929 he would be named All-American as both defense tackle and offensive fullback for the Gophers, the only player to be named All-American for two positions in the same year. He would later play for the Chicago Bears football team and perform as a professional wrestler. After his retirement from sports he would operate a service station in his hometown, International Falls.

1989 The Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team plays its first regular season game, losing to the Seattle Supersonics 106-94.

Nov. 5

1875 Suffrage is extended to women in Minnesota elections pertaining to schools. Women would not earn the right to vote in every election until 1919.

Nov. 7

1885 The steamer Algoma wrecks on Isle Royale, killing nearly 50 passengers.

This column is derived from MNopedia, an online project that has a “This Day in Minnesota History” feature on its website, mnopedia.org.

Developed by the Minnesota Historical Society and its partners, it is a free resource about state history.