How the Cook County Historical Society was Founded

In our most recent Overlook, we shared the story of how the Cook County Historical Society was founded. Here is the article from the Winter 2025 issue, written by Laura Durenberger-Grunow, CCHS Community Engagement Manager. (The Overlook is our twice-yearly newsletter that is sent via postal mail or email to CCHS members. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, click here.)

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Old Settlers' Clubs emerged across Minnesota as a means for early white settlers to share their experiences and commemorate their shared journey. Cook County was no exception.

While specific details regarding Cook County's Old Settlers' Club are scarce, we do know that the group began some of the historical work in the county. The group would meet yearly for an outdoor picnic or at the courthouse, and the event consisted of a presentation and speeches, followed by lunch. While these clubs provided opportunities for community and preserving personal narratives, they often lacked a consistent approach to historical documentation. Additionally, the clubs frequently excluded the perspectives of Indigenous populations.

As the popularity of the informal Old Settlers’ Clubs grew, so did the interest in creating more official historic preservation efforts. The Arrowhead region of Minnesota was influenced by a man named William E. Culkin of Duluth, MN, to expand historical record-keeping through the creation and designation of official county historical societies.

Starting in 1886, Culkin served as the county attorney for Wright County in Minnesota. In 1888, Culkin was a Republican Presidential Elector (an electoral college member) and brought the Minnesota vote to Washington. Between 1895 and 1898, he would go on to serve as a member of the State Legislature representing Sherburne and Wright Counties, before eventually becoming the Register of the U.S. Land Office in Duluth.

His time as Register aligned with a period when government lands quickly changed ownership, helping him build relationships with members of early white settler families.

Culkin had an interest in natural history and geology, as well as general historical knowledge of the area.

By 1922, he was appointed as the first president of the newly-formed St. Louis County Historical Society. For a brief time in the 1920s, he was a staff member of what is now known as the Minnesota Historical Society, which was founded in 1849 and played an essential role in encouraging county and other local historical societies to form, providing resources and guidance.

There is not much information available on when Culkin began assisting other counties in forming official historical societies, but his passion for the cause, however, is clear. “It is agreed that counties should preserve their local history,” he quipped in the September 1926 issue of Minnesota History, a quarterly publication published by the Minnesota Historical Society. In that publication, Culkin wrote a nine-page article titled Getting a County Historical Society Started.

His advice on how to start a historical society? “Go ahead and organize it.” He continued on by saying “the people of a community are naturally interested in its history and can be depended upon to support the work.”

But why historical societies at the county level specifcially? According to Culkin, “The people of a county have common institutions, know one another, are closely associated, have a local patriotism and politics, and because sources of supply and support are easy to organize under county auspices. The county is a historical center because it is a legal and social center.”

At some point, we know that Culkin became connected to Cook County, and was a prominent figure in officially organizing the historical society on October 28, 1925. The goal or mission of the society was (and continues to be), “For the purpose of “the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the county and the state of MN.”

The founding ceremony was held at the schoolhouse and included guests such as Culkin & Judge Fesler of Duluth, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Fradenburg, Mr. and Mrs. Stickney, and W. C. Smith from Schroeder, and others.

The first task on that day in October was to appoint a nominating committee of five, which would consist of Chas. J. Johnson, F.B. Hicks, S.C. Murphy, W.C. Smith, and William Clinch.

The nominating committee then appointed the following officers:

President: G. H. Durfee, VP: Matt Johson, Secretary: Geo. Leng, Treasurer: Mrs. P. E. Alm, Corresponding secretaries including Mrs. H. T. Stickney, Mrs. Homer Maggie, Mrs. E. M. McLean, J.A. Blackwell, and Mrs. Andrew Hedstrom. Directors included Geo H. Mayhew, Hans Gilberton, W. C. Smith, Martin Jacobson, and F.A. Andert.

Culkin not only assisted county’s in organizing their own historical societies, but he also provided guidance in how one should be operated once estalished. In Getting a Historical Society Started, Culkin outlined guidelines to help organizations succeed.

First, he charged societies to “trace county history as far back as they can” and prepare a chronology. He further advised them to think broadly, considering more than human stories: “They should not fail to find out what there is to be found out about county geology, especially if this geologic history has items of special interest,” he wrote. “The facts about the flora and fauna of the region should be recorded.” Like the Old Settlers Clubs, Culkin was interested in the stories of white settlers and their national origins, but also advised a

“sketch” of Indigenous life. Specifically, “Records should be preserved of the quiet and undramatic development of the community as well as of stirring events such as wars, uprisings, conflagrations, and forest or prairie fires.”

Lastly, Culkin made a suggestion critical to the establishment of an archive and building of a collection. “To crown all, a system of recording not only the past but also the present doings of the people should be developed.”

The mission of the Cook County Historical Society has remained the same since that date in October 1925, when Culkin and the other newly appointed officers and members began the organization. Acknowledging that the roots of local history organizations focused primarily on white settler experiences, often excluding Indigenous perspectives and participation, today's Historical Society is committed to creating an accurate and inclusive history of Cook County and all of its inhabitants. We have worked to collect stories of everyday life, as well as notable events that have taken place in Cook County and Grand Portage.

Over the past 100 years, we have preserved over 35,000 photographs and negatives, 5400 historic objects, more than 10,000 archival documents, 1767 library items, and close to 400 works of art, in addition to the five historic sites throughout the area. These accomplishments were made possible through the support of countless dedicated members, volunteers, staff, board members, and community partners. We aim to continue sharing these stories and artifacts to keep the history of the area alive for the next 100 years, and we invite you to join us.