There are three collections which hold records on leprosy in Minnesota in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Norwegian connection is of special interest here.
1.Bracken, H. M. (Henry Martyn), (1854-1938), Henry M. Bracken articles, (1895-1932)
Typescript articles by Bracken, executive officer of the Minnesota State Board of Health. Includes articles on smallpox, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever in Minnesota; leprosy in the United States, especially in Minnesota and the northwest; medical inspection in schools; sewage disposal; Minnesota health legislation (1909) relative to sanitary problems; and various phases of public hygiene. There are also a comprehensive history of public health work in Minnesota (1872-1922), based on minutes of the State Board of Health; and a report on sanitary problems studied on a trip to Europe (1910). (A printed version of this catalogue record is available in the repository; filed as FRA425/.B797. Minnesota Historical Society See Manuscripts Notebooks: Call #: FRA425/.B797)
2. Minnesota. Dept. of Health. Correspondence regarding leprosy, 1887-1894. (5 folders in partial box.)
Letters, primarily from physicians and addressed mainly to Franklin Staples and Charles N. Hewitt, president and secretary of the State Board of Health, regarding suspected incidences of leprosy in Minnesota and the condition of the state’s approximately 20 known people with leprosy. The principal correspondent is Chr. Gronvold of Norway, Minnesota, who was charged with monitoring and reporting on the disease. His annual reports on leprosy in Minnesota, periodic reports of investigations, occasional detailed questionnaires on individual cases, and lists of known those with the disease in the state are included in the correspondence.
The board was also concerned with halting the arrival of new lepers [sic] into Minnesota, and made a special effort to trace all rumors about new cases and to monitor the movements of those who were known to have the disease or suspected to be affected. Since many had contracted the disease in Norway before emigrating from that country, the file also includes some translations of or extracts from Norwegian professional literature and correspondence. (Series description available in repository; filed under Health Department.)
3. Minnesota. Dept. of Health. Reports and miscellaneous records, 1872-1972.
The includes field investigation and inspection reports concerning communicable diseases (particularly smallpox) and amongst these leprosy is included. (Box contents list available in repository; filed under Health Department.)
Entry made December 6, 2005