The Northfield History Collaborative preserves and makes accessible digital versions of records of the history of the Northfield, Minn., area.
The NHC was established in 2007 as a forum for local libraries, archives, museums, and others to collaborate in identifying, describing, digitizing, and making accessible materials related to the history of Northfield. We share metadata standards, a technical platform, a web-based portal, and, most importantly, a commitment to work toward providing comprehensive access to the records of Northfield history.
Our initial foci included in this portal related to two themes: Education in Northfield and the James-Younger Gang Bank Raid, but we have since broadened our collection to include general topics in Northfield history. We hope you find useful the manuscripts, photographs, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, audio recordings, and books in this growing collection.
We welcome questions, suggestions, and new partners in this endeavor.
As in most communities, responsibility for collecting and curating local history is scattered among multiple institutions – libraries, historical societies, governmental agencies, cultural organizations, churches, etc. without established mechanisms for sustained coordination and cooperation in making these records accessible.
In 2007 a group of librarians and archivists in the Northfield area began meeting to address this problem by developing a set of relationships, policies, and an infrastructure to provide a single portal for access to Northfield area history. This founding group created what is now known as the Northfield History Collaborative (NHC).
From 2007 to 2011, staff from the four founding organizations – the Northfield Historical Society, the Rice County Historical Society, the Northfield Public Library and Carleton College — worked together to provide access to books, manuscripts, photographs, institutional records, and other materials relevant to the history of the community. Initial subjects included education in Northfield and the 1876 attempted bank raid by the James-Younger Gang.
In 2011, membership expanded to include First National Bank of Northfield, KYMN Radio, Northfield Arts Guild (NAG), Northfield Hospital, Northfield News, St. Johns Lutheran Church, and St. Olaf College. Their archives are now part of the collection, with more partners expected in the future.
This project has been supported by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through a vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008, administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.
For general inquiries about the Northfield History Collaborative, contact Stephanie Hess at 507-645-9268 or use our online contact form.
For specific questions:
All material on this website is protected by copyright. Please contact us for permission before using content.
Learn about the founding of Northfield in 1855 by John W. North and its transformation into a center for agriculture and education. Discover how the presence of Carleton College and St. Olaf College has shaped the cultural and intellectual landscape of the city.
Visit the Northfield-Rice County Digital History Collection to browse thousands of documents, photographs, and articles from local archives. This collection is a rich resource for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the diverse heritage of Northfield.
The Northfield Historical Society also provides detailed resources, exhibits, and tours related to the infamous 1876 James-Younger Gang bank raid and other key historical events.