Minneapolis Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks

Collection

Identifier: M/A 0402

Staff Only

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Description of Contents

Print photographs and scrapbooks documenting Minneapolis Fire Department activities from the 1870s to 1970s. Most photos show fires in progress, but other photos include fire department staff and Miss Flame contestants. The three scrapbooks include photographs, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera. The bulk of materials are from the 1950s-1970s.

Dates

1870s-1977
Majority of material found within 1950 - 1970

Creator

Minneapolis (Minn.) -- Fire department (Organization)

Access Restrictions

The physical collection is available for use in Special Collections during the department’s open hours. Photographs from this collection are available in the Minneapolis Fire Department Photographs in the Hennepin County Library Digital Collections.

History

The Minneapolis Fire Department was founded as a paid fire fighting force in 1879. By the 1954, the city had 574 fire fighters.

From at least the 1940s to 1970s, the fire department sponsored an annual "Miss Flame" competition. Chosen from city residents, Miss Flame served as an ambassador for city fire prevention campaigns. She was also an automatic candidate to be crowned Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes.