Curt Brown
Columnist
Minnesota HistoryCurt Brown is a former reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune who writes regularly about Minnesota history.
Latest from Curt Brown
Bemidji
Minnesota History: Ad man turned Paul Bunyan into a folklore icon
Still largely unknown 66 years after his death, William Laughead helped popularize perhaps the biggest name in American folklore.
October 19, 2024
St. Paul
Minnesota History: James Griffin used persistence to blaze a trail for St. Paul’s Black police officers
Said Griffin, namesake of Central High’s stadium and the St. Paul police headquarters: “I had to fight for everything I got.”
October 5, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Minnesota History: For Granite Falls doctor who tested thousands of kids for TB, new recognition is long overdue
Kathleen Jordan battled tuberculosis in Minnesota children with energy and guile.
September 21, 2024
Greater Minnesota
Minnesota History: A New Ulm baker wearing a blanket fell to friendly fire in the U.S.-Dakota War
Jacob Castor was accidentally shot by fellow settlers who “mistook him for an Indian.”
September 7, 2024
Twin Cities
Minnesota History: Columbia Heights memorial will honor fallen WWII airman 80 years after his death
“Biggest thing we ever did before he went in was a trip to Chicago in 1937 to see our first baseball game and ride on the El,” his brother said.
August 24, 2024
Rochester
Minnesota History: Mayo Clinic physician-scientist forged cardiovascular breakthroughs in flight, space
Dr. Earl Wood led a brilliant career at Mayo, stretching from World War II into the 1980s.
August 10, 2024
Columns
Baseball historians remember career of legendary Minnesota pitcher Walter Ball
He was good enough to play in the majors, historians say, if there hadn’t been a color line.
July 27, 2024
Local
Vaudevillians played musical chairs, personally and professionally, in 1930s Winona
A new book by a retired Winona music teacher tells the tale of four musicians whose lives became intertwined in surprising ways.
July 13, 2024
Twin Cities
Minnesota History: Columbia Heights memorial will honor fallen WWII airman 80 years after his death
“Biggest thing we ever did before he went in was a trip to Chicago in 1937 to see our first baseball game and ride on the El,” his brother said.
August 24, 2024
Rochester
Minnesota History: Mayo Clinic physician-scientist forged cardiovascular breakthroughs in flight, space
Dr. Earl Wood led a brilliant career at Mayo, stretching from World War II into the 1980s.
August 10, 2024
Columns
Baseball historians remember career of legendary Minnesota pitcher Walter Ball
He was good enough to play in the majors, historians say, if there hadn’t been a color line.
July 27, 2024
Local
Vaudevillians played musical chairs, personally and professionally, in 1930s Winona
A new book by a retired Winona music teacher tells the tale of four musicians whose lives became intertwined in surprising ways.
July 13, 2024