St. Cloud State University Archives

05/31/2026

Our friends at the Minnesota Digital Library held a creative writing contest over the past year. Someone wrote a fictional story based on one of our World War II oral histories! Terrific!

Most of the creative stories submitted for MDL’s creative writing contest were inspired by historical photographs or documents, but today’s featured story was based on the oral history interview of a World War II veteran. Neill Torssell was shot down in Italy in 1943 and later escaped from a POW camp there. Local writer Elvis Leighton imagined an interaction that Neill could have had as he traveled secretly across the countryside in his story “The Man Who Counted.” Read an excerpt below:

“The old man is rocking. Back and forth, back and forth, fingers working over beads like worry stones, his mouth moving around the same sounds over and over. Santa Maria, Madre di Dio. Again. Santa Maria, Madre di Dio. Again.

I think: He's lost it. Shell-shocked, simple, or both.

My hands won't stop shaking. Three hours ago, I was hiding in a ravine. Two days ago, I was in a cell with a bucket that hadn't been emptied since Mussolini wore diapers. A week ago, I was twenty-two thousand feet over Sicily watching my burning plane loop once, then fall. The top turret gunner pushed me toward the door. I don't know if he made it out.

The old man rocks. The beads click. Santa Maria…”

Read the full story in our creative writing showcase: https://collection.mndigital.org/exhibits/creative-writing-2025-26/feature/the-man-who-counted

And listen to the full interview in MDL, shared with us by the St. Cloud State University Archives: https://collection.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:8610

05/07/2026

The final Throwback Thursday of the academic year!

50 years ago on May 5, 1976, the Administrative Services Building was dedicated. Ceremonies included a time capsule set inside the building’s cornerstone. Here St. Cloud State president Charles Graham handles the time capsule and a contemporary view of the building.

See you in August!

05/05/2026

Today we are highlighting a 3D object from the William Lindgren Asian Art Collection.

Dating to the late 19th century, this Chinese porcelain crackle vase represents an idealized image of a scholar’s studio filled with rare objects for inspiration.

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/chinese-porcelain-crackle-vase-462d30c3e9c54625a41c6bd38b1992fd

04/30/2026

Throwback Thursday!

On April 27, 1946, St. Cloud State president George Selke, who returned to campus a month earlier after three years leave due to World War II, resigned. Dudley Brainard became acting president.

A 1913 St. Cloud State alum, Selke was appointed in 1927 to serve as the school’s 10th president. During World War II, Selke served as a “monuments man” to help save the cultural history of Europe.

04/27/2026

University Archives received word that emeritus Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Hal Lieberman passed away in early April. Born in 1922, Hal was 104 years old. He arrived on campus in 1956 and retired in 1985.

Hal was seen on campus periodically and often showed up in Archives for a chat. In late 2016, University Archivist Tom Steman did an oral history with him, discussing his life and getting his take on St. Cloud State while it was still a sleepy teachers college:

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scsu_oh/4/

He was still sharp and had much wit! You will be missed! Take care of yourself, my friend!

The image is of Hal from 1969.

04/23/2026

Throwback Thursday!

On April 25, 1987, Herb Brooks left St. Cloud State after one season to coach the NHL's Minnesota North Stars. Brooks compiled a record of 25 wins, 10 losses, and 1 tie coaching the 1986/87 men’s hockey team.

Brooks was critical in lobbying the 1987 Minnesota state legislature for an appropriation to build the National Hockey Center - and were successful. In addition, Brooks paved the way for St. Cloud State hockey to jump to Division I competition starting with the 1987/88 season.

An image of Herb Brooks as St. Cloud State's men's hockey coach in November 1986.

04/21/2026

Last Wednesday, April 15, the home at 611 5th Avenue South was heavily damaged due to a fire. Luckily, those living in the home escaped and with minor injuries.

The home has connections to campus, most notably as the home for the men's social fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon. They used the home from at least the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, and probably a little longer. University Archives has images of the home over time - check them out.

We hope the home will be rebuilt and used again to house students and neighbors.

04/16/2026

Throwback Thursday!

64 years ago on April 19, 1962, the Chronicle reported that the new food service building, Garvey Commons, was under construction. The building served its first meal in June 1963.

Here is a 1963 image of the new opened Garvey Commons.

04/14/2026

A significant event in St. Cloud area history happened 140 years ago today on April 14, 1886. An F4 tornado tore through St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, and Rice. It destroyed Sauk Rapids, killing 72 people. University Archives has a picture book depicting the aftermath of the event. It can be found at:

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/archives_univpubs/1/

The image shows what was left of Sauk Rapids from the west.

University Archivist Tom Steman's great-grandmother, Rose, her siblings, and parents, who were living in Sauk Rapids, survived the tornado. Only a few months old, Rose was initially lost and thought dead. She was soon found alive in a temporary morgue. She died in 1975.

04/09/2026

Throwback Thursday!

On April 5, 2004, Atwood Memorial Center’s new west entrance opened. The new area included space for TCF Bank, Affinity Credit Union, Java City, and Copies Plus. The second level of this addition included the new Cascade Room.

Here is an image of the addition taken in 2018.