Phemonemal Photos Online from ASI's Wallenberg Library & Archives

Among the 10,000 photos in the ASI archives there are some true gems. As of August 1, 2012, the best of these great images are online, thanks to the Minnesota Digital Library. They can be found on the Minnesota Reflections website for sharing worldwide. This selection, made by volunteer Bonnie Wilson, highlights the Turnblad family, the Turnblad Mansion, and Swedish Americans in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Reflections component of the Minnesota Digital Library allows viewers to enter into a photograph for details that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Take, for example, a photo of a 1933 exhibit in the Turnblad Mansion breakfast room on Småland. By zooming in we can see the detail on the textiles, the china, silver, and even see the names of the exhibitors displayed within the photo.

Or you can examine the photo of the Svea Dramatic Club from Svea, Minn., in the early 1900s. By zooming in, you can see their make-up, their jewelry, and the details on the Swedish costume on the right. Wouldn’t it be great if we could see their play?

These photos join thousands of others on the Minnesota Reflections website, allowing users to travel to dozens of archives in the state without leaving their computer. Eventually the 476 photos from ASI will also be available on ASI’s own website.