Book Notes | ‘Blue Ribbon’
Do you love the Minnesota State Fair and want to know more about its history? Then Blue Ribbon: A Social and Pictorial History of the Minnesota State Fair by Karal Ann Marling, professor emerita of American art and culture, is your chance. Prior to her retirement from the U of M, Marling was affiliated with the departments of art history and American studies.
Published in 1990 by the Minnesota Historical Society, the book does an excellent job of chronicling the fair from its inception in the 1850s. It is a fun, fact-filled history with loads of black and white photos.
Blue Ribbon is divided into 20 chapters covering various aspects of the fair’s traditions and attractions, from Machinery Hill, the animals, and 4H exhibits, to food on a stick and the fine arts.
The book discusses how, in the early days, promoters used various strategies to get people to attend. Many of the exhibits were naturally attractive to male farmers. So, early organizers went out of their way to attract women, with exhibits and competitions just for them. Still, the fruits of the women's labors were often relegated to the fringes, while displays to attract men were featured center stage.
The UMRA Book Club laughed about how the weight of the book did not make it a good choice for reading in bed. It is a 328-page paperback filled with photographs, and physically quite heavy. Many in the group were disappointed Blue Ribbon did not cover the last 35 years, and said they would have enjoyed reading about the state fair’s recent history, too.
—Laura Ericksen, UMRA Book Club
Book Club I in August
Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 2pm
The UMRA Book Club will discuss Blue Ribbon by Karal Ann Marling when it meets via Zoom on August 15.
Upcoming Events
Meeting to plan books for next year.
There has been a lot in the news recently about the University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Minnesota Physicians, and Fairview Health Services. Please join us at breakfast on January 8 for a respectful and engaging discussion of their relationship.
The theme for January is great MN views.
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander will be the selection for discussion when the UMRA Book Club gathers via Zoom for its first monthly meeting of 2026.
Developing a sense of identity is a central psychological task of the lifespan. Memories and stories from our personal past, as well as cultural memories and stories in society play key roles in how we develop our identities. This presentation will discuss psychological theory and research on how memories and stories make us who we are.
When you are of Icelandic descent you can trace your ancestors back to around 1200 and sometimes further.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Here’s another great opportunity to buy discounted tickets and join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gophers when the Women’s Basketball team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on February 1.
Join fellow UMRA members for a morning hike in Theodore Wirth Park to celebrate Groundhog Day on Monday, February 2.
UMRA’s special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We’ll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the University’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Family history with Jim Kurle. A tale of Swedish emigration to Dunn County, North Dakota, including my grandfather whose unusual relationship to several churches and religion in general was one of the reasons for his emigrating.
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour on Thursday, February 12, will offer an inside look into the rich resources of the University Libraries Borchert Map Library. Map Librarian Ryan Mattke will showcase the treasures and innovations of one of the largest map libraries in the U.S.
Growing Up by Russell Baker.