Difference between revisions of "Alexander Ramsey House"
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| − | One politician stands out in this regard. Ignatius Donnelly was the first State Lieutenant Governor (1860-1863) under Alexander Ramsey, who was the first Territorial Governor and was reelected shortly after statehood . The two began their political relationship as good friends, but this deteriorated when both simultaneously ran for the U.S. Senate. Following several nasty attacks by the Ramsey-supporting Pioneer Press, Donnelly began to hate his former colleague. In this spirit of hatred, he suggested that Ramsey engaged in “unnatural sex with another man” in his private diary. <small>( | + | One politician stands out in this regard. Ignatius Donnelly was the first State Lieutenant Governor (1860-1863) under Alexander Ramsey, who was the first Territorial Governor and was reelected shortly after statehood.<small>(1)</small> The two began their political relationship as good friends, but this deteriorated when both simultaneously ran for the U.S. Senate. <small>(2)</small> Following several nasty attacks by the Ramsey-supporting Pioneer Press, Donnelly began to hate his former colleague. In this spirit of hatred, he suggested that Ramsey engaged in “unnatural sex with another man” in his private diary. <small>(2)</small> |
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| − | Donnelly later surmised that Ramsey’s followers—Patrick Kelley and Michael Doran—were male prostitutes, or “bearded courtesans” who were pimped by railroad tycoon James J. Hill. <small>( | + | Donnelly later surmised that Ramsey’s followers—Patrick Kelley and Michael Doran—were male prostitutes, or “bearded courtesans” who were pimped by railroad tycoon James J. Hill. <small>(3)</small> |
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| − | | This information came to light long after these men passed away. In the fall of 1976, a history professor from the University of Minnesota stumbled across the incriminating passage and found supporting evidence in a check signed by Ramsey—likely a response to blackmail. The young Gay Rights movement seized this information and proclaimed Ramsey as an historic “Gay” figure in Minnesota History. Lucy Ann Lobdell became the 19th-century “Lesbian” counterpart to Ramsey; she was a cross-dressing wanderer who was ostracized and eventually spent her remaining days in a cave with another woman. | + | | This information came to light long after these men passed away. In the fall of 1976, a history professor from the University of Minnesota stumbled across the incriminating passage and found supporting evidence in a check signed by Ramsey—likely a response to blackmail. (4) The young Gay Rights movement seized this information and proclaimed Ramsey as an historic “Gay” figure in Minnesota History. Lucy Ann Lobdell became the 19th-century “Lesbian” counterpart to Ramsey; she was a cross-dressing wanderer who was ostracized and eventually spent her remaining days in a cave with another woman. (5) |
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| − | <small>(1)</small> | + | <small>(1)</small> Ridge, Martin. ''Ignatius Donnelly: The Portrait of a Politician.'' St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1961. Pages 28-30. |
| − | <small>(2)</small>Nydahl, Theodore, ed. "The Diaries of Ignatius Donnelly: 1885: Page 31. Minnesota Historical Society: Ignatius Donnelly Diary Collection | + | <small>(2)</small> “New Days for Gayness: A Chronology of Gay Progress” Twin Cities Pride Guide, 1977. Page 7. |
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| + | <small>(3)</small>Nydahl, Theodore, ed. "The Diaries of Ignatius Donnelly: 1885: Page 31. Minnesota Historical Society: Ignatius Donnelly Diary Collection | ||
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| + | <small>(4)</small> "New Days for Gayness," ''Ibid.'' | ||
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| + | <small>(5)</small> "New Days for Gayness," ''Ibid.'' | ||
Part of [[Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)]] | Part of [[Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)]] | ||
Revision as of 16:49, 21 March 2010
265 Exchange Street S., St. Paul
Alexander Ramsey in 1881. Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society. |
Few consider the complexities of Minnesota life in the 19th century—contrary to belief, the state only briefly flirted with Wild West aspirations and quickly adopted the intricacies of East Coast civilization. This was especially the case in the state’s capitol, St. Paul—dubbed “the last city of the east” by exaggerating newspapers. At the time, Minnesota’s newness inspired political dreams that often resulted in bitter partisanship.
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Donnelly later surmised that Ramsey’s followers—Patrick Kelley and Michael Doran—were male prostitutes, or “bearded courtesans” who were pimped by railroad tycoon James J. Hill. (3)
| This information came to light long after these men passed away. In the fall of 1976, a history professor from the University of Minnesota stumbled across the incriminating passage and found supporting evidence in a check signed by Ramsey—likely a response to blackmail. (4) The young Gay Rights movement seized this information and proclaimed Ramsey as an historic “Gay” figure in Minnesota History. Lucy Ann Lobdell became the 19th-century “Lesbian” counterpart to Ramsey; she was a cross-dressing wanderer who was ostracized and eventually spent her remaining days in a cave with another woman. (5)
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Ignatius Donnelly ca. 1885. Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society. |
(1) Ridge, Martin. Ignatius Donnelly: The Portrait of a Politician. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1961. Pages 28-30.
(2) “New Days for Gayness: A Chronology of Gay Progress” Twin Cities Pride Guide, 1977. Page 7.
(3)Nydahl, Theodore, ed. "The Diaries of Ignatius Donnelly: 1885: Page 31. Minnesota Historical Society: Ignatius Donnelly Diary Collection
(4) "New Days for Gayness," Ibid.
(5) "New Days for Gayness," Ibid.
Part of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: 100 Queer Places in Minnesota History, (1860-1969), (1969-2010)
