Mary Hugo reminiscence 75 Years Later

Collection — Box: SC

Identifier: S2285

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a manuscript titled "75 Years Later." The final page includes Mary Hugo's signature and the dates 1957-1970. It describes Ms. Hugo's final months in the Hugo family home in 1957 and her attempt to clear the house of 75 years of family possessions. The essay uses these possessions to recount a family history. The home at 221 Mesaba Avenue (also referred to as 221 6th Ave W) was bought in 1882 by Duluth, Minnesota Mayor Trevanion Hugo and was remodeled by him. The unoccupied building was destroyed by fire in August 1988. Mary Hugo claims in her essay that the house was built on "Chief Buffalo's rock" and that the land had originally belonged to Chief Buffalo.

"75 Years Later" includes vignettes of daily life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, texts of letters to family members, including a letter to Mary from a young Jack (John F.) Kennedy, transcribed newspaper accounts of her grandfather's career as mayor, and excerpts from her grandfather's diary. Interleaved with the manuscript are the following illustrations: three snapshots of the home's interior; two photographic reproductions - one of the exterior of the house and one of the Hugo family crest in the window of the front door; copies of four drawings - one of the floor plan and three of family possessions.

Dates

Creation: 1957-1970

Creator

Hugo, Mary, 1907 September 17-1991 October 30 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Hugo was a resident of Duluth, Minnesota. She was the granddaughter of City Council President and Mayor Trevanion William Hugo (1849 – 1923); the daughter of T.W. Hugo's son Victor and his wife Virginia (Magoffin). Virginia Magoffin was the daughter of Beriah Magoffin, an early settler of the Duluth area. Mary Hugo was an artist and art teacher. She completed her applied arts degree at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1928 and taught at junior and senior high schools in Minneapolis and Duluth and in Kodaikanal, South India. Her sister Jeanne Hugo Carruthers lived in India with her husband for 20 years.

Extent

1.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection consists of a manuscript titled "75 Years Later." It describes Ms. Hugo's final months in the Hugo family home in 1957 and her attempt to clear the house of 75 years of family possessions. The essay uses these possessions to recount a family history.

Physical Location

This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. For more information about this collection or to make an appointment, contact us at libarchives@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8526.

Related Materials:

NEMHC Archival Collections S3166 Travanion W. Hugo papers

General

This collection is part of the Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections, which are housed in the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives at the Kathryn A. Martin Library.