One hundred years ago today, the United States Congress passed the National Prohibition Act, which outlined how the country would enforce the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors. The new law was nicknamed the Volstead Act for Minnesota’s Andrew Volstead, who first introduced the bill and managed the legislation as chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

While Volstead’s papers have been part of the Minnesota Historical Society’s collections since 1947, they were recently digitized in time with Prohibition’s 100th anniversary. The collection spans from 1868 to the mid-20th century, but the majority of papers are from 1920-1922 when Volstead—a U.S. representative from Granite Falls from 1903-1923—was at the center of the country’s hotly contested debate over alcohol.

Highlights from the collection include:

• Angry letters arguing against Prohibition, including death threats against Volstead
• Congratulatory letters on the passage of Prohibition from individual citizens and organizations like the Anti-Saloon League
• Letters between Volstead and reporters over how the congressman was represented in news coverage
• Invitations and programs from Washington D.C. events, like presidential inaugurations, White House receptions, and the funeral of Teddy Roosevelt

The public can explore the entire Volstead collection online on the MNHS website.

Digitization of collections items for online access is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partner: Explore Minnesota Tourism.