Black History

PRESS ROOM: Minnesota Historical Society unveils new Prince artifacts

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — Prince fans can catch a glimpse inside the Purple One’s pre-stardom promotional materials, as the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) recently announced the acquisition of new items.

Published

7 years ago

January 6, 2019

Oakland Post

By MSR News Online

Prince fans can catch a glimpse inside the Purple One’s pre-stardom promotional materials, as the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) recently announced the acquisition of new items from his first manager, Owen Husney.

The acquisition includes a 1977 press kit created by Husney’s advertising firm to promote Prince. Husney deliberately kept the design minimalist, wanting Prince’s music to do most of the talking.

“The press kit is one of only 15 that were ever made, and we personally hand-delivered them to record label executives in California,” Husney said. “We wanted people to understand A) that Prince was a serious artist and B) our support for his talent and genius. Everything had to be first class.”

And it worked. Three labels ended up in a bidding war over Prince before he ultimately signed a contract with Warner Bros.

Accompanying the kit is a silver demo reel of three Prince songs, two recorded at Sound 80 Studios with sound engineer David “Z” Rivkin, and one recorded at Moon Sound Studios, both in Minneapolis.

“Soft & Wet” and “Baby” ended up on his debut album For You, but the third song, “We’ll Make It Through the Storm,” was never released.

This collection of artifacts also includes a marketing sheet Warner Bros. used to introduce Prince to radio and retail markets, which has a similar look to the press kit.

“The Minnesota Historical Society is very fortunate to acquire these pieces from Owen Husney,” said Jennifer Huebscher, curator of photography and moving images at MNHS. “These truly unique materials highlight Husney’s efforts to introduce Prince to the record executives who would help make him an international icon.”

Husney, a Minnesota native who now lives in California, felt strongly that these items should go to MNHS rather than a private buyer. “There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted them to go to the Minnesota Historical Society,” Husney said. “They will be preserved for all Minnesota residents and visitors to see a portrait of a young genius.”

These items join other MNHS artifacts documenting Prince’s early musical career, including handwritten 1977 lyrics to the unreleased song “I Hope We Work It Out” and a ticket to Prince’s first solo concert at the Capri Theatre in Minneapolis in 1979.

These acquisitions will be digitized and made available on the MNHS website. Digitization of collections items for online access is made possible by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

For more information, visit mnhs.org.

Information and photos courtesy of MNHS

This article originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

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Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?