Volume 1 Covers Minnesota's early development from the days of French exploration and trade with American Indians through territorial times to the eve of statehood in 1857. Volume 2 continues the story from 1858 to 1865, with emphasis on Minnesota's role in the Civil War and the Dakota Conflict (Sioux Uprising) of 1862. Volume 3 completes the chronological record with a comprehensive picture of Minnesota politics from 1865 through World War I to the mid-1920s. Volume 4 focuses on special topics on iron mining, public education, the Ojibway (Chippewa), election procedures, and a dozen outstanding Minnesotans, and contains a consolidated index for volumes 1 through 4--From p. [4] of covers.