David Karpeles, the Duluth-raised manuscript collector and philanthropist behind the city's Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum — and more than a dozen other similar sites around the country — died Jan. 19 in Santa Barbara, Calif. His collection of manuscripts, which includes the sheet music for "The Wedding March" and the original draft of the Bill of Rights, is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world.
Matthew Sjelin, director of the Duluth museum, described his late boss, whom he had only met by phone, as brilliant and humble, at one point redirecting Sjelin to "just call me David," the director said. Son Mark Karpeles and daughter Cheryl Karpeles Alleman will take over operations, according to Sjelin.
Karpeles graduated from Denfeld High School in 1953 and on a return trip to his hometown, he was reportedly impressed by improvements on the waterfront and the historic buildings. He bought the old First Church of Christ Scientist for $150,000 and spent almost as much renovating it in the 1990s, the Star Tribune reported at the time.
CHRISTA LAWLER
RED WING
City, Prairie Island band seek greater cooperation
The city of Red Wing and the Prairie Island Indian Community are developing an agreement aimed at promoting better understanding and cooperation between the community and the city.
At its regular meeting Monday, the City Council will review a draft memorandum of understanding that lay out goals for the relationship. Red Wing sits on land once occupied by several Indigenous nations and contains many burial mounds and other culturally sensitive sites.
