July Friday History: Kraus-Anderson Picnics

By Matt Goff, KA Archivist

Nothing says 4^th of July like a Summer picnic, and, for at least ninety years, Kraus-Anderson has done what it can to keep the tradition alive. Searching “picnic” in KA’s photo database brings everything from faded 1970s polaroids to more recent phone pics.

One of the more notable Kraus-Anderson picnics took place in 1997 when KA celebrated its 100^th birthday. A century is a big milestone, so this picnic was a big one.

The first Kraus-Anderson picnic for which I was able to find evidence took place in the Summer of 1936. Although no photos of the party survive, it was notable enough for Minneapolis newspapers to report it. There was dancing in the pavilion, and a tug-of-war between the company’s carpenters and painters.

The context of this picnic (the management/labor conflicts of 1930s Minneapolis) bring it into the larger story of the “labor picnic.” From (at least) the 1880s, picnics were used as a tool for labor movements to celebrate victories, lick wounds, and as a way for hungry strikers to share a necessary meal.

In the Summer of 1936, picnics were a big thing in Minneapolis. The vibe was celebratory, because the recent disputes were perceived as hard-fought victories for labor, and it appears that KA (management and all) was vibing with the laborers.

The newspaper account makes it clear that Mathew Kraus was the “general chairman” of the festivities, but the names of some other attendees were given, including Lloyd Engelsma, who would soon purchase Kraus-Anderson and guide it all the way to the 21^st century.