Original poster from the 1936 Festival of Nations, sponsored by the International Institute in St. Paul. The 1936 event was the first called the “Festival of Nations.”

Armenian folk dancers at the 1934 St. Paul Folk Festival (a forerunner of the Festival of Nations) held in the St. Paul Civic Auditorium, April 27‒29, 1934. Pictured are Rebecca Bajakian, Aukine Bangotch, Saussy Keljik, A. Ousdigian, and Togue Tufenk.

Booth dedicated to Greek Americans at the 1934 St. Paul Folk Festival (a forerunner of the Festival of Nations) held in the St. Paul Civic Auditorium, April 27‒29, 1934.

Hungarian folk dancers at the 1934 St. Paul Folk Festival (a forerunner of the Festival of Nations) held in the St. Paul Civic Auditorium, April 27‒29, 1934. Pictured are John Boldizar, Helen Ganda, John Klopcsik, George Kurilla, Jean Kurilla, and Emeline Tarr. Photograph by Kenneth Melvin Wright.

Italian folk dancers at the 1934 St. Paul Folk Festival (a forerunner of the Festival of Nations) held in the St. Paul Civic Auditorium, April 27‒29, 1934. Pictured are (left to right) Ann Fabio, Ruth Fritz, Celia Marzitelli, Marie Mourizio, and Emma Petranton. Photograph by Kenneth M. Wright Studios.

A booth at the St. Paul Folk Festival (a forerunner of the Festival of Nations) held in the St. Paul Civic Auditorium, April 27‒29, 1934. Photograph by Kenneth M. Wright Studios.

Nursing assistants’ class graduation party, 2018. Students standing in back. English and Nursing Instructors sitting in front. Photo taken in the Hall of Nations at the International Institute of Minnesota in St. Paul. Used with the permission of the International Institute of Minnesota.

Robert Hoyle (left), executive director; Jane Graupman, education director; Julie Bursik, staff attorney; John Borden, casework supervisor. Photo taken in the entryway to the International Institute of Minnesota in St. Paul. (Note: Robert Hoyle retired in 2005. John Borden was the Executive Director from 2005-2010, and Jane Graupman became executive director in 2010.) Used with the permission of the International Institute of Minnesota.

1979 groundbreaking for the International Institute of Minnesota Nationality Cultural Center addition. Taken outside the International Institute of Minnesota at 1694 Como Avenue in St. Paul. Institute members are dressed in traditional costumes. In the center, with the shovel, is Gretchen Quie (then-Governor Quie’s wife), International Institute Board Member Earl Bell (left), and Board Member Edward Bruno (right). Used with the permission of the International Institute of Minnesota.