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Description:
Rare 1930s–Early 1940s Duluth, Minnesota Bowling Scrapbook – Provenance of Local Legends Fred & Cliff Aura + Tony Malnati!
This is a genuine, one-of-a-kind time capsule from Duluth’s golden age of bowling. It belonged to Cliff Aura, son of Fred Aura, one of Duluth’s most celebrated bowlers of the era. Fred Aura captured the Northwest Bowling Classic championship in 1927 with an impressive 892 series and remained a fixture in the Duluth bowling scene into the 1930s alongside other Northland standouts.
Inside you’ll find:
• Dozens of original newspaper clippings from the Duluth News Tribune and regional papers highlighting local league action, high scores, and tournament results
• Team photos and individual shots of Duluth bowlers in action
• Official American Bowling Congress (ABC) scorecards, including a complete team sheet from the 38th International National Tournament in Chicago, Illinois (March–April 1938)
→ The Victory Marine five-man team from Duluth featuring two Aura family members, H.H. “Tony” Malnati, G. Wold, and R. Marshall. Tony Malnati was a Duluth bowling ace who won multiple Northwest titles, rolled huge series (including a 267 game / 824 series in 1941), and was a regular headline maker in local sports pages.
This scrapbook captures the vibrant Duluth bowling culture of the 1930s and early 1940s — the heyday of the Duluth Bowling Center leagues, summer doubles, city tournaments, and the big ABC Nationals. It’s a direct window into Minnesota’s rich bowling history when local heroes like the Auras and Malnati put Duluth on the national map.
Condition notes (please see all photos):
• Well-loved vintage scrapbook with honest wear from its 85+ years
• Cover has rips, tears, and edge wear
• Pages are brittle with some flaking at the edges
• Minor damage to inside pages; one area where an ABC postcard was glued and has stuck to the facing page (as shown)
• Most clippings, photos, and scorecards are glued in place; some loose photos and ephemera included
• Overall complete and fascinating — the content far outweighs the expected age-related condition issues
Perfect for collectors of:
• Minnesota / Duluth sports memorabilia
• American Bowling Congress (ABC) / USBC history
• 1930s–1940s bowling ephemera
• Local Northland / Iron Range history
A true piece of Duluth sporting heritage that rarely surfaces. Great display item or research piece for a bowling hall of fame collector or Minnesota history buff.
Feel free to make an offer, I want this to goto a good home!
