10 min read

Local History News: April 5, 2023

Joe Hoover Apr 5, 2023 1:21:00 PM

Local History News - Minnesota Historical Society, Heritage Preservation

Field Note

Heritage Preservation, Planning, and Outreach was out visiting MNHS's own James J. Hill House on March 20 to look over needed masonry and structural repairs focusing on the back verandas and the coal vault. Preservation work is scheduled for April through October of this year. This visit included a trip to the house's underbelly to inspect the coal vault near the boiler room in the house.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, April 14, 2023.

ONLINE: April Grants Open House
April 6 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm. To provide support to our community we encourage people to RSVP to Gillian by email with a short summary of what you want to talk about and she will try to ensure that someone helpful will be available. Learn more »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from St. Vincent Memories. Have a blog? Let us know!

White Packard automobile in middle of plowed farm field behind them are roughly two dozen teams of horses. To the right of car is a steampowered tractor-ca. 1908

PROFILE: Walter Hill (as Known by Kittson County Locals...)

Trish: Walter talked James J. into getting the first car the family had in 1905, but managed to wreck it by 1907.

He got married in 1908, and he was put in charge of the Northcote farm in 1910, so I'll go with that...

Jim Benjaminson: Time line - Walter got married in 1908, his wife is in the car. He wrecked the first car by 1907...(wonder what it was???) So my guesstimate on the car at 1906-1908 wasn't too far off. I'll do a little research on the early Packards to see if I can determine an exact year.

Jim Benjaminson: Searching information on Minnesota license plates - the plate has to be a multi-year 1912 plate which had dark letters on a silver background. The plates were good for three years so was valid 1912-1913-1914. All the earlier plates had dark background colors. Continue Reading »

From the Tube

This week's post is from Nienow Cultural Consultants. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

St. Paul Public Archaeology – 412 Goodrich Phase Two
In 2018, Historic Saint Paul (HSP) – a nonprofit organization which focuses on historic preservation in St. Paul, MN – engaged Nienow Cultural Consultants (NCC) to conduct a volunteer public archaeology dig in the backyard of one of the city's oldest domestic structures, the John Lewis House, built in 1856 and located at 412 Goodrich Avenue.

As part of the efforts to preserve the home, Nienow's team and HSP volunteers successfully located the home's privy and meticulously extracted artifacts spanning most of the house's historical existence. In 2019, HSP received a grant to hire NCC to conduct a phase two analysis of the extracted artifacts. Watch Video »

Job Opportunities

Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.

MNHS

Technical Writer - MN History Center

LOCAL

Archives and Collections Manager - Steele County Historical Society, Owatonna, MN
Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker - End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum, Murray County, Slayton, MN
Preservation Assistant - Hennepin County, Minneapolis, MN
Collections Manager - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Retail Sales Lead - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Events Crew - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Collection & Exhibition Support Technician - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Site Educator (Tour Guide) - Dakota County Historical Society, Dakota County, Hastings, MN
Historical Site Coordinator - City of Plymouth, Plymouth, MN
Summer STEM Educator - The Works Museum, Bloomington, MN
Executive & Administrative Assistant - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

Collections Care Associate - The Indian Museum of North America & The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Crazy Horse, SD
CRDIP Cultural Resources Member - Wind Cave National Park, American Conservation Experience, Hot Springs, SD
Museum Executive Director - Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, De Smet, SD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Exhibit Designer - Taylor Studios, Rantoul, IL
Experience Designer - Minnetrista Museums & Gardens, Muncie, IN
Experience Build Assistant - Minnetrista Museums & Gardens, Muncie, IN
Vehicle & Equipment Mechanic - Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
Associate Director and Marketing Manager - Law Reed Huss Farm Foundation, Harrison County, OH
Events Coordinator - National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Columbus, OH
Director and Executive Secretary - Allen County Museum and Historical Society, Lima, OH
Executive Director - Douglas County Historical Society, Omaha, NE
Superintendent, Ashfall Fossil Beds - University of Nebraska State Museum, Royal, NE
Cataloguing Coordinator - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Education & Public Programs Coordinator - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Museum Experience Ambassador - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Curator of Global Africa - Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON
Museum Director - The Muse, Lake of the Woods Museum, Kenora, ON
Museum Curriculum Developer - Guelph Museums, Guelph, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

Traveling Exhibits Intern - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Hartwick & CCC Museum Research Internship - Michigan History Center, Lansing, MI
Collections Intern - Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, Ouje Bougoumou, QC

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

Green Thumb Volunteer - James J Hill House & Alexander Ramsey House
Lindbergh Trail Scout - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum
Marbles & Mischief Greeters - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum
Lindbergh Collections Crew - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum
Fix-It Crew - Forest History Center

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

36 Brass band members sitting in chairs outside a hospital building Possibly high school students. Nurses standing on steps
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Kittson County Historical Society.

Be sure to check with each organization for COVID-19 updates and safety measures for in-person events.

Presentation: Fentanyl and its Effects on Rural Minnesota Communities
April 6 - Albert Lea: 7 pm. Freeborn County Historical Museum - Fentanyl, the potent synthetic opioid, is the leading cause of overdose deaths in the US. This session explores the "fourth wave" of the opioid crisis. Attendees will learn more about illicitly manufactured fentanyl, current statistics and trends of the evolving overdose crisis, and how harm reduction tools and strategies can be implemented to prevent overdose and save lives. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Event: Hmong Night 2023 - Mus Rau Hauv Nruab Yeeb
April 8 - St. Cloud: 6 to 9 pm. Hmong Student Organization (HSO) at St. Cloud State University - HSO has prepared an original skit, singing and dancing performances, and a fashion show showcasing the various styles of Hmong clothes. The theme this year is, “Mus Rau Hauv Nruab Yeeb” which translates to ‘Into the Realm of the Spirits”. We wanted to shed light on the supernaturals within the Hmong culture as a way for others to learn more about us and to highlight the roles they play within our lives. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Presentation: Human Toll - Unfinished Business
April 11 - Online: 7 to 8 pm (CT). Hennepin History Museum - As a follow-up to their long-running exhibit, Human Toll: A Public History of 35W, Hennepin History Museum is hosting an online community-driven conversation to address the topic of the long-term effects of freeway construction, and how we can learn from our experience to imagine a better future for all. Panelists include Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas; Jose Antonio Zayas Caban, advocacy director of Our Streets Minneapolis, Dr. Ernest Lloyd, adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Heritage Studies and Public History (HSPH) program; and Dr. Greg Donofrio, director of HSPH. Drs. Lloyd and Donofrio, leaders of the Human Toll exhibit development team, will reflect on the success of the exhibit and the future of the Public History of 35W project. Preregistration required. Cost: Pay As You Can. Learn more »

Presentation: Carl Rowan and Robert Lewis - Discovering the whole person behind two prominent Minnesota African Americans and the times that shaped their lives
April 13 - Golden Valley: 7 pm. Golden Valley Historical Society - Jeremiah Ellis will speak about journalist, author, and government official Carl Rowan; and Dr. Robert Lewis, a veterinarian, educator, and Minnesota state Senator. As prominent Minnesotans and leaders in the African American community in the Twin Cities, both men - now deceased - had distinguished professional lives. Ellis will offer deeper insights and the context of the times that shaped their lives. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Oak Savanna Park History Scavenger Hunt
April 29 - Becker: 1 to 4 pm. Rethos & Sherburne History Center - The Fox House. Clitty Lake. A gas station that doubled as a home, office, hotel, railway station and general store. Discover all this and more during the Oak Savanna Park History Scavenger Hunt! Bring your history detective skills to this free, self-guided, family-friendly event. Explore a beautiful park setting while learning more about architecture and natural history in central Minnesota. Pick up a scavenger hunt form and get started at the Sherburne History Center. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Exterior of the Minnehaha Depot
Highlighted Museum: Minnehaha Depot operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, Minneapolis, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Local History Spring Workshop Series: Major Gifts
April 6 - Online: 10 to 11 am (CT). Local History Outreach, Wisconsin Historical Society - Jamie Simek, Grants Manager at The Eiteljorg Museum discusses strategies that can help organizations prepare for major gift fundraising. Chances are when you think about fundraising, you think about “big asks.” But how do you know if your gift request is “major?” And who should you ask? How much should you ask for? And what if they say no? In this webinar, we will use the fundraising cycle to talk about how your organization can prepare for major gift fundraising and answer some of your big questions before you start asking for big money. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Change is Required - Bearing Witness: Truth, Trust, and Civic Engagement
April 11 – Online: 12 to 1 pm (CT). MuseumExpert - Learn how, in this time of widespread anxiety, isolation, mis- and dis-information, and ‘culture war’ flareups, museums can maintain their reputations as trustworthy organizations. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Board Bits: Beyond Bob - Facilitating Inclusive Decision Making by Applying or Replacing Robert's Rules
April 12 - Online: 12 to 1 pm. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - How can you perform due diligence documenting decisions using a structure that supports people across the entire spectrum of neurological & cultural differences? This session will explore the intersection of intentionality, technology, and task process and how to leverage the strengths and skills of everybody in the room to make the best possible decisions guiding your mission. Cost: $25. Learn more »

Local History Spring Workshop Series: Newspapers and Digitization
April 13 - Online: 10 to 11 am (CT). Local History Outreach, Wisconsin Historical Society - Improving online access to historical local newspapers is a goal for many historical societies. Join a panel of Wisconsin Historical Society staff members as they discuss tips to enhance the process of planning, creating, and maintaining online newspaper collections. Panelists will focus on technology considerations, metadata standards, access considerations and future planning. Cost: Free. Learn more »

PSLF: Practical Steps for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness
April 13 - Online: 1 to 2:30 pm. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - The purpose of this workshop is to provide information on your options for repayment and get you started on your journey towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness. If you have already initiated the PSLF process, you may still find value in the additional support and encouragement fostered in this learning space. Bring questions. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Finance
April 18 - Online: 9 am to 12 pm (CT). Propel Nonprofits - This training is designed to make you more comfortable with nonprofit finance. Walk through nonprofit financial reports including the statement of activities (income statement) and statement of financial position (balance sheet). Cost: $75. Learn more »

Strategies for Engaging Social Media Content
April 20 - Online: 2 to 3 pm (CT). American Association for State and Local History - Learn some of the most effective strategies for engaging your audience on social media. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Commemoration Reconsidered: Ethics, Justice, and America’s 250th Anniversary
April 27 & 28 – Online: 11 am to 3:30 pm (CT). American Association for State and Local History - At this virtual summit, attend a series of sessions on the vital questions of memory, narrative, and interpretation. Cost: $55 members/$65 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

How to make a GIF (Photoshop, iPhone, Android & more)

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Cokie Roberts Fellowship for Women's History
April 11 - (Deadline): This fellowship will support one to three annual fellowships for early to mid-career historians, journalists, authors, or graduate students who perform and publish new research to elevate women’s history using the records held by the National Archives. This Fellowship is intended to support the cost of travel and time to conduct research and publish works related to original research conducted at the National Archives. Awarded amounts up to $12,500. Learn more »

Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives
May 3 - (Deadline): National Archives and Records Administration - This program is for projects to: digitize and publish online historical records as a "virtual" collection around a common theme, organization, or important historical figure(s); or create and test new tools and methods for the archival field to enhance public access, especially for born-digital records. Awards will be between $150,000 and $350,000. Learn more »

Yield Giving Open Call
May 5 (registration); June 12 – (Deadline): Yield Giving - This initiative seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Two hundred fifty awardees will each receive a general operating gift of $1 million. Organizations must have an annual operating budget of at least $1 million and no more than $5 million for at least two of the last four fiscal years to be eligible to apply. Learn more »

Publishing Historical Records in Collaborative Digital Editions
May 3 - (Deadline): National Archives and Records Administration - The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals to publish documentary editions of historical records. Learn more »

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
May 3 - (Deadline): These grants are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Learn more »

Humanities Initiatives at Tribal Colleges and Universities
May 9 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - This grant program helps strengthen the teaching and study of the humanities by developing new humanities programs, resources, or courses, or by enhancing existing ones. Applicants are encouraged to draw on the knowledge of outside scholars who would contribute expertise and fresh insights to the project. Learn more »

NAGPRA Repatriation Grants
May 12 - (Deadline): National Park Service - Funds are available to defray costs associated with the packaging, transportation, contamination removal, reburial and/or storage of NAGPRA-related cultural items. Learn more »

Preservation and Access: Education and Training
May 16 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - Grants are available for organizations that offer national, regional, or statewide education and training programs in preservation and access practices. Awards help the staff of cultural institutions, large and small, obtain the knowledge and skills they need to serve as effective stewards of humanities collections. Learn more »

News

Maud Hart Lovelace and Husband Delos Lovelace What's New in MNHS Archival Cataloging
The family papers of Maud Hart Lovelace, the author of the cherished Betsy-Tacy children's book series and her husband Delos Lovelace, also an author and newspaperman (Minneapolis Tribune, New York Daily, and the New York Sun), are now available online and available at the Gale Family Library for research. Much of the papers have been digitized for online access.

The papers document the community that helped shape and inform the setting and characters for Maud Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy book series. This includes biographical information, genealogical data, photographs, correspondence, and Maud's early writings regarding her personal and family life in Mankato, MN. Correspondence include letters with her sister Kathleen and parents Tom and Stella Hart, and extended family members and friends. Continue Reading »

NRHP Recent National Register Listings in Minnesota
The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office announced three new National Register listings in Minnesota. Fire Station No. 19 in St. Paul, the McMichael Grain Elevator in Harmony, and the Henry Hale Memorial Library in St. Paul are the latest listings. Learn more »


Featured Book Nana and Abuela, author, Monica Rojas; illustrator, Emiko Rainbow. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History When Minnesota was a pawn of international politics Volume 4, Issue 7, 1922	Featured Article MNopedia Escape from Shakopee State Reformatory for Women, 1949 Featured MNopedia Article

Minnesota History Organizations Directory • County, Chapters, and Local • Statewide/Topical Historical • Regional History Coalitions • Professional Organizations	Minnesota Main Streets Reinvigorate your community's commercial district.	Preservation Specialists Directory Look up products or services.

From the Heritage Preservation Department
Reminder: Due to COVID-19 all Heritage Preservation Department staff (Grants Office and Local History Services) are working remotely until further notice. If you need to connect with a specific staff member, please email them directly.

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