Field Note

On Saturday, August 10, the Minnesota Historical Society along with the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, attended the Fargo-Moorhead Pride in the Park Festival held on the grounds of the Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead, MN. The Minnesota Historical Society has been engaging with local history and LGBTQ organizations to seek out and expand the diverse stories of LGBTQIA+ communities in Greater Minnesota. We will expand our StoryMap of Twin Cities LGBTQIA+ sites, specifically including sites in Greater Minnesota. As we do this, we would love to hear your stories!

Heritage Preservation Grants

MNHS Announces April Round of Legacy Small Grants
Recipients received 33 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants ($10,000 and less) totaling $294,976 in 18 counties. Learn more »

Grants Office Webinar: First Steps Towards a Grant
August 15 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) -  Online: In this webinar, you will learn what you need to do to register for a grants portal login, how to apply, what the grant programs offer, what the programs can fund, and which resources are available for applicants. If you have never applied for a grant before or would like to hear about the basic process again, this webinar is for you. Presented by Grants Specialist Gillian Maguire.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬  PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the Wright County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Sunset Grove Resorts
Early in the 1900s, Pulaski Lake was known for its pristine spring-fed water and excellent fishing. Several resorts were established, mostly on the south and west sides of the lake. The east side of the lake had very high banks, was wooded, and was bordered by rich farmland. 

My grandfather, Harry Kopff, born in 1861, grew up in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin where he spent his youth hunting and fishing. Beaver Dam Lake was 20 miles long, and a few miles away was Horicon Marsh, well-known as a wildlife refuge and waterfowl sanctuary. Harry had learned that Minnesota was also good for hunting and fishing. So, at age 34, he borrowed his father’s team of horses and a wagon and made the trip to Minnesota. He stayed for a while in Monticello, then became acquainted with the fishing and hunting prospects around Pulaski Lake. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• West/South end Lake Koronis - Paynesville Historical Society
• Managing vicarious trauma in the archives - U of MN Libraries
• Berries, and Mushrooms, and Plants, Oh my! - American Swedish Institute
• Minnesota Digital Library achieves 60,000 digitized items milestone - Minnesota Digital Library News

From the Tube

This week's post is from the History Center of Olmsted County. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Anna Hennessy: Completing her first Iditarod race - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• The Barron Barn: Built by James J. Hill’s Carpenter - Minnesota Bricks
• Minnesota State Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting August 6, 2024 - Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office
• History of Manomin County - Early Fridley - Fridley Historical Society
• Instrument of War No More: Bagpipes in Minnesota - MinneCulture

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Manager - MN History Center
• Project Manager II - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Research Specialist - Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud, MN
• Curator - Cafesjian Art Trust Museum, Shoreview, MN
• Membership & Sales Assistant - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Public Operations Manager - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Request for Proposals: Comprehensive Capacity Building Development Strategy - Duluth Arts Institute, Duluth, MN

REGIONAL

• Archivist - Racine Heritage Museum, Racine, WI
• Volunteer Coordinator - Sheboygan County Museum, Sheboygan, WI
• Program Facilitator - Sheboygan County Museum, Sheboygan, WI
• Grants & Corporate Engagement Manager - Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Historic Tax Credit Reviewer - Iowa State Historic Preservation Office, Des Moines, IA
• Bookkeeper - Fargo Moorhead Science Museum, Fargo, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Executive Director - McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, Union, IL
• Museum Coordinator - Little White School Museum, Oswegoland Park District, Oswego, IL
• Exhibit Tech - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Director of Distinctive Collections - IUPUI University Library, Indianapolis, IN
• Education & Events Coordinator - Frankenmuth Historical Association, Frankenmuth, MI
• Manager Cultural Programming & Exhibits - Macomb Community College, Warren, MI
• Visitor Experience Manager - Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
• Curator of Exhibitions - Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Senior Museum Curator - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mandatory Center of Expertise for the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections, St. Louis, MO
• Database Administrator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Museum Educator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Education Coordinator - Manitoba Children’s Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Director of Education & Exhibits - Manitoba Children’s Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Museum Curator - Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre, Red Lake, ON
• Archival Digitization Assistant - Thunder Bay Museum, Thunder Bay, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Climate Graduate Research Fellowship - National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Museum Programs and Communications Intern - Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre, Winnipeg, MB
• Collections and Curatorial Intern - Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre, Winnipeg, MB

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Kittson County Historical Society.

Submit your history organization's news and events to localhistorynews@mnhs.org.

Conversations with Music Educators
August 15 @ 12 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - Join in for a session where historian Sue Bruns interviews distinguished music teachers from Beltrami County, sharing their experiences in fostering musical talent and education. Gain insights into the evolution of music education and impactful stories from these educators. Cost: Free. Learn more »

St. Rose Academy: A Native American Boarding School on the Minnesota Prairie, 1884-1890
August 22 @ 12 to 1 pm - New Ulm: Brown County Historical Society - The SHCJ sisters founded St. Rose Academy in Avoca, Minnesota in 1883. Bishop John Ireland secured a government contract in 1884 to educate Native American girls. Their House Journal provides insights into daily school life and challenges in the community. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Beltrami County New Deal Bus Tour
August 24 @ 10 am to 3 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - Explore Beltrami County's New Deal history on a bus tour visiting CCC, WPA, and other New Deal projects. Learn about their lasting impact on local communities in Kelliher, Blackduck, and Bemidji. Reserve your spot today to uncover the New Deal legacy. Lunch included. Cost: $40 to $50. Learn more »

Walking Tour: LynLake Street Art 
August 24 @ 11 am to 1 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Tour the impressive LynLake street art scene with its spray-painted murals and portraits, and learn the history of graffiti and street art. Thanks to the constant influx of new art and artists, the tour is "new" every time! Costs: $10 members/$14 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: Saving Your Stuff - How to Care for Art, Heirlooms, and Personal Collections
August 27 @ 6:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Learn about the "ten agents of deterioration" and how to preserve and protect the things you value. There will be a presentation followed by an open question and answer period. Recommendations for how to find additional resources will be provided at the event. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Educational River Cruise: The First 100 Years of the ‘Upper Miss’ River Refuge
August 29 @ 4 to 5:30 pm and 6 to 7:30 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Established in 1924 to be a refuge for fish, wildlife and plants and a breeding place for migratory birds, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge now covers more than 240,000 acres and extends roughly 261 miles of the Mississippi River across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Experience the vibrant tapestry of history, nature, culture, and arts against the picturesque backdrop of the Mississippi River. Cost: $35 members, $45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: 2024 Schloff Research Awardee 
August 29 @ 12 to 1 pm - Minneapolis: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - An engaging opportunity to learn more from the 2024 Dr. Linda Mack Schloff research award recipient utilizing the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Dr. Chad Montrie is a Professor in the History Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is the author of five books, including Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota. He is currently working on a new book, Modern Minstrels: ‘Blackface’ in 20th Century Minnesota. Location: Elmer L. Andersen Library. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Mendota Mdewakanton’s 27th Traditional Wacipi (Pow Wow)
September 13, 14, & 15 Mendota Mdewakanton - Located on the grounds of the Church of St. Peter, this three-day Native American tradition brings together many different tribes and communities. Pow Wows are cultural celebrations that include dancing, singing, socializing, crafts, arts, and food. Learn more »

Tour: History Cruise and Walking Tour: Big Island
September 15 @  11 am to 2 pm - Excelsior: Lake Minnetonka Historical Society - Explore the history of Lake Minnetonka’s Big Island by land and lake with guided tours and box lunches provided on a cruise from Excelsior to Big Island and back. Learn about the island’s history, including Native people, settlers, parks, farms, and veterans' camp from local historians. Cost: $55 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
Submit an event »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Hmong Museum, St. Paul, MN.

Creating Timely and Culturally Relevant Sports Interpretation (August 2024) -  
August 22 @ 2 pm - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Sports play a significant role in community life, often overlooked in museums. Explore local sports history, from school teams to hometown heroes, and connect it to broader themes like women's history and civil rights. Use major sports events to engage your community and create meaningful connections to global games. Cost: $25 members/$45 non-members. Learn more »

Empowering Effective Nonprofit Board Decision Making
August 22 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - This webinar will highlight ways to foster collaboration and create engagement among board members in order to harness the collective wisdom of the board and make informed and impactful decisions that advance your mission. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibiting Your Collections
August 22 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - This webinar will help you understand the risks of exhibition so that you can develop policies and guidelines to mitigate risks.  Cost: $90. Learn more »

STEPS Program Orientation 
August 29 @ 2 to 3:15 pm - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Is your organization enrolled in the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS)? Are you new to the program, or maybe your organization enrolled some time ago and is ready to jump back in with the updated workbook? All organizations enrolled in STEPS are invited to take part in this free orientation and refresher webinar to learn about the workbook and how to use it, how to access the online STEPS Community and resources, info on obtaining your certificates, and more. This program is for STEPS Enrollees only. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Moving Museum Collections
September 2 - Online: Museum Study - This 4-week course provides an overview of how to plan and manage a move to avoid the many pitfalls. The course will help you define the scope of your project, develop a work plan and schedule, prepare a communication scheme, define proposals for vendors, choose equipment, estimate costs, identify hazards, organize staffing and establish packing techniques and standards. Cost: $400. Learn more »

Engaging Hispanic/Latinx Communities - Forming Community Partnerships & the Co-creation Process (Part 1)   
September 10 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: National Informal STEM Education Network - Hear from those leading the NISE Engaging Hispanic Communities Initiative who will share about forming partnerships with local Hispanic/Latinx community organizations. Learn more about the co-creation process and how to build relationships with members of your community. Learn more »

Preservation Plans: An Overview
September 27 @ 11 am - 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - A preservation plan is an essential document that helps collecting institutions thoughtfully and carefully chart a course for the preservation of their collections. In this webinar, participants will learn about the components that go into an effective preservation plan, tips for preparing for planning, and how to use a preservation plan to advocate for support for your collections. Learn more »

2025 Midwestern Archives Conference in Minneapolis
The Midwestern Archives Conference will hold its 2025 annual meeting, Serving It Up, in Minneapolis, Minnesota from April 10-12, 2025. Session proposals are due August 20, 2024.  

Legacy Grant Scholarships to Conference Available
Scholarship to National or Regional Conference Hosted in Minnesota - This structured grant provides scholarships for organizations to send employees, board members, and volunteers to a national conference, seminar, forum, or symposium hosted in the State of Minnesota. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Museum Apprenticeships as Entry Points for Future Leaders - Center for the Future of Museums-AAM

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Preserving Black Churches Grant Program
August 19 - (Letter of Intent) | October 4 - (deadline): National Trust for Historic Preservation - Grants are available to help historic Black churches and congregations reimagine, redesign, and redeploy historic preservation to address the institutions’ needs and the cultural assets and stories they steward. Learn more »

ASALH Book Prize                
September 15 - (Deadline); The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) awards an annual prize to recognize an outstanding book in the field of African American history and culture. Books must engage archives to be eligible for consideration, however, the book prize committee invites submissions from across disciplinary and interdisciplinary boundaries. Learn more »

Collaborative Research Grants
September 18 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - Collaborative Research grants support groups of two or more scholars engaging in significant and sustained research in the humanities. The program seeks to encourage interdisciplinary work, both within the humanities and beyond. Learn more »

Dan David Prize   
September 30 - (Deadline): The Dan David Prize is the world’s largest history prize, annually awarding 9 prizes of $300,000 each to early and midcareer scholars and practitioners in the historical disciplines, to acknowledge their outstanding achievements and support future work. Nominees can come from any field related to the study of the human past, both within academia and outside it. Learn more »

Funds Available for Community Projects
October 1 - (Deadline): Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation- This foundation seeks applications for 12 funds supporting community projects in the Twin Ports and surrounding region. Grant priorities include the arts, the environment, and other projects that support and enhance communities. The foundation provides grants to area nonprofits for work that strengthens communities and improves lives throughout the region. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

MN State Archives Collection
Records added this month to the MN State Archives collection will be valuable for a variety of research topics, particularly for documenting key functions of the state government and for family and local history research.

1. The Gambling Control Board transferred meeting minutes and agenda packets dated 2000-2010, and issues of Gaming News (newsletter) dated 2008-2020.
2. The Secretary of State’s Office transferred Session Laws dated 2024 that continue the existing set dating from 1858.
3. City of Elk River staff transferred Elk River Township meeting minutes dated 1907-1976, a road record book dated 1877-1939, and Village/City of Elk River board minutes dated 1890-1968.
4. The Green Isle Community School (Sibley County), which closed July 1, 2024, transferred the board of directors meeting minutes, agenda packets, and subject files dated 2004-2024.
5. Grey Cloud Island Township (Washington County) transferred board meeting minutes dated 2001-2022 which complement an existing set of records dating from 1899.

Nominate your Preservation Hero! - Nominations are open for Rethos Annual Preservation Awards!
Nominate your preservation hero for Rethos' Annual Preservation Awards. Winners will be recognized at the Rethos Wrecking Ball Gala on October 9.
The categories include:

• Outstanding Volunteer
• Outstanding Advocate
• Lifetime Achievements in Historic Preservation
• Outstanding Historic Tax Credit Project
• New Preservation Project
• 2024 Doors Open Minneapolis Accessibility and Engagement Award

Out with the old, in with the new Old Town Hall
Sun-Sailor - Plymouth's renovated Old Town Hall, located at 3625 Fernbrook Lane N., reopened to the public Aug. 3 with an open house to commemorate the years of work it took to reconstruct the interior space. Plymouth Mayor Jeff Wosje joined Plymouth Historic Site Coordinator Ryan Barland for the ceremony, and both made remarks to attendees. Continue reading »

‘Enemies in our fields,’ German POWs in Minnesota; Event held in commemoration of Cass County Museum’s 75th anniversary
Walker Pilot-Independent - Fia Larsen, a Bemidji State University graduate, shared the results of her research into how Minnesota became the site of many POW camps during the Second World War. “Overcrowding,” she explained of the impetus. Camps located in Allied Europe and North Africa were over capacity. Officials looked across the Atlantic. Continue reading »

Featured Book Manual of Museum Management: For Museums in Dynamic Change, Third Edition by Gail Dexter Lord. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.	Featured Article Minnesota History Folklore and history Volume 50, Issue 5, 1987	Featured Article MNopedia Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, St. Paul 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.

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