Field Note

On August 1, Local History Services staff met with the Morristown Historical Society and the Rice County Historical Society to see the results of flooding at the Morristown Feed Mill. The mill is a National Register of Historic Places property that the Morristown Historical Society operates as a historic site. Heavy rains earlier in the summer submerged the power room, below the structure. After the site visit, staff spoke about response efforts and possible grant funding to address the situation. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Waterford Bridge Rehabilitation
The Waterford Bridge, also known as Bridge L3275, is a historic structure listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was closed in 2018 due to safety concerns. Built in 1909, the bridge spans the Cannon River in rural Waterford Township, Dakota County. It has a 140-foot steel Camelback truss supported by concrete abutments. The restoration project aimed to make the bridge a safe crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists while preserving its historical significance for the Waterford community.

The City of Northfield received State bonding for 6 miles of the Mill Towns Trail, which stretches through Northfield and out to the Waterford Bridge. With the Waterford Bridge restored, the City of Northfield will build a trail connecting to it. Dakota County is also engineering plans for a bike path connecting Lake Byllesby Regional Park to the Waterford Bridge, creating a continuous trail network. This project will enable future generations to walk and bike across the historic and scenic Cannon River.
Recipient: Waterford Township
Funded Amount: $342,818
Project Details

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, October 11, 2024.

SEPTEMBER Grants Open House
September 5 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm in order to provide additional grants support to our communities. We encourage people to RSVP to Gillian 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 »

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the American Swedish Institute. Have a blog? Let us know!

What is a Kakelugn?
In the heart of Minneapolis, the American Swedish Institute’s Turnblad Mansion proudly hosts the largest collection of kakelugnar, or Scandinavian tile stoves, outside of Sweden. ASI is home to eleven unique kakelugnar, crafted by renowned Swedish designers.

These stoves, like many aspects of the Turnblad Mansion, reflect the Turnblad family’s deep connection to Sweden. As Swedish immigrants to the United States, the Turnblads handpicked these kakelugnar from catalogs and imported them to decorate their home. 

Although the eleven kakelugnar were never used to heat the Turnblad Mansion, each stove remains fully functional. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Blue Earth County’s Main Streets - Blue Earth County Historical Society
• Out and About in Minnesota: Madison Mercantile - Rethos
• ‘Welcome to Your University’ - U of MN Libraries
• First Strib Voices column begins in an Iron Range underground mine - MN Brown
• Windmill Point - Paynesville Historical Society
• Stephen Desnoyer’s Halfway House - Ramsey County Historical Society
• As Time Goes By... - Pope County Historical Society
• Window into Yesterday: “Let’s All Go to the Movies” - Ely-Winton Historical Society
• Back in time: Evelyn Kottka – Stillwater teacher and principal - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• The Plummer House and Water Tower Restoration - History Center of Olmsted County
• We are Family: The Steeles mentor fellow family band Nunnabove - MinneCulture
• Replacing the Bismarck-Mandan Railroad Bridge: Completed in 1882 - Minnesota Bricks
• David Battistel - The First and Last Carload of Iron Ore from the Paulson Mine - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• Robert Czech, M.D., Military Mental Health - Eighth Air Force Historical Society of Minnesota
• Claiming the City: A Global History of Workers’ Fight for Municipal Socialism - East Side Freedom Library
• 1906 Train Wreck and Gopher State Railway Museum - New Prague Area Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

LOCAL

• Collections Assistants - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Mayowood Historic Home Tour Guide - History Center of Olmsted County, Rochester, MN
• Prospect Manager and Researcher - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Experience Design Manager - Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul, MN
• Visitor Experience Staff - The Works, Bloomington, MN

REGIONAL

• Operations Manager - Sheboygan County Museum, Sheboygan, WI
• STEM/Program Outreach Coordinator - Children's Imaginarium, Wausau, WI 
• Digital Marketing Manager - Building for Kids Children's Museum, Appleton, WI
• Assistant Museum Director/Chief Curator - Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, WI
• Graphic Designer - Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Senior Director of Guest Experience & Facilities - Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Museum Store/Visitor Services Associate - Kenosha Museums, City of Kenosha, Kenosha, WI
• Education Member - Jewel Cave National Monument, American Conservation Experience, National Park Service, Custer, SD
• Grant Writer - Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
• Marketing Specialist - University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Program Manager - Elk Grove Historical Museum, Elk Grove Village, IL
• Director of Development - LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
• Development and Membership Coordinator - LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
• Chief Curator & Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs - Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, NE
• Curator & Archivist - Sam Waller Museum, The Pas, MB
• Marketing and Content Coordinator - Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, Ottawa, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

• Lindbergh Public History Intern - Minnesota Historical Society, Little Falls, MN

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Author Andrea Swensson will present her newest book, Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris
September 12 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society - Author Andrea Swensson to present Deeper Blues, her new book on the life of legendary Minneapolis musician Cornbread Harris. There will be a reading from Andrea Swensson and an appearance from Cornbread Harris, followed by a book signing. Swensson's "Deeper Blues" dives into the life and legacy of Minneapolis musical icon James “Cornbread” Harris. This extraordinary narrative, enriched with never-before-seen photographs and featuring an afterword by Jimmy Jam, explores Harris's enduring impact on the Minneapolis Sound through stories of perseverance, grace amid racism and segregation, and the personal costs of a life in music. Cost: $25/$50 (includes a copy of the book). Learn more »

Washington County Rural School Reunion
September 14 @ 12 to 4 pm - Marine on St. Croix: Washington County Historical Society - Washington County had 79 rural school districts and one joint district with Chisago County. These districts were slowly consolidated during the 1940s & 1950s until all of them were closed by the early 1960s. Today, only a few of the Washington County rural schools still stand, including the Hay Lake School in Scandia, Eder School in Oakdale, Valley School in Denmark Township, and the Hopkins School in Hugo. All are welcome from all Washington County Rural Schools. Stop by and share your stories, photographs, and memories of an era gone past. Location: Hay Lake School Museum. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Educational River Cruise: Hannibal’s Invisibles
September 19 @ 4 to 5:30 pm and 6 to 7:30 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - G. Faye Dant is the Founding Director of Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center, which is the only Black history museum in northeastern Missouri. She is the author of the soon-to-be-published “Hannibal’s Invisibles,” a collection of decidedly universal stories in a coffee table book that chronicles the life of local Colored faces and Colored places using vintage photographs. Cost: $35 members, $45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Community Read: Sinclair Lewis' Main Street
September 24 @ 6 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County History Center & Blue Earth County Library - Come to a community read of Sinclair Lewis' Main Street, which was partially written in Mankato. Pick up your free copy of the book at the Library today. Then, join in to discuss the book, and on Thursday, September 26, go for a historic walking tour. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Sandbar Storytelling Festival 
October 10 to 12 - Winona: The Sandbar Storytelling Festival is a three-day event that celebrates the power of storytelling and human experiences. The festival's mission is to promote the art of storytelling for all ages and to preserve and celebrate the power and pleasure of human experiences and cultural traditions. Cost: Two-Day Pass: $100, Day Pass: $50-$60. 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: Menahga Area Historical Museum, Menahga, MN.

Onward and Upward: Our Rural Heritage Panel Discussion and Brunch
September 7 @ 9:30 am - Owatonna: Steele County Historical Society - Four local women to discuss their experiences in the agricultural field. The panelists include Amanda Armstrong, Melinda Cowell, Dawn Kasper, and Donna Ihlenfeld. Cost: $20 members/$25 non-members. Learn more »

Transformative Approaches in Historic Preservation
September 9 @ 7 to 9 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - Join Amy Thomas, Rethos' Director of Real Estate, for a networking and happy hour event to explore how adaptive reuse of historic buildings and innovative financing options are driving successful small-scale rehab projects. Cost: $15. Learn more »

Online Course: Developing a Collections Management Policy
Beginning September 17 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Collecting to Collections Care - A Collections Management Policy is a vital document for any collecting institution, outlining legal and ethical requirements for collecting practices and collections care. This course helps participants develop or update their policy, covering changing legal and ethical standards and the protection provided by a well-written policy. Participants will gain confidence in editing or creating a policy focused on laws and ethics impacting collection care and management. Cost: $99/After Sept 2: $149. Learn more »

Where Does Governance Stop and Management Begin?
September 19 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - A nonprofit’s board and the staff need to be collaborative partners to achieve the mission of the organization. However, there are times when roles and responsibilities become blurred. They will clarify where governance stops and management begins. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Architecture & Identity: Black Modernism
September 19 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: National Trust for Historic Preservation - Black Modernism encompasses the underappreciated influence of the Black American experience in modern architecture and design. Join Dr. Michelle Wilkinson and experts for a discussion on stewarding and interpreting Black Modernism and the cultural significance of Black American architects. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Strategies for Born Digital Collections
September 19 @ 12 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - This webinar is designed for those interested in improving their organization's collection and preservation practices for digital content. It covers managing emails, websites, and files on computers and removable media, highlighting different approaches for their acquisition and maintenance. The instructor will discuss software, hardware, and best practices for managing born-digital content, helping attendees understand technical requirements and prioritize preservation efforts. Participants will also learn from examples of workflows, aiding in the development of practical solutions for their institutions. Cost: $45. Learn more »

Fundamentals of AV Preservation
September 26 through November 7 - Online course: Northeast Document Conservation Center - This course is designed to teach participants how to effectively manage and preserve audiovisual collections over six sessions. The course topics include risks to these materials, proper care and handling, inventory and assessment, reformatting project planning and execution, digital collection management, and disaster preparedness. Participants will also learn how to inventory audiovisual holdings, prioritize materials for reformatting, and draft a Statement of Work. The course includes six live webinars and an online textbook for self-study. Cost: $375. Learn more »

Consideration and Care of Islamicate Collections
September 27 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Collecting to Collections Care - Islamicate or Islamic Collections encompass a wide range of materials, including sacred and secular items from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Caring for these collections involves understanding their complexities, identifying sacred objects, and adopting respectful approaches to preservation. The webinar aims to help small to medium-sized collecting institutions understand sacred objects and care for Islamicate collections.  Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preservation Plans: An Overview
September 27 @ 11 am to 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. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

National Council on Public History Book Award
November 1 - (Deadline): National Council on Public History - A $1,000 award for the best book about or growing out of public history published within the previous two calendar years (2023 and 2024). Learn more »

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
November 15 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (AAHC program) is designed to build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums. Learn more »

Local History Publication Award
The Center for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University is accepting submissions for the 2025 Local History Publication Awards beginning January 1, 2025. Works published between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, will be considered in the Book and Article Categories for the Professional and Independent Divisions. The winners of each division will receive a $300 cash award and a plaque. Learn more »

Translation Projects
January 16, 2025 - (deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - Through fellowships to published translators, the NEA supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English. Grants are up to $25,000. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - August 2024 content update
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub this week added 6,022 new issues and 47,815 new newspaper pages.
New publicly available titles & date spans:

• Carlton County vidette (Carlton, Minn.) 1891-1892
• Clearwater crystal (Bagley, Minn.) 1909-1913
• Grant County herald (Elbow Lake, Minn.) 1887-1892
• Jackson republic (Jackson, Minn.) 1870-1876
• Kittson County enterprise (Hallock, Minn.) 1882-1895
• Lac qui Parle County press (Madison, Minn.) 1886-1894
• Rainy River region (Baudette, Minn.) 1903-1911
• Baudette region (Baudette, Minn.) 1912-1915
• Organized farmer (Red Wing, Minn.) 1919-1932
• Nordstern (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1929-1931 added
• Prison mirror (Stillwater, Minn.) 1925-1968

New issues for the years 2009-2024 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library.

The Original Currie State Bank Clock Gets New Home at End O Line Park
Murray County Wheel Herald – The old Currie State Bank clock recently found a new, highly visible home, after spending several decades safely tucked away out of sight on the second story of a clock collector’s barn in the rural Slayton area. Continue reading »

Featured Book Exploring the St. Croix River Valley Adventures on and off the Water by Angie Hong. University of Minnesota Press. Author Presentation Date: September 10 @ 7 pm Location: Washington County Heritage Center, Stillwater, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History A Hot Heritage: Swedish Americans and Coffee Volume 63, Issue 5, 2013	Featured Article MNopedia Minnesota State Fair, 1917 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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