Field Note

On Thursday, October 10, MNHS staff traveled to the Roseau County Historical Society in
Roseau to see the progress on a Legacy grant-funded project to rehouse the RCHS collections. Britt Dahl, executive director, showed off the new shelving as the RCHS staff is in the progress of moving the collections back into the storage space.

PLEASE NOTE

Local History News will be traveling for the holidays and will not be published on December 25, 2024, and on January 1, 2025. Local History News will return to your inboxes on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Happy Holidays to you and yours from the Heritage Preservation staff!

History Matters Day at the Capitol is February 27

Save the Date: Speak up for history during History Matters Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The 2025 legislative session will be an important year for funding history initiatives. Plan to visit with your legislators and let them know why history matters to you.

Stay tuned for more information on registration and about a webinar in the weeks prior to the event focused on tips and strategies for talking with elected officials about support for history.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Heritage Partnership Program Grant: The 1980s Farm Crisis in West Central Minnesota: Interpretive Plan
The West Central Minnesota Historical Association hired a consultant to do the initial research into and develop an interpretive plan about the impact of the 1980s farm crisis in West Central Minnesota. The consultant worked with WCMHA to learn more about the member organizations, our audiences, and our needs for this project. They researched the topic and conducted interviews with residents in our area to develop interpretive themes for the plan.
Recipients: West Central Minnesota Historical Association, Chippewa County Historical Society, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Lac Qui Parle County Historical Society, Lyon County Historical Society, Renville County Historical Society, Swift County Historical Society, Yellow Medicine County Historical Society
Funded Amount: $39,250

Heritage Partnership Program Grant 
Heritage Partnership Program grants build the capacity of two or more eligible organizations to work together on their shared goals for Minnesota’s history. The mandatory pre-application is due Friday, January 24, 2025, and the final application deadline is Friday, March 7, 2025. The pre-application process is a requirement of this grant program. For more information contact John. Learn more »

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, January 10, 2025.

Grants Office Webinar: Museum Lighting Projects
December 19 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum lights are an integral part of the visitor experience and can help with the long-term preservation of your collection. This webinar will explain how to use the grants program to plan and install updated lighting in your museum, including the different requirements for both non-historic buildings and buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Presented by Outreach Conservator Megan Brakob Narvey.
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 Meeker County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Litchfield from Above, 1901
Displayed in the Museum is a large aerial photograph of Litchfield. The photo looks towards the southwest, with Lake Ripley in the background and many homes and businesses among the tree-lined streets.

Today, between satellite images and drone cameras, views from above are almost common place. For the earliest aerial photos, the photographer would simply climb to the tallest structure and hope for the best. But in 1901, when this Litchfield photo was taken, photographers were using new and improved tools to literally expand their horizons. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• A Complete Unknown? Not for ‘The Little Sandy Review’ - U of MN Libraries
• The Fort Snelling All-Star Basketball Team - Minneapolis Park History
• Brandon High School Basketball Team 1940 - Brandon History Center
• New Exhibit – Central Minnesota in WW1 - Pope County Historical Society
• Firefighters injured in Training School blaze 100 years ago - Goodhue County Historical Society
• Despite war, Rochester's Christmas in 1951 was magical - History Center of Olmsted County
• The Merchant House Hotel - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the New Prague Area Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• One Family's Journey on Minnesota's Trail of Tears 1862 - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
• Antonela Poptelecan-Nguyen and Fr Ioan Poptelecan - Heritage Organization of Romanian-Americans in Minnesota
• Linden Hills 101 - Aaron Isaacs and Peter Sussman - Linden Hills History Study Group
• The Legacy of Gold Cross Ambulance - History Center of Olmsted County
• Pearl and Walter Hanse: Hall of Honor - Stevens County Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Museum Supervisor - MN History Center
• Facilities Maintenance Technician, Adjunct Properties - Kellogg Center
• Gale Scholar, Research Historian (Gale Scholars Program) - MN History Center
• Site Supervisor - Split Rock Lighthouse
• Resource Protection Officer - Historic Fort Snelling

LOCAL

• Group Visit and Program Support Staff - The Works, Bloomington, MN
• Assistant Curator - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Library Specialist, Collections Archivist - Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
• Interpretive Garden Exhibit Coordinator - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Community Outreach Coordinator - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Administrative Coordinator - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Museum Archivist - Harley-Davidson Museum, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Milwaukee, WI
• Processing Archivist - School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific, Milwaukee, WI
• Director of Curatorial Affairs - Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Maintenance Technician - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN
• Executive Director - Indiana Barn Foundation, Indianapolis, IN
• Collections Manager (Museum Registrar) - Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Bloomington, IN
• International Women's Air & Space Museum - Executive Director, Cleveland, OH
• Head of Conservation - Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH
• Syms Archivist - American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, OH
• Presenter of African American History - Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI
• Senior Manager for Marketing - Historical Society of Michigan, Lansing, MI
• Meetings and Events Coordinator - American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA
• Assistant Curator - The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Kansas City, MO
• Curatorial Assistant - The Joslyn, Omaha, NE
• Curatorial Assistant - Greater Sudbury Museums, City of Greater Sudbury, Sudbury, ON
• GIS and Data Research Associate - National Trust for Historic Preservation, Remote

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• State of Wisconsin Student Diversity Internship Program - Statewide
• Internship in Historic Preservation Law (Summer 2025) - National Trust for Historic Preservation, Remote

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Event: Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of History Mystery: “Murder at the Carson Christmas Party”
December 26 & 27 @ 5:30 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society - This year’s theme, “Murder at the Carson Christmas Party,” will transport attendees back to 1894, where they will meet some of Bemidji’s earliest settlers, including the Carson family, the Douds, Shaynowishkung, and others. Local community members will bring these historical figures to life by portraying the suspects in this thrilling historical mystery. Cost: $10 - $15. Learn more »

Roundtable: Litchfield G.A.R. Civil War Roundtable
January 9, 2025 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Historical Society - George Romano will present on John Ericson: Inventor and the Civil War. Cost: Free members/$3 nonmembers. Learn more »

Event: Kid's Day - Snowshoe Adventure
January 11, 2025 @ 12 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - RCHS will partner with Riverbend Nature Center to talk about the history of snowshoeing, how to make them, and of course how to play in them. Location: Meet at the North Alexander Park Playground. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Woodbury Heritage Society 42nd Annual Meeting
January 12, 2025 @ 12 pm - Woodbury: Woodbury Heritage Society - The keynote speaker this year is Mike Frain, who will present “Life of a Civil War Soldier.” Frain has been providing lectures and demonstrations on the American Soldier in the Civil War since 1981 and was in the TV series ‘North and South’ as well as in the 1989 movie 'Glory.' In addition to the speaker, there will be displays about the US Civil War era. Location: St. John Lutheran Church. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Dried Orange Ornaments
January 18, 2025 @ 11 am to 1:45 pm - St. Paul: Gibbs Farm - Family-friendly crafting to brighten up your winter. The oranges are already sliced and dried so you get to do the fun part. Design your own simple ornaments using the orange slices and wooden beads. Two sessions to choose from. Cost: $15. Learn more »

Event: Let's Celebrate Benjamin Franklin 
January 18, 2025 @ 10 am - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Calling all young inventors! Come to a birthday celebration for America's most famous inventor, Benjamin Franklin! Help celebrate as they share his story and information about some of his greatest inventions. Work on your own new creations as well. The museum will provide random supplies to see what you can come up with. Be sure to bring your imagination. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Event: Drop-In Writers Lounge 
Betsy-Tacy Society - Each month, they offer a two-hour block for writers to gather via Zoom and work quietly on their own while enjoying the fellowship of other writers. The next Writer's Lounge will be on January 19, 2025 @ 1 to 3 pm. Cost: Free. Pre-registration is required. Learn more »

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

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Red Wing Shoe Company Museum, operated by the Red Wing Shoe Company, Red Wing, MN.
Photograph by Axiom71, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Minnesota Museum Funding Survey
Executive Directors Wayne Gannaway from the History Center of Olmsted County and Matt Carter from the Dakota County Historical Society have developed a general survey for Minnesota history organizations about the funding they receive from government sources. Whether you choose to complete the survey or not, they will share the results with anyone who can benefit from the information. 

The survey should take no more than 5 - 10 minutes to complete. Please submit your responses by February 28, 2025, so they have enough time to analyze the data, prepare a report, and present their findings at the 2025 MALHM Conference. 

NOTE: To take the survey, download the PDF file and open it using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application.

Cultural Competency
Beginning January 6, 2025 - Online  Museums Study - Creating culturally competent organizations is essential for reflecting and responding to the communities we serve, impacting our programs and collections. Join Helen Wong Smith for a 4-week online course to learn the skills needed to enhance cultural competency and improve relationships within organizations and communities. Cost: $400. Learn more » 

12 Golden Rules of Nonprofit Finance
January 8, 2025 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Nonprofit financial health can seem like an elusive, nuanced, and subjective judgment call. From budgeting to operating reserves, if you follow the 12 Golden Rules of nonprofit finance, you’ll be on your way to a better understanding of nonprofit financial health. This session is a great introduction for those who are new to nonprofit finance. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Introduction to the AASLH Awards Program
January 15, 2025 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - American Association for State and Local History - Since 1945, AASLH has given Leadership in History Awards to recognize excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history, uplifting diverse organizations from across the country. If you're curious about their awards program, join their free informational webinar to learn more about the program and the nomination process. Applications are due by March 1 for the 2025 season. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Open Source Software
January 27, 2025 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Learn more about open source software and why it might be the perfect fit for your archives. In this webinar, they'll explore the advantages of using open-source software over proprietary alternatives, focusing on its long-term benefits for archival management. As archivists, we are stewards of our collections, responsible for ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations. Open-source software supports this mission by offering greater flexibility, transparency, and community-driven improvements. Unlike proprietary software, which can become obsolete or unsupported, open-source solutions are continuously developed and maintained by a global community. This means you can trust that the platforms you choose will remain robust and adaptable, even as technology evolves. Cost: Free. Register »

Designing Accessible Online and In-Person Presentations
January 30, 2025 @ 2 to 3:15 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Designing accessible presentations is crucial to effectively reach the nearly quarter of the American population with disabilities, whether online or in person. Simple adjustments like using microphones, captioning, and ensuring good lighting can make your presentations more inclusive and impactful. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Museums and Rural Populations - Museum People

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Institutes for Higher Education Faculty
February 12, 2025 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - These NEH-funded institutes are professional development programs that convene higher education faculty from across the nation to deepen their understanding of significant topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching. Learn more »

Institutes for K-12 Educators
February 12, 2025 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - NEH-funded institutes are professional development programs that convene K-12 educators from across the nation to deepen their understanding of significant topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching. Learn more »

Mark A. Greene Emerging Leader Award 
February 28, 2025 - (Deadline):  Society of American Archivists - This award celebrates and encourages early-career archivists who have completed archival work of broad merit, demonstrated significant promise of leadership, and/or performed commendable service to the archives profession. Learn more »

Mosaic Scholarship
February 28, 2025 - (Deadline): The Society of American Archivists - The scholarship provides financial and mentoring support to students of color pursuing graduate education in archival science, encourages students to pursue a career as an archivist, and promotes the diversification of the American archives profession. Learn more »

Cokie Roberts Research Fund for Women’s History 
April 14, 2025 - (Deadline): National Archives Foundation - Awards up to $12,500 to support annual fellowships for applicants who will perform new research at the National Archives to elevate women’s history. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Minnesota State Archives November 2024 Acquisitions
Collecting and preserving local government records with permanent historical value is a strength of the State Archives collection, and records added this month enhance that strength. Many of the records added this month to the State Archives collection are valuable for family and local history research. Learn more »

• The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County transferred records of Kurtz Township, dated 1892-1977, including town record books/clerk’s books, treasurer’s books, road record book, birth and death records, and other records.  
• The historical society also transferred McDonald Home Hospital (Barnesville) registers dated 1931-1939.  
• The City of Maple Lake (Wright County) transferred justice court dockets dated 1888-1939 and 1959 and birth and death records dated 1893-1953.  
• Important functions of Minnesota state government are documented with the transfer of House of Representatives House Bills dated 2021-2022; the house bills continue the existing set dating from 1957.  
• The Revisor of Statutes transferred rules and regulations (photocopies), dated 1945-1980, concerning the Social Security Department/Social Welfare Division and its successor, the Public Welfare Department. 

Archival Digitization Team Update for December
The Archival Digitization Team at MNHS converts analog materials into digital copies to enhance accessibility to collections, covering a range of items from manuscripts to audio and video cassettes. Learn more »

Published Media Content:

• Clara Jorgensen (2 videocassettes, 25.6 GB)
• Mike Lynch (2 videocassettes & 2 audiocassettes, 26 GB)
• Walter James Murray (2 audiocassettes, 884 MB)
• Robert C. Bruce Productions (31 16mm films, 4.2 TB)

Published Collections Content:

• St. Paul Police Dept. Identification Photograph Cards (305 folders, 614 photos)
• Northern Pacific Railway Engineering Department (56 folders, 9,202 pages)
• Burlington Northern Clown Club and Band Records (16 folders, 3,797 pages)
• Waseca County Probate Court (2 microfilm reels, 3,435 pages)
• Henry M. Lyman Letters (1 Folder, 12 pages)

No ruby slippers, but this addition to the Judy Garland Museum brings even more Minnesota meaning
Grand Rapids Review – Even though the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids was unable to top the winning bid for Dorothy’s ruby slippers, a new addition is still making its way to the collection. The museum’s executive director Janie Heitz flew out to Dallas hoping to bring the slippers back to the museum, but Heitz didn’t have a whopping $28 million to spare at the auction on Saturday. Continue reading »

Lily Burrows ’26 explores career as museum curator with Rice County Historical Society
Carleton College – News Lily Burrows ’26 explored the past this summer as an intern at the Rice County Historical Society in nearby Faribault, Minnesota. The experience has given Burrows a deeper understanding of the museum field and the complex ethical responsibilities that come with preserving and presenting history. Continue reading »

Featured Book Red Stained: The Life of Hilda Simms by Jokeda "JoJo" Bell. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History Stereograph Devotees Volume 64, Issue 7, 2015	Featured Article MNopedia Sawmills, Red Lake Indian Reservation 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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