Field Note

Local History Services and members of the MNHS Conservation team, including Sydney Goethel and Bailey Kinsky (pictured here), traveled to St. Bernard’s Catholic School in Cologne, MN, to test a taxidermy collection for the presence of pesticides. The taxidermy was created by nuns as early as 1911. The tests were conducted using an instrument called a portable X-Ray Fluorimeter which is non-destructive and confirmed the presence of arsenic and lead in the collection. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

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 »

Spotlighted Heritage Partnership: Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob Interpretive Program Partnership
The City of Mendota Heights, Dakota County, and the Pilot Knob Preservation Association collaborated with Full Circle Indigenous Planning and Design to create an Interpretive Concept Design Plan (ICDP) for the Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob site. This plan centers on Indigenous perspectives and aims to preserve the site as a natural and sacred area, focusing on the themes: Gather and Honor, Connect and Belong, Listen and Respect, Learn and Reflect.

The partnership emphasizes listening to Dakota voices, shaping how interpretive principles are conveyed with minimal impact. The ICDP outlines plans for a permanent interpretive program that connects to the Minnesota River Greenway and the Snyder property, promoting Dakota culture through collaboration among partners.
Recipient: City of Mendota Heights
Partners: Dakota County, Pilot Knob Preservation Association 
Funded Amount: $50,000

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

DECEMBER Grants Open House
December 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 Pope County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Search the Pope County Museum Collection On-Line 
Did you know that you can now access our collection on-line?

There are over 20 THOUSAND items from the Pope County Historical Society available at MNCollections.org. Over 90% of the three dimensional objects can now be researched from the comfort of your home! We are adding photographs and archival objects all the time. We share this site with over 50 other museums from around the state – and you can search all the collections at once! Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Minnesota Main Street Holiday Events - Rethos
• City of Plymouth adds a new collection of Hennepin County maps to MDL - Minnesota Digital Library News
• Mapping Prejudice’s Michael Corey receives 2024 Research Technical Staff Award - U of MN Libraries
• The Catholic Cook Book - Wright County Historical Society
• From the President: December 2024 - Danish American Center
• Life exists within a thin candy shell - Minnesota Brown
• Nicholas Hebenstreit: Immigrant to Civil War Veteran - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Wargo Nature Center's Heritage Lab - Anoka County Historical Society

• A New Hardanger Fiddle in Moorhead Minnesota - Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County

• Anglo-Dakota Families in 19th Century Minnesota - Linden Hills History Study Group
• Nina Corondan, Inara and Oana Zayic - Heritage Organization of Romanian-Americans in Minnesota
• Bookends Online Edition: Thomas R. Smith - Wadena County Historical Society
• A Conversation with Marlene Johnson - Washington County Historical Society
• Lake Vermilion Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla - Tower-Soudan Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Security Coordinator - MN History Center
• Associate Vice President for Tribal Nation Relations & NAI - MN History Center (extended)

LOCAL

• Three positions: Lead Archivist, Support Archivist, Assistant Archivist - Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Group, Mendota, MN
• RFP for history book on the Carleton College Cowling Arboretum - Carleton College, Northfield, MN
• Senior Manager of Operations - Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, MN
• Finance Specialist - Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, MN
• Event Coordinator - Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, MN
• Archeologist - Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, MN
• Performing Educator - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Museum Facilitator & Visitor Services Representative - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Historic Preservation Specialist - South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD
• Education Coordinator - Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Curatorial Assistant - MCA Corporation, Wood Dale, IL
• Specialist, Digitization - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Executive Director - Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, MI
• Archives Technician - Dayton Federal Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, Moraine, OH
• Exhibition Designer - Carnegie Museums, Pittsburgh, PA
• Assistant or Associate Curator of Twentieth-Century Art - The Joslyn, Omaha, NE
• Curator - Charles Bessey Herbarium, University of Nebraska State Museum
• Director, Conservation and Collection Management - Ingenium, Canada's Museum of Science and Innovation, Ottawa, ON

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Ely-Winton Historical Society.

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

Beyond the Book: Fun Ideas for Showcasing your Family History Research
December 4 @ 7 to 8:15 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Over the last dozen years or so, Janice Nickerson developed an assortment of creative ways to give your family the gift of genealogy without the slog of writing a 500-page tome. This webinar presentation will demonstrate a variety of ideas ranging from quick and easy “teasers” to complex projects that really showcase your findings. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Holiday Open House
December 7 @ 1 to 4 pm - Slayton: Murray County Historical Society - Come to the Dinehart Holt House and enjoy holiday treats and view over a dozen trees decorated by local organizations under the theme “A Country School Christmas.” Cost: Free. Learn more »

Why Old is Green - Sustainability in Older Homes
December 12 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Winona: Rethos - This class, led by Natalie Heneghan from Habitat for Humanity, explores sustainability in homes, focusing on adapting old homes through traditional materials, good design, and energy efficiency. Location: No Name Bar. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fourth Annual Holiday Open House
December 14 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - The public is invited to stop by to enjoy seasonal music by the Festive Flute Loops. Visit the 1882 Historic Church, tour the Golden Valley History Museum’s immersive exhibition, and enjoy a display of classic toys from decades past. Learn more »

Beginning Genealogy Drop-in Class
December 29 @ 1 pm - Mendota Heights: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Are you just beginning your family history journey? Come and stop by the Minnesota Genealogy Center for a presentation on researching your family history, some time for questions and answers, and a tour of the library. These events are open to everyone. Membership in the Minnesota Genealogical Society is not required. Cost: Free. 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 River Valley Sugarbeet Museum, Crookston, MN.

Civic Learning Week 2025: Youth, Your Site, and the Reinvigoration of Faith in Our Democracy
December 10 @ 1 to 2:15  pm (CT) - Online: AASLH - Join in for a webinar on empowering youth to engage in our communities and democracy, addressing their declining faith in democratic processes. Learn practical tips and best practices on how local history sites can drive this change during Civic Learning Week 2025. Cost: $15 members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Charting the Course for a Fiscally Fit & Flight Ready Board
December 11 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Join this workshop to learn best practices for creating impactful financial reports that empower your board to make informed decisions about your organization’s fiscal health. You'll gain skills to transform basic updates into powerful decision-making tools and enhance board engagement. Cost: $50 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »

Care of Newspaper Clippings
January 7 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care - This webinar will explore the rapid deterioration of newsprint and provide various approaches and tools for preserving newspaper collections. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• How museums can thrive with a little Bluesky thinking - Museums Association
• How to Link a Bluesky Account to a Custom Domain - MuseumNext

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

It's History Awards Season - SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS! As you reflect on 2024, consider what great history projects you and your colleagues have accomplished. Consider nominating notable history work for either a Minnesota History Award or an AASLH Leadership in History Award. Great work deserves recognition; recognition inspires and informs others.
MINNESOTA History Awards Nominations are open and accepted until January 15, 2025. Nominate projects accomplished from July 1, 2023 to October 1, 2024 for the 2025 Minnesota History Awards program. Since 2009, the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums has recognized outstanding history work by local organizations at its Annual Meeting. A formal nomination process is conducted and reviewed by a panel of peers to determine award recipients. There are two award programs: the Minnesota History Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Learn more » Award Categories: Behind the Scenes Collections Civic Engagement & Public Celebrations Publications Interpretive Programs Lifetime Achievement	AASLH Leadership in History Awards Nominations are open and accepted until March 1, 2025. Nominate accomplishments occurring within the eighteen months prior to the March 1 deadline (i.e., September 1, 2023 through March 1, 2025. Publications must be published within two years prior to January 1 of the year of the competition). American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) bestows the Leadership in History Awards in recognition of excellence in the field of state and local history. Learn more » AASLH recognizes EXCELLENCE in the following areas:  Exhibits Public and educational programming Special projects Publications Categories are: Best Large Press Local History Book Best Small Press/Independent Author Local History Book Best History Practice Book Award Multimedia Individual Achievement

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 »

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities
February 13, 2025 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - This grant supports national or regional (multi-state) training programs for scholars, humanities professionals, and advanced graduate students to broaden and extend their knowledge of digital humanities. 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 »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - November 2024 content update
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 6,626 new issues and 87,678 new newspaper pages.

New publicly available titles & date spans:

• Eveleth news (Eveleth, Minn.) 1940-1941 added
• Eveleth news-clarion (Eveleth, Minn.) 1948-1961 added
• Eveleth news (Eveleth, Minn.) 1965-1967, 1970-1971 added
• Eveleth scene (Eveleth, Minn.) 2001-2013 added
• Gilbert herald (Gilbert, Minn.) 2008-2013
• Glenwood eagle (Glenwood, Minn.) 1871-1874
• Pope County press (Glenwood, Minn.) 1879-1885
• Glenwood herald (Glenwood, Minn.) 1890-1896
• Glenwood messenger (Glenwood, Minn.) 1883-1885
• Glenwood times (Glenwood, Minn.) 1889
• Villard monitor (Villard, Minn.) 1886
• Sanning och frihet (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1896-1910
• Sanning och ljus (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1913-1920
• Bayport herald (Bayport, Minn.) 1941-1943 added
• Photo news (Bayport, Minn.) 1965
• Elmo echo (Lake Elmo, Minn.) 1890
• Marine Mills mascot (Marine on St. Croix, Minn.) 1904-1908
• Community life (Newport, Minn.) 1929-1931
• News (Newport, Minn.) 1889
• St. Paul Park review (St. Paul Park, Minn.) 1915
• Suburbanite (St. Paul Park, Minn.) 1925
• Town crier (Willernie, Minn.) 1944
• Forest Lake advertiser (Forest Lake, Minn.) 1909-1915
• Forest Lake enterprise (Forest Lake, Minn.) 1903-1906
• Forest Lake times (Forest Lake, Minn.) 1916-1944
• Duluth herald (Duluth, Minn.) 1942-1953 added
• Shorelines (Silver Bay, Minn.) 1983-1984
• Gull's eye (Silver Bay, Minn.) 1984-1985
• Mariner school bag (Silver Bay, Minn.) 1984-1989

A sweet lesson: History museum teaches appreciation for buildings, design through gingerbread
MPR — About two dozen people crowded around tables in an art studio in downtown Sauk Centre on a recent Saturday, each with a box containing the essential elements of a building: four walls, a roof, a tube of “mortar” that looks suspiciously like frosting. Ann Marie Johnson, who handles community engagement for the Stearns History Museum, welcomed the group. The museum sponsors the community classes that aim to teach concepts of architecture and design using an unusual medium: gingerbread. Continue reading »

Northfield History Center repatriates items to Prairie Island
Northfield Republican Eagle — The Northfield History Center has repatriated a number of items from its collection to the Prairie Island Indian Community. The Northfield History Center voluntarily invited the Prairie Island Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) to review its collection and then took steps for the THPO to take immediate possession of the items. In a process that has been historically fraught with difficulties for tribes, the willingness of the Northfield History Center made it a positive experience and cemented a foundation for future collaborations between the two entities. Continue reading »

Friends of Dorothy Pitch in For a Special Pair of Shoes
Lavender — The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota is calling on all friends of Dorothy to help bring a pair of the iconic ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” home where they belong. The Judy Garland Museum is located in the beloved movie star’s childhood home in Grand Rapids, Minn., and is a loving display of the cherished star’s life, accomplishments and artifacts. Continue reading »

This 'elegant stone' home likely connected Rushford, Minnesota, to the Underground Railroad
Inform — The George and Harriet Stevens, Roswell and George Valentine, Hiram and Celeste Walker, and Niles and Lydia Carpenter homes each shared secret rooms with the believed purpose of protecting slaves on their journey to freedom, according to the Rushford Area Historical Society. Continue reading »

In Henderson: The turkey that made this writer smile
Le Sueur County News — Inflatable mass-produced holiday décor abounds. So when I saw an over-sized handcrafted turkey positioned outside a small town museum, I took notice. And stopped to photograph it. Continue reading »

Featured Book Writing Local History Today: A Guide to Researching, Publishing, and Marketing Your Book, Second Edition by Thomas A. Mason and J. Kent Calder. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers/AASLH.	Featured Article Minnesota History Minnesota’s John Day Smith Law and the Death Penalty Debate Volume 58, Issue 2, 2002	Featured Article MNopedia Minnesota Human Rights Act 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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