Field Note

Staff from Local History Services visited the Nobles County Historical Society in Worthington to discuss strategies for digitizing their extensive collection of negatives from the regional newspaper. This collection includes tens of thousands of negatives, with the oldest dating back to the 1940s.

Sign up for History Matters Day at the Capitol

Join us for History Matters Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 27, 2025. This legislative session is vital for obtaining funding for history projects. Take the opportunity to meet with your legislators and share why history matters to you. History Matters Day at the Capitol provides a platform to highlight the efforts of the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and other history organizations. It encourages advocates to discuss with their legislators the importance of state funding to preserve our historical legacy. Sign up now »

LHS Webinar: Connecting with Your Public Officials: Making the Case for Public Funding
Join Local History Services on Friday, February 14 at 10 am for a webinar that shares tips and ideas for speaking with your elected officials and making a case for your organization to request public funds. Join David Kelliher, MNHS Director of Public Policy & Government Relations, and Todd Mahon, State History Services Manager, for a presentation and conversation on approaching elected officials. This presentation will be useful for those planning to attend the History Matters Day at the Minnesota State Capitol and for approaching elected officials and staff with township boards, city councils, and county commissions.

Date: Friday, February 14 @ 10 to 11 am (CST)
Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nsq-gkmq-xuz
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 347-486-6566‬ PIN: ‪587 931 116‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nsq-gkmq-xuz?pin=6372250366281

Heritage Preservation Grants

FEBRUARY Grants Open House
February 6 - 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 Webinar: First Steps Towards a Grant
February 20 @ 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#

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, April 11, 2025.

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

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

The Everyday Activism of the North Central Voters League in St. Paul
In 1926, the St. Paul Echo reflected on the necessity for Black activism in Minnesota, arguing that:

[d]isillusionment comes early to those of us . . . who are dusky in hue. Democracy is oftener than not demonocracy; justice seems to have two facets; opportunity, translated to us by white tongues, comes through as lack of opportunity; and even Christian loses much of its meaning.

But we must all learn . . . that we must live with our skins, and that perpetual complaint will do little to help our cause. Forgetting what we are is impossible as long as we are surrounded by a white world, but there is open to all of us that avenue of escape down the hard path of conscientious endeavor in every worth-while pursuit. That is the only simple panacea for the vanquishing of racial obstacles.

Minnesota’s capital city offered insight into the imperative of the Echo’s call. A 1930 study of local businesses found that 80 percent of surveyed firms would not consider hiring Black workers, and many unions had constitutional bans on admitting Black laborers. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• The Pulse of History: Honoring Our Physical Storytellers - Winona County Historical Society
• Journey With Us - Woodbury Heritage Society
• Larry Long, ‘the American Troubadour,’ is giving a voice to the unheard - UMN Libraries
• From the President: February 2025 - Danish American Center
• “Hoops and Dreams” basketball oral histories now available in MDL - Minnesota Digital Library News
• National Register Evaluation Report - Morrison County Historical Society
• 919 West Myrtle Street - Washington Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the African American Registry. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

Post Civil War Black Business, Fiscal Banking History in America, Dr. Peter Rachleff
Dr. Peter Rachleff is an author, professor, administrator, historian, and activist. In this segment, he chronicles his important research into the black-and-white compensation episode efforts right after the American Civil War. Watch Video »

More MN Tube posts:

• Episode 1: Tracks in the Snow - Stearns History Museum
• Dr. Hiram Burns “Golden Glaze” Barn, Alden, Minnesota - Minnesota Bricks
• Minn CWRT 2024 Symposium, Dr. Lund Freedom of Speech - Minnesota Civil War Round Tables
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - Stevens County History Museum
• Gary Nereson - Anoka County Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Historic Site Guide I - Snake River Fur Post

LOCAL

• Senior Manager of Operations - Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, MN
• Associate Curator of American Paintings - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Executive Director - A Center for the Arts, Fergus Falls, MN
• Executive Director - Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead, MN
• Executive Director - Legacy of the Lakes Museum, Alexandria, MN

REGIONAL

• Digital Marketing Strategist - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI
• Health Sciences Special Collections Librarian - University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
• Digital Asset Manager - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Collections Administrative Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Mead Museum Education & Interpretive Program Coordinator - Mead Museum, Yankton, SD
• Associate Director – Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Exhibit Designer - Taylor Studios, Rantoul, IL
• Digital Preservation Specialist - Joseph Regenstein Library, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Bilingual School Programs Instructor - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Assistant Curator Pteridophytes and Conservation Ecologist - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Special Events Coordinator - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Assistant Director, Campaign Management - Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Cultural Arts Coordinator - Mt. Prospect Park District, Mount Prospect, IL
• Site Manager - Adena Mansion & Gardens, Ohio History Connection, Chillicothe, OH
• CRM Manager - National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Columbus, OH
• VP, Education and Interpretation - National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, OH
• Assistant Site Manager - Newark Earthworks & Flint Ridge, Ohio History Connection, Heath, OH
• Interpretive Supervisor - Newark Earthworks & Flint Ridge, Ohio History Connection, Heath, OH
• Marketing and Communications Officer - Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
• Museum & Historic Site Administrator 1 - Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg, PA
• Museum and Historic Site Administrator 1 - Cornwall Iron Furnace, Cornwall, PA
• Oral Historian - University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
• Oral Historian of Recent US History - Oral History Center, Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
• Director of Archives and Special Collections - GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco, CA
• Conservator, Works on Paper - Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
• Education Manager - Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, ON
• Historical Site Interpreter - Grande Prairie Museum, Grande Prairie, AB
• Technician, Conservation and Preservation, Special Projects - Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, QB
• Technician, Conservation and Preservation - Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, QB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Mellon Fellow in Photograph Conservation - Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Archives Intern - Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
• C.O. Miniger Education Fellow - National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

A Genealogy Dream Team: Combining Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker
February 8 @ 10 to 11:30 am - Mendota Heights: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Overwhelmed by Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker? This workshop provides a step-by-step guide to using both programs effectively, streamlining your research and creating a meticulously documented family tree. Learn powerful search strategies, manage data efficiently, and sync information seamlessly across platforms to take control of your family history. Cost: $30 members/$40 nonmembers. Learn more »

Living Black Museum
February 8 @ 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm - St. Paul: Macalester College, Leonard Center - Experience African American history-makers come to life in this immersive event. Costumed actors will present speeches and tell the stories of influential Black figures throughout history. Learn more »

Historic Valentine Making
February 8 @ 10 to 11:15 am - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Create your own historic Valentine at the History Center this Valentine's Day! This children's program will feature a Valentine's Day story and a craft activity where kids can make a special valentine to keep or give. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Exhibit Opening Reception: Land to Table-Food Stories from Clay County
February 11 @ 5 pm - Moorhead: Hjemkomst Center - This exhibit highlights the importance of food in Clay County. Food shapes everything from the physical landscape to how we view ourselves. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Civil War Roundtable - 8th Minnesota Volunteers
February 13 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Historical Society - Join author Paul Hodnefield for a presentation on his book, "Sherman's Woodticks: 8th Minnesota Volunteers," detailing the regiment's challenging final year of the Civil War and their humorous acts of rebellion against injustice. Learn about this fiercely independent group of soldiers who traveled more miles and served under more extreme conditions than any other Union Army unit. Cost: Free members/$3 nonmembers. Learn more »

What’s Love Got to Do with It? Understanding and Overcoming Partner Violence 
February 13 @ 6 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - This program provides tools and knowledge to confront and overcome partner violence, teaching participants to recognize abuse, understand support systems, and connect with resources. Expert speakers will lead a conversation offering practical guidance and compassionate dialogue for those directly affected, supporting others, or seeking to build a safer community. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Is DEI Dead? Panel Discussion
February 13 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery - The distinguished panel for this event will explore the impact of the Supreme Court case eliminating affirmative action in college admissions and the recent actions by corporations and the government ditching their DEI programs. They will discuss the future of DEI and what are some strategies for ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in the face of adversity. The panel includes Dr. Yohuru Williams, Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas; Maya Sullivan, Dean of Student Success at Metro State University; and James C. Burroughs II, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations, and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The Great Minnesota Book Club
February 13 & 27 @ 6:30 to 7:30 pm (CT) - Maplewood & Online: Maplewood Area Historical Society - This February, the Great Minnesota Book Club is celebrating Black History Month by reading two books about Black history in Minnesota. "The Days of Rondo" (February 13) tells the story of Rondo, a lively Black neighborhood in St. Paul that was torn down to build a highway. It's about the people who lived there and what happened to their community. "Slavery's Reach" (February 27) looks at how slavery affected Minnesota, even though it wasn't a Southern state. Both books help with understanding more about Black history and how it connects to Minnesota's past. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Tea and Sweets 
February 14 & February 15 @ 2 to 4 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Enjoy tea, lemonade, and sweets in the museum’s ice cream shop. While enjoying tea and sweets, you can make vintage Valentines. Design ideas and supplies will be set out to create old-fashioned Valentines. Learn more »

A Valentine Tea
February 14 & 15 @ 2 to 4:30 pm - Hastings: LeDuc Historic Estate - Celebrate a special holiday with loved ones by enjoying a three-course meal, featuring a sandwich, scone, and chocolates, paired with a variety of teas in the Parlor or Dining Room. A special program will explore the history of chocolate and the holiday, followed by a tour of the house after the meal. Cost: $35 members/$40 nonmembers. Learn more »

Every Place Has a Native Name: Indigenous Places in Minnesota
February 15 @ 10:30 to 11:30 am - Sauk Rapids: Benton County Historical Society - Learn about the connection between place names in Minnesota to their Indigenous language during the third and final program of this year’s “Exploring History and Culture in Central Minnesota” event series. The program will be presented by Justus Probst, Dakota, from the Lower Sioux Indian Community and Social Studies Education major at St. Cloud State University. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Seeking for the Lost
Through February 16 - Minneapolis: Edith Carlson Gallery, Weisman Art Museum - This exhibit focuses on The Appeal, a Black-owned newspaper from the late 1800s in Saint Paul, highlighting its pivotal role in the community during the post-Reconstruction era. Learn more »

The Origins of Rap & Hip-Hop
February 19 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Minneapolis: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park - Celebrate the origins of rap and hip-hop through videos and discussions. This event will explore how these influential genres reshaped culture and music worldwide. Cost: Free. Learn more »

History Break: Photograph Collection Digitization Project
February 19 @ 12 to 1 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - At the end of 2023, GCHS was awarded a Legacy Grant to hire staff to digitize our collection of over 18,000 photographs. Since March 2024, their Collections Assistants, Emily Anderson and Liz Anderson, have digitized thousands of images. They will speak about the digitization process as well as interesting finds from the collection. Learn more »

Exhibition Opening Reception and Talk - The Black Vote
February 27 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery - Join the opening reception of "The Black Vote" exhibition, which explores the history of how African Americans gained the right to vote in Minnesota and the subsequent rise of Black elected officials in the State. The exhibition also highlights the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. There will be a discussion with Mica L. Anders who will share her history research and artists Charles Caldwell, Karen Caldwell, A. Drew Hammond and Laura Marie who will talk through their inspiration for their work that illuminates the historical events. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Moving the Needle Forward: Equality, Equity, and Progress in Challenging Times
February 19 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - The Black History Month panel discussion will include Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon, St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, and Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green. As important trailblazers in the story of the western Twin Cities suburbs, these three Black leaders will engage in a discussion facilitated by entrepreneur, author, and playwright Rose McGee. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: UNBREAKABLE - Celebrating the Resilience of African Americans in Minnesota
Ongoing - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery - Explore Minnesota’s African American history, from early pioneers to modern-day resilience. This exhibit tells the story of Black people’s contributions to the state’s development and highlights their strength in overcoming adversity. 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: Runestone Museum, Alexandria, MN.

Museum Workers Advocacy Day
March 14 & 15 - Online: The National Emerging Museum Professionals Network - This event serves as a vital platform for museum professionals across all sectors and experience levels to unite and advocate for meaningful changes in the industry. It addresses the challenges faced by museum workers and encourages participation in advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting equity and fairness. This year's theme, "Claiming Your Space," highlights the pressing need to create and safeguard inclusive environments within the museum community. Cost: Free. Learn more »

FREE Upcoming Midwest Art Conservation Center Workshops 
Free to Minnesota Residents. Funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Learn more »

In Person Guidelines for Cleaning: Focus on Native American Collections
This two-day in-person workshop is offered at two host location sites: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and Hoċokata Ṫi. Choose the location and dates that work best for you. The workshop will discuss the ethics, hazards, and benefits of cleaning cultural heritage items from a variety of different material types. With a mixture of lecture and hands-on practical exercises, the workshop will include conservation techniques for cleaning hide, glass beadwork, feathers, baskets, textiles, and silver artifacts. Discussions will also incorporate advanced cleaning topics such as selecting the appropriate level of cleaning and managing and training volunteers. Cost: FREE Minnesota residents/$400 Non-Minnesota residents. Register »

• Thursday, February 20 @ 10:30 am to 5 pm & Friday, February 21 @ 9:30 am to 4 pm. Location: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia, MN
• Thursday, March 20 @ 10:30 am to 5 pm and Friday, March 21 @ 9:30 am to 4 pm. Location: Hocokata Ti, Shakopee, MN

TIPS & TOOLS

• Three First Steps You Can Take in a Time of Rapid Change - American Alliance of Museums 

UPCOMING CONFERENCES IN MINNESOTA

April 10-12, 2025, Minneapolis, MN Scholarships available.

April 22 - 24, 2025 White Bear Lake, MN

May 6-7, 2025 St. Paul, MN Scholarships available.

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Arts Education Grant Program
February 7 - (Deadline): Minnesota State Arts Board - This pilot program supports Minnesotans of all ages and abilities in developing personal connections with art forms through various learning experiences like classes, workshops, camps, and other arts education programs. Learn more »

Grants Provided for Arts, Science, and Education Initiatives
March 1 - (Deadline): Brabson Family Foundation (formerly Brabson Library and Education Foundation) - This Foundation is a philanthropic organization committed to supporting innovative ideas with a long-term impact, particularly in education and the arts. They provide grants to organizations and individuals who are working to make a difference in these areas. Learn more »

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors
March 3 - (Deadline): National Trust for Historic Preservation - The purpose of the fund is to assist in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. Learn more »

Grants up to $100,000 Bolster Community-Based Archives
March 12 - (Registration request) | March 28 - (Deadline): Andrew W. Mellon Foundation - General operating support grants to community-based archives in the United States, including U.S. territories. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

NEW FEATURE!
Vintage Museum Photo: Wright County Historical Society Museum, Buffalo, MN (1981). 
This new section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.

St. Louis County Historical Society Appoints Wayne Gannaway as Executive Director
Wayne Gannaway has been appointed as the executive director of the St. Louis County Historical Society, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles, including five years as the executive director of the History Center of Olmsted County and positions at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the Mark Twain House and Museum. Learn more »

Minnesota Book Awards Finalists Announced
The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library announced the finalists for the 2025 Minnesota Book Awards in 10 categories, with this year’s awards sponsored by Education Minnesota. Notably, a new anthology category will be included every other year. Winners will be revealed during the awards ceremony on April 22 at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, including the finalists for the Emilie Buchwald Award for Minnesota Nonfiction. The preface begins at 6 pm followed by the ceremony at 7:30, and attendees will have the option to access a free livestream online. Learn more »

The Eveleth Newspaper Project: More vintage Eveleth newspapers can be viewed online
Hometown Focus – The Eveleth Heritage Society (EHS) and the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) are partnering to use the internet to improve access and searchability of vintage Eveleth newspapers. Since the EHS began the Eveleth Newspaper Project in 2017, an ever-increasing number of Eveleth newspapers have been digitized by MNHS and are now on the web. I am pleased to report that in 2024, about 5,212 more Eveleth newspaper pages are now online, made possible with a grant provided by the Eveleth Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the EHS and private donors. Continue reading »

Why has the Park Board allowed the 'birthplace of Minneapolis' to deteriorate?
StarTribune – The John H. Stevens House in Minnehaha Park is arguably the most important structure relating to Minneapolis' origin story. But the exterior of the property is in rough shape after years of deferred maintenance. Eric Roper and Ash Miller discuss the unique history of the house, and why it has been allowed to deteriorate. Watch Video »

History center plans art piece of grape-soda-drinking bear
Elk River Star News – A live bear that was a roadside attraction in Sherburne County in the 1930s is the inspiration behind a piece of public art being proposed at the Sherburne History Center in Becker. The history center is looking for artists and sculptors who are interested in proposing an art piece as it looks to commission a permanent public art piece of a 6-foot black bear drinking a grape soda. History center officials are open to medium suggestions. Continue reading »

Visit Koochiching County Museum
PBS North – Visit the Koochiching Historical Museum and explore the rich history of the area. Watch video »

Teen speaks on man who helped track Lincoln's assassin, settled in Rice County
Hometown Source – The history was nearly lost to time, Stillwater High School senior Gabe Blumer explained to a roomful of folks Thursday evening at the Rice County Historical Society. Blumer independently researched the bounty hunter, who eventually settled in Dundas after helping avenge the president. Continue reading »

Featured Book Second-Order Preservation: Social Justice and Climate Action through Heritage Policy by Erica Avrami. University of Minnesota Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History Curators present 25 Objects to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the MNHS Volume 69, Issue 4, 2025	Featured Article MNopedia Replacements (band) 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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