Staff from Local History Services met with Visitor Services Manager Dani Pieratos and Archivist Morgan Olson of the Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum near Tower, MN. They discussed exhibits and collections management.
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
Please take this survey to help Local History Services and the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM) better understand the scope and capacity of local history organizations across Minnesota. It has 29 questions and takes about 10 minutes. Results will be shared after analysis. The survey closes on March 14. Take Survey »
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 »
This week's blog post is from the Minnesota Digital Library News. Have a blog? Let us know!
“Hoops and Dreams” basketball oral histories now available in MDL
“Hoops and Dreams and the Politics of Racial Resistance and Change in Minneapolis” is an oral history project funded by the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund (Legacy grant) that uses experiences of Black basketball in Minneapolis as a lens onto the dynamics of race, community engagement, and social change in and around the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and beyond. The Minnesota Digital Library recently digitized the transcripts of six interviews from this project and made them available through their website. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Insight News. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Image used with permission. From the collections of Hennepin County Library.
Submit your history organization's news and events to localhistorynews@mnhs.org.
Spatial Humanities Approaches to North American Histories of Segregation
February 13 @ 10 to 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Immigration History Research Center, U of MN - This webinar introduces three innovative research projects that use spatial humanities approaches to research, analyze, and visualize policies and practices of segregation in North America. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Playing with Watercolor Hearts
February 14 @ 9 am to 4 pm - Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute - Join artist Tara Sweeney for a playful paint-along that will spark your creativity, perfect for creating unique card-sized watercolors for Valentine’s Day and other occasions. Whether you're a beginner or experienced artist, you'll leave with original framed art and inspiration for future projects. Cost: $110 members/$125 nonmembers. Learn more »
Museum & Movie
February 15 @ 1:30 to 4 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery - This event, a collaboration between the museum and Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, starts with a tour of the museum followed by a screening of the movie The Six Triple Eight at Northpoint. The Six Triple Eight is a war drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black and female battalion during World War II. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Tools for Starting and Sustaining a Business
February 20 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery - A panel discussion about the tools for starting and sustaining a business and strategies to face challenges in 2025. This is a collaboration between the museum and Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Hercules LaChapelle
February 20 @ 7 pm - Northfield: Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable - The presenter Jerry Anderson will speak about Hercules LaChapelle, a Native American, and the rededicated gravestone in Lonsdale, MN. He was in the 5th MN Regiment and walked at least 4000 miles while serving the country. Cost: Free. Location: Northfield Townhall. For more information call Dan Peterson at 507-459 3140.
Seeking a New Understanding of Minnesota's Role in the Underground Railroad
February 20 @ 7 to 8:30 pm (CT) - Rochester & Online: History Center of Olmsted County - Scholar Karen Sieber will discuss Minnesota's role in the Underground Railroad, highlighting her work on a digital database and resources about Black freedom seekers in the 19th-century Midwest. She will also share her recent discovery of documentation placing abolitionist Moses Dickson in Minnesota during the 1850s. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »
Minnesota Writers Off the Page: A Nation Takes Place
February 21 @ 6 to 8 pm – St. Paul: Minnesota Humanities Center - Join us for a moderated discussion about the Minnesota Marine Art Museum exhibition, “A Nation Takes Place: Navigating Race and Water in Contemporary Art” (on view through March 2 in Winona). Curator and catalog editor Dr. Tia-Simone Gardner will converse with author and catalog essayist Erin Sharkey. Discussion will focus on the exhibition themes of water, place-making and place-taking, and the maritime world, and how these topics relate to race, colonization, dispossession, rebirth, and creation. Register in advance to enter a drawing for 2 complimentary admission tickets to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Beginning African American Genealogy
February 22 @ 1 pm - Moorhead: Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County - The presentation will focus on how to start genealogical research, as well as the nuances and ways to overcome the issues faced by African American researchers. After Elyse Hill's presentation, the event will turn into a workshop where the audience can work on their own family tree with the help of Elyse, librarians, and historical society staff who are already familiar with the databases available at the library. They also invite those who are interested in local history to “adopt” a family from Fargo-Moorhead’s original African American community and research their past so they can better understand the region's history. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Karneval Tanzparty
February 22 & 23 @ 8 pm to 1 am - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - Back by popular demand, celebrate Karneval 2025 with a Europop Disco in the Rathskeller, featuring a DJ spinning authentic German Karneval music. Commemorate the moment with an onsite photo booth and consult a fortune teller to see what 2025 has in store for you. Dazzle the crowd with your game skills and dance, dance, dance. Costumes or masks are highly encouraged. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Ages 21+. Cost: $20 members/$25 nonmembers. Learn more »
Spring Crafts Workshop: Martisorul
February 23 @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Mărțișor is a Romanian tradition celebrated at the beginning of spring in March, represented by a small object made from intertwined red and white strings. It is worn like a brooch or lapel pin during the first part of the month, starting from 1 March. Materials will be provided. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History Revealed: USS Indianapolis
February 27 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society - Join Ron Duffy as he shares the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 during World War II and his work interviewing four survivors. Cost: Free. Learn more »
National Toast Day Party!
February 27 @ 6 to 8 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Celebrate National Toast Day in Stillwater, Minnesota: the birthplace of the automatic pop-up toaster. Enjoy a program about the history of toast and view our antique toaster collection. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Book Launch: Making History in Minnesota: Red Wing and its People Impact the State
February 27 @ 2 to 3:30 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Join author Fred Johnson in celebrating his new release, "Making History In Minnesota: Red Wing and its People Impact the State." This book explores the rich history of Red Wing, detailing the impact of its community and citizens from the Dakota era through statehood, using a series of documented mini-histories. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Uncovering Freedom’s Trail: Minnesota’s Connection to the Underground Railroad
February 27 @ 7 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Genealogist Elyse Hill will talk about the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and her research efforts on the first two sites in Minnesota added to the Network: Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul and Pioneers & Soldier’s Cemetery in Minneapolis. Cost: Free. Learn more »
2025 Winter Plein Air Exhibit Opening Reception
February 28 @ 5 to 7 pm - Grand Marais: Historic Cook County - Winter Plein Air is an annual painting retreat hosted by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. It is a painting expedition to YMCA Camp Menogyn, where artists spend five days painting the beauty of the BWCAW and enjoying the camaraderie of other painters. This event will display the results of the work of their work. The exhibit continues until March 23, 2025. Location: Johnson Heritage Post. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Rural Heritage Museum and Hill Log House, operated by the Winona County Historical Society, Winona, MN.
Photograph by Jonathunder, distributed under a GNU Free Documentation license.
Conference Session Schedule Now Posted!
The full schedule for the 2025 MALHM Annual Conference & Meeting is now available! Check things out and register before February 28 to lock in the early bird rate. Full registration rates begin March 1. Learn more »
Volunteer Recognition 2025
The 2025 Volunteer Recognition form is OPEN – they want to celebrate your outstanding volunteers at the Annual Conference & Meeting. Check out the details and submit a nomination through the link below. Names are due by March 28. Volunteer Recognition Form »
ReMemory: Experiments in Listening, Authorship and Knowledge-Keeping
Oral History Master of Arts | Columbia University - This series highlights the work of artists and scholars who engage with the “pitched battle between remembering and forgetting,” as described by Toni Morrison. Kenyan author Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o emphasizes that memory is essential for reconstructing our identity and addressing the historical amnesia resulting from colonialism.
Inventorying for Archives
February 19 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts - DHPSNY Archives Specialist, Kate Philipson, will discuss the process and principles for carrying out a basic inventory of your archival materials, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in working with collections of records in the aggregate. While this webinar will mainly focus on archival records, Kate will also touch upon what to do when you have a mixed collection that includes 3D objects or other non-archival materials. Cost: Free. Learn more »
National NAGPRA Program Webinar
Definitions of Human Remains and Cultural Items
February 21 @ 12 to 1:30 pm (CT) - Online: National Park Service - This event is the second of a series of 10 webinars on the third Friday of every month. Mark your calendars and bring your questions. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Future Chat: Managing Digital Risk
February 27 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museums have embraced the digital world but need to plan for long-term sustainability as digital assets require ongoing maintenance and funding for operational expenses. Join CFM director Elizabeth Merritt and Balboa Park Online Collaborative CEO Nik Honeysett to discuss budgeting for digital sustainability and the implications for museums. Cost: Free. Learn more »
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April 10 - 12, 2025, Minneapolis, MN |
April 22 - 24, 2025 |
May 6 - 7, 2025 |
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Latinos in Heritage Conservation Launches Nation's First Grant Program
dedicated to funding Latinx Heritage Projects
February 15 - (Deadline): Latinos in Heritage Conservation - Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) is launching a groundbreaking grant program with $600,000 in annual funding to support Latinx heritage preservation projects by grassroots nonprofits and community groups across the United States. This equity-centered initiative aims to elevate diverse projects and enhance accessibility through resources like Spanish-language application materials and personalized support. Learn more »
Community Grants Program
April 1 - (Deadline): The Butler Family Foundation’s Community Grants Program awards two-year grants for general operating support or for specific projects and programs. Organizations applying for grants in the arts or human services must work in the urban cores of Saint Paul or Minneapolis or in the East Metropolitan suburbs. Organizations applying for grants in the environment may work anywhere in Minnesota. Learn more »
Accessible Arts Grant Program
April 4 - (Deadline): Minnesota State Arts Board - People with disabilities encounter significant barriers in the arts as creators, participants, and attendees. This pilot program will provide project grants to enhance accessibility through professional development, accessibility audits, and small equipment investments that promote long-term improvements. Learn more »
Shavlik Family Foundation
June 1 - (Deadline): This foundation funds technology requests for Minnesota-serving nonprofit organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 - $30,000. The Foundation is primarily focused on information and technology resources that remove barriers or build capacity for nonprofits and their clients. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Carver County Society Museum, Waconia, MN. (1987).
This new section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.
Here is the latest What's New list from archival cataloging for January. It includes newly cataloged materials, newly digitized collections or parts of collections, and recently updated finding aids. Newly added accessions this month include the David D. Alsop Papers; the Clay County, Kurtz Township Records; the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 Oral History Project Oral History Interviews; the Wright County, City of Maple Lake Records and the the Tony Glover Papers. Tony “Little Sun” Glover was a renowned blues harmonica player and a key figure in the Minnesota music scene. He was celebrated for his soulful playing and contributions to the genre, collaborating with numerous artists throughout his career.
Collections with additions or added digital content include the Clay County Auditor Tax Lists; the Passport of Charles Augustus Collier (1837); the Credjafawn Social Club Records; the Governor Orville L. Freeman Audiovisual Materials; the Hubert H. Humphrey Sound Recordings; the Minnesota Historical Society Institutional Archives; the Health Department, Hospital Services Division, McDonald House Hospital register; the St. Paul Winter Carnival Association Film Collection; the Steele County District Court Registers of Civil and Criminal Actions; and the Study Club Records. Learn more »
Nonprofit that highlights historical assets expands to Duluth
Duluth News Tribune - Rethos Places Reimagined, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the use of old buildings and sites, is laying roots in the community with its new downtown location. Rethos partners with neighborhood groups, developers, homeowners and main street communities on historic designations, saving important structures, historic tax credit advocacy, investment partnerships, building maintenance and rehabilitation classes, tours, building material reuse education and more. Continue reading »
'Never Forgotten' is joint effort with historical society
Pioneer Press - A new book by local author Tom Melchior shares the stories of 75 Scott County veterans, who fought and came of age during World War II. “Never Forgotten: Stories by Scott County, Minnesota, WWII Veterans” was written in collaboration with the Scott County Historical Society through the society’s Greatest Generation Oral History Project. Continue reading »
NEA’s New Grant Rules Imperil Funding for Arts Programs in Underserved Communities - artnet
The NEA has canceled its Challenge America grants, many recipients of which served children and rural communities...Many of the grants were geared toward youth and children, or supporting the work of emerging creatives. Others were for rural communities. The Lexington Arts Council, a Michigan town of less than 2,000 people on the shores of Lake Huron, held a classical musical festival. And Minneapolis’s Zenon Dance Company and School staged a dance tour to the state’s rural towns... Continue reading »
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Featured BookSavoring the Seasons of the Northern Heartland, by Beth Dooley and Lucia Watson. Minnesota Historical Society Press. |
Featured Article
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Featured Article
Draining of Glacial Lake Agassiz |
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Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
Minnesota Main Streets |
Preservation Specialists Directory |
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