Field Note

MNHS staff visited the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud, MN, on Friday, February 16 to check on the progress of a project to update and manage collections catalog records on accessioned items from 2016 to 2021. Project staff Emily Anderson and Taylor Stammler are updating information in the catalog records and photographing objects to attach to the records. 

Above: Bauman Hall, Jasper, MN Legacy Grants: Condition Assessment and Stabilization Plan; Working Drawings/Architectural Plans and Specifications; East Wall Sioux Quartzite Masonry Reconstruction and Repair. Recipient: Reclaim Community

History Matters Day at the Capitol is Thursday, February 29

Register Now for History Matters Day at the Capitol

Speak up for history! Join MNHS to show your support for history initiatives beginning at 9 am on February 29. This hybrid event will take place at the Minnesota State Capitol in Room G19 and will be live streamed on Zoom.

During History Matters Day at the Capitol, you can connect with your representatives to say thank you and urge them to provide strong support for asset preservation, facilities improvement, and historic preservation grants. Register today to attend either in person at the Minnesota State Capitol or virtually via Zoom!

Heritage Preservation Grants

MARCH Grants Open House
March 7 - 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 »

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, April 12, 2024.

From the Blog

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

Harmonizing Heritage
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Nicollet County, Bernadotte Lutheran Church stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Swedish Lutheran immigrant families who sought solace and community in a new land. Founded in 1866 as New Sweden Church, the congregation underwent transformations and renovations, evolving into the beloved Bernadotte Lutheran Church we know today. One of the church’s most treasured assets, the Vogelpohl & Spaeth organ, has played a pivotal role in shaping the musical heritage of the congregation. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Winter Weather Fun: The History of Snow Week - U of MN Libraries
• Not always warm but always welcoming: Minnesota has the right climate for literary arts - Hennepin County Museum
• Learn Minnesota history through new MDL timelines - Minnesota Digital Library News
• Sneak Preview of Filmnorth’s New Media Center - Minnesota Media Arts

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• The Stagecoach House: Ney Nature Center - Minnesota Bricks
• German POW Camps in Minnesota - Brown County Historical Society
• THE NELLIES: Amy Farber Teal - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
• Som and Knight Saythany: Immigrant Stories - Immigration History Research Center, U of MN
• A WWI Soldier's Body Comes Home - Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Site Guide I - Historic Forestville
• Site Guide I - Split Rock Lighthouse

LOCAL

• Museum Coordinator - Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, MN
• Executive Director/Curator - Lake of the Woods County Historical Society, Baudette, MN
• RFP: Exterior Exhibit Design, Fabrication, and Installation Services - Lower Phalen Creek Project dba Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi,  St. Paul, MN
• Site Supervisor - LeDuc Historic Estate, Dakota County Historical Society, Hastings, MN
• Sites & Store Manager - Lake County Historical Society, Two Harbors, MN
• Curatorial Department Assistant, Arts of the Americas - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Part-Time Playworker - Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, Mankato, MN
• Reference and Instruction Librarian for Languages and Cultures - Carleton College, Northfield, MN
• Museum Technician (History) - US Army Corps of Engineers, Duluth, MN
• CRDIP Interpretation and Visitor Services Member – Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, MN

REGIONAL

• Processing Archivist - Iowa State University, Ames, IA
• Associate Registrar/Database Administrator - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Set Up Supervisor - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Development Associate - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Museum Coordinator - Neenah Historical Society Inc, Neenah, WI
• Historic Resource Coordinator - The Tower Heritage Center/Washington County Historical Society, West Bend, WI
• Historic Interpreter - Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Green Bay, WI 
• Assistant Archaeology Curator - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Marketing Communications Project Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI
• Library Director - Library, McKenzie County, Watford City, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Historic Preservation Specialist - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Chicago, IL
• Director of Visitor Experiences - Discovery Depot Children's Museum, Galesburg, IL
• Fundraising & Development Manager - Midway Village Museum, Rockford, IL
• Camp Program Manager - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Assistant, Development and Membership - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Director, Exhibits - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Staff Accountant - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Director of Distinctive Collections - IUPUI University Library, Indianapolis, IN
• Executive Director - Reitz Home Museum, Evansville, IN
• African American History Archivist - Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
• Associate Program Director - Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
• Corporate & Philanthropic History Archivist - Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
• Museum Educator - Hale Farm and Village, Bath, OH
• Programs Coordinator - Michigan Museums Association, Cheboygan, MI
• Conservation Specialist, Jackson Home Project - The Henry Ford, Dearborn, MI 
• Historic Preservation Specialist - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kansas City, MO
• Director of Historic Sites - History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• Architectural Historian - History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• The Bill and Lorna Chafe Postdoctoral Fellowship in Oral History and Social Justice - Duke University, Durham, NC
• Program Coordinator - Manitoba Children’s Museum, Winnipeg, MB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS

Oral History Office Internship, Summer – Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Exhibit: TESTIFY: Americana from Slavery to Today
Now through March 29 - Worthington: Nobles County Heritage Center - “TESTIFY” is a traveling rendition of an exhibit based on African-American artifacts and artworks from a collection assembled by retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice and former Minnesota Viking Alan Page and his late wife, Diane Sims Page. Opening Reception February 22 @ 5 to 6:30 pm. Learn more »

Exhibit: Dear Community: Mail, Correspondence, and Postal Activism in LGBTQ History
Now through May 17 - Minneapolis: Elmer L. Andersen Library, First-floor gallery - This exhibit pulls materials from across the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies to demonstrate the way mail has been an integral tool for LGBTQ community building. Using personal papers, organizational records, and periodicals held in the Tretter Collection, this exhibit examines how the use of mail by LGBTQ people has subverted the postal service through challenging obscenity laws, and the reliance on anonymity and discretion leading up to the Gay Liberation Movement of the 1970s. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: The Global Reach of Local Activism: Minnesota’s Human Rights Stories
Now through June 7 - Minneapolis: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Second-floor gallery - Fueled by the resources of the newly established Minnesota Human Rights Archive, the exhibit recounts a compelling slice of local-to-global history, replete with triumphs, setbacks, and ongoing challenges. The exhibit is the first in an ongoing series highlighting unique and extensive archival resources that will soon be available to the public for the first time. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Discovering your African American Roots: A Beginner Guide
February 22 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery - Genealogy workshop with Mica L. Anders. In this workshop, Anders will introduce the tools you need to begin your family history journey, highlight uniquely African American sources, and help you uncover your family’s stories to honor their legacy. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: Sabathani to unveil memorable walk through history 
February 22 @ 5 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Sabathani Community Center - Community celebration honoring the Sabathani Community Center's legacy and those who helped to build it. It will include a preview of its Living History Museum and performances by Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Youth Zine and Collage Workshop with Baki Porter
February 24 @ 11 am to 1 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery -  Create your own Zine (small magazine/book while learning about the history of African Americans in Minnesota. In this workshop, you will create your own zine while learning about the history of African Americans in Minnesota and how the art form of self-publication is being used as a form of protest. You will be encouraged to draw, write, and/or collage to create your zines. All materials provided by the museum. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Genealogy Games Live!
February 24 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Owatonna: Steele County Historical Society - Combine your passion for family history, the State School, and board games into a fun learning event. Follow the story of six siblings placed at the State School while learning about genealogy research and methodology. Location: Owatonna Arts Center Reception Hall. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Panel Discussion: Breaking the Silence: The Movements of Memory
February 25 - @ 2 to 4 pm - Hastings: Building Remembrance for Reconciliation - Hastings’ early Black citizens worshipped at Brown’s Chapel opened in 1892 on the corner of 5th and Sibley with three services in which the pastors of the Methodist, Baptist, and First Presbyterian churches participated. Then in 1907, 15 years later almost to the day, arsonists destroyed Brown's Chapel. This event attempts to connect with the descendants of the Black settlers who made Hastings their home. Descendants of the members of Brown's Chapel--the Wallace, Curry, and St. Clair families--will be participating in the panel discussion. Founder and executive director of The African American Registry, Benjamin Mchie, will lead in discussing how they feel they were influenced by their family history. Learn more »

Author Presentation: An Evening with Fr. John Markoe, Pioneer for Racial Justice
February 26 @ 6 to 7 pm (CT) - Online: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Join historian and author Matt Holland who will share the story of Fr. John Markoe’s early years in St. Paul and White Bear through his decades as a Jesuit priest dedicated to racial justice. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: Growing Up Barbie
Opening February 27 - Waseca: Waseca County Historical Society - Guests can take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about childhood play. An immersive photo op set will be available for people to come take photos of themselves with their cell phones or cameras, to upload to their social media. Pose like Barbie with props like hats, sunglasses, feather boas, and a matching background. Email for more information.

Workshop: Capturing Your Life Stories: Legacy Writing with Brenda Hudson (4-Week Workshop
Beginning March 7 @ 1 to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - In this in-person 4-week workshop, you will be guided to examine your past and construct written vignettes or “captured moments” of your life. This workshop is open to individuals of all writing levels, from beginners to seasoned wordsmiths. Whether you aim to create a family heirloom, share insights with future generations, or simply enjoy the process of self-reflection, this writing workshop provides you with the tools and guidance to craft a lasting narrative of your unique life story. Cost: $150 Members/$165 nonmembers. Learn more »

Film Screening: Mother of George 
March 7 @ 7 to 9 pm - Minneapolis: MSP Film Society and the Minnesota Historical Society - In Mother of George, Adenike and Ayodele, a Nigerian couple living in Brooklyn, are having trouble conceiving a child – a problem that defies cultural expectations and leads Adenike to make a shocking decision that could either save or destroy her family. Location: Capri Theater. Cost: $5. Learn more »

Camp: Summer Camp Enrollment is Open
Maplewood Area Historical Society - Another summer of one-of-a-kind hands-on and experiential day-camps for youth ages 6 – 16 at the 1891 Bruentrup Heritage Farm in Maplewood, MN. Nestled among 25 acres of restored rolling prairie, the Bruentrup Heritage Farm offers a unique setting for youth to explore many facets of local history with professional historians, artists, culinary-experts, and architects. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Rushford Depot Museum, operated by the Rushford Area Historical Society, Rushford, MN.
Photograph by Jonathunder, distributed under a GNU Free Documentation License.

2024 Judge Sign-Up for Minnesota History Day

This year, National History Day is celebrating its 50th anniversary. We have nearly 17,000 Minnesota students hard at work on their History Day projects surrounding this year’s annual theme, “Turning Points in History,” and getting ready for contest season. After working with over 500 students at our library events this winter, and providing over 2,500 hours of classroom outreach between staff and mentors, we’re very excited for the upcoming contest season.

We hope that you will consider joining us at one of our contests to get inspired about future generations and see the work of these young scholars.

There are 10 in-person regionals happening statewide throughout March, and State History Day is on April 20 this year (in a NEW venue: The Minneapolis Convention Center!). This document has the full list of dates and locations, as well as frequently asked questions. The time commitment will range from 5 to 7 total hours and will include a meal and thank you gift. A judging orientation will be done prior to the events to help prepare you - new and experienced judges are welcome!

Please contact any of the History Day staff directly if you have questions. A very warm thank you to those who have already signed up for this year! Sign up directly through this form »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Demystifying spending patterns in small museums - Engaging Places

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellowship
MARCH 22 - (Deadline): Minnesota Historical Society - This program will expose undergraduates to the museum field by participating in a 10-week paid program: 3 weeks of seminar/workshops, 7 weeks in an internship program designed to engage and expose undergraduates to the professional opportunities within the museum, cultural resource, public history, and tribal historic preservation fields. Fellows will learn about various career paths and academic requirements for working in these types of organizations, both on and off reservations, as well as particular challenges faced by American Indian Communities related to preserving tribal history and challenging the traditional historical narratives of Native people. Learn more »

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors
March 1 - (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 »

Shavlik Family Foundation
May 1, 2024 - (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 »

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 »

NEA Challenge America 
April 25 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - These grants offer support primarily to small organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater. Learn more »

News

AASLH Call for Chapters on Book about Interpreting Labor History
Do you work at a site that interprets labor history and want to contribute to a future AASLH book? Author Allison Horrocks is seeking contributors for a book designed for public historians and other professionals who are actively researching, offering, and delivering programs (and creating media) about people and work. Submit your ideas » 

David Ebnet Honored for Decades of Service to Stearns County History
KNSI — A Stearns County man has been recognized for his decades of service to keeping the past alive for future generations. David Ebnet was awarded the Stearns History Museum Zapp Historian Award. He was the executive director there for 24 years, from 1984 to 2008. Continue reading »

Medcalf: Why Black History month is needed
StarTribune — For Coventry Royster Cowens, co-founder of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery in Minneapolis, February is always busy with daily tours of the institution's numerous exhibits. "As you can imagine, our museum has been a focus for citizens and schools during Black History Month," she told me. Continue reading »

Showcasing Cottonwood River Collection
New Ulm Journal — After seven years exploring the Cottonwood River, William Eibner is getting the chance to show what he’s found. Eibner is the new guest curator at the Brown County Historical Society. His exhibit will be on the second floor of the museum until the end of March. Eibner’s specialty is minerals and fossils. Continue reading »

Featured Book They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota by Frank M. White. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History Orphans & old folks: St. Paul's Crispus Attucks Home Volume 56, Issue 3, 1998	Featured Article MNopedia Burning of Brown’s Chapel AME, Hastings 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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