13 min read

Local History News: January 8, 2025

Joe Hoover Jan 8, 2025 11:00:00 AM

Field Note

Warroad Heritage Center in Warroad Museum Manager Brady Swanson

MNHS staff visited the Warroad Heritage Center in Warroad and were given a tour of the facility by Museum Manager Brady Swanson, pictured above. Sam Clement, the new director of the Lake of the Woods County Historical Society in Baudette, also joined the group.

History Matters Day at the Capitol is February 27

Composite photo of (top) the MN State_Capitol, (Bottom) a church and a Fishhouse and an apiary farm 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 Grant: Meeting Educational Standards in Historic Buildings
Booklet cover Minnesota's Historic Northwest hired a consultant to develop programs using the historic buildings as the main character for use by students when classrooms visit the museums in Clearwater, Norman, Polk, East Polk and Kittson counties. A communication plan invited local teachers to bring their students to each museum. Printed booklets to share with teachers were distributed to each museum containing history lessons and activities that match the historic buildings and exhibits at each of the five locations.
Recipients: Minnesota's Historic Northwest, Clearwater County Historical Society, Kittson County Historical Society, Norman County Historical Society, Polk County Historical Society, and East Polk County Heritage Center.
Funded Amount: $24,909

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 Security and the Grants Program
January 16 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum security comprises the range of activities designed to protect collections, staff, and visitors in cultural institutions. Join us for this webinar to learn how grants can fund Access Control, Intrusion Detection, and Video Surveillance Systems for museums in non-historic buildings. Presented by Digital Technology Outreach Specialist Joe Hoover.
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 St. Vincent Memories. Have a blog? Let us know!

Five men siting for portrait including John Boucher. On the photo is a label titled - FIVE OF THE EARLEST INDIAN INHABITANTS OF ST. MARYS FALLS 1855.

Portrait: John Busha/Bushie/Boucher
Provision was made in the ninth article of the treaty of October 2, 1863 (aka Old Crossing Treaty), with the Red Lake and Pembina bands of Chippewa for a reservation of 640 acres of land for the Chippewa chief "Red Bear," to be located on the north side of the Pembina River. The agent reported that before he could make this selection, there was not a section of suitable land in one body remaining on the north side of the Pembina River for a long distance from its mouth, and he, therefore, made the selection on both sides of the river and reported it in that form. As this was not in accordance with the treaty, legislation by Congress was recommended in Office report of March 5, 1872, (H.R. Ex. Doc. 183,) authorizing the selection in this manner. Favorable action was not taken by Congress in the premises, and as such action is necessary in order to ensure to this chief the benefits contemplated by the treaty, Congress should be again be requested to legislate for his relief. Continue Reading »

From the Tube

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

Union Hill, New Prague & the Nonpartisan League
The concept of 100 percent Americanism developed during World War I. It arose out of hyper-patriotism and tensions reached fever pitch throughout the country. Minnesota and the surrounding area were no exception.

Watch Video »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

Setup Assistant - Minnesota State Capitol & MN History Center
Interpreter I - MN History Center Museum
Public Historian - MN History Center
Security Manager - MN History Center
IT Enterprise Business System Manager - MN History Center
IT Services and Infrastructure Manager - MN History Center
Marketing Coordinator OR Senior Marketing Coordinator - MN History Center
Historic Site Guide I - Snake River Fur Post
Program Facilitator I - Mille Lacs Indian Museum

LOCAL

Executive Director - Paynesville Historical Society, Paynesville, MN
Request for Proposals, Minnesota Nurses Oral History Project - Portal Research, Twin Cities Metro
Exhibits and Gallery Programs Manager - Bell Museum of Natural History, St. Paul, Minnesota
Installation Support & Media Technician - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Installation Support Technician - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Design Programming Coordinator - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Educator, ASL Fluent - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Head of Earned Revenue - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Librarian, Head of Library & Archives - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Director of Benefit Events - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Senior Manager of Guides and Volunteers - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

Operations/Events Coordinator - Codington County Historical Society, Watertown, SD
Director of Learning & Engagement - Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
Local History & Genealogy Librarian - Fond du Lac Public Library, Fond du Lac, WI
Visitor Engagement Coordinator - Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, WI
Event Coordinator - Wade House, Wisconsin Historical Society - Greenbush, WI
Program and Engagement Coordinator - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
Registrar - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
Preparator - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Volunteer Coordinator - McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, Union, IL
Development Manager - Design Museum of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Assistant Director of Programs and Education - Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Communications Manager - Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL
Visitor Services Representative - Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL
Marketing Coordinator - Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL
Collections Assistant - Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserves
Mahomet, IL
Project Specialist - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
Facilities Specialist - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
Artifact Manager, Extra Help - Lois Jett Historic Costume Collection, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Maintenance Technician - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN
Coordinator, Heritage Support Grants Program - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
Conservator - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
Director of Historic Properties - Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
Digital Preservation and Digital Collections Archivist - Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Rare Books Cataloging Specialist - University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Private Events Coordinator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
Executive Director - German Village Society, Columbus, OH
Executive Director - The Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Conservation Project Manager - Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, ON
Analyst, Cyber Security - Ingenium, Canada's Museum of Science and Innovation
Ottawa, ON
Customer Success Specialist - CatalogIt, Remote

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

Board Member - The American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Board Members - Northwest Airlines History Center, Twin Cities, MN
Collections Internship - Hieronymus Mueller Museum, Decatur, IL

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

10 men standing in front of and around the Byron J. Mosier tobacco store in Stillwater ca. 1895
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Washington County Historical Society.

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

The History of Ordinary Things
January 9 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - The presentation celebrates a number of ordinary things. Things we encounter daily have a fascinating story. Common things we've known most of our lives, taken for granted but would miss if they went away. Each has a history. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Genealogy - Finding Passenger Records
January 11 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Elbow Lake & Online: Grant County Historical Museum - Ancestors' adventures in immigrating to America began when they boarded the ship destined for the New World. They could potentially uncover details about their voyage, such as the ship's name, the port of arrival, photographs of the ship, and even the weather on arrival. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Drinking in History - New Year, New Preservation
January 13 @ 7 to 9 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - Come to an engaging evening featuring a talk and presentation by Heidi Swank, Executive Director of Rethos. Heidi will share insights into "New Preservation," a movement redefining how we view and approach historic preservation. Location: Waldmann Brewery. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Charles Gibson - Early Deephaven Visionary
January 13 @ 7 pm - Excelsior: Lake Minnetonka Historical Society - Discover how a capitalist from Missouri shaped the landscape of Deephaven. Location: Excelsior Brewing Company. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The State of Rural 2025 - The Future of the Rural Housing Supply
January 15 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Rethos - Join in for a talk by Ben Winchester, Rural Sociologist, on the future of rural housing supply. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Winter PeeWees - Winter on the Prairie
January 15 @ 9:30 to 11:30 am - St. Paul: Gibbs Farm - These mini camps are a perfect introduction for 4 & 5 year-olds who are ready for some independent fun! Gibbs Farm staff will lead campers through adventures in topics relating to nature, historic Dakota seasonal life, and early Minnesota farm life in the 1800s. Each camp session includes a make and take activity, story time, a snack, and spending time outside! PeeWees play games, color, sing songs, and visit our farm animals. (Grade Recommendation: Pre-K). Cost: $25. Learn more »

Deutscher Sprachklub
January 15 @ 7 to 9:30 pm - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - German language club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and offers community members an opportunity to speak German in an informal, congenial setting, regardless of level of proficiency. A variety of topics are presented, and fluency ranges from a working knowledge of German to native speakers. Learn more »

Justice Jeopardy
January 16 @ 5 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society - Come socialize with friends and colleagues, lawyers and Judges and watch our legal stars compete in a quiz bowl on Minnesota legal history. Location: Kieran's Irish Pub. Learn more »

A Native, from the US-Dakota Conflict View
January 16 @ 7 pm - Northfield: Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable - The presenter will be Todd Finney, a descendent of Wahpekute ancestors (the band of Dakota that lived in what is now Rice County) who brings a unique perspective on the history of this time period and how it is portrayed. Location: Northfield Township Hall. Cost: Free. For information call 507-459-3140.

Murder Mystery Night
January 17 @ 6 to 8 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - Get ready for a thrilling "Murder Mystery Night" where you’ll uncover the truth, distinguish fact from fiction, and navigate trust amid historical intrigue. Cost: $15-$20. Learn more »

Let's Celebrate Benjamin Franklin
January 18 @ 10 to 11 am - Rochester: Calling all young inventors for a birthday celebration for America's most famous inventor, Benjamin Franklin. Learn about some of his greatest inventions, and work on your own new creations with provided random supplies, to see what you can come up with. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Book Launch and Conversation: “F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Composite Biography”
January 18 @ 12 pm - St. Paul: The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library - Editors Niklas Salmose and David Rennie will join contributors David Page and Ross Tangedal in conversation to celebrate the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Composite Biography. Location: Arlington Hills Community Center. Cost. Free. Learn more »

Ghost Plats of Wright County
January 18 @ 1 to 2 pm - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Presentation on the Minnesota Territory from 1854 to 1857, where land speculators surveyed over 700 townsites in anticipation of a large influx of settlers. However, only a few, like Buffalo and Monticello in Wright County, became populated. The rest, around 14 in Wright County, remained empty and are referred to as Ghost Plats or Paper Towns. Cost: Free. Learn more »

History Book Chat: The Frozen River
January 22 @ 12 to 1 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - Discussions are led by retired educator Carolyn Goplen on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The first book of the new year will be The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Abraham Lincoln Part 2
Wednesdays, January 22 Through March 5 @ 12:30 - 2 pm (CT) - Online: Ramsey County Library - Join J.B. Andersen as he examines the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. They'll cover the Civil War (some aspects), the Election of 1862, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, his relationship with Ulysses Grant, and a whole lot more. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Romanian Winter Traditions
Sundays during January @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Want to hear about Romanian winter holidays and traditions? Learn about Romania's intricate dances, the significance of masks, what is put on their holiday tables, and how they welcome the new year. Learn more »

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

Continuing Education

Exterior of the R. D. Hubbard House
Highlighted Museum: R. D. Hubbard House, operated by the Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato, MN.
Photograph by Bobak Ha'Eri, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Two Upcoming FREE 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 »

Looking Ahead with a Long-Range Preservation Plan
January 9, 16, and 23, 2025 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Midwest Art Conservation Center - A Long-Range Preservation Plan (LRPP) will help your institution to prioritize preservation needs and develop concrete goals for the short-, medium-, and long-term. In this 3-session online course, participants will draft their own LRPP and learn how to use it to achieve conservation treatment goals and to submit competitive grant proposals for state and federal funding. The course will also focus on key concepts of preventive conservation and how to assess preservation goals at your institution. This workshop includes group participation activities and a recommended 4-6 hours of independent work time outside of class. Cost: FREE Minnesota Residents/$400 Non-Minnesota residents.

Write (or Re-Write) Your Emergency Plan
February 12, 19, and 26, 2025 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Midwest Art Conservation Center - This online course will cover the fundamentals of Emergency Preparedness, explain the essential components of an Emergency Plan, and walk participants through the steps to develop a plan for their own organizations. Provisions for both major and minor emergencies will be discussed, as well as how to address a disaster within a larger emergency. Participants will work with a plan template and will customize it for their own needs and risk factors. Each participant will be required to complete an institutional risk assessment questionnaire (time estimate 2-4 hours) and work on their own institution’s plan (time estimate 4-6 hours) between the sessions. They will conclude with a draft of their new Emergency Plan to share with their institution and board. Cost: FREE Minnesota Residents/$400 Non-Minnesota residents.

Introduction to the AASLH Awards Program
January 15 @ 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 »

Paper and Memory with the People's Paper Co-op
January 16 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts - Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist from the People's Paper Co-op discuss their transformative project of creating new paper from expunged criminal records, empowering returning citizens through artistic expression and advocacy. Cost: Free. Learn more »

C2C Care Course Investigating Contamination and Pesticides in Cultural Heritage Collections
January 21 Through February 18 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care - This course will cover the components of how to evaluate potential pesticide contamination and human risk. Each webinar will provide resources and examples on a specific topic, as well as opportunities for discussion and examples. Cost: $149. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

Small Museums and Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment - American Association for State and Local History

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Veterans Memorials and Commemorations RFP and Grant Opportunity
The Minnesota Department of Administration is inviting proposals for veterans memorials and commemorations as part of a grant program with a total funding of $102,375 for Fiscal Year 2025. This competitive grant aims to support groups that honor military service through various projects such as memorials, commemorations, facilities, and park features. Applications are due by 4:30 pm Central Time on January 24, 2025. The Office of Grants Management also seeks veterans or individuals experienced in developing memorials to serve as community reviewers for grant proposals, with remote work and a small stipend available. Grant reviews will begin in February 2025. For questions, please contact Sara Spiess, Grants Specialist Sr. Learn more »

Grants for Arts Projects
February 13 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - Provides project-based funding for organizations in the areas of Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Film & Media Arts, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts. Funded activities may include public engagement with the arts and arts education, the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Learn more »

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
March 10 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - Supports the training and professional development of library and archives professionals; developing faculty and information leaders; and recruiting, educating, and retaining the next generation of library and archives professionals in order to develop a diverse library and archival workforce and meet the information needs of their communities. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

NEW FEATURE!
Vintage Museum Photo: Construction of the McLeod County Museum, Hutchinson, MN (1987).
View additional photos on Instagram »

Black and white portrait of David W. Nystuen in 1969

Vintage Museum Photos
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.

Newspaper mastheads MN Digital Newspaper Hub - December 2024
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 6,647 new issues and 89,332 new newspaper pages.

New publicly available titles & date spans:

Paynesville Press (Paynesville, Minn.) 1950-1962 added
Long Prairie leader (Long Prairie, Minn.) 1965-1973 added
Forest Lake times (Forest Lake, Minn.) 1945-1956 added
Teen times (St. Paul, Minn.) 1946-1947
Le Roy independent (LeRoy, Minn.) 1901-1935 added
Brooten co-operator (Brooten, Minn.) 1922
Brooten review (Brooten, Minn.) 1908-1968

New issues for the years 1996-2024 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library.

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 »

Luverne soon to be home to the world’s largest nutcracker statue
Dakota News Now — Currently, the largest nutcracker statue in the world is located in Neuhausen, Germany, standing at 33 feet tall. Luverne, Minnesota, is looking to break that record with a soon-to-be-completed 65-foot-tall nutcracker statue. The hope is that it will attract out-of-towners, to see this jaw-dropping monument and visit the Rock County History Center where nutcrackers outnumber the population of the town. Continue reading »

How Minnesota keeps its Scandinavian heritage alive
The Minnesota Daily — When Swedish, Norwegian and Danish immigrants first set foot in Minnesota, they came for the promise of land and opportunity, but they remained determined to preserve their culture and traditions. Nearly 150 years later, Scandinavian cultural centers are living proof of how early settlers shaped Minnesota’s identity. Continue reading »

Richfield's Bjostad built community via History Center
Sun Current — A longtime Richfield man recently took home accolades for his impressive dedication to his community. John Bjostad, a Richfield resident since Feb. 4, 1962, has been named the honoree of Richfield's Edwina Garcia Community Builder Award. By the numbers, the city recounts Bjostad’s service as six decades of generosity, 1,500 hours to build the Richfield History Center and two decades as the historical society’s treasurer. Continue reading »

Zoom event to use Betsy-Tacy as a writing prompt for authors
Mankato Free Press — When Janet Anderson and husband Tim Sutton moved from the Twin Cities to St. Peter to escape the busyness of the metro area, they think they gained a bonus being so close to Mankato. And they learned quieter streets don’t necessarily indicate lack of activity at every level. The main conduit for this discovery is the Betsy, Tacy and Tib books by Maud Hart Lovelace, and the adventures they enjoyed together in the opening years of the 20th century. Continue reading »


Featured Book The Oral History Manual, Fourth Edition by Barbara W. Sommer and Mary Kay Quinlan. American Association for State and Local History / Rowman & Littlefield.	Featured Article Minnesota History Hastings Needle Work: women creating, women providing Volume 60, Issue 2, 2006	Featured Article MNopedia Frontenac State Park 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.

Subscribe to Local History News
Use Local History News as part of your online tools to stay connected to your colleagues while working from home. Know someone who could benefit from this newsletter?
Have them sign up »