Field Note

The Central Minnesota Museum Group met on January 6 at the Linden Hill Historic Estate in Little Falls, MN. Staff and volunteers from several organizations met to share ideas and network. After the meeting concluded, staff from Linden Hill led tours of the two historic mansions. 

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

Spotlighted Project: Red Lake Tribal Archives Disaster Planning
An objects conservator was hired to review the collections at the Red Lake Tribal Archives. This includes checking their storage conditions, policies and procedures, and creating a disaster plan.

A solid disaster plan protects important cultural and historical records from potential dangers. It helps manage risks, prepare for emergencies, and support preservation efforts. This plan is an important investment for the Red Lake Tribal Archives. It ensures that future generations can access vital records and keeps cultural knowledge and traditions alive.
Recipient: Red Lake Nation College
Funded Amount: $4,000
Project Details

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 YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

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

Remembering Hubbard Milling Company
The news of the impending closing of Ardent Mills brought remembrance of its predecessor, Hubbard Milling, and Mother Hubbard Flour. I began baking bread with Mother Hubbard flour. I competed in 4-H bread baking competitions and received a 5-pound bag of Mother Hubbard flour. I worked in a small-town grocery store and stocked shelves with Mother Hubbard flour. Who was Mother Hubbard? She was used for marketing and based on the nursery tale that told of the Devon woman going to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Auto invasion of the St. Croix Valley - Washington County Historical Society
• “The Place of the Cure of the Soul” - U of MN Libraries
• The Beauties of Robbinsdale - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Photo Detective: 202 N Sibley Avenue - Meeker County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Minnesota Civil War Round Tables. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Who Lived Here? - Mack, Crandall, Pine, and Adamek - Linden Hills History Study Group
• In the Museum's Collection - Pipestone County Historical Society 
• How we process artifacts - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Facilitator I - Historic Fort Snelling
• Digitization Associate, Publications - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Administrative Assistant - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Research Center Assistant - Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
• Collections Management Coordinator - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Visitor Experience Volunteer, Special Exhibition - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Senior Manager of Guides and Volunteers - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Exhibition Manager - Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Exhibits Manager - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND
• Museum Director - Dickinson County Museum, Spirit Lake, IA
• Seasonal Garden and Landscape Assistant - Brucemore, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Director of Programs & Collections - William Butterworth Foundation, Moline, IA
• Library Director - City of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Pleasant Hill, IA
• Associate Metadata Specialist - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Processing Archivist (term) - Thrivent, Appleton, WI
• Museum Registrar - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
• Director of Operations - Above & Beyond Children's Museum, Sheboygan, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Programs Educator - Children’s Discovery Museum, Town of Normal, Normal, IL
• Assistant Director, Development - Smart Museum of Art, Chicago, IL
• Accessioning Archivist - Lilly Library, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
• Digital Media Metadata Analyst - Ball State University, Muncie, IN
• Director of Special Collections - Heritage Werks, Indianapolis, IN
• Senior Historian/Heritage Advocate - Heritage Werks, Indianapolis, IN
• Collections Technician - Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
• Development Manager - Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI
• Director of Advancement - Heritage Museum of Newaygo County, Newaygo, MI
• Operations & Event Coordinator - Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
• Associate/Full Curator of Indigenous Art of the Americas - Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
• Information Specialist - LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
• Executive Director - Museum Association of New York, Troy, NY
• Education and Program Coordinator - Mid-American All-Indian Museum, City of Wichita, Wichita, KS
• Event Coordinator - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB 
• Curator & Archivist - Sam Waller Museum, The Pas, MB
• Archivist - St. Mary's Academy Foundation, Winnipeg, MB
• Executive Director/Curator - Plug In Contemporary Institute of Art, Winnipeg, MB
• Officer, Content Marketing - Ingenium, Canada's Museum of Science and Innovation, Ottawa, ON
• Culture and Heritage Program Coordinator - Muskoka Heritage Place, Huntsville, ON
• Cultural Program and Events Coordinator - Guelph Museums, City of Guelph, Guelph, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

Minnesota State Representative, Leadership in History Awards program
Join the American Association for State and Local History as their Minnesota State Representative (a volunteer position) and play a vital role in honoring outstanding achievements in history through the Leadership in History Awards program. Help promote the significance of Minnesota's state and local history while inspiring excellence in projects nationwide. Learn more »

• Summer Fellow - MPR Archive, American Public Media Group, St. Paul, MN
• Cultural Resources Intern - Mead & Hunt, Minneapolis, MN
• Internship - Gammelgården Museum of Scandia, Scandia, MN
• Historic Sites' Internship - Homestead Prairie Farm, Macon County Conservation District, Decatur, IL
• Romare Bearden Graduate Museum Fellowship - Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, MO

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Blizzards to the Panama Canal: America’s Golden Engineer
January 30 @ 7 to 8 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Heritage Center - Learn about prominent surveyor and civil engineer, John Frank Stevens and the history of Marias Pass in the Rocky Mountains and how the Great Northern Railway extended the railroad to the west. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Examining Military Service From the Margins
January 30 @ 7 to 9 pm & February 1 @ 1 to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Quatrefoil Library - Veterans, active service members, and civilians are invited to participate in the “Examining Military Service From the Margins” discussion series, focusing on LGBTQIA+ community issues, including the history of Queer service members and the effects of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Participants can expect to share experiences, engage in discussions, and receive a post-event resource list for further exploration. Cost: Free. Learn more »

German Storytime
February 1 @ 10:30 to 11:15 am - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - Come for a fun-filled storytime auf deutsch. Children and their families will immerse themselves in stories, songs and activities that foster language skills. Please note: the storytime will be conducted in German and is geared towards children who have German as a home language, have been exposed to German through classes or immersion programs, or have at least basic knowledge of the German language. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

Painting Workshop
February 2 @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Are you ready for spring? Join artist Gina Nicolae Johnson in a step-by-step painting workshop. No previous experience or supplies are needed, and all ages are welcome. Learn more » 

Film Series - The Typist
February 6 @ 2 to 3 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - The Typist follows the life and work of Larry Tillemans, believed to be the last living (at the time of filming) clerk-typist from the Nuremberg Trials. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Welcoming Denmark’s Clean Energy Innovation Delegation
February 6 @ 5 to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Clean Energy Innovation Delegation networking reception co-hosted by the Minnesota Trade Office, NorCham Minneapolis, and FACC-MN, featuring a short program and networking opportunities. This free event includes light refreshments and is an excellent chance to connect with leaders in the clean energy sector. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Beginning Genealogy
February 8 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Elbow Lake: Grant County Museum - This session will focus on beginning Genealogy. Many have often thought about working on their family history but aren't sure what those first steps should be. Let's start with the first step - you and your information. Learn more »

Introduction to Family Search.org
February 8 @ 10 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Learn how to work the Family Tree, find and enter diacritical marks (such as ąęöÿØ, etc.) that often appear in names and localities of foreign and sometimes domestic records. Learn how to download those old photos to your family tree so that others may benefit. How and where to research records from home, and an explanation of the differences between a FamilySearch Center and a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, and what you can access in the comfort of your own home. Many other functions will be addressed. Learn more »

Collage Valentines - Family Friendly! 
February 8 @ 11 am & 12:30 pm (two sessions) - St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society - They've got all of the collage materials, paper doilies, sequins, glitter and stickers you need to create one-of-a-kind valentines. Cost: $5. Learn more »

Museum Makers Class: Vintage Valentines
February 10 @ 11 am to 1 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - Create some old-time valentines for your sweeties. Class leader Lori Ortega will provide design ideas and supplies. Cost: $3 members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Collections & Exhibits Committee Meeting
February 11 @ 1:30 to 2:30 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - The Collections & Exhibits Committee will meet for its regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting. The committee will review artifacts presented for acceptance in the permanent MCHS Collection. Visitors are welcome to attend or join the committee. Learn more »

Black & White Movie Night: Chaplin!
February 12 @ 7 to 8 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Heritage Center - Two short silent comedies from Charlie Chaplin’s most creative period. Retired film professor Steve Schroer will present a brief educational introduction the film. Popcorn will be served. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Genealogy Hour
First Thursday of each month - Litchfield: Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall - An informal gathering for genealogists. Use this time to work on your own family tree or to connect with other family historians. All are welcome, no matter your skills or where your family roots are from.​ 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: Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum, Rollingstone, MN.
Photograph by Jonathunder, distributed under a GNU Free Documentation License.

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

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. Register »

Applying Artificial Intelligence in Community-Oriented Work
February 7 & March 21 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Minneapolis/Online: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - In this two-part workshop, they will explore how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) through tools such as ChatGPT can facilitate community-oriented work for the public good. In the first workshop, participants will explore what AI is and what it can do, while also examining the challenges and ethical considerations of integrating AI into community-oriented practices. In the second workshop on March 21, participants will have the opportunity to bring specific case studies from their own practice to consider the limits of AI tools in their community-oriented projects. While attending both workshops will provide a more holistic understanding and practical experience, you are welcome to join either session individually based on your interests and availability. Learn More » 

Call for Proposals: 2025-2026 Hub Residencies 
March 7 - (Deadline): The Liberal Arts Engagement Hub is currently seeking proposals for 2025–2026 Residencies, which run from July 2025 through June 2026. Hub Residencies, our signature program, support community-based collaborative projects that engage a topic of important public interest and involve at least one community partner (individual, group, or organization) and one person (faculty or staff) affiliated with the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts. Residencies include up to $15,000 in funding; priority access to the Hub space; and access to university resources, depending on the nature of the project. Learn More » 

TIPS & TOOLS

• Community-Based Curation: A Toolkit for Expanding Narratives and Changing Practices - Tucson Museum of Art

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 »

MALHM-MNHS Local History Services Survey

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. The survey has 29 questions and will take about ten minutes to complete. After we have compiled the answers and completed some analysis, the Alliance and Local History Services will share the results. The survey closes on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

NEW FEATURE!
Vintage Museum Photo: Sherburne County Museum, Becker, MN. (1986).
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.

Minnesota State Archives January 2025 Acquisitions
Collecting and preserving local government records with permanent historical value is a strength of the State Archives collection, and records added this month enhance that strength. Many of the records added this month to the State Archives collection are valuable for family and local history research. Learn more »

• Accountancy Board records dated 1909-1981
• Olmsted County birth and death records dated 1871-1943
• Ramsey County, St. Paul (city) street profile maps, undated [approximately 1880s]
• Rochester State Hospital postcards dated approximately 1905-1920

After 100 years of waiting, a Latino Museum is proposed for St. Paul
MPR – A coalition of Minnesota Latino organizations called the Minnesota Latino Leadership Alliance held a press conference at the Capitol on Jan. 14. The group was advocating for initiatives for the upcoming legislative session, one of which is the proposed Minnesota Latino Museum, which would be a center for Latino arts, culture and heritage. Continue reading »

It's time to rediscover the Minnesota Discovery Center
Hometown Source – The “Museum of the Iron Range,” is embarking on an exciting new chapter through a strategic planning process to reimagine its future. This effort will run from Jan. 17 to Feb. 14, 2025, and they’re calling on the community to help shape what’s next for MDC. Continue reading »

Rusted out steam locomotive moves for the first time in decades!!
NP northwind sub - Northern Pacific Q-3 2156 is ready to be moved at the Minnesota Transportation Museum, I'm a volunteer there and worked with lots of other guys to reassemble and grease it to the point where it can move on its wheels again. Watch video »

Featured Book Controversial Monuments and Memorials: A Guide for Community Leaders, Second Edition, Edited by David B. Allison. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History Knute Nelson and the immigration question: a political dilemma Volume 56, Issue 6, 1999	Featured Article MNopedia Death of Anna Salzer in Rochester State Hospital, 1897 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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