Field Note

On June 18, over 20 staff, board members, and volunteers gathered at the Bulwer Junction Depot for a Ramsey County History Network meeting. Hosted by the New Brighton Area Historical Society, the meeting featured updates from the various organizations and a conversation on how the group can better coordinate communication. Participant organizations included the Hill Farm Historical Society, the Little Canada Historical Society, the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, the Minnesota Historical Society (Local History Services), the North St. Paul Historical Society, the Ramsey County Historical Society, the Roseville Historical Society, and the Shoreview Historical Society. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Maynard State Bank Roof Replacement
The historic Maynard State Bank Building, owned by the city of Maynard, houses the Maynard History Museum, showcasing the city's story. A 2020 Conditions Assessment highlighted a failing roof as a key issue, with plans to replace it to prevent further damage. This project included replacing the existing roofing system with 5” EPDM, new insulation, gutters, and downspouts. Ensuring these issues are addressed will preserve this historic structure for future generations and maintain its community value.
Recipient: City of Maynard
Funding Amount: $155,260
Project details

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

No July Grants Open House
July 2024 - Due to the 4th of July Holiday there will be no Open House for July. 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!

The History of the Rapidan Dam
The Blue Earth River runs through Blue Earth County (the river’s namesake), southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa. The river (and county) was named for former deposits of blue-green clay, no longer visible, along the banks of the river. The river is 108 miles long and joins the Minnesota River at the bend in Mankato – the confluence of the two rivers is near Sibley Park.

In 1864 plans for commercial use of the Blue Earth River rapids for power began to take shape. Silas Kenworthy opened a water-powered flour mill along the western banks of the Blue Earth River at the lower rapids in 1866. The small village of Rapidan Mills, comprised of homes and small businesses for the people working at the mill, soon developed. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• The Streetcar Boat Named Minnehaha - Hennepin History Museum
• History of St. Ann's Parish 1902 - 1968 - Brandon History Center
• The Byrne Sisters at the James Ford Bell Library - U of MN Libraries
• Filling the Minnesota Map for MDL’s 20th Anniversary - Minnesota Digital Library News
• Claws Out: Simmering Debate on Crayfish vs. Crawfish - American Swedish Institute
• Spring Dinner 2024 Recap - Hill Farm Historical Society
• History: Box Factories of South Stillwater - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

Cemetery Research Confessional
Historical research doesn’t always go smoothly. Sara reveals the three biggest research fails she experienced while creating a new tour for St. Genevieve’s cemetery in Centerville. Listen to the podcast »

More MN Tube posts

• Bark Lodge Timelapse - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
• March of the Governors: Arne Carlson - Ramsey County Historical Society
• Untold stories of America’s earliest immigrants - University of Minnesota Press
• The Return of the River Otter - MinneCulture
• Walnut Grove Jail - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
• Combination Corn Crib and Granary: Kalo Brick & Tile Company, Iowa - Minnesota Bricks
• Oscar Mondragon: Immigrant Stories - Immigration History Research Center, U of MN
• Virtual Visit: A walk through the Graeser Park Rock Garden, June 2024 - Robbinsdale Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• School & Youth Programs Facilitator - Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN

LOCAL

• Site Manager - Betsy-Tacy Society, Mankato, MN
• Program and Experience Manager - Freeborn County Historical Museum, Albert Lea, MN
• Curatorial Technician - Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
• Director of Development & Communications - Germanic-American Institute, St. Paul, MN
• Sales & Event Coordinator - Maplewood Area Historical Society
• Membership & Sales Assistant - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Executive Director/Curator - Lake of the Woods County Historical Society, Baudette, MN
• Senior Manager, Talent and Culture - McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
• Visitor Experience Coordinator - Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Chair of Exhibition Strategy - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Applications & Integrations Administrator - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Patron Services Associate - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Museum Educator - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Administrative Coordinator - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Built Environment Reviewer - Iowa State Historic Preservation Office, Des Moines, IA
• Executive Director - Kenosha Public Museums, Kenosha, WI
• Guest Services Host - Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Society, Eagle, WI
• Paintings Conservator - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Arts Outreach & Engagement Coordinator - University of Wisconsin--Madison, Madison, WI
• Collections Care and Access Assistant - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Simulation Specialist/Actor - University of Wisconsin--Madison, Madison, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Executive Director - McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, Union, IL
• Lead Educator, Tinkering Lab - Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago, IL
• Assistant Conservator, Asian Art on Paper - Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Executive 1 Procurement Coordinator - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL
• Senior Exhibits Maker - DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville, IL
• Vincennes Historic Site Manager - Vincennes Historic Site, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Vincennes, IN
• Lucienne M. Glaubinger Curator of Works on Paper - Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Assistant Librarian - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Associate Director of Sales & Marketing - Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
• Building Manager - Clark County Historical Society, Springfield, OH
• Archivist - Berks History Center, Reading, PA
• Historic Site Administrator - Missouri Mines State Historic Site, Missouri State Parks,
  Imperial, MO
• Technician, Lighting Design - The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
• Objects Conservator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Registrar - World Chess Hall of Fame, St. Louis, MO
• Exhibition Designer - Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
• Executive Assistant - Canadian Museums Association, Ottawa, ON
• Senior Manager of Registration - Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON
• Exhibit Fabrication Specialist - Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB
• Graphic Production Technician - Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

• Oral History Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Advancement Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Conservation Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Marketing & Communications Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Lindbergh Public History Intern - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum, Little Falls, MN
• MNHS Press Design Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Social Media Intern - Teacher Education - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Social Media Intern, Integrated Marketing Communications -Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Split Rock Lighthouse Program Intern - Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, MN
• Geospatial & Remote Sensing Intern - Minnesota Historical Society
• Archaeology Collections Assistant Intern - Minnesota Historical Society
• Northern Lights Textbook Revision Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Native American Artist-In-Residence Support Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN
• Community Engagement Intern - Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

The MNHS 175 History Hunt is Live and Runs through Labor Day 
To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Minnesota Historical Society we have created the MNHS 175 History Hunt, a statewide scavenger hunt using the Scavify app. It includes 175 tasks that encourage participants to explore the State of Minnesota and learn about our shared history. Each task completed earns points that can be redeemed for prizes when the History Hunt ends. All tasks should be completed between June 24 and September 2, 2024. There are four kinds of tasks within the Scavify app: taking a photo; scanning a QR code; answering a trivia question; or checking in at a location using the device’s GPS.

In addition to the 38 tasks surrounding MNHS sites, there are over 100 tasks visiting sites around the state. For example, task #44 is visiting a county historical society,  task #45 is visiting a local historical museum and task #42 is visiting a county courthouse - so be prepared for history hunters in your community or at your museum! Learn more by visiting the FAQ page, view a full list of all 175 tasks, or jump right and join in the hunt!

Exhibit: Capturing Cokato: The Legacy of the Akerlund Photography Studio
Now Open - Cokato: Cokato Museum and Gust Akerlund Studio - Since it was built in the late 1890s, the Gust Akerlund Photography Studio has been used as a place to photograph the people of Cokato. Named after its main proprietor, photographer Gust Akerlund, the studio is now a national register site, complete with Akerlund's original equipment, furniture, and negative collection. The new exhibit provides a glimpse into this studio's rich history and early photography. Some of Akerlund's equipment, photos, and furniture will also be featured. Cost: Free. For more information call 320-286-2427.

Exhibit: Found Horizons: Imagined Topographies
Now through July 14 - Grand Marais: Historic Cook County-Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery: Duluth artist Karen Nease’s artwork highlights her devotion to the land and water, with images that bridge the gap between familiar and fantastical. Learn more »

The Unique Northwest Corner of Linden Hills: Walking Tour with Peter Sussman
July 9 & 10 @ 6:30 to 8:30 pm - Minneapolis: Linden Hills History Study Group - This varied setting, initially platted in 1889, borders both the Minikahda Club golf course and Saint Louis Park. Stately hillside homes transition to post-World War II housing built over former wetlands. Uncover the circumstances of the adjacent two-block, 1922 Calhoun Terrace Addition, the singular plat in Linden Hills that included racial deed restrictions. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Tour: Garden Tour (with mini lessons on the history of gardening & agriculture in the area)
July 13 @ 9 am to 1 pm - New Prague: New Prague Area Historical Society - Summer is a time of bounty in Minnesota, with gardens flourishing under the sun. Join in on a Garden Tour to explore local gardens and historic homes, connecting modern gardens to traditions of the past. Don't miss this delightful family-friendly tour. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Film Screening: Buffalo Soldiers
July 18 @ 7 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - "Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts" shows the many different roles that African American soldiers played in the settling of the American West. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. For more information call 507-373-8003.

Presentation: The Band Plays On
July 18 @ 12 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - A special program on the foundations of band music in Bemidji. Joy Riggs will delve into the musical contributions her great-grandparents made to Bemidji's civic and cultural life in the early 1920s, including the organization of the Bemidji Boys' Band. She will also read excerpts from her nonfiction book, "Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters," which explores the life and career of her great-grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

Event: History Hunt in the Gardens
July 18 @ 10 am to 6 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - This event takes place during the Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society’s Art Fair in the Gardens. Learn about these nationally-acclaimed local historic landscapes while scavenging for history in the Gardens. Take the History Hunt challenge and get a chance to spin the wheel for prizes from the Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society, Jupiter Moon, the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners, the Sherburne History Center, the Stearns History Museum and more. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Activity: One Room Schoolhouse
July 26 @ 9 am to 11 am - Howard Lake: Wright County Historical Society - Sign your children up for a two-hour experience of what it's like to learn at the early 1900s Welker One-Room Schoolhouse. Short educational activities, games, and more. Location: Wright County Fair Grounds. Cost: Free. Learn more »

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

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Pequot Lakes Area Historical Society Museum, Pequot Lakes, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

Build the Board you Need
July 9 @ 1 to 2:30 pm (CT) - Online: Candid - Learn practical strategies for creating a board that will move your organization forward. This course covers the board’s role, finding the right members, fostering positive relationships, and navigating common challenges. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, or development professional, this course will help you plan for a healthy organization. Upon completion, you'll be able to recruit diverse board members, use a Board Agreement for management, establish positive relationship dynamics, and strengthen your current board. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The Sing Sing Prison Museum: Unlocking Conscience
July 12 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - Starting a museum post-pandemic, post-George Floyd, post-museum “awakening” presents a unique challenge in innovation, embraced by the Sing Sing Prison Museum. They tell stories of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, aiming to promote empathy and raise awareness of injustice and justice. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Introduction to Generative AI Tools for Research and Writing
July 12 @ 11 to 11:45 am - Online: University of Minnesota Libraries - Have you heard all the buzz about the new generative AI tools like Chat GPT but not sure how to use them (or if you should) in your research and writing? Or maybe you have experimented but you're unsure. Learn about how these tools work, the pros and cons and tips for incorporating them into your research and writing practice. This workshop is geared toward U of MN students but the general public are welcome. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preservation Grant Season
July 16 @ 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Many applications for U.S. preservation grant opportunities are due in the winter. Get a head start on the application process and join NEDCC for an overview of preservation grants, including eligible projects, important deadlines, and administrative steps, like creating a Grants.gov account. The presenter will also provide application tips that are useful for all programs, no matter the grant you plan to apply to. Cost: Free. Register »

Monuments & Justice: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
July 25 @ 1 to 2 pm - (CT): - Online: National Trust for Historic Places - Efforts to protect and interpret Chicago’s Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ and Mississippi’s Graball Landing and Tallahatchie Courthouse as part of the new Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument hold significant historical and cultural value. These sites shed light on racial violence, dignity, fairness, grief, and women-led activism. Renowned scholar Dr. Elizabeth Alexander will lead a discussion on monument-making, cultural representation, and the healing role of historic preservation in addressing racial trauma. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Uncovering and Celebrating Stories Yet Untold: Digging Into LGBTQIA+ Stories Hiding in Plain Sight in Collections, Historic Sites, and Galleries
July 26 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - LGBTQIA+ lives are frequently underrepresented in our museum collections and interpretation, as well as in registries of historic sites.  This webinar will explore diverse examples of stories that have been uncovered and how we are documenting them and sharing them with visitors.  Cost: Free. Learn more »

DHPSNY: Building Digital Collections
July 29 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts - Take an in-depth look at what defines a successful digital collection. Drawing on examples from New York Heritage Digital Collections and other repositories, they will examine current standards and best practices. This webinar will cover each stage of the digitization process, from selecting materials to creating metadata and digital objects. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Budgeting
July 30 @ 9 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Learn to use budgeting as another tool for you to tell the story of your organization’s plans, priorities, and aspirations.  Propel's 10-step budgeting process will also highlight ways to engage your board as well as staff across the organization. Cost: $85. Learn more »

Next Practices: Discussions on the Future of Interpretation - A Virtual Summit
August 6 & 7 - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Join the AASLH Educators and Interpreters Committee as we investigate new and developing models of history and museum interpretation, considering all sides of the big questions facing our teams and organizations. Representatives from sites across the country will share their successes, tips, and strategies for adapting to our rapidly changing public history landscape. Cost: $60 members/$75 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Best Practices for Queer Metadata - The end result of two years of work by the Queer Metadata Collective (QMDC)

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding 
A major disaster declaration was made on June 28, 2024 for the event that occurred
beginning on June 16, 2024.

Public Assistance is currently available for Categories A-G in the following 22 Minnesota counties:

Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan (County)

• Process of Public Assistance Grants | FEMA.gov
• Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide Version 4 | FEMA.gov

As damages continue to be assessed, disaster assistance may continue to be updated.
Information on DR-4797 can be found at 4797 | FEMA.gov.
 
For cultural institutions or arts organizations impacted please encourage those fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms:  

• Cultural Institutions  
• Arts Organizations
• Individual Artists and Performing Groups

Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: (202) 661-8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.

Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.

HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at Save Your Family Treasures | FEMA.gov. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages. 

Please convey any questions to Kara Griffin at fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov.

Additional Funding Opportunities »

News

What's New in Archival Cataloging
Newly added accessions this month include a collection of contact sheet photographs, 1961-1966 by Earl W. McGee, a prominent Black photographer. The photographs document life in the Twin Cities and Rochester focusing primarily on the lives of Black people.

Other collections with additions or added digital content include the Harriet Bart Winter Projects Collection of Object Poems; the Gary M. DeCramer Papers; Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Wells Management Program Records; the Meeker County, Board of Commissioners Agenda Packets; and the Wing Young Huie Photograph Collection and Archive, the Solon J. Buck Papers; several series of the Faribault State School and Hospital Records; the Freeborn County, Probate Court, Probate Case Files; the League of Women Voters of Minnesota Records; the Lieutenant Governor Joanell M. Dyrstad Files; the Earl W. McGee Contact Sheet Photograph Albums; several additions to the MNHS Institutional Archives; the Peavey Company Records; the S. Morton Robinson Papers; the Secretary of State Maps; the Timothy J. Sheehan Papers; Stearns County, Probate Court, Probate Case Files; and the Van F. White Papers. In addition, many newly encoded finding aids are now available online for the first time including many Meeker and Ramsey County court records series. Learn more »

A new museum comes to town 
Faribault Register — After months and months of planning, there is a new museum about to open in Blue Earth. And yes, this new museum will indeed have dinosaurs in it. Continue reading »

St. Peter community grapples with flood damage
St. Peter Herald — ...Being close to the Minnesota River, this isn’t the first time the Treaty Site History Center has had to prepare for a potential flood, but Executive Director Jessica Becker said the high waters were the worst she’s seen since the spring-fall floods of 2010 and 2011. But where those past incidents were predictable, Becker said the severity of this flood had caught the History Center by surprise... Continue reading »

Olmsted County History Center raising $3M to save 1800s farmstead
StarTribune — Local officials say it's the first step toward a larger campus dedicated to area history. Continue reading »

With restoration complete, Peterson Farmhouse ready for tours
Sun-Patriot — The next phase in the evolution of the historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead is nearly complete with restoration of the 1880s farmhouse that Swedish emigrant Peterson built just east of Waconia and raised a family. Continue reading »

She's Creating the World's First Hmong Museum
Hmonglish Podcast - Today we have Mai Vang with us. She’s Founder and Executive Director of the Hmong Museum based in St. Paul, MN. She has over a decade of experience in the museum field as a registrar, curator, and collections manager. Her full time job is as a Volunteer and Intern Program Manager at the Minnesota Historical Society and she has her masters in anthropology. Watch video »

Morrison County Historical Society offers grant update
Morrison County Record — Camille Warzecha, president of the Morrison County Historical Society, provided an update to the City Council. She said the Historical Society received a grant from the State to help fund a stream bank restoration project along the Mississippi River. Shannon Wettstein of the Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) then updated the Council on the project’s progress and schedule. The total project is estimated at $140,000, with $70,000 to be provided from the grant funds and $70,000 previously pledged from the city council, Wettstein said. Continue reading »

Museum coordinator showcasing personal talents
The New Ulm Journal - While coordinating the Brown County Historical Society’s programs is her main gig, Lauren McMackin is getting the chance to showcase her personal talents at the museum. McMackin is the new guest curator who has their work on display at the museum. Read more »

Gammelgarden Museum
KSTP News — Photojournalist Bill Middeke takes us to Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia in this edition of Must-See Museums. Watch video »

06-28-2024 Kandiyohi County Historical Society
KWLM - This morning on Open Mic on KWLM, JP Cola was joined in studio by Jill Wohnoutka, Executive Director. They talked about current events happening at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society. Listen »

Featured Book Remember, You Are Indigenous: Memories of a Native Childhood by Evelyn Bellanger. University of Minnesota Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History A Swedish Immigrant Folk Figure: Ola Värmlänning Volume 29, Issue 2, 1948	Featured Article MNopedia 1976 Presidential Election in Minnesota 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 »