Field Note

On April 19, Local History Services and Grants Office staff visited with staff and board of the North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting in North St. Paul to hear about the progress of a grant-funded project to install an HVAC system that will create an environment to better preserve the museum’s extensive collection of scouting memorabilia and artifacts. The tour included the galleries, the control room, and a trip up to the roof to see the newly installed equipment.

Heritage Preservation Grants

NEW GRANT PROGRAM
Commemorate 50 Years of Southeast Asians in Minnesota
August 23 (Required Pre-Application Deadline) - The Commemorate 50 Years of Southeast Asians in Minnesota is a competitive grant program funded by the State’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. It will provide historical and cultural heritage grants to cultural community organizations, historical organizations, and veterans organizations statewide. Grants may range from $10,001-$100,000 and are specifically for activities related to the commemoration of 50 years of Southeast Asians in Minnesota, a momentous occasion in our state's history. Email questions to Gillian Maguire. 
Learn more »

Grants Office Webinar: The One Trick to Polish Your Large Grant Application
July 18 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Your organization is in the large Legacy round. You’ve sent us your pre-application. We’ve sent back one to three pages of comments and advice. These comments can help you rewrite an application with a better chance of funding success. But why do we send the comments that we send? We will edit an example application using a pre-app comment letter. Join us for this webinar to learn and discuss how to use the grants office feedback to your advantage. Presented by Grants Specialist John Fulton.

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 the Trident Sciences. Have a blog? Let us know!

Discovery of building debris from Big Island Park
As an extension of prior work we had done with Maritime Heritage Minnesota, during some exploratory dives in Lake Minnetonka this past week, we discovered some previously unknown building debris in shallow water next to Big Island.

The building debris is from Big Island Park, an amusement park built on 65 acres of land on Big Island. The Twin Cities Rapid Transit company built Big Island Park in the early 1900s to attract tourists and excursionists to the edge of their system on summer weekends, when ridership was typically low. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Minnesota River Flooding June 2024 - Nicollet County Historical Society
• Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests donates organizational archive to the Tretter Collection - U of MN Libraries
• 625 Marquette: The Story of a Building - Kraus-Anderson
• A Necessary Utility: Scott County Water Towers - Scott County Historical Society
• Frank's Standard Service Calendar from 1968 - Brandon History Center
• Growing Up in Frogtown: Little Women, Little Houses, Lots of Work, (and a Little Play) - Ramsey County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Wasana Grimsby: Immigrant Stories - Immigration History Research Center, U of MN
• 2024 Gunflint Trail Remembrance Tribute - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• Behind the Frame: Karen Nease - Historic Cook County
• Thomsen Bowling Alley and Pool Hall - New Prague Area Historical Society

• Camper Counselor - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Facilitator I - Forest History Center
• IT Service Management Administrator - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Museum Manager - Morrison County Historical Society, Little Falls, MN
• Development and Operations Coordinator - Rethos, St. Paul, MN
• Researcher - Telling Queer History, Minneapolis, MN
• Engagement and Logistics Coordinator - Telling Queer History, Minneapolis, MN
• Education Manager - The Works Museum, Bloomington, MN

REGIONAL

• Managing Director of Museum, Interpretation and Cultural Affairs - Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, White Horse, SD
• Executive Director-CEO - The Figge Museum, Davenport, IA
• Attraction Director - Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI
• Site Manager - Villa Louis Historic Site, Wisconsin Historical Society,
  Prairie du Chien, WI
• Digitization Assistant - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Executive Office Coordinator - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 
• Associate Registrar for Exhibitions & Loans - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Archivist II – Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin, Superior, WI
• Cana Island Crew Member - Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society, Baileys Harbor, WI 

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Museum Membership Manager - Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
• Event Manager - Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
• Chief Financial Officer - Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
• Guest Services Manager - Kohl Children’s Museum, Glenview, IL
• Division Director of Recreation and Museum Services - Glenview Park District, Glenview, IL
• Building Operations Manager - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago, IL
• Experience Build Assistant - Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, Muncie, IN
• Registrar - Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
• Assistant Director - Congregation of St. Joseph Archives, Cleveland, OH
• Campaign Coordinator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Shipper Receiver - Protection Services - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Museum Curator - The Muse: Lake of the Woods Museum and Douglas Family Art Centre, Kenora, ON 
• Project Lead - Clarington Library, Museums, and Archives, Clarington, ON
• Curator - Cobalt Mining Museum, Cobalt, ON

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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.

Exhibit: The Views of Duluth: Historic Photographs of Duluth
Now through August 31 - Duluth: St. Louis County Historical Society - Panoramas and photographs provide insight into the industry and entertainment that shaped the city. The exhibit features copies of Hugh McKenzie photographs and other notable Duluth photographers whose works highlight the establishments and architecture of the 1900s. Poignant insight into life of past Duluthians is captured, from quiet streets and scenic overlooks to grand theaters and exciting recreation events. Come and see the places and people who have contributed to the history of Duluth. Learn more » 

Presentation: Women Who Would be President
July 19 @ 6 pm - South St. Paul: Dakota County Historical Society - Many women have run for President, but none have succeeded. It was not for a lack of trying, either. This presentation will explore four very different women who ran for President in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will look at why they ran, what they accomplished, the obstacles they faced, the impact they made on American politics, and the legacy they left behind. Cost: $15 members/$20 nonmembers. Learn more »

Event: Bloomington Historical Society 60th Anniversary
July 20 @ 10 am to 4 pm - Bloomington - Bloomington Historical Society - Established in 1964 during a period of significant transformation for Bloomington. The farms of the past 100 years were growing housing developments, and its identity as a quiet village was becoming that of a bustling city. Their inaugural board meeting took place on Aug. 12, 1964. In celebration, they will be holding an open house with the day packed with historical exhibitions, displays, guided tours, and engagement with local historians. Learn more »

Book Talk: Journey Through the Territory and Times of Smith Lake, Part II
July 20 @ 10 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Understand history through the building of a railroad town and follow local ancestors as they settled the Village of the Smith Lake area. Family genealogy and personal stories make this book complete, spanning generations through four Wars and the Depression, all over the state and country who continue to thrive today. You will read about murders, celebrations, history of Wright County, the expansion of the railroads, the area and the Village along with so much more. This is the second part of the Lost Town series in Wright County, Minnesota. Learn more »

Presentation: Myths & Marvels from White Bear’s Past
July 22 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Ever wonder what some of the most unusual stories from White Bear’s past may be? Join in to hear about some of most bizarre claims from around the area. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Live Music with Stacy Hughes
July 25 @ 4 to 5:30 pm and 6 to 7:30 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Stacy Hughes is a singer/songwriter who has been performing for over 30 years. She brings her beautiful voice aboard for some great music on the river. Cost: $35 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Activity: Welker One Room Schoolhouse Program
July 26 @ 9 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - One of the many free activities offered is a chance for kids to see and experience what it's like to learn at a One Room Schoolhouse. The 'teacher' will offer short educational activities, games, and more. 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: Jasper Museum, operated by the Jasper Historical Society, Jasper, MN.

Time is Running out to apply to be a "We Are Water MN" Host Site
We Are Water MN is a traveling exhibit and suite of engagement tools designed to bridge divides across diverse understandings of our most precious resource: water. We Are Water MN is designed to broaden and deepen understanding of the many ways that water—its use, quality, and personal and cultural meanings—affect human life. With support from the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and six additional statewide partners—the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Minnesota Historical Society, Board of Water and Soil Conservation, and University of Minnesota Extension—host sites develop a comprehensive engagement plan for the 2-month-long exhibit hosting period and beyond, focused on empowering community participants to co-create their We Are Water experience. The result is enhanced organizational capacity to help your community work across differences in shaping a shared future. July 21, 2024 is the Statement of Interest deadline. Learn more »

2024 Nonprofit Fundraising Conference
July 24 @ 8 am to 5 pm - Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Whether you’re a grantwriter or grantmaker, an experienced development director or a new program manager, volunteer or executive director, get ready to challenge your fundraising perspectives and discover tangible strategies to try in your work at this daylong, in-person conference. Cost: $215 members/$285 nonmembers. Learn more »

Condition Reporting and Art Handling
July 24 @ 9 am to 4:30 pm - Minneapolis: Midwest Art Conservation Center - Condition reporting is a central part of collections record keeping. This full-day workshop combines art handling training with an introduction to the basics of documentation for accession records, outgoing loans, and damage reports. The class will cover a wide range of materials and artifact types and introduce a selection of simple examination tools. Participants will practice handling on study collection materials and learn how to approach each item with objectivity and consistence for condition reporting. Location: Weisman Art Museum. Cost: $300. Learn more »

Community Curator Talk
July 27 @ Lunch at 12 pm, Talk at 1 pm - St. Paul: Science Museum of Minnesota - Free lunch and talk at the Science Museum of Minnesota, featuring Community Curator Aaron Johnson-Ortiz and curated artist Anton Vasquez.

Anton is an Indigenous Maya Tzotzil multimedia artist visiting from Chiapas, Mexico. Aaron is the director of (Neo)Muralismos de Mexico and has curated their current display on Maya culture through the history and contemporary use of cotton. Location: Argon Room. Cost: Free. Email Jennings Mergenthal for more information. Register » 

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. Examine current standards and best practices based on examples from New York Heritage Digital Collections and other repositories. This webinar will cover each stage of the digitization process, from selecting materials to creating metadata and digital objects. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Laws and Collections Management
Beginning August 5 - Online course: Museum Studies - The four-week online course provides an accessible introduction to the ethical principles and legal aspects of managing museum collections by presenting the scope and significance of museum ethics and an introduction to national and international laws and regulations affecting museums. Cost: $400. Learn more »

Digitizing Photographic Materials
August 8 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - This webinar provides an in-depth overview of photograph digitization. Digitizing photographic collections can foster research, engage users, and help preserve the original objects, but a one-size-fits-all approach to reformatting will not provide the best results given the variety of photographic formats and processes that exist. Cost: $95.  Learn more »

Building an Effective CEO + Board Chair Partnership
August 8 @ 9 am to 12 pm - Minneapolis: ​Propel Nonprofits​ - The nonprofit’s executive director and board chair should attend this session together to explore their critical relationship and discuss how they will support each other in leading their organization to success. Cost: $85. Learn more »

Collections Management 100 - Collection Development
August 26 to October 18 - Online Course: American Association for State and Local History - In this eight-week course, participants will learn about the general principles underlying the idea of being a “collecting organization,” and how collections support the mission of a museum or history organization. Students will explore the purpose of a Collection Management Policy and how it relates to other core museum documents, create the Foundational Statements and Collection Development sections of their collections management policy and operationalize those components using example objects. Cost: $215 members/$315 nonmembers. Learn more » 

TIPS & TOOLS

• Right-Sizing the World - Center for the Future of Museums 

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Inclusive and Equitable Entrepreneurial Communities Grant
August 5 - (Deadline):  Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation - This grant supports organizations which are providing direct resources and services to start and expand business opportunities within diverse and/or traditionally underserved populations in southern Minnesota. Learn more »

Program Preserves Equal Rights History
August 20 - (Deadline): National Park Service - The History of Equal Rights Grant Program (HER) will preserve sites related to the struggle to achieve the ideal of equal rights in America. HER Grants will fund a broad range of preservation projects for historic sites including: architectural services, historic structure reports, preservation plans, and physical preservation to structures. Learn more » 

African American Civil Rights Grants
September 5 - (Deadline):  National Park Service - African American Civil Rights Grants documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories related to the African American struggle to gain equal rights as citizens. Grants fund a broad range of planning, development, and research projects for historic sites including: survey, inventory, documentation, interpretation, education, architectural services, historic structure reports, preservation plans, and "bricks and mortar" repair. Projects are split into two categories: physical "preservation projects" and "history projects." "Preservation" grants are for the repair of historic properties. "History" grants are for more interpretive work, like exhibit design or even historical research. Learn more »

National Medal for Museum and Library Service
September 6 - (Deadline): The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is the nation's highest honor for institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Learn more »

Costume Society of America College and University Collection Care Grant
October 15 - (Deadline): Costume Society of America College - Grants of $1500 are intended to assist the costume and textiles collection of a college or university that receives little or no financial support from its institution. Funding may be used to support the care, conservation, and/or instructional mission of a collection of historic, period, or otherwise informative costume and textiles that are intended for preservation and are used for study by an institution that has a degree program in apparel, textiles, or theatre. Learn more »

Costume Society of America Small Museum Collection Care Grant
October 15 - (Deadline): Costume Society of America College - Grants of $1,500 are intended to assist the costume and textiles collection of a small museum (including historical societies, historic houses or sites, and other similar institutions) that has a very limited budget and staff. Funding may be used to support the care, conservation, and/or exhibition of costume and textiles that have historic, regional, or other significance and are intended for preservation. Learn more »

Additional Funding Opportunities »

News

Humidity threatens delicate relics at the Beltrami Historical Society
KAXE — It’s not so much the heat as the humidity that threatens historic artifacts important to Beltrami County. The City of Bemidji owns the historic Great Northern Depot building, which houses the local museum. Emily Thabes, executive director of the Beltrami County Historical Society, recently asked city officials to help prevent impacts like mildew and stress fractures. Continue reading »

'Undercover' for decades, western Minnesota log cabin to get a new life
West Central Tribune — Chippewa County Historical Society to seize opportunity presented by discovery of log cabin to move it to Historic Chippewa Village. It has launched a fundraising effort for the project. Continue reading »

Must See Museums: Village of Yesteryear
KSTP — Photojournalist Bill Middeke takes us to Owatonna where Steele County Historical Society has preserved 19 historical structures over the past 75 years. Watch Video »

Exploring the Minnesota Discovery Center
Duluth News Tribune — New leader looks to shore up Minnesota Discovery Center for future generations. Char Conger, the Chisholm attraction's director since February, plans to build on the center's wide-ranging successes while making some much-needed infrastructure investments. Watch video »

So Minnesota: Gammelgården Museum of Scandia
KSTP — One museum honors those who came to America looking for a better life. Gammelgården Museum of Scandia honors Swedish immigrants who founded the community. Watch video »

Featured Book By the Ore Docks: A Working People’s History of Duluth by Richard Hudelson and Carl Ross. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History The WPA Federal Art Projects in Minnesota, 1935-1943 Volume 53, Issue 5, Year	Featured Article MNopedia Minneapolis Sound (music genre) 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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