Local History News: July 27, 2023

Field Note

MNHS Conservation Outreach Specialist Megan Brakob Narvey talks with the electrician and lighting consultant working at the Sacred Heart Area Historical Society while noting the progress that has been made regarding their grant to update the lighting system to help protect the collection from damaging effects of light. The lighting consultant worked with the organization to develop both general display lighting that could light the exhibits evenly, and special exhibit lighting in specific areas that could be used to spotlight and create dramatic temporary exhibits. In storage areas, special dome-shaped lights were used that could help light get into the back of storage shelves--and of course, everything is on dimmers and motion sensors to help protect from light damage to the collection.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Madison City Hall Historic Tower Rehabilitation
In 2017 the city applied for and received a $8,100 grant for a Conditions Assessment. Based on that assessment, the City applied for and received a $45,180 grant in 2018 for the Design Plans for the work outlined in the Conditions Assessment. Using the design plans, the City then applied for and received a grant to begin work on the historic bell tower which included replacing the flat roof and restoring the siding, and balustrades.

As stated by City of Madison on the completion of the project, "The enduring value of City Hall will live on, by serving as a symbol of the culture of Madison. Though our city embraces moving forward we also celebrate and appreciate our history. In a time when many things are being rebuilt due to reaching their useful life or lack of maintenance, we are preserving a very visual piece of History for generations."
Recipient: City of Madison
Funded amount: $120,562
Project Details

MNHS Announces April Round of Legacy Small Grants
Recipients received 28 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants ($10,000 and less) totaling $216,285 in 19 counties. Learn more »

MNHS Announces Heritage Partnership Program Grant Recipients
Four partnerships received grants totaling $237,989. The program's goal is to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota’s history and cultural resources by supporting the creation and development of sustainable, history-based partnerships throughout the state. Learn more »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from Rethos. Have a blog? Let us know!

Brainerd! The Newest Minnesota Main Street Community
A big Minnesota Main Streets welcome to the latest addition to the Main Street Community, Brainerd, MN! Brainerd has joined at the Associate level. 

We’re excited to begin working with the Brainerd community to help them reinvigorate their downtown. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Meet the new lead librarian for the Andersen Horticultural Library - U of MN Libraries
• Fanlight, July 2023 - Beltrami County Historical Society
• New MDL Contributor: Danish American Center - MN Digital Library
• History is not boring, our neighbors agree: Linden Hills History Study Group - Hennepin History Museum
• It was a great kickoff to Whiz Bang Days! - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Seven photojournalists document the Ukrainian war  - U of MN Libraries
• A Sleepover at Linden Hill - Pragmatic Historian
• Charles Spears Interview: In Memoriam - Minneapolis Park History

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Hennepin History Museum. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

Bring Back 6th Avenue North: Presentation on Restoring 6th and Lyndale
Mapping Prejudice intern Carissa Thomas introduces Kirsten Delegard, co-founder of the Mapping Prejudice project, and Jose A. Zayas, Advocacy Director for Our Streets Minneapolis. Their presentation describes the rich history and destruction of 6th and Lyndale, as well as the recent efforts to restore safety and community in the area. Watch Video »

More MN Tube posts

• The History of Agriculture in Stevens County - Stevens County Historical Society
• James Groat Fan Fiction - Anoka County Historical Society
• Dave Bortner Dodge Talk - Legacy of the Lakes Museum
• RESOLUTE: MN Stories from Kabul (26-min cut) - Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum
• Making the Carry: The Lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• History of New Ulm's Park and Recreation System, 1848-1927 - Brown County Historical Society

Job Opportunities

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

LOCAL

• RFP, Historic Structure Report for the Chippewa City/St. Francis Xavier Church - Historic Cook County, Grand Marais, MN
• Lead Collections Specialist - Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN
• Curator - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Development Manager - Hennepin History Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Residency Specialist - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Curatorial Assistant - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Community Programs Director - Minnesota Landmarks, St. Paul, MN
• Senior Human Resources Business Partner - Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Weekend Lead - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Event Assistant - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

• Executive Director - Journey Museum and Learning Center, Rapid City, SD
• Museum Educator - National Music Museum, Vermillion, SD
• Director of Education and Guest Experience - Children's Museum of South Dakota, Brookings, SD
• Mellon Curatorial Fellow - Stanley Museum of Art, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
• Mellon Curatorial Assistant for Provenance Research - Stanley Museum of Art, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
• Head of Preservation - Iowa State University, Ames, IA
• Museum Education Guide - Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison, WI
• Senior Graphic Designer - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Architectural Historian - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• State Archeologist - State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Assistant Curator of Collections - Midway Village Museum, Rockford, IL
• Director - Williamsville Public Library and Museum, Williamsville, IL
• Executive Director - Evanston History Center, Evanston, IL
• Lead Archives Technician - National Archives and Records Administration, Valmeyer, IL 
• Assistant Librarian - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Museum Educator - Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County, Crawfordsville, IN
• Civic Education & Outreach Manager - Supreme Court of Ohio, Columbus, OH
• Archives Technician - National Archives and Records Administration, Moraine, OH
• Digital Archives and Museum Imaging Specialist - Department of Veterans Affairs, Dayton, OH
• Interpretive Program Developer - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Event Coordinator - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Accounting Coordinator - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Administrative Coordinator - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Executive Director - Eastman Tourism Association, Whitemouth, MB
• Programming and Outreach Coordinator - Museum of Dufferin, Mulmur, ON

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Hennepin County Library.

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

Exhibit: Gut Heil! New Ulm as a Turner Town
Now through April 2024 - New Ulm: Brown County Historical Society - The 56th National Convention of the American Turners (Turnfest) is this week in New Ulm. To celebrate this historic event, the Brown County Historical Society, in conjunction with the New Ulm Turnverein has on display "Gut Heil! New Ulm as a Turner Town." Learn about the beginning of the Turner movement and how it came to the United States and eventually came to New Ulm. Learn more »

Presentation: Medal of Honor Recipient Henry A. Courtney
July 25 @ 5:30 pm - Duluth: Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Major Courtney was posthumously awarded the nation's highest honor for valor above and beyond the call of duty. He was bestowed the Medal of Honor for gallantry displayed during action on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands on May 14 and 15, 1945. His nephew Court Storey will tell the story of his uncle’s life and heroics while serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Co-sponsored with St. Louis County Historical Society and Veterans Memorial Hall. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: The Day William Jennings Bryan Came to Austin
July 27 @ 12 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Join historian, educator, and author Dean Ulland, as he explores the day William Bryan Jennings came to Austin. William Jennings Bryan emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party’s nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and 1908 elections. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: At Last - 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Minnesota
August 1 through August 20 - Moorhead: Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County - Come celebrate the 10th anniversary of marriage equality in MN. Learn about the ceremony in which eighteen couples were married at midnight in Moorhead on August 1, 2013.
Explore the road to marriage equality in Minnesota and the impacts of the legalization of same-sex marriage. Created in partnership with the Red River Rainbow Seniors. Opening reception August 1 from 5 to 8 pm. Learn more »

Presentation: Steps, Halves, Full, or Foster: Interviewing Siblings Can Reveal Clues Not Known to be Hidden
August 2 @ 7 to 8:15 pm - Online: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Here we look at two formats: Researching our family trees by interviewing our own siblings to learn how their perceptions and knowledge of the family might differ from ours; but also how the various siblings (particularly, but not exclusively, in blended families) of our direct line ancestor may have acquired different documents, photos, and information. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: The Lure of the Pearl Button
August 2 @ 7 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Heritage Center - Come and listen to the story of freshwater mussels and the pearl button industry in St. Croix and Mississippi river valleys. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a pearl button boom was also underway, employing thousands of ‘clammers’ and button factory workers who labored in the business of making buttons and decorative elements for jewelry and watches. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: The Arrowhead Garage
August 8 @ 4 pm - Tower: Tower Soudan Historical Society - The Arrowhead Garage and the Peyla Family, will be showcased as a part of Tower's history. Presented by Dick Peyla, a native of Tower and a retired Chevron research engineer, this event will take you on a journey through time, spanning generations of the Peyla family's legacy. Cost: $5. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Nisswa History Center and Pioneer Village, operated by the Nisswa Area Historical Society, Nisswa MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

IRS Form 990 – What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know  
July 27 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Blue Avocado - This webinar is meant to clarify and educate nonprofits on the basics surrounding Form 990, including: What the form does; Which nonprofits need to file it; When it should be filed; Which form to file; Common pitfalls to avoid. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Applying for State Grants in Minnesota: Budgets
July 31 @ 2 to 3:30 pm - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Interested in applying for state grants but not sure where to start? MCN and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development aim to help organizations who do not have experience in applying for and receiving state grants by providing free online trainings on these topics. Grantwriting 101; Proposal Components; Budgets. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Beginning Grantwriting
August 3 @ 9 am to 12 pm  - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - This session will provide a balance of applicable content and resources to deepen participants’ knowledge of and skills in grantwriting. Specifically designed for beginners, this workshop will introduce grantwriting to nonprofit professionals who have less than one year of experience with the skill. By the end of this session, participants will learn the steps to craft, construct, and submit an effective grant application. Cost: $89 members/$129 nonmembers. Learn more »

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in the Era of Climate Change
August 7 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog Archivists and Historians - Genna Duplisea, a founding member of Archivists Responding to Climate Change will discuss the impact of climate change on archives and museums. She will offer insights into strategies and best practices for mitigating the impact of climate change on archives and museums, ensuring that cultural heritage remains safe and accessible for future generations. Cost: Free. Learn more »

What's My Role as a Nonprofit Board Member?
August 8 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Learn to participate in board meetings and other engagements with more confidence and knowledge about your role as a board member. They'll cover board responsibilities and how you can be a strong resource for a nonprofit organization. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preventing and Responding to Mold in Book and Paper Collections
August 8 @ 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - Mold can pose a serious threat to cultural heritage materials. In this 1-hour webinar, participants will learn how to assess and identify mold, how to safely clean moldy materials, and how to prevent future mold outbreaks through proactive preservation measures. Cost: $45. Register »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Annual National Snapshot of United States Museums - AAM

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Rural Minnesota Grants
Applications accepted throughout the year: Blandin Foundation - Grants geared towards rurally-based organizations with activities directed toward rural communities. Grant amount: up to $50,000. Learn more »

National Council on Public History
National Council on Public History has over $7,000 in awards available to recognize excellence in the diverse ways public historians apply their skills to the world around us. The award program promotes professionalism and best practices among public historians and raises awareness about their activities. Learn more »

Museums for America
November 15 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - This program supports museums of all sizes and disciplines to undertake projects that strengthen their ability to serve the public. Project activities may include exhibitions, educational or interpretive programs, digital learning resources, professional development, community debate and dialogue, audience-focused studies, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Learn more »

News

St. Louis County Historical Society Interim Executive Director Announced
David Benson, BA/BS, will serve as the Interim Executive Director at St. Louis County Historical Society. He has a Certificate in Nonprofit Administration and is an experienced facilitator and organizational coach. David previously served as Interim Executive Director at Community Action Duluth and Interim CEO for Lake Superior Zoological Society. At the Damiano Center for over ten years, David was
Development Director then moved to Executive Director. Learn more »

Common Ground 1402: Croft Mine History Museum
Lakeland PBS - Barb Grove, aka Mama Cuyuna tours the long-closed Croft Mine Museum and Dry House. Members of the Croft Mine Community Committee share their volunteer work to reopen the site, hopes, and possibilities. Also, the owner of a local business, Victual, shares his insights into Crosby's State Recreation Area-spurred economic development, and a daughter of a Croft Miner shares her recollections of her father's dedicated but dangerous work at this historic place. Watch video »

Window into Yesterday - Civilian Conservation Corps
The Ely Echo - North on the Echo Trail or northeast of town towards the North Shore are some newer groves of pine - too young to be virgin timber but looking like they will someday be ready to be logged. These trees were likely planted by young men enrolled in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). Continue reading »

Featured Book Following my Spirit Home: A Collection of Painting and Stories by Sam Zimmerman/Zhaawanoogiizhik Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event and Book Signing Date: July 29 @ 12:30 - 2:30 pm Location: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post	Featured Article Minnesota History Minnesota’s Acid Rain Story: A Legacy of Leadership Volume 67, Issue 8, 2021–22	Featured Article MNopedia Minneapolis Teachers' Strike, 1970 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.

From the Heritage Preservation Department
Reminder: Due to COVID-19 all Heritage Preservation Department staff (Grants Office and Local History Services) are working remotely until further notice. If you need to connect with a specific staff member, please email them directly.

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