Field Note

On Saturday, June 1, staff from the Minnesota Historical Society was joined by the Pine City Area Historical Association and the Pine County Historical Society at the East Central Minnesota Pride Festival which shared the booth space. The day was filled with rainbows, fluffy clouds, and good weather as festival goers were able to learn more about the organizations and share conversations on local LGBTQ history.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Mahnomen City Hall Main Entry Door ADA Project
The grant helped fund a project that replaced the existing 35-year-old non-historic and non-ADA compliant main entry door and window system, with a new main front entry door and window unit system on the Mahnomen City Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The door would meet the continuing or changing uses of the building while retaining the property's historic character. When the WPA-era building was built in the late 1930s the Fire Department was located on the entire within the space. However, the fire department quickly outgrew its space, and after 1948 the city built the department a new fire hall. As a result, the first floor space which served as a fire truck bay was converted into the main office/reception area/and council room for the city. As a result, the overhead door serving this space was removed and replaced with an aluminum front entry door and window unit system to serve as the main entrance into the building. Therefore, the aluminum door and window unit was installed in 1948 which was replaced again in 1986.
Recipient: City of Mahnomen
Amount Funded: $10,000
Project Details

Grants Office Webinar: Exhibits and the Grant Program
June 20 - 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Exhibits are a tried and true way to share and interpret history. The grant program can fund exhibits from the planning stages to the fabrication and installation. Join us for this webinar to learn more about what successful exhibit project applications include and advice on ways to break a project down into phases. 

Presented by State History Services Manager Todd Mahon.
Join in: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com, Phone in: (‪US‬)‪+1 386-361-3086‬.

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

JUNE Grants Open House
June 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 Chaska Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Searching for Dr. Schimelpfenig, 67 Years Later
I can remember my doctors at Children’s Hospital. Maybe because I was there for a long time. They were Dr. Long Tie, Dr. Bow Tie, Dr. Crew Cut, and Dr. Good Looking. I was often sick as a child. My parents brought me to different doctors and specialists over the years. None of them found any reason for my ongoing illness. When I was five years old, I was a patient at Children’s Hospital of Minneapolis. The doctors there removed my appendix and performed exploratory surgery on me. Again, nothing. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• 1998 Tornado Information Update - Nicollet County Historical Society
• Libraries to launch a new homepage design - U of MN Libraries
• New MDL content from the Stearns History Museum - Minnesota Digital Library News

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Zanger Barn Teardown: Another Lost Minnesota Barn - Minnesota Bricks
• James Curry: 2023 MAAHMG History Fellow - Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
• Micronesian Outrigger Sailing in Mni Sota Makoce - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
• My First Car - Stearns History Museum
• She Did WHAT?! Stories You'll Really Want to Hear - Brown County Historical Society
• BookEnds Online Edition: Michael Schumacher - Wadena County Historical Society
• Why CKP Important - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Interpreter I - History Center Museum

LOCAL

• Executive Director - Betsy-Tacy Society, Mankato, MN
• Executive Director/Curator - Lake of the Woods County Historical
  Society, Baudette, MN
• Membership and Donor Database Manager - Waseca County Historical Society, Waseca, MN
• Director of Digital Archives - National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, Remote/Minneapolis, MN
• Assistant or Associate Curator of Native American Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Events Crew - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Exhibit Planning Consultant -  Bill and Bonnie Daniels Firefighters Hall and Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Gallery Programs Coordinator - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Membership Manager - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Gala Sponsorship and Stewardship Coordinator - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Assistant or Associate Curator of Native American Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Hospitality Manager - Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN

REGIONAL

• Art Handler / Preparator II - Guardian Fine Art Services, Milwaukee, WI
• Warehouse Registrar - Guardian Fine Art Services, Milwaukee, WI
• Membership & Communications Coordinator - Ephraim Historical Foundation, Ephraim, WI
• Executive Staff Assistant - Wisconsin Historical Foundation,  Madison, WI
• Administrative and Visitor Services Manager - Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, IA
• Museum Educator - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Museum Educator - Dunn Museum, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Libertyville, IL
• Sr. Exhibits Manager - DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville, IL
• Art Bridges Fellow - Peoria Riverfront Museum - Peoria, IL
• Manager - Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, IN
• Tour Guide - Culbertson Mansion, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, New Albany, IN
• Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations - Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
• Executive Director - The Mitten Children's Museum, South Haven, MI
• Curator of Learning and Community Engagement - Holland Museum, Holland Museum, MI
• Executive Director - American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln, NB
• Assistant, Collections Management - Guelph Museums, Guelph, ON

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Virginia Area Historical Society.

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

Exhibit: Artwork of Marion Otnes
June 4 through July 13 - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Historical Society - well-known local artist Marion Otnes will be on display. Marion is a self taught watercolor artists who has exhibited across the United States since the mid-1980s. Highlights from her career include being selected to create the 1990 print of the year by the Northern Lights Council of the Boy Scouts of America, being chosen as the Artist of the Year by the White Wildlife Society in 1994 and a featured artist of the Ruffed Grouse Society for two consecutive years. On Saturday, June 22, the public is invited to meet Marion in person when she will talk about her work and artist career at 1 pm. Learn more »

Exhibit: Soulforce, The Movement of Memory - Opening Reception.
June 6 @ 6 to 7:30 pm . The exhibition, by MAAHMG History Fellow James Curry, explores the collaboration and connection between Black, Indigenous, and Chicano communities as they fought for civil rights in the Twin Cities. Cost: Free. Learn more »

80th Anniversary Commemoration of D-Day
June 6 @ 7 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum - Join for a virtual program in which you will hear from the team of Doug Thompson (Museum), Doug Wortham (Minnesota Military Radio), and Kevin Olson (SnowGlobe Public Relations), who recently visited Normandy to retrace the steps of Minnesota Veterans who fought on D-Day and descendants of those who served with such distinction 80 years ago. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Northfield Residents - Window Repair Homeowner Workshop
June 8 @ 10 am to 1 pm - Northfield: Rethos - Historic preservation expert and window aficionado Erin Hanafin Berg will explain common wood window issues and demonstrate basic repairs. This class will focus specifically on glazing, paint prep, and painting. Community members are invited to bring a window from home or practice sashes will be available to use. This workshop is designed for homeowners and property owners who plan to restore and repair their old windows and who care about building sustainability and preservation. Location: Northfield Public Library. Cost: Free.  Learn more »

Event: Deutsche Tage (German Days)
June 8 & 9 - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - The festival celebrates its 30th anniversary with authentic German food, Paulaner beer, music, dance, and family fun. Proceeds support the institute's cultural and language education programs. Guests in 2024 include Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt showcasing traditional dance and music from Pomeranian regions of Germany. Learn more »

Event: Grand Opening of New Exhibit Hall
June 13 @ 4 to 7 pm - Lakefield: Jackson County Historical Society announces the grand opening of its new Exhibit Hall to the public. After years of hard work, they are eager to reveal it during Lakefield's Summerfest celebration, complete with a special treat of homemade ice cream. This climate-controlled building now houses a brand-new exhibit hall and storage area, allowing for the creation of new exhibits and the updating of existing ones. These updates offer fresh perspectives on Jackson County's rich history, shedding light on the untold stories of its past residents. Additionally, the expansion of the research area provides ample space for genealogy enthusiasts and history buffs to delve deeper into the community's heritage. Learn more »

Event: Heritage Days
June 16 & 17 @ 6:30 Faribault: The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour - Activities beginning with a Wahpekute Dakota presentation and continue with Belgian Horse Carriage Rides around historic Central Park, ending with a bowl of fresh strawberry shortcake. On Sunday take a guided tour of the historic 1869 cathedral after church service. Cost: Free. For more information call 507-339-8765. 

Tour: Skunk Hollow: The Story of a Swamp
June 23 @ 1 to 2:30 pm - St. Louis Park: Hennepin History Museum & St. Louis Park Historical Society – – A new walking tour that shines a light on the history of industrial pollution in the city of St. Louis Park. The tour follows the transformation of a region from land and water, to an industrial suburb connected by rail, to a thriving residential and commercial hub. More in-depth information is provided about the manufacturing practices that led to widespread groundwater contamination in the mid-20th century and the subsequent clean-up. This tour will focus on the northern portion of the former industrial site. Cost:$10 – $14. Learn more »

Presentation: White Bear High School: Reunited!
June 24 @ 6 to 7 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - After more than 40 years on two separate campuses White Bear Lake Area High School will be reunited in the fall of 2024 under one roof. Take a look back at how they got to this unique set up for the past four decades and how things will be changing with a reunited campus. Location: White Bear Lake Library. 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: Paisley Park, Chanhassen MN.
Photograph by Bobak Ha'Eri, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Balboa Park Online Collaborative Webinar 
Reimagining STEAM in Museums with AI 
June 6 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Balboa Park - Dr. Paul Fishwick discusses the concept of deep looking, particularly within museum settings, including a methodical examination of surroundings, enriched by practices such as Slow Art, Slow Looking (as advocated by Tishman), and Artful Thinking (as developed by Project Zero). Cost: Free. Learn more »

Futures Thinking - Exploring Ideas and Developing Skills to Shape Our World 
June 11 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: National Informal STEM Education Network - Get introduced to the key ideas of futures thinking and resources for integrating this approach into your STEM engagement efforts. During this online workshop, they will explore practices that can be used with diverse learners and share examples of STEM engagement activities that allow participants to consider different future scenarios. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Buying Real Estate: An Overview for Nonprofit Organizations
June 26 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Is your nonprofit organization is considering buying a building or purchasing other types of real estate? If so, it is important to think about and discuss where the money is coming from, structures you need to have in place, and the impact on your business model. In this webinar we will share the steps involved in making this choice. You will walk away with an understanding of debt service coverage ratios, pro formas, and the big questions that your board must think about when making this decision. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Integrated Pest Management: The Plan and Implementation 
July 1 - Museum Study - Join Carnegie Museum of Natural History Conservator Gretchen Anderson for this four-week online course in which participants will learn how to apply IPM principles to their specific situation and institution. A draft plan and specific implementation strategies will be developed and discussed. Even though our institutions have different challenges the exchange of ideas presents the opportunity for us to help each other brainstorm solutions that will work for our situation. Cost: $400. Learn more »

Insuring Historic Properties in an Increasingly Challenging Marketplace—What You Need to Know
July 16 @ 2 pm - Online: National Trust of Historic Places - Learn about the challenges of insuring historic properties, with fewer companies willing to provide coverage and rising premiums. Learn about the current state of the insurance industry and potential solutions.  Cost: Free. Learn more »

Jingle All the Way: Maximizing Your Museum's Holiday Potential 
July 23 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Learn how your historic house or museum can boost community engagement during the holiday season. Get fresh ideas to maximize holiday season potential at your institution. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Where We Call Home: LGBT People in Rural America - Movement Advancement Project 

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Arts Experiences
June 21 - (Deadline): Minnesota State Arts Board - This pilot program supports individuals and organizations in providing meaningful arts experiences for Minnesotans within their communities. Funds may be used for a variety of arts programming such as creating and/or presenting concerts, plays, tours, exhibitions, arts festivals, public art, or other kinds of activities. Learn more »

Our Town Grant
August 15 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - For projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities. Learn more »

Hometown Grants
T-Mobile - Applications are open for grants of up to $50,000 each to revitalize community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less. Applications are open on a quarterly basis. Learn more »

Grants for Scandinavian Folk Arts and Cultural Traditions
American-Scandinavian Foundation offers a program to support Scandinavian folk arts and cultural traditions in the Upper Midwest. Learn more »

Additional Funding Opportunities »

News

What's New in MNHS Archival Cataloging - May 2024
Newly added accessions this month include the Jonathan Oscar Simmons III Papers and several new committees and councils of the Health Department.

Other collections with additions or added digital content include the Agricultural Society Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Applications; the John DeLaittre and Family Papers; several series of the Faribault State School and Hospital Records; the Honeywell Inc. Records; the Elizabeth Kenny Papers; several series of the Legislative Auditor's Records; the Shaun Maloney Papers; the Ramsey County, District Court, Civil Case Files; the Timothy J. Sheehan Papers; the James Wickes Taylor Papers; and the William W. Woodbury Music Book for Snare Drum.

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 »

Doors Available
Lyon County Historical Society in Marshall, MN has 27 historic doors for free to museums or purchase (prices negotiable) to others.  For interested organizations, please contact Jennifer Andries at 507-537-6580 or director@lyonsomuseum.org.
View the doors and their dimensions »

Chisholm’s Minnesota Discovery Center Has New Executive Director
Fox 21 News — The Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm has a new executive director bringing a fresh perspective to the organization. Char Conger has been at the center for about 4 months now. The well-known 660-acre campus has a museum, trolley, and 19-hole mini golf course. She says throughout the years their services have expanded. And she is hoping to enhance programs while bringing in some new and exciting things. Char says it’s all about getting people to re-discover the center. Watch video »

Major archaeology survey is underway in Mower County
KIMT 3 News — The Mower County Historical Society (MCHS) is partnering with Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, for a year of archaeological research in Mower County. The project, supported by Legacy grant funding, was announced Thursday during an MCHS Lunchbox History event. Two teams from the Hamline University Center for Anthropological Services (HUCAS) are working closely with staff at MCHS to select and examine places in Mower County to search for artifacts and evidence of Native American activities over thousands of years. Continue reading »

The Rochester Roosters are bringing back vintage ‘base ball’
NPR — In southern Minnesota, some teams are playing baseball like it's 1860. Listen »

Featured Book Bunyan and Henry; Or, The Beautiful Destiny: A Novel by Mark Cecil. Pantheon Books. Author Events Date: June 27 @ 6 pm Location: The Bookstore at Fitger’s, Duluth, MN  Date: June 28 @ 6 pm Location: Four Pines Bookstore, Bemidji, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History Joseph Farr Remembers the Underground Railroad in St. Paul Volume 57, Issue 3, 2000–2001	Featured Article MNopedia Ruth Evelyn Boynton (1896–1977) 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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