Field Note

Our participation at the History Matters Day at the Capitol event provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the work of Local History Services and the Grants Program. We were delighted to highlight the successes and significance of preserving history, spreading the word that history matters for the communities and localities across Minnesota. Behind the table left to right: David Kelliher, Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations; Carolyn Veeser-Egbide, Grants Manager; Kent Whitworth, Director and CEO; Ryan Maciej, Design Reviewer, Local History Services.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Grants Office Webinar: Museum & Archival Storage
March 21 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Learn what types of storage-related projects qualify for funding with the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants. Gain insights into the initial planning stages of a storage renovation project. Understand the required attachments and application process for this specific grant program. Get information on appropriate standards and materials for museum and archival storage.

Ideal for museum and archive professionals seeking funding for storage improvements or anyone interested in learning about best practices for museum and archival storage. Presented by Outreach Conservator Megan Brakob Narvey
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬  PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

March Grants Open House
March 7 - 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 »

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

From the Blog

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

Lost Cokato: Lumberyards
For over a century, lumberyards played an integral role in the development of Cokato’s community. It’s hard to say who started the first lumberyard in Cokato. In the early 1880s, there were a smattering of very short-lived lumber yards, and many farms in the area had their own sawmills. In time, Cokato’s lumberyards were consistently housed at four primary locations: Broadway Avenue and 1st Street SW; Millard Ave; Jenks Avenue and Third Street SW; and Century Avenue and 1st Street SW. Continue reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Are you smarter than a fifth grader? - Rethos
• March Friday History: Mattocks School - Kraus-Anderson
• The Libraries unveils one of the largest public human rights archives - U of MN Libraries
• North American Ice Diving Festival - Trident Sciences
• From the President: March 2024 - Danish American Center
• Haunting Beauty: Mike Melman’s Tribute to the Urban Past - Hennepin History Museum
• This Is My Life: Beatrice Zweber Remembers Appendicitis in 1914 - Scott County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the U of MN Immigration History Research Center. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Native Minnesota Podcast: Celebrating the Understand Native Minnesota Campaign - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
• The Abandoned Phillips Farmhouse: A Historic Stone and Brick Combination Home - Minnesota Bricks
• THE NELLIES: Nellie Messina Lessman - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
• Settlers Claim Clay County Minnesota 1865-1906 (HCSCC Ihdago Manipi) - Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
• Pipestone County Medical Center's Senior Life Solutions - Pipestone County Museum
• Stillwater’s Last Lumber Baron with Bill McGrath - Washington County Historical Society
• White Bear's Golden Era of Resorts Revisited - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Acquisitions Editor - MN History Center
• Archaeologist III - DNR Central Office, St. Paul, MN

LOCAL

• Education & Outreach Coordinator - Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing, MN
• Administrative Assistant - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Head of Marketing & Communications - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Director of Experiences (Exhibits, Programming) - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

• President/CEO - Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport/Quad Cities, IA
• Collections Manager - Mahaska County Historical Society, Oskaloosa, IA
• Collections Manager - Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI
• Executive Director - Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation, Sturgeon Bay, WI
• Museum Tour Guide - The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, Platteville, WI
• Chief Engagement Officer - Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, WI
• Grant Writer - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Inc., Madison, WI
• Youth & Family Programs Assistant 1 - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Research Curator of Paleontology - Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Assistant Director of the Museum of Geology - South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, SD
• Museum Curator - U.S. Department of the Interior/Indian Arts and Crafts Board
  Rapid City, SD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Events and Outreach Coordinator - Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL
• Historic Landscape Gardener - Esta Barrett Manor and Gardens, Rockford, IL
• Director, Exhibits - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN 
• Executive Director - Maltz Museum, Beachwood, OH
• Programs & Events Coordinator - National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH
• Manager of Curatorial Affairs - Ruth Mott Foundation, Flint, MI
• Archivist - Sloan Museum of Discovery, Flint, MI
• Executive Director - Holland Museum, Holland, MI
• Seasonal Communications Assistant - Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association, Ludington, MI
• Registrar - Motown Museum, Detroit, MI
• Andrew W. Mellon Postgraduate Fellowship in Conservation of Works of Art on Paper -
  Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
• Objects Conservator - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Lead Records Researcher and 5 Records Researchers - The Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board, Washington, DC
• Conservator, Head of Paintings Conservation Lab - Ford Conservation Center, Omaha, NE
• Director - Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives and Records Administration, Abilene, KS
• Marketing & Outreach Assistant - Goulbourn Museum, Stittsville, ON
• Programming Officer - Goulbourn Museum, Stittsville, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Museum Intern - Siouxland Heritage Museums, Sioux Falls, SD
• Internship, Digital Archiving - The Vasa Order, Bishop Hill, IL
• Money Museum Intern - Summer 2024 - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Kansas City, MO
• Multiple Internships - National Trust for Historic Places

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

• Public Programs Intern - Minnesota History Center
• Digital Production and Programming Intern - Minnesota History Center
• Marketing & Communications Intern - Minnesota History Center
• Facility Design Intern - Minnesota History Center
• MNHS Press Design Intern - Minnesota History Center
• Northern Lights Textbook Revision Intern - Minnesota History Center
• Sibley House Program Development and Interpretive Intern - Sibley Historic Site
• Lindbergh House Social Media Intern - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Discussion: History of White Supremacy in U.S. Textbooks
March 7 @ 6:30 pm - St. Paul: Donald Yacovone, an associate at Harvard University's Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, will give two talks this week in St. Paul on how history books used in public schools have promoted white supremacy. The first will be a discussion about the state's ethnic studies mandate and the challenges to the teaching of history. Location: Walker West Music Academy. Sponsored by the Minnesota, Minneapolis & St. Paul chapters of the NAACP, East Side Freedom Library, and Embracing Minnesota Histories. This event will be followed by talk, "History Education, Race, and the Forging of Our National Identity" at the Minnesota History Center on March 9 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Pope County Historical Society - Lost Movie on Glenwood, MN
March 9 @ 10 am - Glenwood: Pope County Museum - The brief business meeting will be followed by a screening of a recently discovered 1931 Glenwood movie. Staff will play the 13-minute movie in its entirety, then they will give a brief explanation of each scene. Learn more »

Return to the Fashion, Culture, and History of 1974
March 14 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - As the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) celebrates its Golden Jubilee in 2024, revisit the fashion, history, and culture of 1974 – the Society’s founding year. Expect a fun and fitting look at what we were wearing 50 years ago by guest presenter Jean McElvain, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota’s Goldstein Museum of Design. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Author Talk: Norsemen Deep in the Heart of Texas
March 16 @ 1 to 2 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House and the Norwegian-American Historical Association - In-person author presentation by Gunnar Nerheim on the history of 19th century Norwegian immigrants to Texas, which included Cleng Peerson, the famous pioneer leader of the "sloopers" of the 1825 Restauration voyage. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Blue Earth County’s Main Streets – Mapleton
March 16 @ 1 to 2 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Discover the History of Mapleton’s Main Street. This program is in conjunction with our latest exhibit Blue Earth County’s Main Streets, now open on the main level of the History Center. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Repairing and Restoring Old Windows 
March 19 @ 6:30 to 8:30 pm - Minneapolis: Rethos - Join the staff of Hayes Window Restoration for a hands-on outdoor workshop all about windows. They will explain common window issues and demonstrate basic repairs. Location: Hayes Window Restoration. This class will focus specifically on glazing, paint prep, and painting. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Washington County Historical Society - Featured Speaker T.J. Malaskee
March 21 @ 5:30 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Maplewood Area Historical Society Executive Director T.J. Malaskee will present on the first successful national farming organization was the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, better known as "the Grange," founded in 1867. Cost: $25 members/$30 nonmembers. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Mower County Historical Society - Painting Unveiling
March 21 @ 6:30 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society  - The painting “The Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Whani Yukan – 1000 Years Ago” by Art Kenyon will be officially unveiled. Those attending will be able to meet the artist and learn how this artwork was created. Tom Trow, MCHS Consulting Archaeologist, will also explain how the portrait will be used to share the history of Mower County. Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: Artist Kary Janousek "When the Past is Present"
March 21 @ 5:30 pm - Stearns History Museum - Join Fargo photographer and artist Kary Janousek to learn about the amazing Victorian wet plate collodion process invented in 1851, what a tintype and an ambrotype are, and the basic steps of creating an image. Location: Bad Habit Brewing. Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Genealogy Program: Immigrant Settlement in the American Midwest
March 21 @ 7 pm - St. Paul & Online: Dakota County Historical Society - To understand an ancestor's motivation to leave behind everything familiar and immigrate to the United States, and then migrate within the U.S., we must ask several questions. Why emigrate and then migrate within America? Why then? Why that place? What could go wrong? What if the trail has gone cold? This program will help you attempt to answer some of these questions. Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Panel Discussion: Dakhóta Iápi (Dakota Language): Its History and Future
March 21 @ 7 to 8:30 pm (CT) - Online: Ramsey County Historical Society - This special presentation will feature a panel discussion about the history of the language and current language revitalization efforts.  Cost: Free. Learn more »

Class: Museum Makers - Pisanki
March 24 @ 12 pm and 3 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - Pisanki is an eastern European tradition of decorating eggs for springtime and Easter, especially in Poland and Ukraine. All the supplies are included to create an egg to take home. Cost: $10 members/$12 nonmembers. For more information call 507-454-2723.

Annual Meeting: Nicollet County Historical Society - Featured Speaker Rachael Hanel
March 24 @ 1 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - After the meeting Rachael Hanel will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Camilla Hall, a Saint Peter resident whose notoriety stems from her association with the Symbionese Liberation Army. To accompany Rachael Hanel’s talk, her exhibit with NCHS, More Than a Headline: A Closer Look at the Art and Life of Camilla Hall, opens at the NCHS annual meeting. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Vintage Base Ball
March 25 @ 6 to 7 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Join Washington County Historical Society Executive Director and Base Ball Aficionado Brent Peterson as he shares some of the history of America’s favorite pastime including the story of Bud Fowler, Stillwater resident and the first Black professional baseball player. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Martin T. Gunderson House, operated by the Kenyon Area Historical Society, Kenyon, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

2024 Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Conference 
April 23 through 25 - Duluth: Make bridges connect with others at the 2024 MALHM Conference and Annual Meeting in Duluth, MN! Connect with colleagues from across the region at Minnesota's largest conference for history people. Explore products and services for your organization in the vendor hall, dive into local history through the evening socials, and hone your skills in a variety of workshop sessions. Learn more »

Archiving Basics for Community Groups
March 14 @ 5:30-7:30 pm - Brooklyn Center: Brookdale Library - Learn how to archive, organize, and preserve your organization's or group's records for the future. Led by the Hennepin County Library Special Collections archivist, this class is designed for staff and volunteers from any type of community group and anyone interested in preserving local history. Leave class knowing how to store and preserve documents, photos, digital files, recordings, and more, and be prepared to organize your group's history. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance
March 14 @ 9 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Board members will participate in board meetings and other engagements with more confidence and more knowledge about your role after attending this workshop.  You will learn typical board responsibilities and explore the nuances of board authority and relationships. Participants will receive Propel’s Nonprofit Board Governance workbook, which includes the Fiduciary Duties of Directors of Charitable Organizations. Cost: $75. Learn more »

Copyright Concerns for Nonprofits – Live Q&A
March 21 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Blue Avocado - Participants will get an overview of how to protect their copyright and avoid the infringement of others, including: what is protectable, what is not copyrightable, public policy behind the law, how to protect your organization’s copyrighted works, and infringement risks to avoid. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Legal Issues in Collections Care: Abandoned Property
May 16 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts - Sarah Kapellusch, Registrar at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum discusses what is abandoned property, when is something abandoned, how to identify your own abandoned property, and what to do with it once it’s been identified as such. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Rethinking the Status Quo: What does museum volunteer retention look like in a post-pandemic world? - AAM

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Research Grants in the Arts
March 25 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - These grants support research studies that investigate the value and/or impact of the arts, either as individual components of the U.S. arts ecosystem or as they interact with each other and/or with other domains of American life. Learn more »

Research and Development
May 21 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - These grants support projects that address major challenges in preserving or providing access to humanities collections and resources. These challenges include the need to find better ways to preserve materials of critical importance to the nation’s cultural heritage—from fragile artifacts and manuscripts to analog recordings and digital assets subject to technological obsolescence—and to develop advanced modes of organizing, searching, discovering, and using such materials. Learn more »

Preservation and Access Education and Training
May 21 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - This program supports projects that develop and implement educational programs for professionals who preserve and provide access to humanities collections. Such materials include but are not limited to paper-based, photographic, archaeological, ethnographic, artistic, audiovisual, digitized, and born-digital collections. Advancing long-term access to these materials for scholars, students, and the public requires skilled professionals from varied backgrounds and communities working in organizations large and small. Learn more »

National History Day Seeks Alumni Stories for 50th Year
AASLH - Have you ever competed in National History Day? A national competition that engages students in historical study and primary source research, NHD reaches approximately 500,000 students each year. Continue reading »

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - February content update
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 7,117 new issues and 113,930 new newspaper pages.

• Stillwater daily gazette (Stillwater, Minn.) 1927-1929 added
• Stillwater messenger (Stillwater, Minn.) 1927-1928 added
• Vermilion iron journal (Tower, Minn.) 1887-1900
• Eveleth news (Eveleth, Minn.) 1932-1939 added
• Eveleth news-clarion (Eveleth, Minn.) 1945-1948 added
• Eveleth news (Eveleth, Minn.) 1961-1964
• St. Paul recorder (St. Paul, Minn.) 1979-1983 added
• Minnesota spokesman-recorder. (Minneapolis, Minn.) 2004-2008 added
• Oronoco news (Oronoco, Minn.) 1897-1904
• Grand Rapids herald-review (Grand Rapids, Minn.) 1915-1930 added

Becker County Museum contains several odd artifacts
WCCO - County museums often do a good job of celebrating county history. "We are one of the oldest historical societies in the state," said Becky Mitchell, executive director of the Becker County Museum. At first glance, the Becker County Museum in Detroit Lakes is like any other museum. You have Native American history, natural history and then you have a strange sort of history. Watch video »

Why does Maplewood have such an odd shape?
Star Tribune - ...The Star Tribune visited the "lump mass" portion of Maplewood to learn the story at the Maplewood Area Historical Society, located on the historic Bruentrup farm... Continue reading »

Featured Book Where Rivers Part: Story of My Mother's Life, by Kao Kalia Yang. Aperture. A Celebration of Hmong American Literature and Art: Kao Kalia Yang and Pao Houa Her in Conversation with Mai Der Vang Date: March 22 @ 6 to 8 pm Location: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Minneapolis, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History The Birth of Powered Flight in Minnesota Volume 48, Issue 2, 1982	Featured Article MNopedia Welsch v. Likins 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 »