Field Note

State History Services Manager Todd Mahon presented to the board and members of the
History Center of Olmsted County in Rochester on February 28, 2024. The topic was the history of local history organizations in Minnesota, what the network of local history organizations looks like, and how it works together.

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#

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

APRIL Grants Open House
April 4 - 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 »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. Have a blog? Let us know!

Measuring the Hjemkomst Ship's Mast 2024
Every few years, the City of Moorhead calls in their engineers and surveyors to check the mast of the Hjemkomst Viking Ship to ensure it remains as close to 90 degrees as possible. If the ship’s tall mast leans one way or the other, it would put stress on the hull of the ship below and possibly keel over. I don’t know the last time this happened, but I recall writing a short article in our newsletter about it, so one could check if they wanted a date. In January of 2024, the City wanted to do it again. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Minnesota high school students bring history to life through the U of M’s College in the Schools program - U of MN Libraries
• Our Squadron in the Sky - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• WWI Treasures in the Storeroom - Nicollet County Historical Society
• Past, Present, and Future: Thoughts from the Curator - Hennepin History Museum

From the Tube

This week's post is from U of MN Libraries. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Did You Know? Stevens County had a thriving frog industry over 100 years ago - Stevens County Historical Society
• Navigating Worlds: Five Writers Talk Bias, Barriers, and Bans in Children’s Literature - East Side Freedom Library
• The Skone Barn, A Carver County Minnesota Masterpiece - Minnesota Bricks
• Train Ride at the Jackson Street Roundhouse - Minnesota Transportation Museum
• Lyon County Vietnam Veteran: Dan Markell - Lyon County Historical Society
• Author Sam Friedman and Mayor R.T. Rybak share insights about Hubert Humphrey - Hennepin History Museum
• The Gunfight That Brought Law to Clay County: April 25, 1872 (HCSCC Ihdago Manipi) - Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
• James Rasmussen, French Legion of Honor Ceremony - Eighth Air Force Historical Society of Minnesota
• March of the Governors: Rudy Perpich - Ramsey County Historical Society

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Facilitator III - Split Rock Lighthouse
• Vice President, People & Culture - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Director of Education/Associate Director of Operations - Olmsted County Historical Society, Rochester, MN
• Site Educators (Tour Guides) - Dakota County Historical Society, Dakota County, MN
• Director of Art Exhibitions - Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
• Maintenance Engineer - Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Program Facilitator - Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Summer Visitor Assistant: Galleries or Box Office - Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Building Engineer - The American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
• Manager of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Supervisor Museum Operations - Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Milwaukee, WI
• Visitor Services Manager - Central Wisconsin Children's Museum, Stevens Point, WI
• Front Desk-Greeter/Guide - RailsWest Railroad Museum, Council Bluffs, IA
• Pembina State Museum Interpreter and Store Clerk - Pembina State Museum, State of North Dakota, Pembina, ND
• Pembina State Museum Grounds Maintenance - Pembina State Museum, State of North Dakota, Pembina, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Villager Interpreter - Midway Village Museum, Rockford, IL
• Senior Museum Program Representative - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Field Explorers Teaching Assistant - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Field Explorers Camp Instructor - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Archives Technician - National Archives and Records Administration, Valmeyer, IL
• Gift Officer - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
• Guest Services Representative - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
• Manager of School and Family Programs - Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
• Senior Curator of History and Culture - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, State of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN
• Summer Camp Counselor - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Seasonal Historical Site Interpreter - Vincennes, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Vincennes, IN
• Public Engagement Specialist - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Curator - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, OH
• Museum Collections Manager – Greenmead Historical Park, Livonia Parks and Recreation, Livonia, MI
• Curator - Motown Museum, Detroit, MI
• Visitor Services Associate(s) - R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Lansing, MI
• Assistant Director of Education - Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Ann Arbor, MI
• Director - Museum of Natural History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Archivist for Political Collections - Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 
• Associate Registrar - Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
• Exhibits Registrar - Missouri Historical Society,  St. Louis, MO
• Director, Evaluation & Impact - The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
• Director - U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA
• Basics of Archives Online Course Instructor - American Association for State and Local history, Remote

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Lake Superior Ojibwe Youth Internship - Madeline Island Museum, La Pointe, WI

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

• Evaluation Intern - Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN

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: RESORTS
Now on display - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Historical Society - This exhibit explores the impact of resorts in Otter Tail County. A tour of the display is almost like being at an old-fashioned resort, without the mosquitos. Email for more information.

Unveiling of Samuel Zimmerman/Zhaawanoogiizhik Painting
April 4 @ 5 pm to 6 pm - Duluth: St. Louis County Historical Society - Come to the unveiling of their newly commissioned painting by Samuel Zimmerman/Zhaawanoogiizhik, "Maang Sings to the Manoomin." Zimmerman, a direct descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe), will share his process and inspiration for the painting, and answer questions guests might have. This is part of the Twin Ports Festival of History. Learn more »

Presentation: History of the Blue Bird Recovery Program
March 21 @ 5:30 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Local resident Loren Murphy will discuss the history and work of the Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota. Dating back to the 1970s, this statewide conservation effort has fledged almost 200,000 bluebirds over the course of 10 years. The program will cover the history of bluebirding in Rice County as well as information on the process for monitoring the bluebirds. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Author Event: Rachael Hanel - Not The Camilla We Knew
March 30 @ 1 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County History Center - Local author and professor Rachael Hanel will talk about her book Not the Camilla We Knew. The 2022 nonfiction book “delves into the life of Camilla Hall, who was raised in rural Minnesota by religious parents and died at 29 in a 1974 shoot-out between members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, the radical group that kidnapped Patty Hearst." Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more » 

Community Scan
April 6 @ 1 to 4 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Minnesota Digital Library and Stearns History Museum have partnered to offer a Community Scan event. They are asking locals to bring their old family photos and have them scanned for free. Staff will be on hand to scan items and participants will be given digital copies. Registration is required and each appointment is limited to 15 items. Learn more »

Presentation: Union Hill, New Prague, & the Nonpartisan League
April 10 @ 7 pm - New Prague: New Prague Area Historical Society - Local history teacher and historian Greg Tikalsky will talk about the Nonpartisan League that divided local communities in the early 1900s. This conflict pitted neighboring towns Union Hill and New Prague against each other. Come hear how this unfolded. Location: Giesenbrau Brewery. Cost: Learn more »

Sophie Wirth, the Camp That's Near the Lake
April 11 @ 7 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Between the world wars, hundreds of poor Eastern European Jewish immigrant residents of St. Paul's West Side flats eagerly boarded trains or buses for a pleasurable and healthy vacation at White Bear Lake, home to Sophie Wirth Camp. Based on extensive additional research conducted since the WBLAHS presentation in 2022, this talk will explore the role played by the upper Midwest's first kosher camp, founded as a vacation rest home for overtired mothers and their children, within the Twin Cities Jewish community and beyond. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Lyon County Historical Society - The 1980s Farm Crisis in West Central Minnesota
April 11  @ 6:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Historical Society - Presenter Jim Roe said his work was not designed to identify the causes of the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, but to tell its stories. Its causes are easy to understand on an economic level. What happened during the 1980s played a major role in shaping today's agricultural landscape. When Roe asks his subjects what are the most visible changes, two answers are almost automatic. No animals are on the landscape; they are now raised in buildings. Not surprisingly, many point out how farm tractors and equipment are so much larger now than in the 1980s. Learn more »

Event: Night at the Museum
April 12 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - You’ve seen the movie, now join FCHM as our exhibits come to life with a variety of characters throughout the museum. You will be able to interact with personalities like Wilma the Woolly, Teddy Roosevelt, SpongeBob, Eddie Cochran and more. You may even see Champion the Wonder Horse! Popcorn, soda, and the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, will be offered in our large meeting room. This event is perfect for people of all ages and we encourage you to bring the whole family, or come alone! Learn more »

Event: All Aboard for Train Days
April 14 @ 12 to 4 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center & Northern Iron Horse Railroad Society - The event will feature various activities, including fresh model train layouts, a model train swap meet and sales for enthusiasts, children's train books, and coloring page giveaways. In addition, Train Days will offer special tours of the Great Northern 1948 steel cupola caboose, providing a unique glimpse into the history of railway travel. Cost: $7. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Bricelyn Museum, operated by the Bricelyn Area Historical Society, Bricelyn, MN.

Whose Research, Whose Rules? How to Create Agreements in Community-University Partnerships
March 26 @ 3 to 5 pm (CT) - Minneapolis, in-person and online: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - The workshop led by Xun Yu helps researchers and community members develop ideas for equitable community-university partnerships. The workshop covers the concepts of community agreements, Memorandum of Understandings, and common colonial assumptions in community collaborative work. Xun is a Ph.D. student in Comparative and International Development Education and a graduate research assistant for the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub. Location: Pillsbury Hall, University of MN. Cost: Free and open to the public. Registration required  »

AASLH History Hour: Civics at Museums and Historic Sites
March 26 at 2 pm (CT) - Online: Civic Learning Weeks was last week, making this the perfect time to talk about civics at museums and historic sites. Join in AASLH History Hour, an hour-long networking and community-building event, for informal conversation on this topic. This fun program allows you to meet your colleagues from across the country. Preregistration is required to participate. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Introduction to Audio Preservation
March 26 @ 11:30 to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - Learn issues in audio preservation, beginning with an overview of common formats and their preservation risks. The instructor will describe basic care and handling techniques, briefly discuss reformatting-as-preservation, and share tools for format identification, inventory, and storage. Note that many of these concepts apply to moving image collections as well. Participants will gain a solid understanding of how to devise next steps for their audio collections and where to find more information. Cost: $45. Register »

Hot in Here: Understanding Boilers and Furnaces
March 26 @ 2 to 4 pm (CT) - Online: Rethos - This two-hour class introduces you to different types of heating systems commonly found in Twin Cities homes. Instructor Tessa Murry will explain how furnaces & boilers work, how to maintain them, and how to handle common issues. Cost: Free (General Public). Learn more »

Minnesota Writers Series: American Precariat
March 27 @ 6 to 8 pm (CT) - Minneapolis: Minnesota Humanities Center - Through readings and discussions, three editors will share the genesis of the anthology, and the importance of bringing to light the stories of those society deems invisible and chooses to exclude. The editors will be joined by Mike Alberti, executive director of the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, who will moderate the discussion. Location: Capri Theater. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Examining Military Service From the Margins - Session 1
April 3 @ 6 to 8 pm (CT) - Minneapolis: Minnesota Humanities Center - Veterans, active service members, and civilians are invited to contribute to the “Examining Military Service From the Margins” four-week discussion series. Session One will introduce participants to core concepts of the discussion series and consider the guiding questions, “What do we mean by ‘Examining Military Service From the Margins?’” and “What motivates people to serve?” Cost: Free. Learn more »

What's My Role as a Nonprofit Board Member?
April 3 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: You’re at the board table – now what? Learn to participate in board meetings and other engagements with more confidence and knowledge about your role as a board member. Learn the five key board responsibilities and provide tips for how you can be a strong resource for a nonprofit organization. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Film Screening: Going To Mars - Nikki Giovanni Project
April 4 @ 7 to 9 pm - Minneapolis: MSP Film Society and the Minnesota Historical Society - Through a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings of her poetry, and impressions of space, poet Nikki Giovanni urges viewers to imagine a future where Black women lead, and equity is a reality. Location: Capri Theater. Cost: $5. Learn more »

Managing Moving Image Collections
April 7 @ 11:30 to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - Learn concepts that will facilitate the care and management of moving image collections. The instructor will discuss common film formats and their preservation risks, as well as introduce tools for film identification and assessment. Participants will gain a solid understanding of how to devise next steps for their moving image collections and where to find more information. Cost: $45. Register »

Empowerment through Disability History
April 9 @ 4 pm (CT) - Online: Learning Disabilities Association of America - Learn about the long arc of disability history and integrate the voices of leaders for disability rights into the curriculum. Learn about the Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Small City-Owned Museums Group Meeting
April 9 @ 12 pm - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Proposed topics for discussion include deaccessions; Core Documents- strategic plan, collections policy; Websites run by city or Friends Group; Friends Groups working with city on budget/grants. Meeting ID: 838 5067 0084. Join Zoom Meeting »

Beyond Learning from Place: Bdote – Action Planning & Engagement for Accomplices
April 11 @ 11 am to 1:30 pm (CT) - Minneapolis: Minnesota Humanities Center - Are you interested in taking action to support Native communities? Do you feel unsure about how to get started on building relationships and potential partnerships with Native nations? Join Native Governance Center, a Native-led nonprofit organization, for a deep dive into best practices for meaningful engagement. This interactive presentation will equip participants with tools for creating supportive action steps using Native Governance Center’s action planning framework. Attendees will also learn how to get into a good headspace and understand protocol before partnering with Native nations. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Building a Dream Workplace: How a Union Can and Can't Help
April 18 @ 9 to 10:30 am (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - What do you know about unions? If you have not worked in a unionized environment, you may have ideas based on the opinions of friends and family or the media and entertainment. What do you know about a union contract? What does it typically cover? What is outside its purview? How can labor and management work together for the benefit of all? Join Commissioners Carrie Foster and Roger Moore of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service for an interactive discussion of these topics and more. If you are interested in learning more about a unionized workplace this is for you. Cost: $50 members/$75 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

Fire at Split Rock Lighthouse
Out of an abundance of caution, the Split Rock Lighthouse historic site was evacuated Tuesday afternoon due to a nearby ground fire. All visitors and staff safely left the area. Thanks to the quick response by the Lake County Sheriff, the Silver Bay Fire Department, and the Minnesota DNR, the fire was put out within a few hours. There were no damages to historic buildings or structures, and Split Rock opened as usual the following day.

Drought conditions can increase the risk of wildfires spreading to buildings. In addition to landscape management and building maintenance, develop a fire safety plan for your museum that includes evacuation routes, designated meeting places, and procedures for using fire extinguishers. Stay informed, and monitor local fire danger ratings and weather conditions, especially during periods of drought. Be prepared to take additional precautions or evacuate if necessary. Remember, it's always best to consult with a fire safety professional for specific recommendations tailored to your building and location.

Recommended Wildfire Resources for Cultural Heritage Organizations - Compiled by NEDCC Staff and the Train the Trainer cohort associated with the California County-Wide Emergency Preparedness Courses

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Backing Historic Small Restaurants
March 25 - (Deadline): National Trust for Historic Preservation - This critical financial support helps small restaurant owners better navigate supply chain issues, staffing shortages, inflation, and other crises so that their establishments’ legacies can continue. Each restaurant—all places that contribute to their neighborhood's unique history and identity—will receive $50,000 in funding to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities. Learn more »

Paint the Town Grants
March 28 - (Deadline): Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation - This grant program is designed to build community collaboration with a unique and hands-on approach. SMIF donates up to 100 gallons of paint per project, with the goal of fostering inclusion through volunteer engagement, promotion of creativity, celebration of local pride and enhancing the beauty and interest of a space. Learn more »

Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants
April 1 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - This program is designed to assist Native American Tribes in improving core library services for their communities. Learn more »

Fellowships for Digital Publication
April 17 - (Deadline): Competitive awards granted to individual scholars to support interpretive research projects that require digital expression and digital publication. The project must be conceived as digital because the research topics being addressed and methods applied demand presentation beyond traditional print or audio-video publication. Learn more »

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
May 1 - (Deadline): This grant is intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. Learn more »

Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives
May 8 - (Deadline): This grant supports projects that will significantly improve public discovery and use of major historical records collections through collaborations among multiple institutions. Learn more »

News

Request for Proposals for 2025 Annual MALHM Conference Host Site
Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums requests proposals to host the 2025 Annual Conference & Meeting. They have identified two priority regions for 2025, metro and southwest, but will review submissions from all regions as possible conference locations for 2026 and beyond. Proposal details and submission information are posted on our website. Completed proposals should be emailed to the Alliance Coordinator by May 3, 2024. Learn more »

Blue Star Museums Program
The National Endowment for the Arts has opened registration for the Blue Star Museums Program, in partnership with Blue Star Families. The program encourages museums, historic houses, zoos, botanical gardens, etc. to offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members. The program will launch on May 18—Armed Forces Day. It will run through Labor Day. This program is a great way to express appreciation for their service and sacrifice, and a great way to recruit lifetime museum goers. Learn more »

Ojibwe-themed mural to be unveiled in ceremony at MDC
Mesabi Tribune — Two regional artists, Moira Villard and Alexis Martinez, completed a new Ojibwe-themed mural that is set to be unveiled this week at Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. Continue reading »

Celebrating women aviators at museum in Eden Prairie
FOX 9 — Wings of the North museum in Eden Prairie is celebrating women aviators, and encouraging young women to join the aviator work force. FOX 9's Babs Santos has the story. Watch video »

Stolen ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" returned to owner in ceremony at Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum
WCCO News — The FBI returned a pair of ruby slippers from the 1939 film classic "The Wizard of Oz" to a man nearly 20 years after the iconic shoes were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. Watch video »

Sisu Heritage Inc. focuses on preserving Finnish architecture in Embarrass
Northern News Now — Nowadays, old-hewn log Finnish buildings that dot the Iron Range landscape are called diamonds in the field. Not that long ago, the term was an eyesore and folks were actively trying to get rid of them. “They had been used in the past for practice burns by the fire department and then we began to find out from people outside the community that they were valuable parts of the history,” said Marlin Bjornrud of Sisu Heritage Inc. Continue reading »

Featured Book It Took Courage, Eliza Winston's Quest For Freedom, by Christopher P. Lehman. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event/Book Launch Date: April 18 @ 7 to 8:30 pm Location: Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History The Vital Role of Public History: An Interview with Chantel Rodriguez Volume 68, Issue 8, 2024	Featured Article MNopedia Ethel Ray Nance (1899–1992) 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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