Field Note

Local History Services and Capital Planning & Management staff received a tour of the International Masonry Institute’s facilities in New Hope on February 27, 2024. MNHS staff is working with International Masonry Institute staff to plan a training event for architects and preservation professionals focused on masonry techniques on April 11 from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Registration for the event is free. Learn more »

Workshop

Hands-on Workshop -  Historic Mortars
April 11 @ 9 am to 3:30 pm - New Hope: International Masonry Institute & Minnesota Historical Society - Learn about the critical aspects of historic masonry mortars in informative sessions led by restoration experts. These lectures will delve into the history of mortar, the importance of selecting an appropriate mortar for repointing, and the considerations for specifying a mortar based on the type of unit masonry and wall construction. Understand the nuances of mortar sampling, testing, data analysis, and the material properties of non-hydraulic and hydraulic binders, aggregates, and historically appropriate additives. Compare modern mortar mixes with those historically used and understand when each type is suitable for restoring historic masonry buildings. Location: BAC Apprenticeship Training Center, New Hope, MN. Registration for the event is free. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes.  Learn more »

Heritage Preservation Grants

Grant Recipient - Promotion Help
Photo Tips
Has your organization been awarded a Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grant? Remember that documenting and promoting your project to the local media is important. Using your grant to promote your organization can increase your organization’s credibility and influence the way people think about your organization including potential donors, sponsors, government units, and volunteers.

• Storytelling Photography Tips for Your Grant Projects (PDF)

Large Grant Deadline
Pre-applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants large grant round (requests over $10,000) will be due Friday, May 31, 2024. This is a required part of the large grant application process. Contact the Grants Office with questions.

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 Morrison County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Freaks, Geeks, and Creeps: The Exploitation of Disability in the Advent of Photography
“Freakshows”—that being, the displaying of primarily people with disabilities for entertainment—emerged in the early 19th century as an aspect of the traveling circus and dime museum scenes, with names like P.T. Barnum at the forefront of the exploitation.
The advancement of photography made it so you didn’t even have to leave town to see these unusual sights. A photographer could capture their subject almost immediately and just as easily produce copies to sell for a small fee. Cartes-de-visite were often sold as souvenirs and mementos. Subjects could range from a posed comedic tableau, all the way to pictures of celebrities. And these circus performers were certainly the celebrities of their time.
Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Innovation in the Kitchen: Foley Manufacturing Company - Hennepin History Museum
• A “Nest” for Teenage Robins - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Navigating the Crowne Plaza AiRE Hotel to reach our museum - Northwest Airlines History Center
• Pi(e) Day Adventures at the James Ford Bell Library! - U of MN Libraries

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Camille du Gast - Legacy of the Lakes Museum
• Moorhead's Fairmont Creamery in WWII (HCSCC Doing Our Part WWII) - Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
• Nikki McComb: 2023 MAAHMG Artist In Residence - MAAHMG
• Day of Remembrance 2024: Paying It Forward Panel Discussion - East Side Freedom Library
• Pipestone County Diphtheria Epidemic - Pipestone County Museum
• Minnesota’s Last Brickyard: Ochs Brick & Tile Company of Springfield, Minnesota -
  Minnesota Bricks
• Photo Album - Eighth Air Force Historical Society
• Martin County Historical Society/Out of the Past - Martin County on TV

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Supervisor, History Day - MN History Center 

LOCAL

• Executive Director - North Star Scouting Memorabilia, North St. Paul, MN
• Field Supervisor - Blondo Consulting, LLC, Twin Cities Metro, MN
• Historic Site Interpreters - Gibbs Farm Historic Site, Falcon Heights, MN
• Community Events Coordinator - Bell Museum, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Logistics Coordinator - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Gallery Assistant Volunteer - Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
• Manager of Youth Programs - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Records and Registration Assistant - Carleton College, Northfield, MN
• Director of Art Exhibitions - Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN

REGIONAL

• Site Manager - Death’s Door Maritime Museum, Ellison Bay, WI
• Historical Interpreter - Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Green Bay, WI
• Development and Communications Manager - Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee, WI 
• Annual Fund and Membership Manager - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
• Theatrical Technical Director - Circus World, Wisconsin Historical Society, Baraboo, WI
• Store Weekend Clerk - North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, Bismarck, ND
• Membership & Development Coordinator - West Des Moines Historical Society, West Des Moines, IA
• Librarian 1 - Library and Archives office, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
• Administrative Assistant 1 - Terrace Hill, the Iowa Governor’s Residence and National Historic Landmark, Des Moines, IA
• Library Resources Technician - Department of Administrative Services & Library and Archives office, State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Associate Director of Education - Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
• Executive Director - South Carolina Historical Society, Columbia, SC
• Vincennes Historic Site Manager - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Vincennes
• Early Childhood Summer Program Counselor - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN 
• Historic Interpreter  - Fort Meigs Historic Site, Perrysburg, OH
• Marketing Manager - Sauder Village, Archbold, OH
• Site Manager - Schoenbrunn Village, Ohio History Connection, New Philadelphia, OH
• Vice President, Exhibition and Collection Strategies - Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
• Guest Experience and Operations Manager - Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, Saginaw, MI
• Museum Interpreter - Glencairn Museum, Bryn Athyn, PA
• Head, Arrangement & Description - Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
• Architectural Historian - State Historic Preservation Office, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO
• Soldiers Memorial Assistant Collections Manager, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Education and Community Engagement Coordinator, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Managing Director - Coalition of State Museum Associations, Fort Worth, TX
• Artifact Cataloger - Ingenium, Museum of Science and Innovation, Ottawa, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Paleontology Fieldwork - Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson, ND
• Paleontology Museum Center - Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson, ND
• Archival Outreach Toolkit Designer Intern - LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, Remote
• Podcast Exhibit Creator Intern - LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, Remote

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Goodhue County Historical Society.

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

Exhibit: More Than a Headline: A Closer Look at the Art and Life of Camilla Hall
Now through August 24 - St. Peter: Treaty Site History Center - Camilla Hall's name is most associated with the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a militant group she joined in California in 1974. However, this exhibit delves beyond the headlines to explore Camilla's life as a daughter, friend, sister, and artist. Learn more »

Presentation: "AND IN THIS CORNER, from PARTS UNKNOWN"
April 2 @ 6:30 to 8:30 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Heritage Center - Wrestling historian and author George Schire returns to share the identities and stories of wrestling’s mystery men. In the old days of professional wrestling, wrestlers from a mysterious city called "Parts Unknown" wore masks to conceal their identities, adding to their intrigue. Fans were led to believe by promoters that the wrestlers' identities, including their names and weights, were unknown, creating a captivating storyline. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Lions, Plant Medicine, and the Smell of Dirt – Let’s Celebrate Spring Night Skies
April 4 @ 6 to 7 pm - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Spring Night Skies bring warmer, rainy weather, migrating birds, and the smell of dirt. Come celebrate the birth of a new season with award-winning artist-scientist, Annette S. Lee, who will share Indigenous, Artistic, and Scientific perspectives on the relationship to the sky and community wellness in the 21st century. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

Film Series: New Eye on the Universe
April 4 @ 2 to 3 pm - St. Peter: Treaty Site History Center - In July 2022, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released its first images, looking further back in time than ever before to show our universe in stunningly beautiful detail. But that was just the beginning: With tons of new data and spectacular images flooding in, Webb is allowing scientists to peer deep in time to try to answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions. When–and how–did the first stars and galaxies form? And can we see the fingerprints of life in the atmospheres of distant worlds–or even within our own solar system? Cost: Free. Learn more » 

Author Talk: Cindy Wilson: Vignettes from my Books Featuring the St. Peter area, 1879-1881
April 11 @ 2 to 3 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Cindy Wilson will introduce the audience to the amazing family of railroad surveyor Charles Wood Irish, along with stories from her new book that have an area connection. She will then talk about the Hard Winter of 1880-81, centered on Nicollet County. Cost: $5 members/$7 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: The Grange – A Fraternity of Farmers that Championed Rural America
April 11 @ 7 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - Agricultural historian T.J. Malaskee delves into the long-forgotten history of America’s first fraternity of farmers, the Grange. The Grange was a radical post-Civil War Era movement that pushed for progressive measures to heal the nation through agriculture, education, equality, and social interaction as the United States saw growing tension between western rural farmers and eastern urban industrialists. Find out more about this intriguing history and learn how the Grange has played a role in your life today. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more » 

Annual Meeting: Nobles County Historical Society, Program on New State Flag 
April 13 @ 10 am - Worthington: Nobles County Heritage Center - Anita Gaul will be the guest speaker at their annual meeting. Gaul is a history professor at Minnesota West Community & Technical College and also served as vice-chair of the State Emblems Redesign Commission. She will address frequently asked questions about the new state flag and seal. Learn more »

Presentation: History of Oracle Cards
April 18 @ 7 pm Freeborn County Historical Museum -  Peggy Benson will talk about the
history and use of oracle cards. An oracle deck is a series of cards with pictures and/or
words on them that can be used for goal-setting, to lift your mood, or to connect with
your higher power. Each deck has a theme. Cost: Free members/ $5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: Sparking a Renaissance in American Democracy
April 18 @ 6:15 to 8:30 pm - Minneapolis & Online: Hennepin History Museum - Lori Sturdevant, local political reporter and co-author of When Republicans Were Progressives, will talk with Tom Sengupta, a retired Minneapolis pharmacist. Tom convened regular political conversations between local elected officials and regular citizens in his Prospect Park drugstore. After discussing that history, they’ll lead a new forum with a robust discussion around the room. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: St. Louis County Historical Society - The Importance of Boarding Houses
April 23 @ 5 to 7 pm. - Duluth: St. Louis County Historical Society - Keynote speaker, Mary Palcich Keyes will present, The Importance of Boarding Houses. Following her presentation, the Society’s business portion of the evening will begin with the election and ratification of the Board of Governors. Keyes is actively involved in the Hibbing Historical Society, serving in leadership roles and representing the society on the St. Louis County Historical Society Board of Governors. Additionally, she shares her expertise by teaching classes on Minnesota history and research with the Minnesota Historical Society. Learn more »

Summer Camps at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm
June through August - Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society - Another season of one-of-a-kind hands-on and experiential day-camps for youth ages 6 – 16 at the 1891 Bruentrup Heritage Farm in Maplewood, MN as well as the 1888 Eder Schoolhouse in Oakdale, MN. The following camps are available: Culinary Camp; Farm-to-Table Camp; Recess Camp; Homestead Camp; One Room Schoolhouse Camp; History Detectives Camp; Folk Arts On The Farm; and Variety Week. 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: Minnesota Discovery Center, operated by the Ironworld Development Corporation, Chisholm, MN.

Arrangement and Description: Fundamentals
April 18 & 19 @ 9 am to 5 pm - Minneapolis: Society of American Archivists - This two-day in-person course hosted at Minneapolis Institute of Art introduces the basic principles, concepts, and tools archivists use to establish physical and intellectual control over archival records. 
Instructors Pam Hackbart-Dean and Mary McRobinson will help students:

• Apply the common arrangement of various types of collections and material formats.
• Identify the essential elements of a finding aid.
• Evaluate and understand the day-to-day decisions made in arranging and describing archival materials.
• And more!

It counts toward the in-person requirement for the A&D program. Learn more & Register »

Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference Breakout Session Recordings
View conference recordings from the February 26-27 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference Rochester.

• Digital Accessibility 101
• How AI Can Help, Not Hinder Your Work
• Podcasts Place in Tourism Marketing: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Multi-Cultural Diversity Advertising
• Outdoor Recreation for Economic Development
• Web Strategy That Works

Preservation Housekeeping for Heritage Sites and Small Museums
(On demand): Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) - This self-paced online is ideal for people with little or no conservation or preventive conservation training. Employees and volunteers working in a historic place and a small museum will find this course useful in preserving the place. It is also useful training for onboarding new staff and volunteers. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Museum Collections Documentation and Data Cleaning
(On demand): Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) - This self-paced online course provides valuable museum documentation information for museum staff at all levels of expertise. The content starts with an introductory overview and concludes with specific documentation issues. Individuals can progress through the modules sequentially or select modules that best suit their requirements. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Switching Planes: Harnessing Transferable Skills for Success
April 23 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Association of Academic Museums and Galleries - Learn from industry leaders how to leverage your skills within and outside the museum realm. Gain insights to navigate career transitions confidently, recognize and apply transferable skills effectively, and open doors to exciting opportunities. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

Did you know...
The Minnesota Historical Society archives Minnesota's local historical society newsletters that it receives. 
Mail your newsletters to:

Local History Services
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. West
St. Paul, MN 55102

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' 2024 Grants Directory
Order a copy of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' 2024 Grants Directory in fillable PDF format for your personal and/or agency use. This resource is updated annually and the new version is released every January. Learn more »

Kubota 2024 Hometown Proud Grant Program
April 12 - (Deadline) Kubota Tractor Corporation - Kubota Hometown Proud grant program is now open, with twenty $50,000 grants available across the country to projects meant to revitalize or refresh communities. Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit within a 50-mile radius of a Kubota dealer is eligible to apply. Learn more »

Recordings at Risk
April 17 - (Deadline): Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) - This national regranting program supports the preservation of rare and unique audio, audiovisual, and other time-based media of high scholarly value through digital reformatting. Learn more »

Accessible Arts Grant Program
May 3 - (Deadline): Minnesota State Arts Board - Accessible Arts is a pilot program, offering project grants that support long-term investments focused on increasing arts organizations' accessibility for people with disabilities. Professional development related to accessibility; Hiring accessibility consultants to conduct audits or develop accessibility plans; Improvements to digital accessibility; and/or Small physical or equipment investments (less than $5,000) that will make programming more accessible. Applicants may request between $10,000 - $20,000. Learn more »

Archives Collaboratives
May 8 - (Deadline): National Historical Publications and Records Commission - This grant supports projects that promote access to America’s historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture by seeking archives collaboratives of three or more repositories working together to make their collections more readily available for public discovery and use. Learn more »

Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives
May 8 - (Deadline): National Historical Publications and Records Commission - This grant supports collaborative projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture through projects that will significantly improve public discovery and use of major historical records collections. Learn more » 

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - March content update
The Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub added 2,898 new issues and 32,607 new newspaper pages.
New publicly available titles & date spans:

• Inter-county press (St. Charles, Minn.) 1926-1927 added
• St. Charles herald (St. Charles, Minn.) 1867-1874
• St. Charles times (St. Charles, Minn.) 1874-1901
• Review (Lake City, Minn.) 1881-1882
• Lake City graphic (Lake City, Minn.) 1882-1883
• St. Paul recorder (St. Paul, Minn.) 1983-1996 added

New issues for the years 2006-2021 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library.

Wadena County Historical Society appoints interim executive director
Wadena Pioneer Journal — The Wadena County Historical Society held a special board meeting on March 14 to address a series of pressing needs, including the temporary closing of the museum building. In addition to budget concerns, longtime executive director Lina Belar announced that she would be retiring from her role as the executive director. Continue reading »

Clearwater County Historical Society seeks First Lady nominations
Bemidji Pioneer — The Clearwater County Historical Society is seeking nominations for its 2024 Clearwater County First Lady award. The award recognizes a woman of any age for her accomplishments. To be eligible, nominees must live in Clearwater County. Continue reading »

Updates planned for metal fabrication shop at historic Bally Blacksmith Shop site
WTIP — The Bally Blacksmith Shop has been a centerpiece in downtown Grand Marais since it was built in 1911 by Sam Bally. In 2009 Bill Bally closed the shop, and in 2013 the Cook County Historical Society took over managing the site on behalf of the county. Continue reading »

Featured Book A.J. Underwood, Pioneer of Print: The Story of a Minnesota Newspaperman by Ben Underwood Beaver's Pond Press. Author event Date: April 5 @ 10 am Location: Otter Tail County Historical Society, Fergus Fall, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History Letters to Bohemia: a Czech settler writes from Owatonna, 1856-1858 Volume 43, Issue 4, 1972	Featured Article MNopedia Eva McDonald Valesh (1866–1956) 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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