Field Note

The Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum hosted a meeting of the Central Minnesota Museum Group on April 7. Nineteen people from fourteen organizations gathered to hear Molly Huber of the Minnesota Digital Library present on opportunities to participate with the MDL as it enters its twentieth year. Organizations included the Christie House Museum (Long Prairie), the Cokato Historical Society, the Coldwater Area Historical Society, the Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum, the Delano Historical Society, the Eden Valley Historical Society, the Meeker County Historical Society, the Mille Lacs County Historical Society, the Minnesota Digital Library, the Minnesota Historical Society, the Morrison County Historical Society, the Paynesville Historical Society, the Stearns History Museum, and the Wright County Historical Society.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Voices of Medical Alley Oral History Project
This grant project recorded the experiences of people in Minnesota’s medical device industry. The Bakken Museum contracted a professional oral historian to help identify participants, develop interview questions, and assist with initial interviews. The museum also hired a paid Early Career Fellow to support research and conduct interviews with narrators. Each interview conducted by The Bakken Museum was recorded, transcribed, and reviewed by the participants. The approved interviews were made available through The Bakken Museum’s website, with transcripts stored in the museum library.

This project expanded the documentation of Medical Alley by including a wider range of experiences. Two Bakken staff members learned how to conduct oral histories and continued to record new stories as needed. The process helped the museum collect information about new donations and preserve the stories connected to them. The project supported the museum’s mission to document and share the work of people in science, technology, and health in Minnesota.
Recipient: The Bakken Museum
Funded Amount: $44,956
Project Details

Large Grant Deadline
Pre-applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants large grant round (requests over $10,000) will be due Friday, July 18, 2025*. This is a required part of the large grant application process. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
* Pending funding approval by the Minnesota Legislature and Governor. This date is subject to change. 

JUNE Grants Open House
June 5 - 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 the Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall. Have a blog? Let us know!

Memorial Day in Meeker County
Memorial Day and the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) have a long history. In fact, it was under the G.A.R. that Memorial Day was started. The first Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868, three years after the end of the US Civil War. May 30 was selected because there were no major Civil War battles on that day, so no one group of soldiers was singled out. The date remained May 30 until 1968 when the holiday was changed to the last Monday in May. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Meet Our Featured Authors: Voices for Period Dignity - Beltrami County Historical Society
• What the River Brings - Winona Historical Society
• Why Developers Are Looking Twice at Small Town Main Streets - Rethos
• Harlow McIntyre: Civil War veteran and police chief - Washington County Historical Society
• Win, Place, or Short lived - Hennepin History Museum

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Shakopee Heritage Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• The Ponczek Murder Case - Anoka County Historical Society
• SOO Line Trestle: Little Time Left, Albany Minnesota - Minnesota Bricks
• Digitize 120 Years of Warroad Newspapers! - Warroad Heritage Center
• Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery: Building Community by Studying the Past - Hennepin History Museum
• Historic Northwest Minnesota Wildlife - Warroad Heritage Center
• Loon Nest Cam - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• Librarians and Social Justice: ‘Change the Subject’ panel discussion - U of MN Libraries
• The Woman Who Helped Control the Spread of Tuberculosis in Minnesota - MinneCulture
• It Happened Right Here - Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Government Records Specialist - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Request for Nominations, Native American Advisory Committee - Lyon County Historical Society, Marshall, MN
• Curatorial Department Assistant, Asian Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Chair of Exhibition Strategy - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Marketing and Communications Specialist - Friends of the Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis, MN
• Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator - Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, St. Paul, MN
• Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

REGIONAL

• Executive Director - Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, Two Rivers, WI
• Processing Archivist - Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI
• Visitor Services Coordinator - University of Iowa Pentacrest Museum, Iowa City, IA
• Desk Attendant/Receptionist - Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Director of Development - DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, Chicago, IL
• Museum Educator - Dunn Museum, Libertyville, IL
• Visitor Services Associate, Office Support Specialist - Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
• Archaeologist - Ohio History Center, Columbus, OH
• Sales and Events Specialist - National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH
• Collections Curator - Tri-Cities Historical Museum, Grand Haven, MI
• Curatorial Assistant - Native American Art, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE
• Director of Learning and Engagement - Museum of Nebraska Art, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE 
• Curator for Research - Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
• Communications Advisor - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
• Genealogy Researchers and Editors - Legacy Tree Genealogists, Remote

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Hubbard House Nooks and Crannies Tour
May 22 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Explore the hidden spaces of the Historic R.D. Hubbard House, including the upstairs of the Carriage House and the basement, on this special behind-the-scenes tour led by BECHS staff. This is not a regular family history tour. Space is limited and pre-registration is required; no tickets available at the door. Cost: $7 members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Collections Corner & Hidden Treasures
May 22 @ 12 to 1 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Join Curator Jaimie Timm for a special history session showcasing “hidden treasures” from the MCHS collection that are rarely seen. This free, informal event invites you to bring your lunch and a friend to enjoy history in a relaxed midday setting. Cost: Free. Location: Pioneer Building, Austin. Learn more »

The Sisters of Saint Francis & Assisi Heights
May 24 @ 1 to 2:30 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Learn about the historical evolution of the Sisters of Saint Francis, who have been active in Rochester since 1877. This program explores their changing ministries and responses to emerging concerns, featuring a group from Assisi Heights. Cost: Free members/$5 non-members. Learn more »

Menstruation Health Week
May 26-31 - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society and Bemidji Public Library - A community initiative addressing period poverty, promoting menstrual health education, and breaking the silence around menstruation. The week includes an exhibit, author talks, expert-led discussions, and community action opportunities. Cost: Not specified. Location: Bemidji Public Library and Beltrami County History Center. Learn more »

Exhibit Opening — "Women's History, Period. (the evolution of menstruation)"
May 26 @ 5 to 6:30 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - Celebrate the opening of a special exhibit exploring the evolution of menstruation information, attitudes, and products throughout history. The interactive exhibit features artifacts, educational panels, and multimedia presentations and is the centerpiece of Menstruation Health Week 2025. Light refreshments will be served. All genders welcome. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Cook County History Museum Open House & New Staff Welcome
May 27 @ 5 to 7 pm - Grand Marais: Cook County Historical Society - Join in for a museum open house and new staff welcome event. Explore the History Museum, view exhibits, learn about plans for the 100th anniversary celebration, and meet new staff members Annie and Victoria. Enjoy light refreshments and a special feature showcasing favorite artifacts in “What’s in our attic?” Cost: Free. Learn more »

Bands and Ballrooms of Southern Minnesota
May 27 @ 6:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Tom Tourville, a native of Fairmont, MN, and co-founder of the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association, presents on the music and dance halls of Southern Minnesota. With a passion for ‘60s music and Midwest music history, Tourville has authored 31 books on record collecting and ballrooms. He was also a 2023 nominee for the Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. Cost: Free will donation. Learn more »

A Raucous Ramble Around the Falls
May 28 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Join author Karen Cooper for a lively one-mile walking tour exploring the wild history of Minnehaha Falls, including its dance halls, secret saloons, lawsuits, and whiskey-fueled mayhem. Discover the stories behind the crooks, hoteliers, and saloon owners who shaped the area’s raucous past, as featured in Cooper’s award-winning book, When Minnehaha Flowed with Whiskey: A Spirited History of the Falls. Location: Tour begins at the picnic table in front of the Longfellow House. Cost: $10 members/$14 non-members. Learn more »

Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County Annual Meeting
May 29 @ 7 pm - Moorhead: Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County - Attend the annual membership meeting featuring a dessert reception instead of a formal dinner. Dr. Carroll Engelhardt will receive the Clay County Heritage Award for his scholarship on local history and deliver the keynote address on the R.M. Probstfield family. A brief business meeting will include board member elections. Cost: $20. Learn more »

History on the River Cruises - Inaugural 2025 cruise
May 29 @ 4 pm & 6 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - In the first of five cruises, enjoy a 90-minute educational cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Cal Fremling, featuring live music by Johnson Street Underground, Winona’s premier a cappella group. Each cruise highlights local history, culture, and the arts, with monthly programs running May through September. Cost: $35 members/$45 nonmembers, season passes $150 members/$200 nonmembers. Learn more »

Expanding Black History in St. Paul Beyond Rondo
May 29 @ 7 to 8 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Join Frank White and Michael Corey for a discussion on the often-overlooked impact of African American community members in St. Paul beyond the Rondo neighborhood. The program will highlight how Black Minnesotans have been integral to the state’s history, featuring stories such as Dred and Harriet Scott’s freedom lawsuit, Toni Stone’s trailblazing baseball career, and Turner J. Starks’s entrepreneurial legacy and resistance against racial boundaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fires of Warroad
May 29 @ 6 pm - Warroad: Warroad Heritage Center - Enjoy an in-depth presentation on significant fires in Warroad’s past and how they have shaped the city’s landscape. Cost: Free. Location: Lake of the Woods Brewing Co., Warroad. Learn more »

Hennepin Fest: A Women-Led Music and Cultural Festival
May 31 @ 2 to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Celebrate the diverse history and culture of the community with this free, family-friendly outdoor festival at Washburn Fair Oaks Park. Enjoy music and spoken word by local women artists across genres including rap, blues, funk, pop, and jazz, featuring performers such as Annie Mack, Connie Evingson, Maria Isa, NUNNABOVE, and DJ/MC Diane Miller. The event also includes a Vendor Village with local artists, artisans, food vendors, and kid-friendly activities. No alcohol will be served. Seating is informal on the grass; bring camp chairs or blankets. Accessible by bike, bus, and nearby parking. Cost: Free. Location: Washburn Fair Oaks Park. Learn more »

Not My First Pandemic: Writing Workshop
May 31 @ 1 to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Quatrefoil Library - Author and poet Michael Kiesow Moore leads a writing workshop focused on surviving the AIDS Crisis and reflecting on experiences from both the AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics. Participants will engage with guided writing prompts and may share their stories; with permission, stories will be preserved in the Tretter LGBTQ Archives at the University of Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
Register for an Account »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Sleepy Eye Depot Museum,  Operated by the Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society, Sleepy Eye, MN.

In-District Advocacy: Advocating to State and Federal Lawmakers
May 29 @ 1  to 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Learn strategies to engage with state and federal lawmakers when they are in their home districts, how to prepare for advocacy, and ways to maximize your impact. This webinar is part of AAM’s ongoing advocacy training, designed to help museum professionals effectively communicate their value to policymakers year-round. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Repatriation Beyond NAGPRA
June 2 - Online: Museum Study - This four-week online course, led by Amy L. Covell-Murthy, explores the complexities and possibilities of repatriation work that goes beyond the legal requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Through case studies, readings, guest speakers, and discussion, participants will learn about relationship building, global repatriation efforts, and authentic storytelling. The course is designed for museum professionals seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of repatriation, both within and beyond NAGPRA mandates. Cost: $400. Learn more »

Buying Real Estate: An Overview for Nonprofit Organizations
June 4 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - 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 »

Interpreting Winter Holidays with Your Community
June 12 @ 2 to 3:15 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - This webinar explores how historic houses and museums can use the holiday season—focusing on Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa—as an opportunity for community engagement, inclusivity, and innovation. Presenters will share case studies of successful programs and exhibits from across the country and offer ideas for adapting them to your local context. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Say What? Demystifying Preservation and Conservation Terms with CCAHA's New Glossary
June 18 @ 11 am to 12 pm - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) - Join Preservation Specialist Katie Lowe for a guided tour of CCAHA’s new Preservation Glossary, featuring over 400 clear, jargon-free definitions related to the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage items. Learn how this resource can benefit stewards of all backgrounds and support your work in preservation. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• How Denver Art Museum workers shape the future of cultural labor - National Council on Public History
• Overcoming Common Nonprofit Compliance Pitfalls - Foundation Group 

UPCOMING CONFERENCES IN MINNESOTA

June 4-6, 2025 Duluth, MN

September 10-12, 2025 New Ulm, MN

May 27-31, 2025 Minneapolis, MN

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Odd S. Lovoll Award in Norwegian-American Studies
Deadline - June 1: Norwegian-American Historical Association - This award recognizes originality, excellence, and creativity in undergraduate research and writing on any aspect of Norwegian-American Studies. The winner of the award, open to undergraduate students, will receive a cash prize of $500 and a one-year student membership in NAHA. Learn more »

LGBTQ-RAN Educational Resource Prize
Deadline - June 30: LGBTQ Religious Archives Network - the prize honors scholars and teachers developing curricular and instructional materials for the teaching of LGBTQ+ religious history at all levels of education from primary to higher education, as well as in congregational or community settings. Learn more »

Wayland D. Hand Prize
Deadline - July 1: American Folklore Society - The Wayland D. Hand Prize honors outstanding books that integrate historical and folkloristic research, recognizing both authored and edited volumes. Winners receive $200 and are celebrated at the AFS annual meeting in October, with publicity in The Journal of History and Folklore. Open to works that advance the study of folklore and history. The annual prize comprises two categories: (1) single or co-authored book and (2) edited volume(s). Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Mower County Museum, Austin, MN. (1986). View additional photos on Instagram »
This new section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.

“We Are Water MN” - Host Community Application
Deadline - June 27: The Minnesota Humanities Center is taking applications for hosting "We Are Water MN" a traveling exhibit, administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center, that shares messages about water in Minnesota, and designs public programming that builds relationships with and responsibilities to water. “We Are Water MN” provides a budget of up to $10,000 to offset the cost of hosting and creating public programming. These offsets are provided in the form of reimbursements for expenditures explicitly approved by MHC; they are not grants. Learn more »

National Survey of History Practitioners
The National Survey of History Practitioners, conducted by the American Association for State and Local History, gathers information about the roles, demographics, and perspectives of those working or volunteering at history organizations across the United States. This confidential survey, which takes about ten minutes to complete, aims to support advocacy, planning, and the sustainability of the history field by creating a comprehensive profile of its practitioners. Individual responses remain anonymous and are reported only in aggregate to protect participants’ privacy. Start survey »

Children’s Dental Services Receives Award for Historic Restoration of Bonton Bakery Building
Children’s Dental Services was honored at the Duluth Preservation Alliance’s Annual Awards on May 19, 2025, for their restoration of the historic Bonton Bakery Building at 25 W. Superior Street. Built in 1894 by architects John Wangenstein and William Bailey, the building underwent a rehabilitation. The project restored the original façade to street level, tuckpointed and reused old brick, repaired and replaced skylights, restored metalwork on the balustrade, and replaced windows. Inside, the contractors preserved the natural brick, cleaned the original flooring, restored the tin ceiling, and installed period-appropriate light fixtures, all while adapting the space for modern dental services. This preservation effort was made possible through grants from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants fund, ensuring the building’s architectural legacy is safeguarded for future generations while serving the community.

Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Transfers Historic Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” to Walter Bowe’s Collection
Vintage Aviation News - The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, has sold its World War I-era Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” to vintage aircraft collector Walter Bowe of Esparto, California. The historic biplane—one of America’s most iconic early military aircraft—has found a new home where it will soon return to the skies. Continue reading »

Featured Book Enmity and Empathy: Japanese Americans in Minnesota During World War II, by Ka F. Wong. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event Date: May 31 @ 1 to 2:30 pm Location: Historic Fort Snelling	Featured Article Minnesota History The Grand Army of the Republic in Minnesota, 1866-80  Volume 16, Issue 4, 1935	Featured Article MNopedia Flour City Ornamental Iron Works Strike, 1935 Featured MNopedia Article	Minnesota Unraveled Logging the Northwoods: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji Episode 107

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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