Local History News: November 1, 2023

Field Note

Heritage Preservation, Planning, and Outreach staff visited with the Linwood Historical Society at the Linwood Grange to help advise on preservation efforts with the National Register building. The Crescent Grange Hall No. 512 was built in 1881 and added to the National Register in 1979. Privately owned, it still is a part of community events.

LOCAL HISTORY NEWS on vacation

Card from MNHS Collections.

Local History News will be enjoying the fresh Minnesota autumn air and writing a comprehensive history of pumpkin spice. During the weeks of November 8 & 15, limited editions will be published, and it will not be published on November 22. Local History News be back on November 29; fat, happy, and full of gravy. May you, your friends and family have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Heritage Preservation Grants

Historic Resources Advisory Committee Large Legacy Grants Meeting
November 2 & 3 - The Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) will be meeting to publicly discuss and determine their funding recommendations for this year's round of large Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants applications. This year's meeting will be held in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul from 10 am to 4 pm both days. Applicants and the general public are welcome to attend or listen online but are not permitted to participate in the discussion. The meetings will be recorded and the recording will be posted on our website roughly two weeks after the meeting.
Listen to the meeting via live stream:

• November 2: 10 am - 4 pm
  Livestream for November 2
• November 3: 10 am - 4 pm
  Livestream for November 3

Heritage Partnership Program
Shared Services is one of four categories of partnerships the Heritage Partnership Program can fund. Partners may individually provide similar services to the public or contract with service providers to accomplish common goals. Streamlining services for greater efficiency will allow for a more comprehensive public benefit. The application must thoroughly demonstrate that the partners and their customers will benefit from the shared services and that the partners can sustain the results of the shared services beyond the grant period. The mandatory pre-application deadline for Heritage Partnership Program Grants is Friday, January 26, 2024. Learn more »

ELIGIBLE PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

• Contracting with a training provider to present skills seminars among multiple constituencies.
• Developing a regional or community-based team to streamline disaster response efforts for historic properties, public records, museum collections, or archives.
• Contracting with an interpretive specialist to create integrated heritage tourism or exhibits programs.
• Developing a plan to combine services for collections held among the partners, including digitization, storage, inventory, care, and access.

Grants Office Webinar: First Steps Towards a Grant
November 16 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: In this webinar, you will learn what you need to do to register for a grants portal login, how to apply, what the grant programs offer, what the programs can fund, and which resources are available for applicants. If you have never applied for a grant before or would like to hear about the basic process again, this webinar is for you. Presented by Grants Associate Gillian Maguire.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬ PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

"NO"vember - No Grants Open House
There will be NO Grants Open House on Thursday, November 2 due to the HRAC committee's deliberation and making FY 2024 large grant award recommendations at the Minnesota History Center. The Grants Open Houses will resume on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

From the Blog

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

The Halloween Blizzard of 1991
Do you remember the Halloween Blizzard of 1991?

These photos, taken by Linda Baumeister for Lillie Newspapers, show the Hill-Murray High School sign advertising “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” buried in snow, a Twins-themed Jack-o-lantern, and Mike Alfieri and his friends Joe, Matt Tobritzhofer, and Joe Johnson playing in the snow at the Alfieri home in Maplewood. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Recording the overlooked history of marginalized peoples - U of MN Libraries
• Deuhs-Baxter Building - Chaska Historical Society
• Mary Gale Hobbs: Bold and Whimsical - Hennepin History Museum
• A Mystery Even After Death: The story of Jacob Dieter - History Center of Olmsted County

From the Tube

This week's post is from History Center of Olmsted County. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota
Historian Barb Sommer presents this lecture on the CCC as part of our monthly presentation series here at the History Center of Olmsted County.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a Depression-era New Deal program that provided jobs for unemployed young men. It is remembered as the most popular New Deal program and is recognized as the largest conservation program in United States history. During this presentation, Sommer provides an overview of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota and takes a closer look at the CCC camps and their work in southeastern Minnesota. Watch Video »

More MN Tube posts

• How Did Your Family End Up in Minnesota? - Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest
• History Revealed: Connecting to Collections - East Side Freedom Library
• Somali Museum Dance Troupe, 10th Anniversary Celebration - The Somali Museum
• Episode 5 - Dr. Samantha Majhor: Haha Wakpadan/Bassett Creek Oral History Project - Hennepin History Museum
• Powell Family and there-in lie a story - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• Northern Pacific Shops at Brainerd, Minnesota - Minnesota Bricks
• Snapshots of New Ulm - Brown County Historical Society
• Rock and Roll History in the Pipestone Area - Pipestone County Historical Society

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Museum Guide - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Arts Administrative Assistant - Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Senior Accounting Clerk - Accounts Receivable - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Friends Operations Coordinator - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Chair of the Arts of Global Africa - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Program Associate, Education - The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Assistant Director - Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden, Rochester, MN
• Registrar/Receptionist - Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN
• Administrative Assistant/Program Assistant - East Side Arts Council, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

• Museum Aide - Siouxland Heritage Museums, Sioux Falls, SD
• Digital Access Librarian - Health Science Library, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD
• Digital Archives Assistant - Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, IA
• Information Desk Ambassador - Iowa State Historical Building, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
• Registrar/Collections Care Specialist - Kenosha Public Museums, Kenosha, WI
• Museum Experience Specialist - Above & Beyond Children's Museum, Sheboygan, WI
• Museum Educator - Kenosha Public Museums, Kenosha, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Executive Director - Des Plaines History Center, Des Plaines, IL
• Director of Library Services/Senior Public Administrator 1 - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL
• Natural Resources Coordinator, Opt. 1 - Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, Topeka, IL
• Executive Director - Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Oak Brook, IL
• Out of School Educator - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Manager, Information Technology - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN 
• Project Archivist Librarian 2 - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
• Grants & Institutional Giving Manager - Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI
• Director of Museum & Education - Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Easton, PA
• Curator of Indigenous Collections - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Architectural Historian - Missouri State Historic Preservation Office, Jefferson City, MO
• Director and CEO - History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• Communications and Administration Coordinator - Thousand Islands Boat Museum Gananoque, ON
• Lead Exhibit Technician - Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

Internship in Historic Preservation Law (Summer 2024) - National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, DC

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Exhibit: Stories in Structures: How Buildings Tell Us About Ourselves
November 2 with Opening Reception @ 4 to 6 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - The exhibit team went beyond local architectural interpretation to highlight the hopes, conflicts, and compromises behind Winona County's historic buildings. The exhibit focuses on the changes in the community and the people who made them happen, emphasizing that local architecture reflects the community's identity, choices, and values. Visitors are engaged through questions and opportunities to immerse themselves in historical situations throughout the exhibit. For more information call 507-454-2723.

Book Launch: “The Last Bookseller” paperback edition with Gary Goodman
November 2 @ 7 to 8 pm (CT) Stillwater & Online: Washington County Heritage Center - Many longtime area residents will remember Goodman from his store St. Croix Antiquarian Booksellers, a staple on Stillwater’s Main Street for nearly 30 years. As both a memoir and a history of booksellers and book scouts, criminals, and collectors, “The Last Bookseller” offers an ultimately poignant account of the used and rare book business during its final Golden Age. This event is also the launch of the paperback edition of this favorite local novel. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Educating and Empowering Voters, Protecting Democracy: The 75-Year Impact of the League of Women Voters of Golden Valley
November 9 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - Presented by League president Marti Micks and four additional speakers representing different eras of the organization’s history, learn how the history of City of Golden Valley and the history of the League have always been intertwined. Presenters will share the League’s storied 75-year history in Golden Valley, and there will be a time for socializing (Happy 75th Birthday cake!) and celebrating. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Bringing Down the House: Understanding Deconstruction and Salvage
November 9 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Rethos - This class digs into construction and demolition (C&D) waste and discusses alternatives to standard demolition like deconstruction and building material salvage. The purpose of this session is to introduce real-life solutions to reduce C&D waste and offer resources for connecting with local salvage organizations. Cost: Free for general public/$20 CE credit for real estate agents. Learn more »

Workshop: Wallpaper 101: Prepping
November 9 & 11 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Rethos - This class will teach you all of the dos and don’ts of installing wallpaper in your home. You’ll get hands-on experience preparing and applying wallpaper at a beautiful old home located in Minneapolis. The first class will cover how to prep the wall and how to measure the amount of paper needed. In the second class, you will be hands-on cutting and hanging the paper. Cost: $25. Learn more »

Exhibit: Once Upon a Mansion
November 11 through January 8 - Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute - Step into a winter wonderland unlike any other as the enchanting Turnblad Mansion undergoes a magical transformation. Myths, magic, and traditions of the holidays collide in an all-ages exhibition throughout the Mansion where stories, folk, and fairytales come alive, and surprises wait around every corner. Immerse yourself in experiences co-created by local community contributors representing Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and the Sami Cultural Center. Learn more » 

Event: Native American Heritage Day
November 18 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Duluth: The event includes Native American-themed food, a hand drummer, and children’s activities. Native American authors will be promoting their books. Professor Jill Doerfler is the main speaker and will present at 1 pm. Doerfler's most recent book, "Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary" was co-authored with Mathew Martinez. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Gingerbread Architecture - The Sweet Elements of Design 
November 18 & December 2 @ 11 am to 12 pm - Rethos & Stearns History Museum - Learn the basics of building construction and architectural design at this all-ages, family-friendly workshop taught by Eric Cheever, the fun-loving Director of Exhibits & Curatorial at the Stearns History Museum. Eric will show you the inner workings of construction and design and teach about basic building elements during this hands-on, interactive class. Locations: November 18 at Great River Children’s Museum in St. Cloud, MN. December 2 at Robinson-Stanton House in Sauk Rapids, MN. Cost: $15. Learn more » 

Free Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner
November 23 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Superior, WI: Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center would like to invite veterans, active duty families and their loved ones that have nowhere to go this Thanksgiving to enjoy the holiday with them. There will be turkey, ham, numerous sides, and dessert. Watch the football game on our large screen and enter to win door prizes. Reservations are now open. Dine-in, curbside or delivery options available. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Continuing Education

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

Equity in Historic Preservation Survey
Are you interested in advancing equity in the historic preservation field? Are you facing challenges within this work and/or looking to connect with other folks about diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging?  If so, fill out this survey and share your feedback and ideas. The survey was created by a group of preservation practitioners working in Minnesota who meet monthly to discuss these topics. You can learn more by watching this recent session at the PreserveMN conference.

Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium Community Presenter Application
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting the 3rd Annual Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium. This year the symposium will be held February 29 and March 1, 2024 at Treasure Island Resort and Casino. If you’re interested in leading an in-person session for other symposium participants, submit a proposal by November 3. Learn more »

No More Borrowed Frames: How Museums Can See Their Communities Through a More Respectful Lens
November 2 @ 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Museums As Progress - Join for a discussion of how museums can embrace a more contextual and respectful approach to understanding the people they hope to support. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Teaching Bdote: Tools for Teaching Dakota Content
November 4 @ 9:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Humanities Center - Content is designed for educators who have attended, or are planning to attend, Learning from Place: Bdote. This workshop is especially useful for developing unique classroom content to align with Minnesota State Social Studies Standards. Cost: $20. Learn more »

Elevating Visitor Experiences with Interactive Exhibits
November 6 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog Archivists and Historians - Are you seeking innovative ways to captivate your audience and enrich their museum experience? The expert presenter will delve into the realm of XR, projection technology, and interactive touchscreens. Discover how these cutting-edge technologies can become powerful tools in telling captivating stories and sharing information with your visitors. Learn how to leverage XR to transport your guests into immersive worlds, utilize projection technology to create dynamic displays, and leverage interactive touchscreens for engaging and educational interactions. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance
November 9 - Online: 9 am to 12 pm (CT). Propel Nonprofits - You will learn typical board responsibilities and explore the nuances of board authority and relationships. Participants take home Propel’s Nonprofit Board Governance workbook, which includes the Fiduciary Duties of Directors of Charitable Organizations. While this training is open to all, it is designed for those new to serving on a board or those who are contemplating joining a board. Cost: $75. Learn more »

Building Community Engagement through Collections Exhibitions
November 14 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: In this webinar, you’ll hear first-hand how the Museum of South Texas History increased their visitation and community engagement through rotating low-cost exhibits pulled from their collection. Melissa Peña will share how she mounted one new exhibit every month for a year, as well as the dos and don’ts she learned along the way. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Practical Leadership 1.0: Cultivating Thriving Supervisory Relationships
November 14, 15, & 16 @ 10 am to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Effective supervision is an art that requires understanding and meeting role expectations. Skilled supervisors foster healthy relationships with their employees, creating thriving and inclusive organizational cultures. This is a six-hour virtual training spread over three two-hour sessions each day. Cost: $129 members/$169 nonmembers. Learn more »

Decolonizing the Collection and Spiritual Care of Artworks
November 17 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - As with many historical collections of artworks, there are certain works in the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s collection that are culturally inappropriate in today’s context. This could include their subject matter, their mediums, or their institutional cataloging and titles. The Artworks Renaming Initiative addresses these problematic pieces by giving new names to identified artworks with the assistance of Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, and language keepers. The Renaming project was an initiative that directly addressed the UNDRIP and tangibly incorporated Indigenous knowledge into the canon of art history and the art institution. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Telling Your Story With Evaluation
November 20 @ 9 to 10 am (CT) - Online: Ohio Museums Association - Does your museum have a program that sounds wonderful on paper, but hasn’t gained traction with your guests yet? Are you looking for great anecdotes and statistics to help make the case for your museum in grant proposals and to your stakeholders? Are you starting a new initiative or have ongoing programs that you want to make sure are meeting the needs of your community? Learn simple strategies to build evaluation into your projects. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Small But MIGHTY: The Powerful Resilience of SMALL Museums
December 5 & 6 - Online: American Association for State and Local History - This summit will celebrate the creativity and resourcefulness of small museums through the lens of resiliency. What have we learned about small museums responding to global change that can inspire the field? How can the challenges of operating a small museum also make it easier to be nimble when faced with obstacles? This virtual summit, developed by small museums for small museums, will provide practical information as well as inspirational stories to prepare participants for the future, in particular, the 250th Anniversary of the United States in 2026. Cost: $55 member/$75 nonmember. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Affects of Income Inequality on Fundraising - Nonprofit Quarterly
• Engaging Next Generation History Learners - Association of Midwest Museums

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Funding Opportunities for Community-Based Programs - Grant Application Deadline Extended
December 11 - (deadline): Minnesota Humanities Center - $12 million in grant opportunities are for individuals, programs, organizations, and children’s museums. Learn more »

Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
January 11, 2024 - (deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - These grants help small and mid-sized institutions—such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities—improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. Check out their updated guidelines. Learn more »

National Endowment for the Humanities Webinar
Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
November 3 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT)
Instructional webinar and Q&A about the grant program. Learn more »

Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award
February 1, 2024. - (deadline): American Library Association - This award consists of a citation and $1,000 and recognizes an intellectual freedom-focused organization that has developed a strong multi-year, ongoing program or a single, one-year project that exemplifies support for intellectual freedom, patron confidentiality, and anti-censorship efforts. Learn more »

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities
February 15, 2024 - (deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - This grant supports national or regional (multi-state) training programs for scholars, humanities professionals, and advanced graduate students to broaden and extend their knowledge of digital humanities. Learn more »

The Eric DeLony Industrial Heritage Preservation Grant Fund
March 1, 2024 - (deadline): Society for Industrial Archeology - Grants from $1000 to $3000 for the study, documentation, recordation, and/or preservation of significant historic industrial sites, structures, and objects. Awards are made to nonprofit organizations and qualified individuals. Learn more »

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - October content update

• Stillwater daily gazette (Stillwater, Minn.) 1911-1915 added
• Atwater Herald (Atwater, Minn.) 1975-1977 added
• Meeker County news (Forest City, Minn.) 1869-1874
• Read's Landing press (Read's Landing, Minn.) 1877-1878
• Wabasha bulletin (Wabasha, Minn.) 1879
• Minnesota gazette (Red Wing, Minn.) 1857
• Red Wing Argus (Red Wing, Minn.) 1864-1870
• Good Templar (Red Wing, Minn.) 1869
• Svenska Minnesota-bladet (Red Wing, Minn.) 1869
• Daily journal (Wabasha, Minn.) 1860
• Wabashaw journal (Wabasha, Minn.) 1858

Featured Book Voices From Pejuhutazizi, by Teresa Peterson and Walter LaBatte Jr. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event Wednesday, November 1 @ 5 to 8 pm Location: MN History Center	Featured Article Minnesota History A skilled game of exchange: Ojibway fur trade protocol Volume 50, Issue 6, 1987	Featured Article MNopedia Matt and Kaisa Hill Farmstead, St. Louis County 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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