12 min read

Local History News: October 18, 2023

Joe Hoover Oct 18, 2023 12:15:00 PM

Local History News - Minnesota Historical Society, Heritage Preservation

Field Note

Five people talking outside the Oaks Lakeside Pavillion next to dumpster and construction fencing.jpg

Heritage Preservation, Planning and Outreach staff visited with the City of Gaylord to review progress on their Legacy grant-funded project to preserve the Oaks Lakeside Pavilion, a National Register building that has served the Gaylord community since 1916 as a dance hall, roller skating rink, and venue for numerous political, cultural and celebratory events.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Grants Office Webinar: Heritage Partnership Grants in 2024
October 19 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: The Heritage Partnership Grant program helps two or more Minnesota organizations advance their history-oriented programs and projects. Joint efforts might involve using shared supplemental staff, improved treatment of similar historic resources, streamlining services or planning for management of similar resources. The next Heritage Partnership Program deadline is January 26, 2024, so attend this webinar to learn how to propose a partnership program, how to brainstorm what the final product will be and what the experience of a partnership project is like after you get one.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬ PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

From the Blog

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

Hennepin History Museum Introduces 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
Beginning in 2022, Hennepin History Museum conducted a strategic planning process to direct the work of the Museum for 2023-2026. That process is now complete, and in a series of articles in our monthly e-newsletter to members and friends, we are introducing our revised mission statement, as well as vision, guiding principles and strategic goals. Each month, the latest article will be added to this blog to allow anyone to pick up the information at any point in time. We encourage people to join the conversation as this work unfolds. Email your comments and input. Continue reading »

From the Tube

This week's videos are from MN SHPO. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

PRESERVE MN-Statewide Historic Preservation Conference-with youtube button

Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office posts Preserve Minnesota sessions
Preserve MN, the 43rd Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference held in Mankato, MN may be over but many of the sessions from the conference were recorded. The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office has the following sessions available on their YouTube channel »

Downtown Revitalization Through Public Art
Preservation and Protection: Managing Security in Historic Properties
Applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehab: A Contextual Approach
Rethinking I 94: A New Approach to Historic Contexts
Sitting in the Sandbox: A Case for Using Open Space
People’s Right to Place: Building a More Relevant and Just Preservation Movement
Continuing the Conversation: Working Towards Equity in Historic Preservation
Equitable Recovery and Rebuilding Community at the Historic Coliseum Building After the Civil Unrest
Digital Stereoscopy for Planners

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

Site Manager III - Ramsey & Hill House
Site Guide - James J. Hill House
Visitor Services Manager II - Mill City Museum
Network Security Specialist - MN History Center
Senior Curator, Native American Collections - MN History Center
Program Facilitator II - Split Rock Lighthouse

LOCAL

Community Engagement Coordinator - Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
Youth Program Specialist - Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery
Audience and Engagement Coordinator - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Development Events and Stewardship Coordinator - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Director of Development - Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN
Grant Writer - Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN
Visitor Experience Staff - The Works, Bloomington, MN
Campaign Fundraising Coordinator - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Visitor Assistant, Galleries or Box Office - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Program Facilitator - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

Museum Director - Mahaska County Historical Society, Oskaloosa, IA
Genealogy Services Librarian - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
Executive Director - Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg, WI
Support Technician - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Assistant or Senior Assistant Director of Operations - Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Museum Program & Education Coordinator - Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights, IL
Education Program Coordinator - Naper Settlement - Naperville, IL
Associate Director of Art in Public Spaces - Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Deputy Director - Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Curator - Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Museum Education Manager - Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
Partnership Coordinator - Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo,
Executive Director - Old Cowtown Museum, City of Wichita, Wichita, KS
Event Assistant - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Live Animal Assistant - Royal Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

Volunteer Gallery Assistant - Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Little Canada Volunteer Fire Department fire truck
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Little Canada Historical Society.

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

Book Talk: The Great Storm: Minnesota’s Victims in the Blizzard of January 7, 1873
October 18 @ 6:30 pm - Glenwood: Pope County Museum - On January 7-9, 1873, Minnesota residents experienced a violent blizzard and dozens of people died, primarily on the flat, treeless prairies. Kandiyohi County native, Carolyn Mankell Sowinski, will take you back 150 years and tell the stories of these victims using primary documents and secondary sources. Learn more »

Prairie Imperialists; The Indian Country Origins of American Empire
October 19 @ 7 to 8 pm - Online: Ramsey County Historical Society - The Spanish-American War of 1898 marked the emergence of the United States as an imperial power, but Katherine Bjork argues that the American military learned the practices of colonial domination in earlier relations with Native nations at home. Join Bjork as she traces the arc of American expansion in what was then called “Indian Country.” Cost: Free. Learn more »

Hauntings of Kandiyohi County & Southwest Minnesota
October 19 @ 7 pm - Willmar: Kandiyohi County Historical Society - Adrian Lee, a paranormal investigator, author, and TV presenter, will show the evidence and history of ghosts and hauntings in Kandiyohi County and Southwest Minnesota from his own personal experiences. He will also discuss the TV show Unscripted Paranormal and sign copies of his books. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Exhibit: Wayfinding - Transportation Exhibit
Opens October 19 - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Discover how transportation has woven the fabric of Stearns County’s history, shaping the landscape and fostering the community. Get ready to explore the past, present, and future of Stearns County’s journey. Learn more »

Custer at Gettysburg
October 19 @ 7 pm - Northfield: Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable - The Presenter, Lanny Witter of Rochester, will talk about how Custer's partly foiled Lee’s plans at Gettysburg. The spirited East Cavalry Field engagement unfolded four miles east of Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 3, 1863, the last day of the battle. Location: Northfield Township Town Hall. For more information call 507-459-3140.

Presentation: DNA Tests for Beginners
October 21 @ 1 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - As October, "Family History Month," unfolds, families around the nation delve into their genealogical roots, seeking to uncover the mysteries of their ancestry. With an abundance of DNA tests available in today's world, understanding where to begin can be a daunting task. This event aims to demystify the process by shedding light on four of the most popular DNA tests and providing an opportunity to explore the results of two different tests. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: October Family Day at BECHS
October 21 @ 10 am to 4 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Families of all ages are invited to join in for a day of fun, exploration, and learning. Families can immerse themselves in the rich history of Blue Earth County. Explore captivating exhibits that tell the story of the community and discover treasures in a thrilling scavenger hunt and take part in hands-on craft workshops. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Midwest Queer and Trans Zine Fest
October 21 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Minneapolis: Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies - Celebrate LGBTQ History Month by joining us on the second floor of the Open Book Building in downtown Minneapolis. The Midwest QT Zine Fest brings together queer and trans artists, zine makers, collectives, and small presses to share their work with zine enthusiasts and LGBTQ community members. Learn more »

Genealogy 101
October 22 @ 1 to 3 pm - Shoreview: Shoreview Historical Society - Want to know how to start climbing (and documenting!) your family tree? Learn the basic steps, resources and techniques to ensure that you start on the right foot. This free program is open to the public. Jean BIelke-Rodenbiker is the former genealogy librarian for Hennepin County Library and is now library manager at MNGS. Location: Shoreview Library, Community Program Room. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Highlights from the WBLAHS Collection
October 23 @ 6 to 7 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - Meet the Collections Inventory Specialists who have been conducting a grant-funded inventory of the collections throughout 2023. They will share highlights from their project and showcase some of their favorite items in the collection. Location: White Bear Lake Library. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Bus tour: Jacob Fjelde Art Tour
October 28 @ 12:30 to 5 pm - Minneapolis: Norwegian-American Historical Association - Whether you are an arts lover or a history enthusiast, you won’t want to miss our guided bus tour of Minneapolis, featuring the art of the talented sculptor Jacob Fjelde. NAHA Board Member Kristin Anderson, professor of art at Augsburg University, will guide the tour as they explore the life and work of Jacob Fjelde, who emigrated from Ålesund, Norway, in 1887, and lived in Minneapolis until his untimely death in 1896. Stops will include Augsburg University, Loring Park, Minneapolis Central Library, Hennepin History Museum, Lakewood Cemetery, and Minnehaha Park. Location: Depart from Norway House. Cost: $50 member/$65 nonmember. Learn more »

Workshop: Keeping the Weather Out: Homeowner How-tos
October 28 @ 10 am to 12 pm - St Cloud: Rethos - This hands-on workshop will cover how to fix cracks and drafts, repair problem doors and windows, and practice the best winterization methods and techniques. Location: Peter Fandel House. Cost: $15. Learn more »

Performance: Gertrude – A One-Act Play
November 3 & 4 @ 7 pm, November 5 @ 2 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Gertrude Ellis Skinner, born in 1865 and honored as a “Pillar of the City” in 2019, was a trailblazer. As the first female Superintendent of Mower County Schools and the Associate Editor of the Austin Daily Herald, she made her own way in the world seeking knowledge as a true educator and sharing her talents with many. Penny Kinney will be starring as Gertrude Ellis Skinner and five other characters in this one-woman show. Cost: $15. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Exterior of the Old Town Hall History Museum
Highlighted Museum: Old Town Hall History Museum, operated by the Bloomington Historical Society, Bloomington, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

How to Acquire Funding for Your Collections Storage
October 19 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Southeastern Museums Conference in partnership with Patterson Pope - This webinar will explore the avenues for acquiring funds for appropriate collections storage – including capital campaigns, grants, and government funding. Three seasoned museum professionals with experience securing funding for significant projects will lead the discussion and provide helpful perspectives, tips, and insights for museums of all sizes. Email them for more information. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fundraising at the Intersection of Development & Community Engagement
October 23 @ 9 to 10 am (CT) - Online: Ohio Museums Association - Explore the relationship between community engagement, outreach, and development, and how these all intersect to contribute to fundraising success. Cost: $10 members/$15 nonmembers. Learn more »

Museums, Games & Play Summit
October 23 & 24 - Online: MuseumNext - Are you excited about museums transforming into dynamic and interactive spaces, that go beyond the traditional displays of art and artifacts? Join museum professionals from around the world as they share their best practices for creating playful experiences both in-person and online. With a focus on innovative approaches to engagement, you'll gain valuable insights into the latest trends and techniques for transforming museums into dynamic spaces. Learn more »

Introduction to EndNote and EndNote
October 25 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: University of Minnesota Libraries - Learn about using EndNote to import citations, customize your account, and format your bibliographies and in-text citations. They'll also discuss using EndNote in conjunction with EndNote Online, a web-based version of EndNote. Targeted to students but open to the general public. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Introduction to Zotero
October 26 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: University of Minnesota Libraries - Learn how to use Zotero to create your own database of citations, PDFs, images, webpages, video and audio files, and more. Zotero can then be used to create citations in a large number of citation styles which can be added to Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Libre Office. Targeted to students but open to the general public. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Social Media Savvy: Thinking Big, Working Smart
October 27 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - This session explores the basics of establishing a strong digital community, creating content using existing resources, showcasing collections, building followership, and motivating digital audiences to take action online. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Archiving Basics for Community Groups
October 30 @ 5:30 to 7:30 pm - Golden Valley: Hennepin County Library Special Collections - Organizations, community groups, and community archivists are the target audience for the class. Attendees will leave class knowing the basics of how to store and preserve documents, photos, digital files, recordings, and more, and they’ll be prepared to dive into organizing their group’s history. Location: Golden Valley Library. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Endowments and Your Nonprofit: A Focus on the Fundamentals
October 31 @ 1 to 2:30 pm - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Topics covered in this workshop: The role of an endowment fund in an organization’s overall financial composition; How the fund works; Giving options for the fund; and How endowment funds fit into donor relation plans. Come and learn how your nonprofit may benefit from a flexible endowment solution as well as the variety of giving options available to supporters of the fund. Cost: $45 members/$65 nonmembers. Learn more »

12 Golden Rules of Nonprofit Finance
November 2 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - This webinar will break it all down to 12 Golden Rules of nonprofit finance to keep your organization healthy. From budgeting to operating reserves, if you follow these rules, you’ll be on your way to a better understanding of nonprofit financial health. This session is a great introduction for those who are new to nonprofit finance. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Decolonizing in Collections Care
November 16 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care - In this webinar, you will learn how the Museum of Us and the broader museum field are undertaking this complex challenge by addressing institutional histories in reflective ways, prioritizing the work within an evolving framework of decolonizing initiatives, and learning valuable lessons along the way. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Metadata for Digital Preservation
November 30 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - Metadata, and especially preservation metadata encompassing the technical and administrative aspects of description, is essential for providing continued access to your digital objects. It provides assurance that digital objects are authentic, renderable, and useable. This webinar serves as a starting point for understanding the kinds of information you will want to gather to support digital preservation, using current guidelines, standards, and models in the field to identify core information required to steward digital objects over time. Cost: $95. Learn more »

American Association for State and Local History Online Courses
Online Courses are typically between four to eight weeks long. They offer you the chance to engage deeply with subject material over an extended period of time. Keep on track with regular video chats and other interactions with accessible faculty, and discuss the course material with classmates in online forums.

January 8 - February 9, 2024: Introduction to Financial Management
January 8 - February 12, 2024: Best Practices for Inclusive Workspaces - NEW COURSE
January 8 - March 8, 2024: Collections Management 200: Stewardship and Public Access
January 8 - March 8, 2024: Developing Exhibitions

TIPS & TOOLS

New issue of "Archival Outlook," the newsletter put out by the Society of American Archivists
The Evolving Role of Museum Curators: A Paradigm Shift in Cultural Stewardship - CIMAM

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Conference Scholarships for SMA '24
October 20 - (deadline): The Small Museum Association offers multiple scholarships that cover the cost of conference registration as well as hotel and meals. Anyone affiliated with a museum, library, historical society, or related graduate study program (e.g., Museum Studies, Public History, Library and Information Studies, Historic Preservation) is eligible for the SMA Scholarships. This includes full-time or part-time employees, board members, students, interns, and volunteers. Applications are now open! This year's conference is February 19 - 21, 2024 in Richmond, VA. Learn more »

News

Man charged with stealing 'Wizard of Oz' slippers from Minnesota museum expected to plead guilty
MPR — A man charged with the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” was expected to change his plea to guilty in court Friday, pulling back the curtain on a whodunnit mystery dating back 18 years. Terry Jon Martin, 76, was indicted in May on one count of theft of a major artwork. The shoes from the film were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the actress's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI. Continue reading »

'In the North' – Minnesota’s first independent Indigenous museum opens in an 'ironic' location
MPR — Winona LaDuke recalls “Salsa Tuesdays” outside the old Carnegie Library in Park Rapids. In 2021, water protector activists and members of the community would dance — salsa, macarena — in protest against Enbridge, the building’s then occupant, the Canadian conglomerate behind the controversial Line 3 pipeline. “We would stand out there with little signs that said, ‘Water is life, protect the water, stop Line 3,’” LaDuke says. “We would always look at the building and hope that one day something would be different there.” On Thursday, Giiwedinong: The Anishinaabe Museum of Treaties and Culture opened on the spot. The museum sits just off the main drag of a downtown lined with candy shops, bars and an old cinema. Continue reading »

Orphanage Museum visitor restoring children's cemetery one headstone at a time
Owatonna People's Press — “Salesman by trade, grave cleaner on the weekends.” That’s how Tim Shea describes himself. Shea is on a one-man mission to clean up the children’s cemetery at the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum. The Twin Cities-based salesman has already dedicated hours of his free time to restoring the children’s headstones one by one. Continue reading »

A look at Taopi, plus an overview of failures, injustices & war in Minnesota
Owatonna People's Press — My goal was simple — to write a piece honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day. My focus, I initially decided, would be on Taopi, a member of the Little Crow Band of the Mdewakanton Dakota Tribe. Taopi is perhaps best known in Faribault, where he lived for a while and is buried. A small Mower County town near the Iowa border also honors him in name. But my writing expanded beyond Taopi. Continue reading »

Artifact Spotlight: Kittson County History Center/Museum
Prairie Public - In this artifact spotlight from the Kittson County History Center/Museum in Lake Bronson, Minnesota, Ed Jerome talks about his Métis ancestors who helped settle this Northwest corner of Minnesota. Watch video »


Featured Book Museums and Societal Collapse: The Museum as Lifeboat, by Robert R. Janes. Routledge Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History The origin of the Minnesota state flag: a theory. Volume 53, Issue 1, 1992	Featured Article MNopedia Soudan Mine, Tower, MN 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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