Photo: Minnesota's Historic Northwest.
On Monday, October 14, Minnesota's Historic Northwest met at the East Polk Heritage Center in Fosston. The group includes history organizations from 12 counties in northwestern Minnesota and they meet to collaborate and support one another's work. MNHS Director & CEO Kent Whitworth joined the group which included representatives from Beltrami, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk, and Roseau County historical societies; the East Polk Heritage Center, Goodridge Area Historical Society, Sand Hill Settlement Historical Society, and the Warroad Heritage Center.
Spotlighted Project: Exhibit Design: Who We Are and How We Got Here
Eight panels were designed and are ready to be sent to fabrication. The panels include an intro and outro to the exhibit and six panels, each with two quotes relating to one of the six cultural themes most frequently addressed in the collected narratives. Each panel is bilingual, intentionally designed to have the content displayed first in Spanish, followed by the English equivalent. The quotes also appear bilingually, with the quote in the speaker's first language followed by its translation.
The exhibit includes a QR code which will link to the collection of narratives in the UMN-Morris archives as well as to additional resources on the Uniting Cultures/Uniendo Culturas website (the webpage formatting for this is still being completed; currently the code links to Google Drive folders). A brochure is being created to accompany the exhibit; it will include a description of the overarching project, more details about the process for collecting the stories, and the QR code link to the narratives and supplemental resources.
Recipient: St. James Public Schools
Funded amount: $10,000
Project Details
NOVEMBER Grants Open House
November 7 - 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 »
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This week's blog post is from the Scott County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
As I Remember: Tricks, not Treats!
In school days of long ago, one Halloween Day came around when the boys were aching for some excitement and decided to go out for the evening and celebrate as best we could. After school we practiced football until dark, and then Halloween took over. We walked down to the brewery and there we saw a wagon near an open well. We removed the top of the well and dismantled the wagon into small sections and dropped them into the well. Then we replaced the cover of the well and left for other fun and excitement. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from MinneCulture. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
The Domed (and Doomed) Minnesota Experimental City
In 1973, Athlestan Spilhaus, a scientist and the former Dean of Technology at the University of Minnesota, envisioned a 21st century. His grand scheme included a self-sufficient domed city. He raised a million dollars in seed money from investors to lay the groundwork for the Minnesota Experimental City (MXC).
Unfortunately, no one ever asked the people of Aitkin and Cass counties, whose homes would be sacrificed to build the MXC, if they wanted a city dropped on top of them. Listen to podcast»
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Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
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Image used with permission. From the collections of the Nobles County Historical Society.
Submit your history organization's news and events to localhistorynews@mnhs.org.
Presentation: (RESCHEDULED) Grave Discoveries-An Introduction to Mortuary Archaeology
October 24 @ 6 to 7 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Explore the fascinating world of mortuary archaeology, where they uncover ancient burial practices to understand past societies' beliefs, rituals, and social structures, alongside ethical considerations. Cost: Free members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »
Halloween Family Fun Day at the Museum
October 26 @ 12 to 4 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - All kids dressed in costume will receive a treat bag. Activities include a pumpkin Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, and Coloring Activities. For more information, contact the Lyon County Museum at 507-537-6580. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Presentation: Wupji Unveiled-Exploring Kashubian Vampires and Their Role in Understanding Illness and Crime
October 30 @ 6 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society and the Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum - Take a look at the Kashubian version of the myth of the vampire. Jeff Turkowski, director of the Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum will present on Kashubian vampires. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Veterans Day Luncheon and Presentation on the Attack at Pearl Harbor
November 9 @ 1 pm - Mendota: Sibley Historic Site - Visitors will enjoy a luncheon followed by historian Frank Sachs discussing the events leading to and consequences of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. Hosted by the Dakota County Historical Society. Cost: $35 members or Veterans/$40 nonmembers. Learn more »
Veterans' Day Film Festival - A Salute To Veterans
November 11 @ 4 to 8 pm - Little Falls: Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum - 30-minute MN documentaries developed with input from the Morrison County Veteran Service Office. Boys of Bataan; Dedicated to Care: LTC Hortense McKay; Night Wings: WWII OSS Ops; Frozen in Time: The Vietnam War; Resolute: MN Stories from Kabul 2021; and Gen John Vessey, Jr: Cold War Soldier & Statesman. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Book Launch: Art and Artifact: Murals from the Minneapolis Uprising
November 13 @ 6 pm - Minneapolis: Minneapolis Central Library and the Katherine E. Nash Gallery - Celebrate the book launch of "Art and Artifact: Murals From the Minneapolis Uprising," the catalog accompanying an exhibition of murals created in Minneapolis and St. Paul after the murder of George Floyd. The event will feature a 1-hour program of featured speakers and be followed by 15 minutes for Q&A. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Author Presentation: It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’s Quest for Freedom
November 15 @ 6 to 7 pm - Mendota: Sibley Historic Site - In 1860, Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman from Mississippi, escaped her enslavers while traveling through Minnesota and eventually secured her freedom through legal appeal. In his book, It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’s Quest for Freedom, Dr. Christopher P. Lehman uncovers the story of her forty-two-year-long struggle to gain freedom. Hosted by the Dakota County Historical Society. Cost: $15 members/$20 nonmembers. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
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Highlighted Museum: Pottery Museum of Red Wing, operated by the Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation, Red Wing, MN.
Join us at one of the Minnesota Historical Society's FREE Local History Workshops in Minnesota, where you can learn how to edit Wikipedia, share your community's local history, show relevancy, and promote your museum/organization.
Whether you're curious about how information gets added to Wikipedia or want to find new ways to share your community's history, this workshop will boost your confidence in editing the world's largest encyclopedia. In this workshop you will also learn how to use AI to help you write your Wikipedia articles and how Wikipedia can help your museum. The cost is free, and lunch is provided, but registration is required. Learn more »
Workshop Agenda
Will AI Replace Me?
October 25 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Open Copyright Education Advisory Network (OCEAN) -
Are you working on an AI project in your library, archive or museum? Do your projects touch upon rights issues? Join our panelists to hear about their projects, their potential outcomes and whether AI has the authority and the power to actually replace those of us and what the rights issues may be in their development. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Learning to Look and Looking to Learn: A Workshop on Visual Literacy
October 25 @ 2 to 6 pm (CT) - Online: Visual Resources Association - This workshop aims to equip participants with the skills and tools to develop and implement visual literacy instruction within their professional practice both in person and using online platforms such as Zoom. Cost: $50 members/$65 non-members. Learn more »
Cemetery Preservation Basics
October 30 at 2 pm - Bemidji & Online: Beltrami County History Center - Join Jason Harpe, Director of Cemetery Conservation for Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., for an illustrated talk focused on the fundamentals of cemetery preservation and best practices in photography and documentation. This presentation is designed for individuals, families, non-profits, and municipalities interested in preserving historic cemeteries. Presented by the American Association of State and Local History. Key topics will include: Developing preservation plans for historic cemeteries; Conserving grave markers and assessing trees and monuments; Site maintenance strategies; and more. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Inventorying Collections for Museums
October 30 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts - A Preservation Specialist at CCAHA will walk through the steps of a museum inventory and show you how to tweak your process based on the inventory's purpose. She will also briefly discuss what to do when you encounter an item that needs a little extra attention, including objects with no provenance or record, objects containing hazardous materials, objects you want to deaccession, and more. In the coming months, we will be following this webinar with one specific to archival inventories, as well as a deeper dive on dealing with unexpected and/or troublesome situations. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Interpreting Energy at Museums and Historic Sites
November 7 @ 2 pm - (CT) Online: American Association for State and Local History - Dr. Leah Glaser, author of Interpreting Energy at Museums and Historic Sites, will discuss how interpreting historical energy use at museums and historic sites can offer insights into contemporary energy issues and inspire a reevaluation of our energy practices and policies. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »
Call for Conference Session Proposals
Planning for the 2025 Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Conference in White Bear Lake, MN is underway! In order to have another successful conference, MALHM is soliciting session proposals. This is a chance to share your knowledge and experiences with peers from across the state. Sessions will take place on April 23 & 24, 2025. Submit proposals by Tuesday, November 6. Learn more »
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Fellowships
October 28 - (Deadline): Gilder Lehrman Institute provides annual short-term research fellowships to doctoral candidates, college and university faculty at every rank, and independent scholars working in the field of American history. Learn more »
Community Deep Mapping Institute Fellowships
November 22 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - Applications are being accepted for the new Community Deep Mapping Institute and are seeking to create a diverse group of fellows including students, early career to senior scholars, professionals in history and heritage who work with public audiences such as public historians, interpreters, and those who work in museums, parks, historic sites/houses. Accepted fellows will participate in a hybrid twelve-month virtual and in-person institute funded by the NEH. Learn more »
The Storyteller Initiative
December 1 - (Deadline): Voice of Witness - A new funded fellowship program from that supports artists, oral historians, documentarians, and storytellers of all kinds from historically marginalized communities. VOW will assist participants to plan, develop, and activate a project of their choosing. While the projects do not need to be presented in oral history form, the work should be rooted in oral history methods and ethical storytelling. Learn more »
Scholarly Editions and Translations Grants
December 4 - (deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - This grant program supports the preparation of editions and translations of pre-existing texts and documents of value to the humanities that are currently inaccessible or available in inadequate editions. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Corcoran funds historical school repair
Crow River News — The Corcoran City Council approved a payment of $72,000 to the North Hennepin Pioneer Society for repairs and replacements on the Burschville School roof and chimney. The request for funds came from Bonnie Maue, a member of the North Hennepin Pioneer Society. Charitable gambling funds will be used to cover the costs, not money from the city’s general fund. Continue reading »
Wanda Gag House
KSMQ Public TV — The Wanda Gag House in New Ulm, Minnesota. Watch video »
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Featured BookWe Miss You, George Floyd by Shannon Gibney, Illustrations by Leeya Rose Jackson. University of Minnesota Press. Launch Event |
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