Local History News: September 6, 2023

Field Note

Staff from Heritage Preservation, Planning, & Outreach were excited to participate in the Annual Northfield Rethos Main Street accreditation event this year. The event showcased the town's commitment to creating a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly downtown area. One of the strategies they periodically employ is the use of traffic barriers to reroute vehicles during special events, such as festivals or markets, allowing pedestrians to freely explore the streets and connect with the heart of the community.

By temporarily redirecting traffic away from the western edge of Bridge Square, a seamless connection is created between the square and the nearby river. This not only improved accessibility but also enhanced the overall experience for locals and visitors alike. It provided an opportunity for people to leisurely stroll along the square, enjoy the charming shops and restaurants, and take in the scenic views of the river.

Heritage Preservation Grants

SEPTEMBER Grants Open House
September 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 »

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, October 13, 2023.

From the Blog

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

The Fremad Block, an Introduction
The Fremad Building has become familiar to us again with frequent news reports of its condition in recent years. Public decisions made this year will lead to demolition of three business buildings which make up the Fremad Block this summer. Two of those buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation. The “National Register” program is operated by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior and administered in each state by its State Historic Preservation Office. Pope County has eleven properties and one multiple-property district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three of the listed properties have been lost; Lakeside Pavilion, Lowry School, and Minnewaska Hospital. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Collections Spotlight: John Blomquist - American Swedish Institute
• MDL publishes National History Day resource guide on Turning Points - MN Digital Library News
• We cooked a 250-year-old recipe for ‘hodge podge’ - U of MN Libraries
• Ramsey County History Volume 58, Number 2: Summer 2023 - Ramsey County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

The Rockettes Jacket
We're back with another video showing just what we at HCOC do to Preserve the Mystery!

Our collections manager, Jenna Collins, gives us a look into the vaults on how textiles are preserved for future display and describes what challenges we face when trying to preserve these delicate materials! Watch Video »

More MN Tube posts

• Lyle Mammoth Dig - Freeborn County Historical Museum
• Paul Watzke Shares Arrowheads and Family History - Stevens County Historical Society
• Watergate Recalled: The Minnesota Connections - Minnesota State Law Library
• The Beef Industry - Pipestone County Historical Society
• Remembering Cab and Jean Edwards - Betsy-Tacy Society
• First GTHS Artist in Residence - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Editorial Manager, Journal & Digital Publishing - MN History Center
• Human Resources Generalist - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Accountant - Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
• Visitor Assistant Weekends: Galleries or Box Office - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Associate Director - Todd County Historical Society, Long Prairie, MN
• Administrative Assistant - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Visitor Experience Representative, Casual - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Cataloging Registrar - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Graphic Design and Social Media Specialist - Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA
• Office Manager - National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Curator of Education for Art & History (Curator I) - Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
• Site Superintendent I - Department of Natural Resources, Shawneetown, IL
• Program Developer - Angel Mounds Historic Site, Indiana State Museum, Evansville, IN
• Conservator - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Membership Services Coordinator, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, OH
• Director of Hale Farm & Village - Western Reserve Historical Society, Bath, OH
• Museum Specialist - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
• Assistant, Associate, or Curator of Domestic Life - History Colorado, Denver, CO
• Executive Director - National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY
• Collections Manager - Museum of the Aleutians Association, Unalaska, AK
• Bilingual Learning Facilitator Part-Time - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Bilingual Learning Facilitator Full-Time - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Bilingual Science Communicator - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Hennepin County Library.

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

Presentation: The Grange: A Fraternity of Farmers that Championed Rural America
September 7 @ 2 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Agricultural historian T.J. Malaskee will take attendees on a journey through the long-forgotten history of America’s first fraternity of farmers - the Grange. This radical post-Civil War Era movement pushed for progressive measures to heal the nation through agriculture, education, equality, and social interaction. Cost: $7 members|$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: White Bear’s Notorious Gangsters, Part 1 of 2
September 14 @ 7 pm (CT) - Stillwater and Online: Washington County Heritage Center - The White Bear area was a haven for the 1920s and ‘30s era gangsters who wanted to get away from it all. Learn some gangster lingo while you hear the tales of infamous visitors such as Ma Barker, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, and Baby Face Nelson. Presented by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s Executive Director Sara Hanson. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: The Daytons – A Family Business With a Notable State Impact
September 14 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - History enthusiast David Kuball will share the 140-year endeavors of the Dayton family and how they impacted the citizens of Minnesota through their business undertakings and their politics. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Bear Symbolism in Archeology
September 14 @ 7 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - Dr. David Mather, National Register Archaeologist at the MN State Historic Preservation Office, has worked as a professional archaeologist in Minnesota for more than 30 years  His dissertation research at the University of Minnesota was on the archaeobiology of bears and bear ceremonialism in Minnesota. He will introduce the different species of bears around the world with examples of ancient cultural traditions and beliefs about them. Studies of bear remains and artifacts from Minnesota and elsewhere illustrate how archaeological research can tell us about the complex relationships between people and bears in the past. Cost: Free for members|$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Event: Autumn in the Village
September 14 @ 12 to 4 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - Come to Freeborn County Historical Village for Autumn in the Village! Journey back in time to celebrate the start of autumn with historic demonstrations throughout the Village. There will be games and hands-on activities for all to participate in. Kids can even shell their own bag of popcorn to take home and make crafts. Learn more »

Tour: 2023 Annual Historic Properties Tour
September 17 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Duluth Preservation Alliance - Go on a captivating tour of historic buildings that showcase the architectural beauty of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore six magnificent structures, including four beautifully preserved homes, a charming commercial building, and a picturesque church. You'll have the freedom to explore these properties in any order you desire. Don't miss this unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the rich history of the community. Cost: $30. Learn more »

Tour: Historic Water Street
September 16 @ 11 am & 1 pm - Excelsior: Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society - Walking tours of Excelsior’s historic Water Street presented by historian Scott D. McGinnis. Cost: $5. Learn more » 

Continuing Education

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

Learning from Place: Bdote
September 9 @ 8:30 am to 2:30 pm - St. Paul: K-12 educators will receive 5 clock hours. Learning from Place: Bdote is an immersive experience that brings participants to sites of great significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Participants will learn from Dakota community members through stories and histories that have often been left out of our state’s history. Location: Indian Mounds Regional Park. Cost: $75. Learn more »

Risk-based Approaches to Preventive Conservation: Which to choose for my situation?
September 12 @ 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Study -  Risk assessment and management approaches to preventive conservation were first suggested almost 35 years ago. Since then, numerous approaches have been developed, applied, and published. Three of the better known approaches include Quiskscan, ABC, and the Cultural Property Risk Analysis Model (CPRAM). This presentation briefly describes each of these three approaches and their strengths and limitations. Armed with this understanding, institutions and collection care professionals can decide which approach(es) they believe will be most beneficial for their situation. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Hierarchies All Around: Addressing Class, Socioeconomic Status, and Rank
September 12 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - This workshop helps organizations and institutions understand how social class and socioeconomic status can affect their clients, members, patients, students, and employees – and how they can work against unnecessary hierarchies, allowing them to function both more equitably and more effectively. Cost: $45 members/$65 nonmembers. Learn more »

Researching Between the Lines
September 18 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog: Archivists & Historians - This webinar promises to expand your methodological toolkit and inspire you to think outside the box when delving into historical and cultural investigations. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your research capabilities and discover new avenues of exploration. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Connecting to Collections - Preservation for Whom?
September 21 @ 7 pm (CT) - Online: Ramsey County Historical Society - Learn how to preserve your personal collections like a museum conservator, with Christopher Rico, M.HSPH., a Historian, Archaeologist, and Conservator.  He’ll talk about some of the social and cultural issues connected to institutional collecting; how these issues affect different communities; and how this has led to the growth of grassroots community preservation initiatives and the sharing of resources and knowledge in preservation techniques. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Treasurer/Finance Committee: Right People, Right Roles
September 28 @ 9 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - This session is geared toward helping new treasurers and finance committee members (or current ones looking for a refresher) be successful in their role. They will cover tools and practices that can help board treasurers develop finance skills, ask strategic financial questions, lead board development in finance, and keep the numbers connected to the mission. Cost: $75. Learn more »

In-person Seminar: Section 4(f) Compliance for Historic Properties
October 3 & 4 - Milwaukee, WI: National Preservation Institute -  Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966 is triggered by funding or approval from a U.S. DOT agency for a project that proposes "use" of historic property or land from a publicly owned park, recreation area, or refuge. With a focus on historic properties, examine the stringent approval standards of this substantive law and discuss ways to better integrate and streamline Sections 4(f) and 106 with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Cost: $700/$300 (student). Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Museums as Disaster Responders: A Q&A with Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate - American Alliance of Museums

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Pomeroy Foundation History Grants - Round 3
September 15 - (deadline): William G. Pomeroy Foundation - This foundation funds historical societies with limited resources, professional development for small history organizations, technology upgrades for small history organizations, and celebrations of significant national milestones in American history. However, preference in 2023 will be given to projects that promote awareness of the Pomeroy Foundation’s signature historical marker programs. Regardless of the outcome, all applicants will receive a response within a month of the quarterly deadline. Learn more »

Funds Available for Community Projects
October 2 - (deadline): Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation- This foundation seeks applications for 12 funds supporting community projects in the Twin Ports and surrounding region. Grant priorities include the arts, the environment and other projects supporting and enhancing communities. The foundation provides grants to area nonprofits for work that strengthens communities and improves lives throughout the region. Learn more »

Site Preservation Grant
November 1 - (Deadline): Archaeological Institute of America - Meant for projects that directly preserve archaeological sites and also include public outreach and education components. Learn more »

Museums for America
November 15 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - This program supports museums of all sizes and disciplines to undertake projects that strengthen their ability to serve their public. Project activities may include exhibitions, educational or interpretive programs, digital learning resources, professional development, community debate and dialogue, audience-focused studies, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Learn more »

Inspire! Grants for Small Museums
November 15 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - This is a special initiative of the Museums for America program. It is designed to support small museums of all disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through exhibitions, educational/interpretive programs, digital learning resources, professional development, community debate and dialogue, audience-focused studies, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Learn more »

Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff
November 15 - (Deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - This is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program. It is designed to support projects that use the transformative power of professional development and training to generate systemic change within museums of all types and sizes. Learn more »

Translation Projects
January 18, 2024 - (deadline): National Endowment for the Arts - Through fellowships to published translators, the NEA supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English. Grants are up to $25,000. Learn more »

National Council on Public History Awards
The 2024 awards are now open for nominations. Over $8,000 in award money is available to recognize excellence in the multitude of ways public historians apply their skills to the world around us. Nomination deadlines vary. View all award descriptions and guidelines »

News

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - July content update
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 3,944 new issues and 65,233 new newspaper pages.

Newly publicly available titles & date spans:

• Stillwater daily gazette (Stillwater, Minn.) 1902-1907 added

Featured Book Bonga: A Safe Abode in the Wilderness by Barry Babcock. Lightning Source Inc.	Featured Article Minnesota History The Vermilion Lake Indian School: From Assimilation to Termination Volume 58, Issue 4, 2002-3	Featured Article MNopedia Pipestone Quarry 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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