Field Note

Local History Service's Outreach Conservator, Megan Brakob Narvey, presented "Saving Your Stuff: how to care for art, heirlooms, and personal collections" to a room full of audience members at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall, MN. Attendees learned all about the "ten agents of deterioration" and how to preserve and protect the things you value. The presentation was followed by an open question and answer period. Megan also provided recommendations for how to find additional resources at the event. 

Interested in learning how to "Saving Your Stuff?" Attend one of Megan's presentations next week in her upcoming whirlwind "Save Your Stuff" tour. Any organization interested in hosting a "Saving Your Stuff" presentation, get in touch with Megan at megan.brakobnarvey@mnhs.org to set one up.

• September 16, 2 pm - Norman County Historical Society, Ada, MN
• September 17, 6:30 pm - Polk County Historical Society, Crookston, MN
• September 18, 2 pm - Greenbush Community Center, Greenbush, MN
• September 19, 6 pm - Brink Center, Baudette, MN
• September 20, 12 pm - Beltrami County Museum, Bemidji, MN

Local History News Flys the Coop Next Week

Photo from MNHS Collections
Local History News will not be published next Wednesday, September 18, as it spends the week galivanting over rooftops looking for trouble (or pigeons).
Local History News will home in into your inbox on Wednesday, September 25. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, October 11, 2024.

Grants Office Webinar: Heritage Partnership Grants in 2025 can be your Second Chance
September 19 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Once a year, the Heritage Partnership Grant program helps two or more Minnesota organizations collaborate. This event is a great opportunity for Minnesota organizations to learn how to collaborate on history-oriented projects and potentially secure funding for their initiatives.

The webinar will cover how to repurpose large unfunded applications for the Partnership program, which could benefit those who have previously applied for funding but were not successful. The pre-application deadline for the Heritage Partnership grants is January 17, 2025, so participants will have the chance to gather insights and strategies to strengthen their applications.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬  PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

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

Sedan School or Starbuck School?
An astute PCHS member, Jack Palmer, recently alerted us to a mislabeled photograph. Handwriting at the top of the photo identified it as the Starbuck School. Mr. Palmer is correct to point out the error. He strongly suggested it is the Sedan school.
We took a closer look. Though the roof is different, the window placement is identical. The light colored masonry sill course is at the basement window level in the “Starbuck” school, but directly below the first floor windows of the Sedan school. We can conclude that the photos represent two schools. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Chemistry Building/Smith Hall University of Minnesota - Kraus-Anderson
• Clock ticking for Hibbing city hall restoration - MN Brown
• Sheep and the first island - Paynesville Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Ramsey County Historical Society & White Bear Lake Area Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Jackson Street Roundhouse & Shops – St. Paul Minnesota - Minnesota Bricks
• Prairie Presentation Part 2 - New Prague Area Historical Society
• Inset Valleys: The Key to Unlocking the Red River Valley Story - Minnesota Archaeological Society
• Ozzie Reif – Journey Through Nature: Crossing the Wilderness Using Hand-Made Gear - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk 

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Historic Properties Project Manager - MN History Center
• Facilities Maintenance Technician - Charles Lindbergh House & Museum 

LOCAL

• Collections Manager - Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar, MN
• Program Coordinator - Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, MN
• Cataloging and Processing Archivist - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
• Assistant or Associate Curator of Native American Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Chair of Exhibition Strategy - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Seasonal Retail Associate - The American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
• Experience Guides - American Swedish Institute - Minneapolis, MN
• Lead Gallery Assistant - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Executive Director - African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Development Communications Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Inc., Madison, WI
• Administrative Support Specialist - Rahr-West Art Museum, Manitowoc, WI
• Bilingual (Spanish) Museum Educator - Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Educator II - Bilingual (Spanish) Early Childhood Museum Educator - Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Metadata Technician (term) - The Barack Obama Foundation, Chicago, IL
• Easement and Advocacy Associate - Landmarks Illinois, Chicago, IL
• Senior Manager of School & Family Experiences - Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
• Director of Development - Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN 
• Exhibit Tech - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
• Executive Director - Indianapolis Propylaeum, Indianapolis, IN
• Collections Manager (Museum Registrar) - Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Curator of Black History - McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, Canton, OH
• Marketing Manager - Port Huron Museums, Port Huron, MI
• Digital Archivist - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
• Museum Interpreter - Missouri State Museum, Jeffersossociation of Museumsn City, MO
• Executive Director - Historic Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
• Executive Director - Mid-America All-Indian Museum, City of Wichita, Wichita, KS
• Military or Diplomatic Archivist - Offutt Air Force Base, Threat Management Group, Omaha, NE
• Editor - US Latina & Latino Oral History Journal, Austin, TX

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Gender in Michigan’s Copper Country: Redefining the Keweenaw’s Industrial Frontier Postdoctoral Fellow - National Park Service (NPS) Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Calumet, MI
• Archival Fellow - Detroit Sound Conservancy, Detroit, MI

MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

• Native American Artist-In-Residence Support Intern - MN History Center, St. Paul, MN

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Image used with permission. From the collections of the Preston Historical Society.

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

Performance: Time for Women, 150 Years of Leadership
September 14 and 15 @ 2 pm and 4 pm - History Alive Lanesboro -An original play about strong, notable women and suffragists in SE Minnesota and St. Paul. In two scenes encompassing 1870-1970, audiences witness many stories of struggle for women’s civil and voting rights. Location: St. Mane Theater. Cost: $15. Learn more »

Open House: Golden Jubilee Community Celebration
September 14 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - Founded in 1974, the Society is commemorating fifty years of uncovering, preserving, and sharing our community's vibrant past. Celebrate with at their open house and discover the stories that have shaped Golden Valley through our community partners, museum exhibits, and historic church. Learn more »

Tour: 2024 Duluth Historic Properties Tour
September 15 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Duluth: Duluth Preservation Alliance - Duluth is a city rich with architectural history. That history will be on full display during the Duluth Preservation Alliance’s Annual Historic Properties Tour. Come tour seven historic buildings built between 1891 to 1922. These buildings include four homes, a commercial building, a church, and the Duluth Armory. Cost: $30. Learn more »

Annual Meeting: Morrison County Historical Society - Life & Legacy of the Weyerhaeuser family of Little Falls
September 18 @ 6 pm - Little Falls: Morrison County Historical Society - Pat Sharon, the Chair of the Heritage Preservation Committee for the Friends of Linden Hill, will be giving a presentation offering an insightful look into the Weyerhaeuser family of Little Falls. The Pine Tree Lumber Company was managed by Charles A. Weyerhaeuser and Richard Drew Musser and existed from 1890 until 1920 – when the company closed its doors for good. What do you know about the life of Charles A. Weyerhaeuser, his wife Maud (Moon) Weyerhaeuser, and their children Carl and Sarah Weyerhaeuser? Location: Linden Hill Historic Estate. Cost: $5 members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »

Presentation: Brown Bag History Series on the Federal Music Project
September 19 @ 12 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society - From 1935 to 1943, as part of the New Deal, the Federal Music Project aimed to support musicians in the Great Depression and promote cultural enrichment in the U.S. The presenter will explore the program's goals, its impact on Depression-era music, and its legacy. The presentation will include recordings and live performances from the period, adding an auditory dimension to the historical exploration. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Workshop: Saving Your Stuff: How to Care for Art, Heirlooms, and Personal Collections
September 20 @ 12 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society & North Beltrami
Heritage Center - This workshop will offer key insights into the ten agents of deterioration and practical advice for preserving valuable items. Ideal for collectors, artists, and those with  heirlooms, it aims to teach best preservation practices. The session starts with a detailed presentation, followed by a Q&A period for personalized advice. Participants will also learn where to find further resources. Megan Brakob Narvey, Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, will conduct the workshop. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event: Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association Mini-Symposium
September 21 @ 10 am to 3 pm - Echo: Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association - Presentation by Jeff Williamson, "The Dakota Mission", followed by lunch and a tour of the Wood Lake Battlefield Monument & Battlefield. Location: Rock Valle Church. Email them to RSVP or for more information. 

Event: Autumn in the Village
September 21 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - Guests are invited to a free family-friendly event showcasing historic demonstrations, live music, and interactive activities, with food available for purchase. The Village, with buildings and antique farming equipment dating from the 1850s to the early 1900s, offers a journey back in time. Learn more »

Author Presentation: Minnesota Writers Series: It Took Courage
September 21 @ 1 to 3 pm Minnesota Humanities Center & Blue Earth County Historical Society - Historian Dr. Christopher P. Lehman will discuss his new book, “It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’ Quest for Freedom", which examines the life of Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman from Mississippi who, in 1860, appealed for her freedom before a judge in Minnesota and won. Dr. Lehman will be joined by educator and equity thought leader, Stacy Wells, who will moderate the event. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Tour: Historical Home Tour Returns to Freeborn County
September 28 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Albert Lea: Freeborn County Historical Museum - This self-guided tour features six historical homes in Freeborn County, and you will be able to visit the houses in any order you choose, and at your own pace. Follow along on social media to see historic pictures, and learn about the homes before the tour. Cost: members $35/nonmembers $45. Learn more »

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

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Pine River Depot Museum. Operated by the Heritage Group North, Inc. Pine River, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

2024 Wisconsin Federation of Museums Conference
September 20, 2024 - Green Bay, WI: Wisconsin Federation of Museums - The theme for this year's annual conference is Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future: Navigating Change in Museums. Location: Neville Public Museum. Learn more »

2024 Iowa Museum Association Conference
September 23 to 24, 2024 - Council Bluffs, IA: Iowa Museum Association - The theme for this year's annual conference is Museums: Driving Connection. Learn more »

2024 Association of South Dakota Museums Conference
September 23 to 25, 2024 - Huron, SD: Association of South Dakota Museums - The theme for this year's annual conference is Sparking Innovation in your Museum. Location: Crossroads Hotel. Learn more »

2024 Mountain-Plains Museums Association Conference 
October 6 to 8, 2024, Bismarck, ND: Mountain-Plains Museums Association - Location: Bismarck Event Center. Learn more »

2024 Local History & Historic Preservation Conference
October 16 to 18, 2024 - Appleton, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society - The theme for this year's annual conference is History in Action for Thriving Communities. Location: Hilton Appleton Paper Valley. Learn more »

2024 Illinois Association of Museums Conference
October 23 to 25, 2024 - Joliet, IL: Illinois Association of Museums - The theme for this year's annual conference is Healthy Museums & Healthy Communities. Location: Joliet Area Historical Museum. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• The race to save our online lives from a digital dark age We’re making more data than ever. What can—and should—we save for future generations? And will they be able to understand it?- MIT Technology Review

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

FAIC/Samuel H. Kress Conservation Publication Fellowships 
November 1 - (Deadline): These fellowships are meant to improve the quality and quantity of publications in the field of conservation by encouraging conservation professionals to prepare publishable manuscripts. Learn more »

FAIC/Tru Vue Conservation and Exhibition Grants
November 1 - (Deadline): These grants support projects in glazing applications for the preservation and exhibition of museum and library collections. Learn more »

Publishing Historical Records in Collaborative Digital Editions (Second Deadline)
November 7 - (Deadline): The National Historical Publications and Records Commission - This grant supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Archaeology Project - Finnish Workers Hall
Discover The Range - Minnesota Discovery Center Archaeology crew at the dig site of the former Finnish Workers Hall. They are in talks of doing more public dig events for history lovers to get elbow deep in archaeology! Watch video »

Duluth's Veterans Memorial Hall closed after mysterious 'water incursion'
Duluth News-Tribune — On the night of July 10, water rained into a gallery and research center at the St. Louis County Depot. Though historic artifacts were saved, rebuilding will cost upward of $35,000. Read more »

Dieter Barn to open at Pioneer Village on Turkey Day weekend
Worthington Globe — The Nobles County Historical Society will celebrate the opening of its Farm Heritage Center at Worthington's Pioneer Village on Sunday, Sept. 15. The building’s 2 p.m. grand opening will coincide with a car show also planned at Pioneer Village from 1 to 3 p.m. Read more »

Featured Book Prairie Daughters: The Art and Lives of Annie Stein and Orabel Thortvedt, by Mark Peihl, Markus Krueger, and Lisa Vedaa Read about it at the Lake Region Arts Council website. Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.	Featured Article Minnesota History Printer's Apprentice; The Making of a Frontier Editor Volume 36, Issue 6, 1959	Featured Article MNopedia Winona Public Library 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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