Local History News: September 20, 2023

Field Note

As part of the Minnesota Historical Society's partnership with Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps, Local History Services staff had the opportunity to visit the Mt. Hope Cemetery site to see the ongoing restoration work. In the main picture, the Corps can be seen re-erecting and repairing a damaged obelisk, using a process called anastylosis. This technique involves the careful reassembly of a ruined monument or building, incorporating new materials to restore its former glory. The accompanying inset picture shows a broken table stone being prepared for repair.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Grants Office Webinar: The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
September 21 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: The SOI Standards are at the center of preservation decisions for the grant program. The purpose of the Standards is to provide guidance to historic building owners, building managers, preservation consultants, architects, contractors, and project reviewers prior to beginning work on historic properties. The Standards cover four kinds of treatments: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction, and this webinar will discuss each in turn. We will cover what they are, which Standards may work better for different scenarios, and how they inform grant applications for historic property work. 
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬ PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

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 Anoka County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Behind the scenes: Exhibit Design (or, how the historic sausage is made)
When you visit the ACHS exhibit gallery, you may spend a half hour enjoying the displays—maybe an hour if you read everything. It looks polished, logical, and arranged nicely for you to understand the information presented. You might skip something you’re not interested in, spend more time on something that catches your eye, or even look something up on your phone to bring more depth to your experience. You chit-chat with the folks at the front desk, maybe leave a donation (thank you!), and head off to the rest of your day. Hopefully, a tidbit sticks in your mind, and it comes up in conversation with someone down the road, and you put in a good word for us (also, thank you!). Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Remembering Rollie - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• The Fremad Association - Pope County Museum
• Introducing: The 106 Group DEI Initiative - 106 Group
• MDL Opens the 2023-2024 Project Year - Minnesota Digital Library News
• Notes from the Secretary - Danish American Center
• Annual Report - Maplewood Area Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from Pine City Area Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

Pine City History Hunt Site 1
The Pine City depot was destroyed by a train derailment of eight cars full of coal and fuel oil. The fire completely destroyed the depot. The heroic story of the actions of a station employee, town marshal and firefighters is told here. Watch Video »

More MN Tube posts

• Engaging students on Native American topics - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
• What’s in a Name Part 4: Bald Eagle Lake and Otter Lake - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
• The Evolving Practice of Racial Exclusion: How White Minnesota Residents Adapted to State and Federal Court Decisions and Legislation During the 20th Century - Minnesota State Law Library
• History of the Pipestone County Star - Pipestone County Historical Society
• The Mayowood Painting - History Center of Olmsted County
• History of the Hedstrom Family and the Family Sawmill Business - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• The Barrett Ranch - Stevens County Historical Society

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Supervisor, History Day - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Director, Tweed Museum of Art - University of Minnesota Duluth, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN 
• Registrar, Tweed Museum of Art - University of Minnesota Duluth, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN
• Executive Director - Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee, MN
• Public Engagement Coordinator - Rethos, St. Paul, MN
• Historian - St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN
• Custodial and Events Set-up Supervisor - American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
• Visitor Experience Assistant Supervisor - The Works, Bloomington, MN
• Visitor Experience Staff - The Works, Bloomington, MN

REGIONAL

• Statewide Engagement Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Corporate Partnership Officer - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI
• Associate Curator of Programming - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
• Executive Director - Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg, WI
• Digitization Coordinator & Registrar - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Development Assistant - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 
• Head of Interpretation - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 
• Support Group Administrator - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Senior Registrar - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Director of Youth & Family Programs - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
• Development Officer for Institutional Giving - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 
• Custodian - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Senior Manager of Public Programs & Interpretation - Edith Farnsworth House, Plano, IL
• Site Superintendent II - Fort De Chartres Historic Site, Prairie Du Rocher, IL
• Curator of Education for Art & History - Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
• Archivist - Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL
• Mid-level Architectural Historian - Stantec, Chicago, IL
• Curator - Johnson County Museum of History, Franklin, IN
• Senior Registrar (Museum Registrar), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Director of Curatorial Affairs (Museum Leader) - Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Curator of Cultural Heritage (Museum Curator) - Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Local History and Museum Specialist - Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron, OH
• Photograph Conservator - Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, PA
• Archives Technician - National Archives and Records Administration, Kansas City, MO
• Contractor for US 250th Programming Handbook - American Association for State and Local History, United States/Remote
• Program Officer for Revitalization Services - Main Street America, National Trust for Historic Preservation, United States/Remote
• Admissions Attendant - Manitoba Children's Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Guest Services Interpreter - Manitoba Children's Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• YCW Program Officer - Canadian Museums Association, Ottawa, ON or remote
• Writer & Interpretive Planner - Royal Tyrrell Museum - Drumheller, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Digital Archive Intern - International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Washington, D.C.
• Community Identification Project Intern - Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, Bainbridge Island, WA

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

Presentation: Finding the Law
September 19 @ 7 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Time and time again, we’re told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Judy G. Russell, The "Legal Genealogist," will address that challenge. Learn more »

Event: Open Mic Night
September 19 @ 7 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Bring your talent and tell your story! Music, Poetry, Prose, Storytelling, Comedy. Tell your story about YOUR place in Stearns County. Are you a newcomer? Were you born and raised? Do you have a story of a special corner of this community? Please note that there are often stories and perspectives that can be uncomfortable. Hold space for this type of exchange, respecting others' experiences. All are welcome. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Civil War Roundtable
September 21 @ 7 pm - Northfield: Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable - Tamara Thayer will present on her Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother from Fredericks, MD. Grandmother defied the Confederacy by shaking the Union Stars and Strips flag in front of General Stonewall Jackson. For more information call 507-459-3140.

Workshops: New Genealogy Workshop Series 
September 23 to December 9 - Chisholm:  Minnesota Discovery Center - A new genealogy workshop series aimed at helping people connect to their storied pasts through genealogical research. Cost: $15 per workshop. Learn more » 

• September 23: Genealogy 101 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
• October 12: Ancestry.com – 6 to 8 pm
• November 4: Census records, immigration records, and naturalization records – 10:30 am to 2:30 pm  
• November 18: Family Tree Maker software - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
• November 30: Organizing your family research – 6 to 7 pm
• December 9: Displaying, sharing, and publishing your family history – 10:30 am to 11:30 pm

Tour: Skalbekken Park
September 23 @ 2 to 4 pm - Sacred Heart: Sacred Heart Area Historical Society - Take a guided tour of Renville County's Skalbekken Park. Meet at the shelter by the Minnesota River. Bring your wheels to see the sites. You will hear stories of the Log Cabin, Amigo Riders, Trails, and old sawmill. Finish off the day with desserts and beverages. For more information call 320-765-2274.

Event: Cambodian Heritage Celebration
September 23 @ 6 to 10 pm - St. Paul: Minnesota Humanities Center - Join us for the first Cambodian Heritage Day as we celebrate the beauty of the Cambodian Minnesota community and its complex culture. This event features an evening of performances, music, food, and history. Location: MN History Center. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: Finds from the Johnson Boat Works Archaeological Dig
September 25 @ 6 to 7 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society - In May of 2013 the WBLAHS conducted a public archaeology event at the former site of the Johnson Boat Works before it was developed. Join us to see some of the unusual items found on site and what they may tell us about that location. Location: White Bear Lake Library. Cost: Free.  Learn more »

Event: A Night at the History Center
September 27 @ 6 to 9 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County History Center - This exciting evening of live music, delicious food and entertaining History Center exhibitions is in conjunction with the PreserveMN 2023 conference being held in Mankato from September 27-29. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the fascinating History Center exhibits including the new “Music and Memories: A Look Back at the Mankato Music Scene,” listen to live music by the local band Bee Balm Fields, and enjoy the culinary delights of local food truck Pizza Karma. Cost: $15. Learn more »

MN Writers Series: Break Point - Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX
September 28 @ 5 to 7 pm - St. Cloud: Join author Sheri Brenden who will have a conversation with her sister, Peg Brenden, one of the St. Cloud student athletes behind the groundbreaking 1972 federal court case that took on the unequal system of school athletics nationwide. The event will take place in the former high school gym, now converted into St. Cloud city council chambers. Location: St. Cloud City Hall. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Presentation: When Minnehaha Flowed with Whiskey
September 28 @ 12 - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Historian and author Karen Cooper explores the lost history of Minnehaha Falls when people went there to turn a profit and raise a little ruckus. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Opening reception: The Art of Quilting: Celebrating 40 Years of the Winona Area Quilt Guild
September 29 @ 4 to 6 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - The Historical Society has strong ties to the Winona Area Quilt Guild. The Quilt Guild was founded in September 1983 as an offshoot of the first Quilt Show that was organized and held in the museum. The exhibit features work from current guild members. For more information call 507-454-2723.

Tour: Going Out, Coming In: LGBTQ+ Stories from the Twin Cities
September 29 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Telling Queer History - Take a guided walking tour of LGBTQIA+ community spaces in Downtown Minneapolis. Hear the stories of queer resistance, love, and identity formation amid the evolution of the neighborhood through the 20th century. The tour includes about 2 miles of moderately-paced walking. It starts and ends at Mill City Museum. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting, North St. Paul, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

Translation in Museums: Tips and Tricks to Get it Right
September 21 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Texas Historical Commission -  Led by a professional translator, learn how the translation process works, the different services offered by translation providers, and the most common timing and pricing for translation projects. She will also provide you with tips and tricks on how to find good translators and talk about the benefits/downsides of working with individuals vs. translation agencies. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Demystifying Archival Supplies
September 25 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog: Archivists & Historians - This session will cover the fundamentals of stabilizing various types of archival materials and decipher the conservation vocabulary essential for purchasing supplies. Gain valuable insights into selecting the right materials to properly house your collections and receive expert advice on crafting your own enclosures. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Class: Deconstruction Tax Deductions: Environmentally Friendly Tax Policy
September 27 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Rethos - This class teaches commercial and residential Real Estate Agents the differences between deconstruction and demolition of old buildings. Commercial buyers who plan to remodel, flip, or remove a structure can benefit financially from deconstruction through tax deductions. Realtors will learn the ins and outs of tax policy concerning deconstruction so that they can better advise their clients. In this new class from Rethos, agents will learn the differences between demolition and deconstruction, the finances of deconstruction, tax deduction appraisals, valuations of donated materials, valuation methodology, and all of the steps to find deconstruction and tax specialists to help remove and donate reusable materials. Cost: Free for general public/$20 per Realtor (1 CE Credit). Learn more » 

How to Give an Inclusive Presentation
September 28 @ 10:30 to 11:30 am (CT) - Online: The Southeastern Museums Conference - Learn about better practices for delivering an in-person (or virtual) presentation. These skills and tips can be integrated into all types of presentations, such as lectures, programs, workshops, and more. This program will focus on audio descriptions, intentional pauses, slide designs, and more. Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers.  Learn more »

Delivering Employee Feedback
September 28 @ 9:30 to 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - In this two-hour training, you will learn and practice delivering feedback in a way that partners with your staff and builds in accountability at the same time. Giving feedback to employees is one of most effective ways to build morale and to support staff to learn, grow, and succeed. Cost: $45 members/$65 nonmembers. 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. We 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 »

Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens Workshop
September 28 & 29 @ 12 to 4 pm (CT): Online: American Association for State and Local History - Based on the book Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites, this two-day virtual workshop will cover pedagogically-sound and emotionally-aware techniques for developing school programs on the subject of enslavement and strategies for training and caring for the staff implementing the programs. Cost: $100 members/$200 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• A new free online resource, the Museum Social Impact Toolkit, shares tips, resources, and a validated social impact survey for museums to measure their own social impact, independently - Utah Division of Arts & Museums in Partnership with Thanksgiving Point.

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Awards for Graduate students 
October 1 through December 31 - (multiple deadlines): Organization of American Historians is accepting applications for multiple awards for graduate students. Learn more »

National Council on Public History Book Award
November 1 - (deadline): National Council on Public History - A $1,000 award for the best book about or growing out of public history published within the previous two calendar years (2021 and 2022). Learn more »

Residential Fellowship Competition
October 5 - (deadline): National Humanities Center - Scholars can apply for year- or semester-long fellowships or, if they work at one of the Center’s sponsoring institutions, may be eligible to participate in our month-long summer residency program. Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent scholarly credentials. Mid-career and senior scholars are encouraged to apply. Emerging scholars with a strong record of peer-reviewed work may also apply. Learn more »

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
November 15 - (deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (AAHC program) is designed to build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums.​ Learn more »

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program
November 15 - (deadline): Institute of Museum and Library Services - The Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (NANH) grant program is designed to support Indian tribes and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians in sustaining indigenous heritage, culture, and knowledge. The program supports projects such as exhibitions, educational services and programming, workforce professional development, organizational capacity building, and collections stewardship.​ Learn more »

News

Call for Conference Session Proposals
Planning for the 2024 Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Conference in Duluth, 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 24 & 25, 2024. Submit proposals by Tuesday, October 31. Learn more »

Groundbreaking ceremony for military and veterans museum held at Camp Ripley
KSTP – A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony for a world-class military and veterans museum at Camp Ripley was held Sunday afternoon in Little Falls. “I haven’t seen anything like it in the state or in the country,” shared Randal Dietrich, executive director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley, ahead of the ceremony. Continue reading »

Lions, tigers, taxidermy, arsenic, political squabbling and the Endangered Species Act. Oh my.
Niagra Gazette – ...With protective gear, taxidermy can be moved safely despite arsenic, said Jennifer Menken, the public collections manager at the Bell Museum of Natural History. Her institution moved 10 historic taxidermy dioramas to its new space at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus about five years ago... Continue reading »

Masonic Lodge document restored
Mankato Freepress – Decades ago, a Mankato Mason decided to put into storage a historic document that empowers his fraternal organization to initiate new members. The yellowing parchment was carefully rolled up and placed inside a metal tube. Current members of Lodge 12 raised concerns about the continued safety of its 1857 official approval by the then-grand master of all Masons. Continue reading »

Learning about Stillwater history through QR codes is latest ‘Great Idea’
Pioneer Press – Stillwater, known as the “birthplace of Minnesota,” is famous for its history, but it can be difficult to envision how and where historical events took place. Stillwater resident and history buff Matt Thueson is working to change that. Thueson has come up with a plan to install QR codes – square matrix barcodes that can be scanned using a smartphone – in and around Stillwater that would link to historic photos and information about the site. Continue reading »

Holding on to History: Finnish heritage lives on at Wirtanen Farm
Northern News Now – Horse drawn wagons still roll across the fertile fields of Wirtanen farm 119 years after it was founded. Eli Wirtanen emigrated from the Grand Duchy of Finland in the Russian Empire to homestead forty acres in Markham in 1904. Markham residents still have memories of the old bachelor today. Continue reading »

African Culture Night Performances
Chaska Community Television – Chaska Human Rights Commission presents the African Culture Night. Performances were by the Somali Museum of Minnesota and Mwanyagetinge, a fashion show, educational booths, temporary henna tattoos, and there were a variety of food to sample. Held at the Chaska Event Center. Watch video »

2023 Lake Region Threshing Show Getting Started
Carl Digre – This is only the first video of many from the Lake Region Threshers Show in Dalton, Minnesota.
Watch video »

Featured Book Plums or Nuts: Ojibwe Stories of Anishinaabe Humor, by Larry Amik Smallwood and Michael Migizi Sullivan, Sr. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event Date: September 22 @ 6 to 8:30 pm Location: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post	Featured Article Minnesota History Sweet Harmonies from Little Wooden Boxes: Mandolin playing in Minneapolis and St. Paul Volume 57, Issue 5, Year	Featured Article MNopedia La Prensa de Minnesota 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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