Field Note

It was a sunny yet cool Autumn Equinox day, and the Minnesota Historical Society was out with the Stearns History Museum at St. Cloud Pride Festival, the concluding event for St. Cloud Pride Week. This Pride Festival also marks the last pride event we will be tabling for the year. We enjoyed our time at all nine Pride Festivals in Greater & Rural Minnesota. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and shared conversations with us and the historical societies that participated with us. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Historic Resources Advisory Committee Large Legacy Grants Meeting
September 26 & 27 - The Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) will meet publicly to discuss and determine their funding recommendations for this year's round of large Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants applications. This year's meeting will be held in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul from 10 am to 4 pm both days. Applicants and the general public are welcome to attend or listen online but are not permitted to participate in the discussion.
Listen to the meeting via live stream:

• September 26:  10 am to 4 pm - Livestream
• September 27:  10 am to 4 pm - Livestream
• 2025 Large applicant list for HRAC

The HRAC discusses applications at a public meeting before advancing a list of recommendations to the Minnesota Historical Society Executive Council for final approval. Please note that HRAC sets their own agenda, and discusses the projects in whatever order they decide on during the meeting. Therefore, the Grants Office staff cannot predict when a certain project will be discussed. 

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

OCTOBER Grants Open House
October 3 - 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 »

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

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

Lowertown, North Mankato 
The Minnesota River Valley was formed about 13,000 years ago when Lake Agassiz broke through a barrier at Big Stone Lake on the border with South Dakota. The result was the largest freshwater lake in North America suddenly draining south through what must have been a depression or existing shallow valley created by earlier glacial melting. As the flow roared past the eventual site of Mankato, it turned north due to a bedrock obstruction, racing to the current city of St. Paul where it joined the Mississippi drainage system. The rapid drainage carved a river valley through glacial deposits two to four miles wide and hundreds of feet deep. After the lake drained, the scoured-out valley allowed the remaining much smaller river to meander back and forth in the valley for over 10,000 years, regularly changing its bed location, especially in times of flooding. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Clock ticking for Hibbing city hall restoration - Minnesota Brown
• Back in time: German beer flowed in Dutchtown - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Brown County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• History Mystery: Become a Building Whisperer! - History Center of Olmsted County
• Chris Knopf - Friends of the Boundary Waters - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum 
• Hiroko Songer: Immigrant Stories - Immigration History Research Center, U of MN

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Setup Assistant - MN History Center
• Visitor Services Assistant I - Mill City Museum
• Program Manager, Field Trips - MN History Center
• Facilities Manager - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Director - Historic Cook County, Grand Marais, MN
• Museum and Collections Manager - Historic Cook County, Grand Marais, MN
• Executive Director - St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, MN
• Exhibit Developer - Split Rock Studios, Minneapolis, MN
• Program Coordinator - Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, MN
• Collections Manager - Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar, MN
• President & Chief Executive Officer - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Curator - Paramount Center for the Arts, St. Cloud, MN
• Membership Manager - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
• Exhibit Repair Technician - Minnesota Children's Museum - St. Paul, MN
• Visitor Experience Staff - The Works, Bloomington, MN
• Visitor Experience Supervisor - The Works, Bloomington, MN
• Educator, ASL Fluent - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Museum Specialist, Administration - The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, Platteville, WI
• Manager of Education and Community Programs - Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
• Graphic Designer-Contract - Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA (Remote)
• Marketing and Communications Coordinator - SDSU-SD Art Museum, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
• Preparator/Registrar - SDSU-SD Art Museum, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
• Custodian - Siouxland Heritage Museums, Sioux Falls, SD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Graphic Arts Designer - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL
• Site Superintendent 1 - Dixon Springs State Park, Golconda, IL
• Traveling Exhibitions Manager, Sales - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Archives Technician - National Archives and Records Administration, Chicago, IL
• Curatorial Senior Associate - The Obama Foundation, Chicago, IL
• Visitor Services Representative - Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL
• Historic Site Interpreter - Culbertson Mansion, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, New Albany, IN
• State Records Management Liaison - Indiana Archives and Records Administration, State of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN
• Collections Manager - International Women's Air & Space Museum, Cleveland, OH
• Executive Director - Ashland County Historical Society, Ashland, OH
• Director, American Indian Relations - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
• Adult Programs Director - Troy Historic Village, Troy, MI
• Interpretation Manager - Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
• America250MI Program Director - America250MI, Lansing, MI
• Director - Judy & Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, Detroit, MI
• Archives Technician - Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, NARA, Ann Arbor, MI
• Executive Director - Lehigh County Historical Society, Allentown, PA
• Digital Archivist - Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis, MO
• Associate Archivist for Digitization - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Special Collections Curator - Field House Museum, St. Louis, MO
• Data Clerk - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Research Librarian – Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, ON
• George Johnston Museum - Village of Teslin, Teslin, YK

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

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

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

A Nation Takes Place: Navigating Race and Water in Contemporary Art
Now through January 24, 2025 - Winona: Minnesota Marine Art Museum - The exhibition draws together a collection of artwork by 38 artists and from over 20 lending partners to help us comprehend the complexity of America’s formation, a project unthinkable without waterways, conquest, and slave ships. Learn more »

Poster Palooza: Celebrating 50 Years of Andersen Horticultural Library
Now through January 24, 2025 - Chaska: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - This showcase of student creativity and library joy celebrates 50 years of the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. University of Minnesota College of Design students bring the library’s unique collections to life through vibrant posters designed in a surface design course led by Professor James Boyd Brent. Come see the colorful posters that illustrate the fascinating stories behind their books and botanicals. Cost: Included with general daily admission. Learn more »

Mosaic Flowers: Honoring Forgotten Legacies
September 26 @ 6 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Uncover the hidden stories of Rice County's early African American residents (1850-1900) and help create beautiful mosaic flower memorials to honor their legacies. Cost: Free. Learn more »

History of Austin Floods
September 26 @ 12 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Tim Ruzek from the Cedar River Watershed District as he talks about the history of floods in Austin. Learn about the many floods from Austin’s past, including the 20th Anniversary of the record-breaking flood in 2004. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

64th Annual Orphan Train Riders Celebration
September 28 @ 9 to 1:30 pm - Little Falls: Orphan Train Riders of New York - All orphan train riders and their descendants, as well as the general public, are invited to join the celebration, which features speaker Bill Schrankler, whose mother and grandmother both came by orphan train. He will present on the hidden story of the orphan train movement in Minnesota from its beginnings to its climax. Approximately 5,000-6,000 children were sent to Minnesota via the orphan trains, nearly half of whom arrived between 1882 and 1892. In the afternoon, orphan train rider descendants will have the opportunity to tell their rider’s story. Attendees may network with others to find out more. Location: St Francis Center. Cost: $30. Learn more » 

Historic Harvest Fest
September 28 @ 10 am to 1 pm - St Cloud: Stearns History Museum - The Historic Harvest Fest is back. Come on over to the Museum for some fall fun. They will have pumpkin painting, vintage-style carnival games, a petting zoo, a hot apple cider bar, a cake walk, and more. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Writing Workshop Series Session 1: Personal History
October 3, 10, 17, and 24 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Washington County Heritage Center - A special workshop series featuring experienced writers to guide you to creating a fun and meaningful piece of writing! Cost: $100 members/$125 nonmembers. Learn more »

• October 3 - Introduction and Personal History
• October 10 - Childhood Memories
• October 17 - Hometown Stories
• October 24 - Ancestors and Family Stories

Voices From the Past Cemetery Walk 
October 5 & 6 @  12 to 4:30 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Traverse historic Woodlawn Cemetery to sites with community actors portraying people of the past. Each year features different people and a different historical topic. This year, WCHS highlights people associated with local schools, churches, business buildings, hotels, government buildings, organizations, the lumber & grain mills, and a special site about places gone but not forgotten. Cost: $10. Learn more » 

Oktoberfest Beer Tasting at Hay Lake School Museum in Scandia
October 5 @ 4 to 7 pm - Scandia: Washington County Historical Society - This year, the breweries attending are Bent Brewstillery, Bent Paddle Brewery, Castle Danger, Lift Bridge Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Rustic Roots Winery, and more. The beer is just a part of it; in addition, there will be a silent auction. 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: Plainview Area History Center, Plainview, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

SAVE THE DATE/S
Wiki Uff Da! Editing Wikipedia for Absolute Beginners

Oh, you know, if it isn't just the most basic workshop ever needed, "Wikipedia Editing for Absolute Beginners" for those who haven't had the pleasure of diving into that simple process quite yet. Bless their hearts, they're just starting out, so we thought, why not put something together? Because, you know, it's not like it's rocket science or anything, but hey, we're always happy to lend a hand where we can. And just a little bit of Minnesota Nice to help along the way. 'Uff da!' you say? Well editing the Wikipedia is not hard at all!

Join us at one of our three FREE Local History Workshops in Minnesota, where you can learn how to edit Wikipedia and share your community's local history.

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.

The workshops take place in Minnesota's Regional Research Centers.
Registration is required and will open next week. Learn more »

• Thursday, October 23 @ 11 am to 4 pm (CT)
  West Central Minnesota Historical Center, Morris, MN
• Thursday, November 14 @ 11 am to 4 pm (CT)
  Iron Range Research Center, Chisholm, MN
• Wednesday, November 20 @ 11 am to 4 pm (CT)
  Southern Minnesota Historical Center, Mankato, MN

Dreaming of AI with Indulge Me 
September 26 @ 10 am - Online: Balboa Park Online Collaborative - Indulge Me's CEO Leo Braga and CTO Miguel Basalduch Garcia will discuss their app's use of computer vision and location-based services to gamify cultural tourism, showcasing projects in Funchal, the Brasília Game Festival, and collaborations at Christ the Redeemer and the Three Borders Landmark. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preservation Plans: An Overview 
September 27 @ 11 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - In this webinar, participants will learn the essentials of creating a preservation plan, including its key components, preparation tips, and strategies for using the plan to secure support for their collections. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Emergency Planning Roundtable 
September 30 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts - 
Join CCAHA staff Maddie Cooper, Dyani Feige, and Katie Lowe for a comprehensive roundtable on emergency preparedness, covering case studies, resources, and tips, and be ready to engage in a lively Q&A session. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Fall 2024 Virtual Meeting
October 1 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Small City-Owned Museums Group
Join their Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 874 1665 2995

• View Past meetings on their YouTube Playlist

TIPS & TOOLS

• “History and tradition:” judicial engagement with public histories of homelessness - National Council on Public History
• 2024 Survey-Museum Visitation and Visitor Demographics - Wilkening Consulting

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Paint the Town Grants
TBA - (Deadline): Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation - The Paint the Town Grant Program is designed to engage volunteers, create a sense of community pride and build collaborative efforts that beautify communities through “Painting the Town” with a new community mural, community welcome sign or painting an historic structure. Paint the Town grants are administered by SMIF in collaboration with various Ace Hardware and Arrow Hardware & Paint stores located in our region. Communities with populations under 10,000 are eligible to apply. Learn more »

Labor in Historical Perspective Grants
October 14 - (Deadline): Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University - The Center will fund up to 6 projects, each up to $5000, focusing on labor's historical aspects to enhance public understanding of current labor issues, with past grants supporting a wide range of initiatives such as podcasts, exhibits, and workshops. Learn more »

Grant Program Benefits Midwest Arts and Culture Organizations
October 15 - (Deadline): Arts Midwest - Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants support small arts and culture organizations that are rooted in communities of color in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native nations that share this geography. Learn more »

Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices
October 30 - (Deadline): Council on Library and Information Resources - This program supports the digitization of rare and unique materials held by collecting organizations in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more »

Grant Program Spreads Awareness of WWII Japanese American Confinement
November 14 - (Deadline): National Park Service - Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Grants seek to educate the public about the historical importance of understanding Japanese American confinement in the United States during World War II. Learn more »

Shavlik Family Foundation
December 1 - (Letter of Intent Deadline)/February 15 - (Deadline): This foundation funds technology projects for Minnesota-serving nonprofit organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 - $30,000. The Foundation provides support to Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations and tribal governments for any type of technology project that will improve how they meet their mission. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Women in History Survey
Minnesota boasts a rich tapestry of historical preservation, thanks in large part to the pivotal role women have played in establishing and leading its numerous historical societies and sites. To honor those who have significantly contributed to preserving local history, Ramsey County Historical Society invites nominations for individuals with a minimum of ten years in the field, whose efforts in history centers or societies stand out. Selected nominees will be featured in a future issue of Ramsey County History magazine and on the RCHS website. Submissions are open until October 1, 2024. Take Survey »

Historical Society Director Katie Clark steps down, Aliya Marxen to serve as interim director
WTIP  — North Shore Community Radio - As the Cook County Historical Society prepares for the annual October meeting and the upcoming celebration of its centennial year, some changes are taking place within the director position. Continue reading »

Betsy-Tacy Welcomes New Director
KEYC — Mankato is full of historic landmarks, museums, homes, and stories. And one story of author Maud Hart Lovelace is constant with the help of the Betsy-Tacy Society. Betsy-Tacy enthusiasts run far and wide, from Minnesota to Massachusetts. Maud grew up in Mankato in the early 1900s and went on to write about her childhood friendships. Decades later her books, story and childhood home are kept alive by the Betsy-Tacy Society, which has welcomed a new Executive Director, Jennifer Davis-Kay. Watch video »

Clearwater County Historical Society seeks info on former schools
Bemidji Pioneer — The Clearwater County Historical Society is taking an inventory of former Clearwater County schools that are still standing and is seeking photos and information about their current use. Continue reading »

Fundraising effort to bring a new museum to Preston
KIMT 3 — The Preston Historical Society is raising money to transform the former Preston Dairy and Farm building into the Preston Depot Museum and Riverfront Center. Watch video »

Featured Book The Moons, Story by Chan Poling, Illustrations by Lucy Michell. Minnesota Historical Society Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History The 1876 legislature: a case study in lively futility Volume 45, Issue 6, 1977	Featured Article MNopedia Roland Dille (1924–2014) 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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