Minnesota Local History News

Discussions and Questions

Ready for 2009? (3 new messages) Planning for a financial downturn started last year for one organization, but it is harder to plan for the rising cost of doing business as seen in higher fuel bills.

Ready to Lead? (1 new message) Are Boomers really going to retire all at once? Perhaps the fear of sudden changes in leadership will not develop.

Job Announcements

Director

The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities seeks Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Required--Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in history or related field, with a focus on the Holocaust and/or other genocides. Applications must be submitted electronically.

Tour Guide

The Robert R. McCormick Museum seeks a tour guide. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to: Jeff Anderson, Tour Coordinator, Robert R. McCormick Museum, 1s151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton IL 60187.

Curator of Collections

Siouxland Heritage Museums in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, seeks a curator of collections to perform professional work in the acquisition and care of museum collections to include coordinating all preservation, conservation and restoration of museum objects. Application deadline: July 25, 2008.

Local Events

MN 150 base ball tournament

Saint Croix Base Ball Club of the Washington County Historical Society invite all who enjoy the great outdoors to come to the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Vintage Base Ball Festival June 28-29, 2008 at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Marking Mallard

Clearwater County Historical Society will unveil a historic marker at the ghost town Mallard during an event from 2-4 p.m. Saturday June 28, 2008.

Vermillion Falls Walking Tour

On Saturday June 28, 2008 at 10 a.m., join a special tour of this breathtaking falls and gorge. Participants will enjoy a historic walking tour of Hastings' most beautiful park, just blocks from the LeDuc Historic Estate.

Tribute to Carroll Simmons

July 19, 2008 marks 50 years since Carroll Simmons gave the LeDuc Historic Estate to the Minnesota Historical Society to begin the State Historic Sites Network. On July 5, 2008 and running through the end of October visitors will see an exhibit at the Estate featuring Simmons artifacts. Also on July 5, 2008 a musical program interspersed with readings about Carroll Simmons will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 615 Vermillion Street, Hastings, 7 p.m. On July 16-17, 2008 at 7 p.m. there will be panel discussions at the LeDuc Historic Estate, "We Remember Carroll Simmons." 

New exhibit to open in Anoka

A new exhibit at the Anoka County Historical Society called "And the Band Played On" will chronicle the development of Anoka County high school bands, dance bands and community bands.  The exhibit will open during Riverfest, July 12, 2008, and will be free to the public on that day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Roundtable event

The Minnesota River Valley Round Table is hosting an Old Fashioned Children's Carnival at Canterbury Park on Sunday June 29, 2008. Contact Kathleen Klehr, 952-445-0378.

Hmong Archives Open House

Visit the Hmong Archives at their new location, 298 1/2 University Avenue West, St. Paul on Monday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contact info@hmongarchives.org for more information.

Home and Garden tour of Anoka

On Sunday July 13, 2008 the Anoka County Historical Society and the Anoka Heritage Preservation Commission will partner on the Anoka Heritage Home and Garden Tour of the Whiskey Flats neighborhood, west of the Rum River and south of Main Street in Anoka. Tickets can be purchased for $12. Ticketholders can tour the historic homes and businesses from 1 to 5 p.m.

FinnFest bus tour

Join the St. Louis County Historical Society on July 22, 2008 for the FinnFest Bus Tour. Lunch and a free copy of "A County Built on Iron" for each person. Contact Karin Swor, 218-348-5843 or 218-733-7500. Register by June 27, 2008.

Chautauqua in Waseca

Waseca County Historical Society’s Chautauqua 2008 will be held at Historic Maplewood Park, Waseca, on Saturday July 5, 2008, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

News

Traveling Exhibit RFP deadline extended

Minnesota Humanities Center extended the deadline for proposals to host the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Between Fences" to July 7, 2008.

Nine to Nineteen

To assist museums and libraries in developing effective and engaging youth programs, the Institute of Museum and Library Services published Nine to Nineteen: Youth in Museums and Libraries; A Practitioner’s Guide.

Sesquicentennial activity in Alexandria

The Alexandria Echo Press of June 20, 2008, details sesquicentennial observances in Alexandria.

Lina Belar selected to attend digital training

To learn more about preserving digital content, Lina Belar, Director at the History Museum of East Otter Tail County in Perham, and 200 other museum and library representatives, will attend an IMLS-sponsored meeting called "Collaboration in the Digital Age" in Denver, Colorado, from June 24-25, 2008.

Free funding resource

"Power Admidst Chaos: Post-Katrina Funding of Advocacy" is available from the Alliance for Justice.

Funding policy

The James Irvine Foundation released its report "Foundations and Public Policy Grantmaking" aimed at those who confer grants. This useful read will help applicants create more competitive proposals.

Technology solutions discussed

Philanthropy Potluck has a useful discussion of Flickr and Twitter, and how both have been used to raise awareness of other nonprofits.

Leadership Conference report

MinnPost's Scott Russell reports on the outcome of the recent Nonprofit Leadership Conference in Minneapolis.

New email address

The new email address for Morrison County Historical Society will be contactstaff@morrisoncountyhistory.org.

Grant Deadlines

Emergency flood grants

National Endowment for the Humanities announces $1 million in Emergency Flood Assistance Grants for museums, libraries, archives, universities and other cultural and historical institutions in federally designated disaster areas affected by the floods in the Midwest. Contact the Division of Preservation and Access, 202-606-8570.

MDL Phase 5 Proposals Due

The Minnesota Digital Library announces applications are now open for digitization projects for Phase 5 of the development of Minnesota Reflections, our digitization and database project. Please consult with Marian Rengel as you begin considering a digitization project for Minnesota Reflections. While applications are available now, digitizing will begin July 1, 2008.

State Grants-in-Aid Deadlines

Pre-applications are due Friday July 25, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. to the Minnesota State Grants-in-Aid program. Final applications are due Friday August 29, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Contact Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459.

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

PastPerfect Training in October

Minnesota Historical Society and Wisconsin Historical Society will jointly host a regional PastPerfect Museum Software training opportunity at the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from October 7-9, 2008. The training typically sells out quickly, early registration is recommended. Contact Jennessa Reed, 800-562-6080.

Small Museum Association call for papers

The Small Museum Association is planning its 25th Annual Conference in Ocean City, Maryland, February 22–24, 2009. The theme will address changes in small museums over the past 25 years. Individuals from the museum/historic preservation field are invited to submit proposals by July 15, 2008; you will be notified by August 29, 2008.

Preserve Minnesota: Main Street and Beyond

Learn about healthy communities, downtown revitalization, and survival strategies for tough economic times at the Preserve Minnesota Conference in Northfield on September 18-20, 2008.