Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Last Call for Small Grants!
The last Fast Track (small) grants deadline for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants Program is Friday October 29, 2010. If you've got a project that meets guidelines, needs $7,000 or less, and will be done by June 30, 2011, now is the time to apply. Questions about your grant proposal? Contact the Grants Office.

Check? What Check?
Occasionally MHS receives calls from some organizations wondering why we sent them a check. Grant payments are sent directly from the MHS Finance Department to the mailing address provided on the grant application. If your organization has been awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant, please communicate your success to other people in your organization so that when the check arrives, it is routed appropriately and cashed promptly.

New Grants Rounds?
The Grants Office fields many questions about grant rounds for the year 2011. Are there grants rounds scheduled? The short answer is no, not at this time.

The Minnesota Legislature granted an appropriation for the 2010-2011 biennium of $6.75 million, and that amount is nearly exhausted. All funds are to be spent and projects completed by the end of the biennium, June 30, 2011. Additional funding is dependent on legislative action. Stay tuned to Local History News for updates. 

How can you help? Contact your local Senators or Representatives and let them know your thoughts on the Legacy Amendment and Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants program!

From the Blog

Role for Local History During Church Closures (new post) - News that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will restructure its parishes by closing or merging congregations brings to mind the challenges faced by rural churches of many denominations. What are your experiences with closing churches? How have you assisted them in preserving their history?

Mimicry for Professional Capacity (1 new comment) - Newsletter exchanges can help local history organizations keep up with the events, programs, activities, etc. of colleagues. What are some other ways to share information?

History Overnight (2 new comments) - Is it appropriate to have visitors stay overnight in historic house museums?

Digitizing Minnesota Newspapers (1 new comment) - Read about the experience of one county historical society's effort to digitize local newspapers.

Job Opportunities

Associate Director of Membership
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis MN, seeks Associate Director of Membership. Deadline: October 29, 2010.

Associate Director, Public Relations
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis MN, seeks Associate Director, Public Relations. Deadline: October 29, 2010.

Executive Assistant
Schubert Club, St. Paul MN, seeks Executive Assistant. Deadline: October 31, 2010.

Interactive Media Specialist
American Craft Council in New York NY, seeks Interactive Media Specialist. Contact Pamela Diamond for details or to apply. Applications due November 15, 2010.

Development Director
Figge Art Museum, Davenport IA, seeks Development Director. Immediate opening. Position open until filled.

Duluth HPC Appointee
Duluth Heritage Preservation Commission seeks volunteer appointee for three-year term. Contact Michele Miller or St. Louis County Historical Society, 218-733-7586, for more information or if interested in serving on the Commission.

Do History Here

Victorian Seance
Join the Cox family in mourning E. St. Julien Cox, October 21-23, 2010 at the Cox House in St. Peter. During this entertaining, richly layered Victorian theatrical event, guests will gather with the mourners, have tea and cake, and actively participate in a seance. Shows at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m. each evening. Prepaid reservations encouraged; space is limited. Tickets: $13; under 16 not admitted. Contact Jessica at Nicollet County Historical Society, 507-934-2160, for reservations.

Local History Round Table
Hennepin County Central Library sponsors Local History Round Table, Thursday October 22, 2010, 7 p.m. A descendent of Cloud Man will talk about his family history and Mdewankanton village located by Lake Calhoun. Peter Sussman will discuss the development of Lake Calhoun into Linden Hills and East Harriet Farmstead neighborhoods. Free. Call Hennepin County Library, 612-630-6000, for more information.

Lecture Series
"Uncle Sam Worked Here" Fall 2010 lecture series will focus on labor, free speech, and anti-trust activities. October 23, 2010, 10:45 a.m. Guided tour of the exhibit, 9:30 a.m. Contact Landmark Center, 651-292-3063, for reservations.

WWI Book Talk
Minnesota author James Carl Nelson will be in St. Peter on Thursday October 28, 2010 to sign copies of his book "The Remains of Company D: A Story of the Great War" at the St. Peter Public Library from 4-5 p.m. Program and discussion to follow at 7 p.m. at the Treaty Site History Center. Contact Jessica, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Fall Fundraiser
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County announces its annual fall fundraiser "Remember the '60s? One Groovy Gala" at the Hjemkomst Center, Friday October 29, 2010, 6-10 p.m. Historian Dr. Hiram Drache will be honored with the Clay County Heritage Award. Tickets: $50/person. Call 218-299-5511 x6737.

Annual Meeting
Mower County Historical Society will hold its annual meeting on Thursday November 4, 2010 at 6 p.m. Guest speaker is author and historian Michael Eckers. Tickets are $12; call 507-437-6082 by October 29 for reservations.

Clue Tournament
Scott County Historical Society hosts a Clue tournament on Saturday November 6, 2010, 1 p.m. Beverages, snacks, and prizes provided. Small fee applies and includes admission to the museum and "Mysteries of Scott County" exhibit. Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, for more information or to register.

Frontier Fiber Arts
Pauline Bold brings her experience with fiber arts to the Pond House at Pond Dakota Mission Park on Sunday November 7, 2010, 2-4 p.m. Learn how dyes were made, try carding wool, and see a spinning demonstration. Call Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8738 for more information.

Veterans' Day Luminaries
Join Scott County Historical Society in the Stans Garden for a luminary display on November 11, 2010, 5-7 p.m. Purchase and decorate a luminary for $5 to honor a veteran from any branch of service, past or present. Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, with questions.

Veterans' Day Observance
Annual Veterans' Day Observance will be held in Willmar at the War Memorial Auditorium, November 11-13, 2010, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. All activities open to the public. Contact Jon for more information.

Book Signing and Talk
Bookin' It Bookstore in Little Falls hosts book signing with Anton Treuer, author of "Assassination of Hole in the Day," November 17, 2010, 4-5 p.m. Meet-and-greet at Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls, 6:30 p.m. Contact Morrison County Historical Society, 320-632-4007, for more information.

Birch Bark Art Exhibit
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center presents a new exhibit, "Bridging Cultures: Scandinavian and Ojibwe Traditions in Birch Bark," on display now through Wednesday December 15, 2010.

Continuing Education

Tourism Meeting
Southern Minnesota Tourism Association (SMTA) meets on Thursday November 4, 2010 at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, 8:30 a.m. Registration: $15, including lunch. Educational seminar "News Releases and Announcements--How to Get Publishers' Attention" will be presented. RSVP, 888-975-6766, by October 29.

Grantseeking for Beginners
Learn the basics of effective grantseeking from Minnesota Council on Foundations. Grantseeking for Beginners will take place at the Wilder Center, St. Paul, on November 9, 2010, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Deadline for registration: November 2, 2010.

Free Webinars
American Association for State and Local History offers six free Connecting to Collections webinars. Sign up for any or all of them. The first webinar will be held Thursday October 28, 2010, so register now.

Grant Deadlines

National Trust Grants
National Trust for Historic Preservation announces multiple grants available. Deadline: February 1, 2011. Contact Chris Morris at the Midwest Office, 312-939-5547 x37231, for local information.

Grant Deadlines for Other Sources
Minnesota Council on Foundations lists upcoming grant deadlines for a variety of foundations. 

Field Note

Archivist Mark Peihl and student intern Sean Mukunza from Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County assemble shelving purchased as part of their mid-size Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant. The shelving allows for better storage of HCSCC's expanding archival collection.

There is enough funding left for one more Fast Track grant round; the deadline is Friday October 29, 2010. What can your organization do with $7,000? Contact the Grants Office for help formulating your project.