Local History News Holiday Schedule

Holiday Schedule
In observation of the holidays, Local History News will not be published December 22 or December 29, 2010.

Please plan ahead if there are announcements you would like to post in this forum. The final edition in 2010 will be December 15, so all notices should be submitted to Local History News by Monday December 13, 2010.

Look for LHN to return to your inboxes on Wednesday January 5, 2011.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

From the Blog

Encouraging Good Holiday Letters (3 new comments) - Holiday letters are a great way to keep a record of family history, but that's not the only option. How else can historical organizations encourage people to record their family histories in fun or unusual ways?

Phone Books Call it a Day (1 new comment) - Tech-savvy folks may not lament the demise of the phone book, but what does it mean for those people who still prefer using books to computers?

One Difference Between Local History and Libraries (new post) - Local history organizations are often lumped together with libraries when discussing apparent challenges. Both stories, however, are not identical.

Check out further news at Minnesota Local History on Facebook. Already 196 people are following these updates - you could be the 200th!

What others are discussing...

Chocolate and Circuses at the Minnesota Historical Society (MinnesotaHistory.Net) - What balance should be struck by history organizations serving an area between their specific history and as a venue for any history?

Evolutionary Biology and Human Psychology: A Case for Museum Donor Walls (Know Your Own Bone) - Four reasons to create donor walls, which still should not be the main focus of fundraising efforts.

Job Opportunities

Director
Richfield Historical Society, Richfield MN, seeks Director. Deadline: December 15, 2010.

Visitor Assistant
Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul MN, seeks part-time Visitor Assistant. Deadline: December 22, 2010.

Special Events/Volunteer Coordinator
History Center of Olmsted County, Rochester MN, seeks Special Events/Volunteer Coordinator. Submit cover letter and resume to James Lundgren.

Do History Here

Christmas at the Cox House
Interpreters portraying the Cox family invite the public to their Christmas Open House in St. Peter, December 4-5 and December 11-12, 2010, 1-4 p.m. Owned and operated by Nicollet County Historical Society. Contact Jessica, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Grow Your Historical Society
Brooklyn Historical Society hosts Marci Matson, executive director of the Edina Historical Society, on Saturday December 4, 2010, 9 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Brooklyn Center. She will speak about how to grow and strengthen your historical society. RSVP to Diane by December 3, 763-560-8893.

Open House
Three Rivers Park District holds an Open House at the Park District Administrative Center Board Room on Monday December 6, 2010, 2-4 p.m. to discuss its Cultural Resource Management Plan. Call 763-694-2059 for more information.

Cokato Potluck
Cokato Historical Society hosts 36th Annual Holiday Potluck dinner, Tuesday December 7, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at Cokato City Hall. Free and open to the public. Contact Cokato Museum, 320-286-2427, for more information.

In Memoriam Exhibit
Anoka County Historical Society announces the opening of its newest exhibit "In Memoriam," focusing on the evolution of funeral practices, on December 7, 2010, 7 p.m. Contact ACHS, 763-421-0600, for more information.

Documentary Showing
Come to the Treaty Site History Center in St. Peter for a showing of the documentary "Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story" on Tuesday December 7, 2010, 7 p.m. For more information contact Scott Kudelka, 507-389-2304.

Christmas in the County
Join Mower County Historical Society at their Christmas in the County event, December 10-11, 2010. Fun for the whole family. Call 507-437-6082 for more information.

Christmas Tree Festival
Sherburne History Center celebrates their 5th Annual Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday December 11, 2010, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Call 763-262-4433 for more information.

Holiday Open House
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County invites the public to their Holiday Open House on Saturday December 11, 2010, 1-3 p.m. Free. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Sounds of Christmas
Trondhjem Community Preservation Society hosts Christmas concert on Sunday December 12, 2010 at the Old Trondhjem Church near Lonsdale. Contact Ramona Pumper, 507-645-8358, for more information or to purchase tickets.

Pangea Festival 2011
Pangea--Cultivate our Cultures Festival 2011 will take place next November. Interested in participating next year? Submit contact information to Tim Jorgensen at Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County by Wednesday December 15, 2010.

St. Nicholas Exhibit
Landmark Center and Germanic-American Institute partner to host a traveling exhibit "Who Is St. Nicholas: Advent and Christmas Saint." On display at the Landmark Center now through December 26, 2010.

Fund Your Mission

Wells Fargo grants
Wells Fargo Foundation grants guidelines available online.

Mardag Foundation
Arts and humanities grants available through Mardag Foundation. Next deadline: December 31, 2011.

African American History
Institute of Museum and Library Services announces Museum Grants for African American History and Culture now available. Deadline: January 18, 2011.

Youth Program Awards
Formerly Coming Up Taller, National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people. Nominate your program! Deadline Monday January 31, 2011.

National Leadership Grants
IMLS announces National Leadership Grants now available. Deadline: February 1, 2011.

21st Century Museum Professionals
IMLS announces 21st Century Museum Professionals grants now available. Deadline: March 15, 2011.

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services
IMLS announces Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants now available. Deadline: April 1, 2011.

Community Grants
Land O' Lakes Foundation Community Grants available now. Deadline for arts and culture grants: May 1, 2011; applications accepted after January 1, 2011.

News

NCPH Awards
National Council on Public History awards nominations due today, December 1, 2010. More information online.

Eleven Most Endangered
National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for its 2011 America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. Deadline: January 14, 2011. Annual list will be announced on June 15, 2011.

Museums Advocacy Day 2011
Save the Date! Museums Advocacy Day 2011 is February 28-March 1, 2011 in Washington DC. Registration now open online.

Archival Search System
Library of Congress recently unveiled a completely redesigned special collections search system to help researchers locate primary-source materials.

Wanted: Korean War Stories
Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar MN, seeks donations pertaining to the Korean War and that era, including service uniforms, photographs, and oral or written memories. Contact KCHS, 320-235-1881, for more information.

Online Tagging Tool
Minnesota Digital Library announces 'steve,' a tagging tool in its Minnesota Reflections online collection.

NTHP Annual Report
National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2010 Annual Report is now available online.

Field Note

Mourning is expressed in numerous ways over time, as seen above in a 2007 memorial for a music lover at Vikor Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kandiyohi County and in the new exhibit at the Anoka County Historical Society.

Unlike many traditional cemetery markers that are only biographical, the one above provides an interpretive panel to convey some of the significance of the deceased's life. Is this another service that local history organizations could provide to the public, much as discussed in the blog "Encouraging Good Holiday Letters"?