Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Legacy Report Available
See the impact of all Minnesota Historical Society's Legacy-funded projects on a new interactive website. Report to the Minnesota Legislature also available online.

Save the Date
Join your colleagues at the Minnesota State Capitol on Presidents' Day, Monday February 21, 2011, for the 7th annual History Matters Day at the Capitol. Contact your legislators today to urge them to support history and historic preservation! 

From the Blog

Data for Dollars (2 new comments) - Sometimes, the measures for determining a successful historical organization are intangible.

Why So Bleak? (1 new comment) - How can the history museum community refocus messages about our museums to focus on all the positive things we do?

Other Blogs

Fredericksburg Remembered - John Hennessey of Fredericksburg National Park discusses the challenges of interpreting Civil War history and addressing the causes of the Civil War.

Facebook Findings

Nineteen people have started following Minnesota Local History since last week; we're now up to 347!

Job Opportunities

Do History Here

Sidewalk Sale
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County announces indoor sidewalk sale, Saturday January 22, 2011, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds will support exhibits and programs at the Hjemkomst Center museum. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Annual Meeting
Carver County Historical Society holds its Annual Meeting on Saturday January 22, 2011, 10:30 a.m. Fun for the whole family afterwards with the WonderWeavers Storytellers. Free. Call 952-442-4234 for more information.

Winter Scream
Northfield Historical Society hosts Winter Scream, an ice cream social, at Bridge Square in Northfield, Saturday January 22, 2011, noon to 2 p.m. Call Hayes Scriven for more information, 507-645-9268.

Ice Cream Social
Join Washington County Historical Society for a free ice cream social, Saturday January 22, 2011, noon to 4 p.m. at Lowell Park, Stillwater.

MoMS Exhibit at MDC
Minnesota Discovery Center hosts "Journey Stories," a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program. Exhibit opens January 29, 2011 with a presentation by local historian Pam Brunfelt at 2 p.m. Call 800-372-6437 for more information.

Minnesota Homefront Exhibit
Carver County Historical Society hosts "Minnesota Homefront," a new traveling exhibit about life in Minnesota during World War II. Free. Call 952-442-4234 for more information.  

Legacy Letters Project
Legacy Letters, produced by tpt and 1000 Friends of Minnesota, seeks essays about significant people, places, ideas and events in Minnesota history. Inspired by Minnesota Historical Society's MN150 exhibit. Deadline for submitting nominations: February 4, 2011.

Story Time and Craft
Minnesota Discovery Center hosts children's story time and craft "How Paper is Made" on Saturday February 5, 2011. Call 800-372-6437 for more information.

Bookbinding Demonstration
Minnesota Discovery Center archivist Philip Deloria provides demonstration of traditional leather hand bookbinding on Saturday February 5, 2011, 2 p.m. Demonstration included with admission. Call 800-372-6437 for more information.

Social Concerns Talk
Hormel Historic Home hosts Dustin Heckman, Mower County Historical Society's executive director, who will present "Yes, That Really Happened!: Humorous Stories of Mower County's Past," Tuesday February 15, 2011, 11 a.m. Free, including lunch. RSVP, 507-433-4243, by Friday February 11, 2011.

History Corps Sharing Meetings
Join Hamline-Midway History Corps the third Saturday of each month for History Corps Sharing Meetings, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul, 2-4 p.m. Next meeting: February 19, 2011.

Continuing Education

Governance Training Workshops
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits offers new governance training workshop series exploring the ins and outs of board governance. Series begins February 1, 2011.

Tourism Seminar
Southern Minnesota Tourism Association meets Thursday February 17, 2011 at Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Rochester MN. Registration begins 8:30 a.m.; fee $15. Presentation by Bruce Schwartau, "Social Media Strategies for Your Community." RSVP, 888-975-6766, by February 10, 2011.

Fund Your Mission

Archives.com Grants
Grants offered from Archives.com to individuals or organizations contributing to the promotion and advancement of family history research and historic preservation. Grant recipient chosen each month beginning January 2011. Apply online.

DNR Grants Available
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Parks and Trails announces applications available for 2011 grants rounds. Deadlines: January 31 to August 1, 2011.

African American Historic Places
National Trust for Historic Preservation announces grants available for 2011 Partnership-in-Scholarship Grants for African American Historic Places. Deadline: April 29, 2011.

Local Government Grants
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announces two economic development grants: Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program and Innovative Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program.

News

Budget Woes
Dodge County Historical Society, Mantorville MN, discussed budget woes at their membership meeting on January 4, 2011.

Jefferson Highway Planning Meeting
Planning meeting will be held March 19, 2011 in Lee's Summit MO for colleagues along the former Jefferson Highway auto trail route to explore organizing a national association and/or discussing cooperative cultural tourism programs. Contact Mike Conlin for more information.

Online Museum Publications
National Park Service announces Conserve O Grams technical leaflets and other resources available online.

Oral History Resource
Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling at Concordia University launched "The Oral Historian's Digital Toolbox," a resource for oral historians.

Free Podcasts
BoardStar.org offers free podcasts on various governance topics.

Interactive History Website
University of Texas at Austin recently launched Not Even Past, a website providing current historical writing to a popular audience. It offers book and film recommendations, podcasts, free virtual classes, and more.

IRS Filing Information
Internal Revenue Service announced updated information about filing Form 990.

Free Online Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) available free online through February 5, 2011.

American Heritage Portal
Comprehensive collection of national collections available online.

Field Note