Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

History Matters--Take Action
As legislators get close to decision-making time during this session, please be sure to contact yours and urge their support for history, both from the Legacy Amendment fund as well as the state's general fund.

Legislators are back in their districts on their Passover/Easter break, so this is the perfect time to urge their support for history, before they return to take action on Legacy bills during the week of April 25, 2011. Get the latest on history news from the Capitol and send your legislators a message in support of history.

Project Wrap-Up
The end of the biennium on June 30, 2011 means that Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants recipients have ten weeks (71 days) to complete their projects.

If you have an open Legacy grant, take a moment to assess the project and make sure your organization is on track. Once the project is done, make sure you file the final report with the Grants Office!

From the Blog

Balancing Space and Placelessness (new post) - Is there a balance between necessity of adding space to preserve history and promote access to it, and increasing placelessness in American society? How might we evaluate that need? Can these two coexist?

Writing Successful Grant Projects (1 new comment) - David Grabitske, Manager of Outreach Services at Minnesota Historical Society, provides general advice on creating projects and writing grants for them.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History picked up another 7 fans, bringing the number up to 486--oh so close to a nice, round 500. Have you caught up on your Minnesota history today?

Job Opportunities

Environmental Educator
Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, Council Bluffs IA, seeks Environmental Educator. Deadline: April 29, 2011.

Curator of Transportation
The Henry Ford, Dearborn MI, seeks Curator of Transportation. Submit cover letter and resume to Tracy Wasko, Manager of Recruitment.

Education Coordinator
Surf Ballroom and Museum, Clear Lake IA, seeks part time Education Coordinator.

Do History Here

Genealogy Workshop
Minnesota Genealogical Society and Minnesota Historical Society co-host Genealogy Workshop for Librarians, Friday April 29, 2011, 9 a.m. to noon, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul.

German Immigration Lecture
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County hosts Dr. Timothy Kloberdanz, who will discuss Germans from Russia, Saturday April 30, 2011, 2 p.m. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

New Harmonies Exhibit
Arts Center of Saint Peter, Nicollet County Historical Society and Minnesota Humanities Center hosts Smithsonian traveling exhibition "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music," on view at the Arts Center April 30-June 11, 2011. Call Arts Center, 507-931-3630, for more information.

Flintknapping Program
Pond Dakota Heritage Society hosts flintknapping program with archaeologist Rod Johnson, Sunday May 1, 2011, 2 to 4 p.m., Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington MN. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.  

Broadcasting Talk
Rice County Historical Society hosts Wayne Eddy, presenting "The History of Radio," Thursday May 5, 2011, 7 p.m. Reservations encouraged. Admission: $2, free for members. Call RCHS, 507-332-2121, with questions.

Antique and Collectible Sale
Friends of LeDuc and Dakota County Historical Society host City-Wide Garage Sale at LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, May 6-7, 2011, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds to be used for funding school tours and youth summer camps. Call 651-437-3365 for more information.

Annette Atkins Presentation
Pond Dakota Heritage Society hosts Annette Atkins, who will speak on Celia Campbell Stay, niece of one of the 38 hanged at Mankato in 1862, Sunday May 8, 2011, 2 p.m., Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomingon MN. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.

Annual Meeting
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County announces Annual Meeting, Tuesday May 10, 2011, 6 p.m., Glyndon Community Center, Glyndon MN. Mark Peihl will talk about a local World War II prisoner-of-war camp. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Anti-Wrecking Ball
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota hosts Anti-Wrecking Ball, Thursday May 12, 2011, Soap Factory, Minneapolis MN. Contact PAM, 651-293-9047, to register.

Scrapbooking
White Bear Lake Area Historical Society hosts Quarterly Crop Saturday May 14, 2011, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., White Bear Lake Armory. Cost: $30 members/$35 nonmembers. Proceeds benefit WBLAHS. Pre-register online or call 651-407-5327.

Dressmaking/Millinery Talk
St. Louis County Historical Society presents Lunch with the History People, Thursday May 19, 2011, noon to 1 p.m., St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center. Susan Mack, Ed. D. will present "Dressmaking and Millinery 1860-1910 in St. Louis County." Call 218-733-7568 for more information.

Annual Meeting
Paynesville Area Historical Society announces Annual Meeting and Cannon Program Saturday May 21, 2011, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact PAHS, 320-243-7547, for more information.

Historic Pub Crawl
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota hosts Downtown Minneapolis Historic Pub Crawl, Wednesday May 25, 2011. Contact PAM, 651-293-9047, to register.

Battle Flags Web Exhibit
Minnesota Historical Society announces newly conserved Civil and Spanish-American War battle flags now available for online viewing through new web exhibit, "The Battle Flags of Minnesota." Stop at the State Capitol to see the first four flags in their restored display cases.

Local History Workshops

Spring Workshops Return
Local History Workshops from Minnesota Historical Society are back! We're trying something a bit different this year. Instead of holding the same workshop in several places, this year we will add content to groups of historical organizations that have already planned to hold their regular spring meetings.

Who can attend? You! Anyone interested in these locally requested topics should attend. Don't delay, sign up today!

Register online so organizers may plan on your attendance.

Thursday April 21, 2011, 9-11 a.m.
Twin Ports History Coalition
Location: Thomson Township Town Hall, 25 East Harney Road, Esko, Minnesota 55733
Program: “Collections Potpourri: cataloging, abandoned property, permanent vs. education collections, and use of policy and planning for grants” with Melinda Hutchinson
Cost: Free
Contact: Dan Hartman

Monday May 2, 2011, Program at 10, Director's Meeting 1-3 p.m.
Upper Minnesota River Area Museum Meeting
Location: Yellow Medicine County Historical Society, 98 Hwy 67 E (MN 23 & MN 67), Granite Falls, Minnesota 56241
Program: “Preserving Textiles and how to Write Grants for them” with Melinda Hutchinson
Cost: Free
Contact: Brian Schulz

Continuing Education

Review and Compliance Seminar
Don't miss this half day seminar at the Minnesota History Center, April 26, 2011, 1-5 p.m. Just $10! Register online.

Grant Development Workshop
Institute for Strategic Funding Development hosts Strategic Grant Development Workshop, Concordia University, St. Paul MN, April 27-28, 2011, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gain 15 contact hours or 15 CEUs. Contact ISFD, 877-414-8991, to register.

Preservation Workshop
Association for Preservation Technology International presents "Nondestructive Evaluation Methods for Historic Structures," May 19-21, 2011, Taliesin, Spring Green WI. Earn 13.5 AIA/CES learning units. Registration deadline: May 12, 2011.

Oral History Workshop
School of Library and Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, hosts Oral History Workshop with Troy Reeves, Saturday June 4, 2011, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

News

Feedback Needed
Statewide Historic Preservation Plan survey will be available for only a couple more weeks, so if you haven't completed yours, please do so now. Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) values your feedback.

Nominate Nonprofits
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits wants to help recognize outstanding nonprofits, the work they do, and those who lead them. Mission Awards nominations due April 29, 2011; Leadership Awards due May 13, 2011; Excellence Awards due May 31, 2011.

Artist Partnerships Sought
Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm MN, seeks partnerships with area artists who would like to display work in MDC's Community Gallery. Express theme of "Spring" in any medium. Works loaned to MDC will be displayed through the summer. Installation date: May 23, 2011. Contact Mai Vang, 218-254-1238, if interested.

Midwest Preservation News
Midwest Office of National Trust for Historic Preservation announces latest issue of Midwest Preservation News is available online.

Contact Information Requested
"American Pickers" on the History Channel seeks contact information for expressive, passionate collectors for potential inclusion during Season 3. Producers will be in Minnesota in May 2011. Contact Jack Wilkinson, 212-206-0461.

Field Note

Afton Historical Museum received three Fast Track grants through the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program to inventory and catalog their collections.

Above, Pam Reuvers, collections assistant, and Terry Clymer, board member, affix an accession number to one of the collection pieces. Photo courtesy Afton Historical Society.