Local History News for June 29, 2011

June 29, 2011

Membership | Past Issues | Local History Services

Shutdown Update

Shutdown Effects
Local History Office has fielded a number of questions recently regarding the potential state shutdown. Would this impact Minnesota Historical Society?

In the event of a state government shutdown, all MHS programs and operation would be suspended beginning July 1. Funding from the State of Minnesota comprises more than half of the Society's operating budget. All of the Society's 26 historic sites and museums statewide would be closed, as well as general offices--including grants and local history services--that support all of the Society's functions.

Until the state gives official notice of a shutdown, Minnesota Historical Society, including the Grants Office, Local History Services, and its historic sites and museums, remains open and ready to serve the public. Tell your legislators that history matters!

Local History News for July 6
As usual, Local History News will not be published the week of Independence Day. However, with the potential shutdown, this issue will be the last until the state's budget is resolved. In either case, Local History News will not be published on July 6, 2011, but might resume on July 13 pending resolution of the state's budget.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Countdown: One Day!
Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants recipients have one more day to complete grant projects. Final reports can be submitted via the online Drop Box. Contact the Grants Office, John Fulton, 651-259-3467, or Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459, with any last-minute questions.

Program Status Update
As of Monday morning June 27, 2011, 265 of the 474 grant projects have closed. Dozens are very near closure. Some projects that will conclude tomorrow have until the end of July to submit final reports. Of the 66 projects that received $25,000 or more and thus have a required site visit, 55 projects have been visited by grants staff.

These facts could not have been accomplished without grantee cooperation, and demonstrate the care that the history community has taken with the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund dollars put to history purposes. Keep up the good work.

Legacy Grants Deadlines?
Right now, we don't know what the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants funding will look like for the 2012-2013 biennium. The Senate passed the Legacy appropriations conference committee report but the House did not, as they ran out of time before the required midnight adjournment in May. The legislature will need to take up the Legacy bill in its upcoming special session.

If we have grants rounds this year, they will likely be toward late summer/early fall, as we will schedule some informational meetings around the state first to provide updates on the program, introduce the new online grants management software system, go over any changes to the program, deadlines, etc. Please keep checking the grants website for updates, or watch this space!

Project Highlight
The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission received a legacy grant to research content, write, design and fabricate ten interpretive panels at six sites along the Minnesota River Valley to better tell the stories of the Minnesota River Valley, specifically of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. Kristi Fernholz, project director, talks about the need and lasting legacy of the project.

View project page

From the Blog

Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Built in 1885 for the Civil War Veterans of the Frank Daggett GAR Post No. 35 in Litchfield, Minnesota, it is one of a very few remaining Grand Army of the Republic Halls in the nation and has largely been preserved as it was on the day of the post's last meeting. Jim Milan, Director of the Meeker County Historical Society gives a tour of the hall.

Facebook Findings
Back when Minnesota Local History's followers numbered 515, we commented that while the Des Moines IA area code is quite nice, it would make sense to move a bit north, as we are Minnesota Local History. But now we've gone a bit too far--at 579 fans, we've landed in Quebec. Nous ne publierons pas en français! Adding 33 more fans would bring us to Minneapolis . . .

Job Opportunities

Manager of Learning Experiences and Environments
Family Museum of Arts and Sciences, Bettendorf IA, seeks Manager of Learning Experiences and Environments. Deadline: July 1, 2011.

Paid Internship
Fort Des Moines Museum, Des Moines IA, seeks part time Intern.

Illinois Job Postings
Illinois Association of Museums posts job opportunities online.

Do History Here

New Deal Exhibit
Landmark Center, St. Paul MN, announces new exhibit "Uncle Sam's New Deal," on display now through August 7, 2011. Exhibit reception and gallery talk Thursday June 30, 2011, 6-8 p.m. Free; call 651-292-3063 to RSVP.

Vermillion Falls Tour
LeDuc Historic Estate offers Vermillion Falls Walking Tour, Saturday July 2, 2011, 10 a.m. Reservations required; contact LeDuc Historic Estate, 651-437-7055.

Civil War History Program
Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn Center MN, hosts tour on "Brooklyn Civil War Soldiers" at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Saturday July 2, 2011, 10-10:45 a.m. Call Diane, 763-607-1150, to RSVP.

Chautauqua
Waseca County Historical Society, Waseca MN, hosts Chautauqua 2011 at Maplewood Park, Sunday July 3, 2011, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Family-friendly entertainment!

LeDuc Estate Open July 4
For the first time since opening in 2005, LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, will be open for Independence Day festivities. Regular tour rates apply, though LeDuc participates in the Blue Star Museum Program, so active military personnel and their families admitted free. Call 651-437-7055 for more information.

CCHS Open July 4
Celebrate Independence Day at Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet MN, noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy CCHS' three exhibits, plus shop the 4th of July sale at the gift shop. Call 218-879-1938 for more information.

History Mini-Camp
Rice County Historical Society, Faribault MN, offers History Mini-Camp, "Rice County Agriculture, Then and Now," July 7-8, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Available for children entering grades 4-8 this fall. Contact RCHS, 507-332-2121, for more information.

Vintage Base Ball
Sherburne County Historical Society, Becker MN, hosts 2nd Annual Vintage Base Ball Game at Palmer Township Park, Sunday July 10, 2011, 1 p.m. St. Croix Base Ball Club returns to take on the Becker Buzzards. Contact Maureen Galvin, 763-261-4433, for more information.

Teddy Bear Picnic
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, hosts Teddy Bear Picnic, Sunday July 10, 2011, 1-3 p.m. Lots of activities plus a picnic lunch. Tickets available at MCHS or day of the event; $5/child, $3/adult who plans to eat with the children. Contact MCHS, 507-437-6082, for more information or to purchase tickets.

Gladstone Exhibit
Maplewood Historical Society, Maplewood MN, showcases new exhibit on prominent places in Maplewood at three open houses, July 10, August 14, and September 11, 2011, noon to 4 p.m. Free admission. Call 651-776-4163 for more information.

Anniversary Party
Chippewa County Historical Society celebrates its 75th anniversary, Thursday July 14, 2011, 4:30-8 p.m. Free admission, food, and entertainment at a family-friendly event. Contact CCHS, 320-269-7636, for more information.

Photo Workshop
Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm MN, offers beginners photography workshop, July 14-16, 2011. Intermediate/advanced workshop will be held August 18-20, 2011. Attend one for $35 plus admission, or both for $60 plus admission. Contact Mai Vang, 218-254-1238, to register.

Dakota Settlement Talk
Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington MN, hosts Jeff Williamson, a descendant of Gideon Pond, who will speak on "Dakota Indian Settlement at the Gideon Pond Farm, 1863-1891"; Sunday July 17, 2011, 2 p.m. at the historic Pond House. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.

Prairie Restoration Tour
Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington MN, hosts Tory Christenson, who will speak on the endangered and globally rare prairie ecosystem, then lead a walking tour through the restored prairie at the historic Pond House, Sunday July 24, 2011, 2 p.m. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.

The Flag - Midnight Ground Zero Exhibit
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, announces new traveling exhibit, "Aftermath Images of Ground Zero: Photographs by Joel Meyerowitz," a historic, photographic record of the immediate aftermath of the September 11 tragedy. On display now through September 11, 2011. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Art Exhibit
Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm MN, has the works of eleven regional artists on display in the Community Gallery. Call 800-372-6437 for more information.

Field Note

Cathedral bank

Cathedral of Saint Paul Archives seeks children's bank (1904-1906) like the one pictured, for an upcoming exhibit. Archbishop John Ireland gave these banks to children to help them save their money to build the Cathedral of Saint Paul, 1906-1915.

If you have any information about these banks, please contact Celeste Raspanti, Cathedral archivist, 651-207-4871. Photo courtesy Cathedral of Saint Paul Archives.