LHN Schedule

Hiatus
Reminder: Local History News will not be published the weeks of December 21 and 28, 2011. If you have events, workshops, or other time-sensitive information that you would like us to post, please send your press releases to Local History News no later than Monday December 12, 2011. Happy Holidays!

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

From the Blog

Blogs of Interest

Why Nonprofit Overhead is Destructive - A good reminder that nonprofits are to operate at least 7 of every 10 years in the black--not even--with surpluses. Those critical budget reserves are necessary for major investments and to even out unpredictable revenue.

Facebook Findings

Local History Newsletter Digest - This week's article "International Lure of the North Woods" was originally printed in The View for the Listening Point Volume XVIII, Number 24, Fall 2011. Reprinted with permission from Listening Point Foundation, Inc.

Minnesota Local History members number 692--so close to a nice, round 700! Give the gift of local history this holiday season, and get your friends and colleagues signed up! In the news: Larry Hutchings leaves Carver County Historical Society to start his own consulting business, Harmony Area Historical Society highlights local collectors, Becker County Historical Society posts upcoming events!

Job Opportunities

Executive Director
Howard County Historical Society, Kokomo IN, seeks Executive Director. Deadline: December 10, 2011.

Coordinator
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, seeks part time Township Records Microfilming Coordinator. Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012, 4 p.m.

Internship
Living History Farms, Urbandale IA, seeks Digital Media Intern. Position open until filled.

Do History Here

Food for Thought
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, presents Food for Thought lecture "Winona's Centennial of Powered Flight: The Airplane Comes to Winona," Wednesday December 7, 2011, 12:05 p.m. Fred Beseler speaks on the arrival of the first powered aircraft in Winona, October 1911. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Lost Twin Cities
Twin Cities Public Television will air "Lost Twin Cities III," Wednesday December 7, 2011, 7 p.m. on TPT2.

Children's Story Time
White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, White Bear Lake MN, invites children to the Fillebrown House to listen to holiday poems and stories, December 7 and 8, 6-7 p.m. Cost: $2/person. Reservations required: call 651-407-5327 or register online.

Parks and Trails Talk
Burnsville Historical Society, Burnsville MN, hosts Terry Schultz, City of Burnsville, who will speak on the past, present, and future of greenways, parks and trails in Burnsville, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Thursday December 8, 2011, 7 p.m. Call 952-895-4685 for more information.

Christmas in the County
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, hosts its annual Christmas in the County celebration, December 9-10, 2011. Bake sale, silent auction, outdoor activities, and more. Call 507-437-6082 for more information.

Holiday Tours
White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, White Bear Lake MN, holds holiday tours at historic Fillebrown House, Saturday December 10, 2011, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $5 adults, $3 under 13. Reservations recommended; call 651-407-5327.

Holiday Open House
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, invites the public to their annual Holiday Open House, Saturday December 10, 2011, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Ernie Pyle
Becker County Historical Society, Detroit Lakes MN, hosts Gary Morrison, who presents "Hi, I'm Ernie Pyle," a one-man show about Ernie Pyle and World War II, Saturday December 10, 2011, 3 p.m. Call 218-847-2938 for more information.

Christmas Celebration
Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington MN, invites the public to the Gideon Pond House for Christmas carols and excerpts from Rev. Gideon Pond's sermons. Refreshments. Cost: $2 adults; children and members free. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.

1912 Tea
Maplewood Area Historical Society, Maplewood MN, invites the public to enjoy tea at the 1912 Bruentrup Heritage Farm, January 14, 2012, 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Cost:$25/person. Call Joyce, 651-770-1592, for more information and for reservations.

Fund Your Mission

IMLS Grants Deadlines
Institute for Museum and Library Services announces upcoming grants deadlines:

• Connecting to Collections: Statewide Implementation Grants. Deadline: February 1, 2012.
• Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums. Deadline: February 1, 2012.
• 21st Century Museum Professionals. Deadline: March 15, 2012.

News

Call for Papers
Midwest Open-Air Museums Coordinating Council holds their Fall conference, Common Places, Common Ground: Interpreting Midwest Life and Culture, November 1-3, 2012, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Cedar Rapids IA. Send proposals for sessions or workshops to Conference Program Chair Ann Cejka, fax 888-423-2122. Deadline: May 15, 2012.

e-conservation Magazine
Issue No. 22, November 2011 of e-conservation magazine is available now online.

Field Note

Historical organizations help the public read the physical environment. Sometimes little imagination is needed to interpret what happened, such as these abandoned rails and crossing in a Breckenridge park. Other times, historical organizations are critical to people's built environment literacy.

One example might be figuring out the "magic" of modern utilities in post-World War II housing developments. Walking down the street, are you able to see the telltale signs of electrical and water service? They are there, if you know where to look. Other examples include looking at street patterns, intentions behind buildings, ruins, foundations, historic phone booths, and many more. Some historical organizations have used this notion as a fun detective program to better serve the public and explore the community's history at the same time.