Grants Updates
Staff reviewers will soon be reviewing the final applications submitted in the mid/large grant round last Friday. Looking ahead, the Historic Resources Advisory Committee will meet Thursday and Friday, September 6-7, 2012, in the 3M Auditorium, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN.

The next small grants deadline, for projects budgeted at $7000 or less, will be Friday August 17, 2012. Questions? Contact Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459, or John Fulton, 651-259-3467.

Spotlighted Project: Basilica Interior Moisture Testing

Recipient: The Basilica Landmark
Funding Amount: $7,000
Project Overview

Thirty monitors were installed to measure moisture readings in the upper reaches of the Basilica of St. Mary.

Local History Newsletter Digest: Jewish Migration to St. Louis Park

The following article was originally printed in "Re-Echo" Volume 11 Number 1. Reprinted with permission from the St. Louis Park Historical Society.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History fell short this week, only 3 new likes, bringing our numbers to 858. Still, not a number to sneeze at! News of note this week:

• How has your organization made history more accessible since ADA?
• QR codes--something to think about for your organization.
• 2012 AASLH Conference will be held in Salt Lake City UT this year.

Historic Program Specialist
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Des Moines IA, seeks Historic Program Specialist (Exhibits and Operations Manager). Deadline: August 3, 2012.

Executive Director
Wabasha-Kellogg Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau, Wabasha MN, seeks Executive Director. Deadline: August 10, 2012.

Education Coordinator
Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City IA, seeks part-time Education Coordinator. Position open until filled.

Development Officer
Landmark Center, St. Paul MN, seeks Development Officer--Minnesota Landmarks. Position open until filled.

Exhibit Opening
All My Relations Arts, in partnership with Minnesota Historical Society, announces the opening of "Ded Unk'unpi--We Are Here, " an art exhibit created to reflect upon the 150th anniversary of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, at All My Relations Gallery, Minneapolis MN. Opening reception Friday August 3, 2012, 5-8 p.m.

Celebration
Harkin Store, 9 miles northwest of New Ulm MN, invites the public to the 33rd Annual West Newton Day, Sunday August 5, 2012, 1-4 p.m. Descendants of West Newton's earliest settlers are invited to share stories and photographs for the event. Harkin Store is operated by Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN. Call 507-354-8666 or 507-934-2160 for more information.

Vintage Base Ball
St. Croix Base Ball Club, an award-winning program of the Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater MN, will take on the Denmark Township Demons of the Denmark Township Historical Society, Washington County MN, Sunday August 5, 2012, 1 p.m. near the demolition derby pit on the south side of the fairgrounds. Free to fairgoers. Call 651-439-5956 for more information.

Breakfast Club
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, announces their August Breakfast Club, "Butterflies of Central Minnesota," with Master Gardener Terry Krause, Wednesday August 8, 2012, 9 a.m. at the museum. Call 320-253-8424 for more information.

History Center Musical Fundraiser
Plainview Area History Center, Plainview MN, is staging an original musical called "The Prize," by Ron Manzow, August 9-11, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $12 at the door.

Friends of LeDuc Meeting
Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings will meet on Wednesday August 15, 2012, 7 p.m. at the Estate (note date change from August 14). Short business meeting will be followed by a trip to Lakeside Cemetery for the dedication of the Bateman footstone by Mayor Paul Hicks. More information available on the LeDuc Historic Estate website.

Sarah Sibley Talk
St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth MN, hosts the next Lunch with the History People, Thursday August 16, 2012, noon to 1 p.m., St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center (the Depot). David Grabitske, Manager of Outreach Services at Minnesota Historical Society, will discuss his book "Six Miles from St. Paul: The Family and Society of Sarah Jane Sibley." Call 218-733-7568 for more information.

Outlaw Run
Northfield Historical Society, Northfield MN, announces the 5th Annual Outlaw Run, Saturday August 18, 2012. For more information contact Jeff Johnson, 507-663-1075, or Hayes Scriven, 507-645-9268.

Vintage Base Ball
Rice County Historical Society, Faribault MN, announces that the Northfield Silver Stars will take on the Rochester Roosters in a vintage base ball game, Saturday August 18, 2012, 1 p.m. near the historical society, east of the Ice Arena. Contact RCHS, 507-332-2121, for more information.

Klezmer Musicians
B'nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center, Virginia MN, hosts Mark Stillman's Klezmer Band, "Klezmer and All That Jazz," Sunday August 19, 2012, 7 p.m. Free.

Women's Suffrage
Hubbard County Historical Society, Park Rapids MN, will hold their monthly meeting Monday August 27, 2012, 7 p.m. Program discussing women's suffrage in Minnesota to follow at 7:30 p.m. Call 218-732-5237 for more information.

Graphic Design Workshop
Wehr Nature Center, Franklin WI, announces a workshop entitled "Graphic Design and Writing: Graphic Design Basics for Heritage Interpreters," August 20-21, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Directors Forum
Art Museum Partnership's 2012 Directors Forum "Beyond Boundaries" will be held in New York City, October 28-30, 2012.

News Update
Two men apprehended for an attempted break-in at the Swensson Farm, Chippewa County Historical Society, Montevideo MN, have been convicted.

Cultural Landscapes and 106 Review
Learn more about Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes and Section 106 review with this handy Q&A document.

Community Gardens
Rockford Area Historical Society, Rockford MN, is joining the area's community garden project. For more information, or to sign up to tend the Ames-Florida-Stork House garden, contact Rebecca Mavencamp, 763-477-5383.

Available: Display Doors and Shelves
Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm MN, offers display doors and shelves to non-profits. One rotating display case, four metal shelving racks, and several display panel doors available, $5 each. Call Kim or Bob, 507-233-2616 by August 10, 2012.

Bad Boys Draw Crowds
Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater MN, will be exhibiting at the Washington County Fair a 19th century camera that once took photos of the most infamous residents of Minnesota. The camera was used by the Minnesota State Prison for mug shots of incoming convicts at the Stillwater Prison. 

Sinister parts of history often draw crowds, and what better places to find crowds than county fairs? Putting your organization where good numbers of people will be is part of the challenge for local history organizations seeking to grow attendance. Using stories of aberrant behavior will attract attention, and even more attention in a crowded venue. How do you use these two strategies to increase your audiences?

Photo courtesy Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater MN.