• Friday November 9, 2012
• Friday January 11, 2013 (pending funding)

Spotlighted Project: World War I Canteener Research and Manuscript

Recipient: American Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter
Funding Amount: $7,000

Project Overview
Hundreds of Minnesota women served on the French Front during World War I as volunteers for organizations such as the Red Cross. Their stories are often overlooked by history. The grand niece of Alice O'Brien, daughter of William O'Brien, has researched and developed a manuscript that combines chapters about Alice's life before and after the war with her letters home from the front during her service in France. The story is a personalized telling of what women volunteers experienced as Canteeners for the Red Cross.

Local History Newsletter Digest: Collection Corner

The following article was originally printed in "The Argus" May/June 2012, Volume 13 Number 3. Reprinted with permission from Winona County Historical Society.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History fans are up to 915, a small increase of three members since last week. In the news this week:

• Help Indiana Historical Society receive a $10,000 grant.
• Isanti County Historical Society, Cambridge MN, broke ground recently for their new building. The arson remains unsolved.
• "Small" is relative, but what can your organization take from this document and apply to your situation?
• Last call for the chance to meet Sarah Brophy in St. Cloud MN!

Interpretive Resource Coordinator
Missouri State Parks, Jefferson City MO, seeks Interpretive Resource Coordinator. Merit position; get on the register to apply for this job. Deadline: October 18, 2012.

Exhibits Manager
Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames IA, seeks part-time Exhibits Manager. Deadline: October 19, 2012.

Late for Lunch
St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth MN, presents "Late for Lunch with the History People," Friday October 12, 2012, 6-7:30 p.m., Great Hall of the Depot. Special guest is the Minnesota Paranormal Study Group (MNPSG) of Hibbing MN, a non-profit organization that investigates haunting claims. Free. Contact Julie Bolos, 218-733-7568, for more information.

Woodturning Demonstrations
As part of Saint Paul Art Crawl festivities, Gallery of Wood Art in Landmark Center, St. Paul MN, will offer free woodturning demonstrations, October 12-14, 2012. See their website for more information.

Cemetery Walk
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, hosts "Voices from the Past: Woodlawn Cemetery Walk," October 13-14, 2012. This year's theme is "Scoundrels, Scandals, and Skullduggery." Call 507-454-2723 x3 for more information.

Dakota Women's Work
Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington MN, hosts Professor Colette Hyman, author of "Dakota Women's Work," who will speak at the Historic Pond House on Sunday October 14, 2012, 2 p.m. Call 952-563-8693 for more information. 

Book Talk and Signing
Pat Lubeck, curator of Redwood County Historical Society, Redwood Falls MN, and author of "Murder in Gales, A Rose Hanged Twice," will perform two separate readings in the tiny one-cell jail where William Rose stayed the night before his execution. Join her on October 15 or 16, 2012, 3 p.m.; discussion and book signing to follow. Seating limited to 8 people; call 507-641-3329 to make your reservation.

Mapping Discussion
Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington MN, hosts Bruce White and Gwen Westerman, authors of "Mni Sota Makoce," who will speak on mapping the Dakota in the Upper Mississippi Valley, Sunday October 21, 2012, 2 p.m. Call 952-563-8693 for more information.

Annual Dessert Social/Meeting
Wright County Historical Society, Buffalo MN, will hold their 6th Annual Dessert Social, Tuesday October 23, 2012, 6:15-7 p.m. at the historical society. Tickets: $10 each or $15/two tickets; children 7 and under are free. WCHS Annual Meeting begins at 7 p.m.; free and open to the public. For more information on the social, meeting, or becoming a board member, contact Sally Stevens, 763-682-8945. 

Ghosts from the Past
Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, invites you to their annual event, "Ghosts from the Past," Friday October 26, 2012, 6:30-8 p.m. and Saturday October 27, 5-8 p.m., at Goodrich's Construction, Mankato. Theme this year is "Stills, Speakeasies, and Shady Ladies." Tickets: $7.50/adults; $5/children. Call 507-345-5566 to reserve your tickets.

Halloween Historia
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, hosts "Halloween Historia," Saturday October 27, 2012, noon to 4 p.m. This is a non-scary, fun-filled family Halloween party. Cost: $3/person. Call 320-523-8424 for more information.

Barn Quilt Tour
Carver County Historical Society, Waconia MN, offers a tour of the barn quilts of Carver County, Saturday October 27, 2012, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tour begins and ends at the historical society. Cost: $47; includes continental breakfast, bus, tour guide, other surprises. Lunch at Lola's on the Lake for an additional $20. Contact Wendy Petersen-Biorn, 952-442-4234, to register.

Annual Meeting
Register now for the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums' Annual Meeting, Friday November 9, 2012, Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake MN.

New Executive Director
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, St. Paul MN, has named Doug Gasek as its new Executive Director.

New Interim Director
Stearns History Museum and Research Center, St. Cloud MN, announces that Dr. Annette Atkins, Professor of History and Lynn Professor in the Humanities at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, has been named interim Executive Director, replacing Charlene Akers, who left the museum in September. The museum's Board of Directors will immediately begin the process of identifying a new Executive Director. They expect to make the appointment in Spring 2013.

New e-conservation issue available
Issue No. 24 (Autumn 2012) of e-conservation magazine is now online and available to read and download. This issue includes articles on conservation science, 3-D documentation, preventive conservation, practical interventions, and more.