Listening Sessions Scheduled
Minnesota Historical Society has scheduled five listening sessions to be held throughout Minnesota in December. MHS seeks Minnesotans' feedback on the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF), asking "What do you think history should look like in 20 years because of the investment we make in Minnesota with these funds?" 

Lyon County Historical Society, Marshall MN, hosts the first two sessions on December 4, 2012. The morning session, 10:30 a.m. to noon, is open to people currently working in a history-related field. The second session, 1-2:30 p.m., is open to the general public. RSVP for either session by contacting Nancy Franke Wilson, 763-360-3875. 

Upcoming Small Grants Round
The Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grants program is coming to the end of the biennium for funding; however, the Grants Office will have a January 2013 grants round with a deadline of Friday January 11, 2013. Watch the grants website's deadlines page and Local History News for further updates on the program.

Spotlighted Project: J. Neils/Red Lake Indian Sawmill Observatory/Canopy

Recipient: Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers, Inc.
Funding Amount: $45,000
Project Details

The grant was used to hire a qualified contractor through a competitive bidding process to construct a protective overhead canopy in order to preserve the J. Neils/Red Lake (Ojibwe Nation) Sawmill and equipment.

Facebook Findings

So close--18 to go to reach 1000! Minnesota Local History jumped another 20 likes this week to top out at 982! News of note this week:

• How did your organization do on Give to the Max Day?
• Anyone interested in transcribing diaries for Edina Historical Society?
• Update on the Le Sueur County Historical Society court case.
• Congratulations to Norma Hanson for receiving a lifetime achievement award.

Curator of Programs
Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Duluth, seeks Curator of Programs.

Assistant/Associate Curator of Textiles
Minneapolis Institute of Arts seeks Assistant or Associate Curator of Textiles.

Exhibition Project & Client Relationship Manager
Exhibits Development Group, St. Paul MN and Washington D.C., seeks Exhibition Project & Client Relationship Manager.

New Exhibit
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, hosts "Art from Above: A Quilt and Fiber Art Exhibit," November 23, 2012 through February 28, 2013. Admission: $5; members free. Call 320-253-8424 for more information.

New Exhibit
Minnesota Historical Society opens a new exhibit "Then Now Wow" at the History Center, St. Paul, MN, Friday November 23, 2012.

NPR Listening Party
KMSU Radio and Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN, invite anyone interested in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 to come to a free listening event Sunday November 25, 2012 on the campus of MSU-Mankato; doors open 12:30 p.m., program begins at 1 p.m. Mankato native John Biewen will be the featured audio documentarian on NPR's "This American Life." Seating is limited; RSVP to James Gullickson or call 507-389-5678.

Military Dog Tag Program
Throughout the month of November 2012, Veterans' Memorial Hall, Duluth MN, invites the public to go to one of the four Burger King locations in the Twin Ports to purchase a dog tag for $1, or a gold dog tag for $5, and then write the name of any veteran on the dog tag. All the dog tags will be on temporary display in the Great Hall of the Depot after the campaign is done in December. Contact Dan Hartman, 218-733-7500, for more information.

Exhibit Events
Wright County Historical Society, Buffalo MN, hosts several events related to law enforcement throughout the week of November 26, 2012. These programs coincide with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit "The Way We Worked." Contact Sally Stevens, 763-682-7323, for more information.

Bag Lunch Program
Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet MN, announces the next Noontime Bag Lunch program, Wednesday November 28, 2012. The talk will be on traditional Ojibwe governance and complements the "Why Treaties Matter" traveling exhibit. Call 218-879-1938 for more information.

Book Talk and Signing
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, hosts Wayne Jorgenson, author of "Every Man Did His Duty: Pictures & Stories of The Men of the First Minnesota," November 29, 2012, 7 p.m. at the History Center. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

U.S.-Dakota War Discussion
Local historian and author Bryce Stenzel will release his newest playbook "...We Cannot Escape History..." Abraham Lincoln's Trials by Fire," at a special book release event, Saturday December 1, 2012, Blue Earth County Heritage Center, Mankato MN, 1-4 p.m. For more information visit the Boy in Blue Memorial Project or call 507-345-5566.

Traveling Exhibit Opening
Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, will host the traveling exhibit "Commemorating Controversy: The Dakota-U.S. War of 1862," December 1-31, 2012. Free and open to the public. Call 507-345-5566 for more information.

Victorian Style Christmas
Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, hosts "Christmas at the Hubbard House 2012," December 1, 2012 from 3-7 p.m. and December 2, 2012, 1-4 p.m. Call 507-345-5566 for more information.

LeDuc Victorian Holidays
Enjoy the magic of the season at LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, on December 1, 2, 8, and 9, 2012. Guided tours of the Gothic Revival mansion will be available. Call 651-437-7055 for more information.

Candlelight House Tour
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, announces their annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour, Sunday December 2, 2012, 3-8 p.m. Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels will participate this year as they celebrate the centennial of Saint Mary's University. Tickets: $10/WCHS members; $12/general public. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Illustrated History
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, presents "History Sundays with Steve Stark," an illustrated history program series for all ages at the Hjemkomst Center. Stark tells stories about people in history while drawing on a 30-foot roll of paper. Programs are on Sundays, 1 p.m., December through February, beginning Sunday December 2, 2012. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Victorian Dinner
LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, hosts a four-course Victorian dinner Sunday December 2, 2012, 4 p.m. Cost: $50/DCHS members; $60/nonmembers. Call 651-437-7055 for reservations.

Fingerprints and Footnotes Club
Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, announces their next Fingerprints and Footnotes Club program, "The Dakota Uprising: A Pictorial History," by Curtis Dahlin, Tuesday December 4, 2012 6 p.m. Contact BECHS, 507-345-5566, for more information.

Veterans Remembrance Dinner
Veterans' Memorial Hall, Duluth MN, invites the public to the Veterans Remembrance Dinner, Thursday December 6, 2012, 5 p.m., Great Hall of the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center. This event honors our local Global War on Terror Veterans. Keynote speaker: retired Command Sergeant Major John Werner. Tickets: $35; reserve by calling 218-733-7500.

MAP Deadline
Museum Assessment Program is an IMLS-funded program available to small and mid-sized museums of all types. Applications due December 1, 2012.

CAP Deadline
Heritage Preservation's Conservation Assessment Program provides a general conservation assessment of a museum's collection, environmental conditions, and site. Applications due December 3, 2012.

Sustainability Survey
American Alliance of Museums' PIC-Green committee would like to know more about what historical organizations are using to implement sustainability in their operations and buildings. Please take their short survey by November 30, 2012.

Award Nominations Due
Reminder! National Council on Public History's Award Nominations are due December 1, 2012.

New DAR Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution are forming a new chapter in the Northeast Metro area. Join them for an informational meeting, Saturday December 1, 2012, 2 p.m., Shoreview Library, Shoreview MN. Contact DeeDee Edlund for more information.

Save the Date
Join Union Depot, St. Paul MN, in celebrating completion of construction at the historic depot and the start of Metro Transit bus service, Saturday December 8, 2012, 10 a.m.

Swedish Emigration Survey
Stefania Forlani is an Italian student writing her dissertation on Swedish emigration to the United States. If you are of Swedish descent and live in Minnesota, please take her online survey.

Podcast Project
An oral history walking tour podcast is now available for the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden, Como Conservatory, St. Paul MN.

Northfield Historical Society, Northfield MN, announces the latest publication in their Northfield History Series: "Dear Santa," letters from the Northfield News from 1902-1945, compiled by Jeff Sauve. The book was released November 19, and NHS will hold a book signing at the Museum Store on Thursday December 13, 2012, 6 p.m. Northfield Senior Center hosts a signing on December 19, 2012, 3 p.m. Books available at Northfield Historical Society.

The Northfield History Series is strongly supported by the family of Barbara A. Will, who was an NHS board member and past president. Support such as this helps historical organizations bring quality programming and materials to the public.