Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Fast Track Grants Deadline
Small grants deadline (up to $7,000) is this Friday July 30, 2010. See the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants website for more information and application materials. Contact the Grants Office with questions. Hurry, grant deadlines will continue until October 29 or until all the money is granted. Don't delay applying.

From the Blog

Favorite Children (1 new post) - Pru Lolich from Hibbing Historical Society details how all citizens can be honored in Hibbing.

Looking Ahead (1 new post) - The Harvard Business Review offers insight on choosing a new CEO. How might this inform the search for the new director of the Minnesota Historical Society?

Recession Toll on Museum Workers (new discussion) - American Association of Museums released a study that shows how the economic downturn has short-staffed museums. Are not museums frequently understaffed regardless of economy?

Museums Cost How Much? (new discussion) - An analysis of museum construction projects in AAM's Museum Magazine shows an average cost per square foot of $771.69 for projects 2003-2010, but for Minnesota it was $278.43.

Job Opportunities

Project Archivist
University of Minnesota Twin Cities seeks Project Archivist. Deadline: July 30, 2010.

Assistant Historic Site Supervisor
State Historical Society of North Dakota seeks Assistant Historic Site Supervisor. Deadline: July 30, 2010.

Museum Keeper
Sauk County Historical Society, Baraboo WI, seeks part-time Museum Keeper. Deadline: August 2, 2010.

Consultant
American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis MN, seeks Library/Archives Collections Management Consultant. Deadline: August 6, 2010.

Librarian/Archivist
American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis MN, seeks Librarian/Archivist. Deadline: August 6, 2010.

Activities Coordinator
Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa IA, seeks Activities Coordinator. Deadline: August 8, 2010.

Office/Gift Shop Manager
National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa IA, seeks Manager. Deadline: August 15, 2010.

1st Hand
Minnesota Opera, Minneapolis MN, seeks 1st Hand to assist Draper/Tailor. Deadline: August 27, 2010.

Events and Volunteer Director
Salisbury House and Gardens, Des Moines IA, seeks full-time Events and Volunteer Director.

Assistant Director
Fillmore County Historical Society, Fountain MN, seeks part-time Assistant Director. Position open until filled.

Do History Here

Baseball Talk
Ramsey County Historical Society hosts "A Brief Look at the Negro Leagues," a talk by Frank White about the legacy of Minnesota Black Baseball. Thursday July 29, 2010, 6:30 p.m., Landmark Center Courtroom 317. Visit the RCHS website for more information.

Book Talk
Author Kerck Kelsey will speak about his new book "Prairie Lightning" about William Drew Washburn at Dakota County Historical Society on Thursday August 5, 2010, 7 p.m. Contact Chad Roberts, 651-552-7548, with questions.

Hastings Walking Tour
Vermillion Falls Walking Tour offered on Saturday August 7, 2010, 10 a.m. by LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings. Reservations required; contact LeDuc Historic Estate, 651-437-7055.

New Prague Walking Tour
Scott County Historical Society hosts a walking tour of historic Main Street in downtown New Prague, Saturday August 7, 2010, 9 a.m. Limited space; register with SCHS, 952-445-0378.

Friends of LeDuc Meeting
Join Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings on Tuesday August 10, 2010, 7 p.m. at the LeDuc Historic Estate. Ken Roen portrays Abraham Lincoln for the evening program. Call 651-437-3365 with questions.

Exhibit Opening
Join the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County on August 10, 2010, 7 p.m. at the opening reception for two new immigration exhibits. "Coming to Clay County: 150 Years of Immigration" runs through October 2011. "Augustus Frederick Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits, 1905-1920" is a traveling exhibit on display through September 12, 2010. Call 218-299-5511 for information.

Voyageur Canoe Tours
Frontenac State Park near Red Wing offers voyageur canoe tours on Saturday August 14, 2010. Ride and paddle in one of two 10-person canoes while guides share stories from early explorers. Register at the park office or by calling 651-345-3401.

1940s Hangar Dance
Scott County Historical Society sponsors a 1940s Hangar Dance on Saturday September 25, 2010, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Call now for tickets, 952-445-0378.

Continuing Education

Leadership Certificate Series
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers two leadership series for nonprofit professionals. Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Series is designed for nonprofit staff who seek a broad overview of nonprofit management. Volunteer Impact Leadership Training Series is designed to increase skills and abilities in working with volunteers. Sign up for individual courses or take the whole series and receive a certificate.

AASLH Online Meeting
Registration is open for American Association of State and Local History's 2010 Online Conference, September 22 to 24, 2010. Great professional training for a low cost.

News

America's Great Outdoors
Listening sessions are being held this summer for public input on America's Great Outdoors, a new initiative promoting community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces. Minneapolis hosts one session at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on Wednesday August 4, 2010, 4 to 7:30 p.m. Contact Chris Morris at the National Trust if you plan to attend.

American Heritage Grants
Grants through the American Heritage Preservation Program are available for FY 2011. Deadline: September 15, 2010.

Statewide Historic Preservation Conference
Winona County Historical Society hosts the 30th Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, September 16-17, 2010. Registration information online.

Lead Paint Rules Updated
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated its rules regarding the treatment of lead paint. Read the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Lead Paint Guide online.

Big Ideas Newsletter
Small Museums Committee of the American Association for State and Local History offers a quarterly email "Big Ideas for Small Museums." Join the AASLH Small Museum Affinity Group to sign up.

New History Center Opens
Winona County Historical Society recently celebrated the opening of the Laird Norton Addition on July 18, 2010. WCHS also celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.  

Field Note

It's a mystery! Canadian Consulate seeks tapestry presented to the State of Minnesota in February 1979 during a visit of the Canadian Ambassador to the United States. It hung for a while in the State Capitol, then was sent to a county museum for exhibit and possibly storage.

The photo shows the tapestry with former MHS director Russell Fridley. Does anyone know the whereabouts of this tapestry? Contact Linda McShannock (651-259-3255) with details.