Olivia's World's Largest Ear of Corn this week replaces the number "1" on the First National Bank Building high above the City of St. Paul, but nothing can replace AASLH as the #1 national state and local history organization. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from the nation as it gathers in St. Paul to learn from all of you. Make plans to attend the annual meeting on September 17-20, 2014! Minnesotans--get ready to apply for a scholarship in January and April. We're just planting a seed here...

Session Proposals are due November 15, 2013. Showcase your skills and professional knowledge to a national audience!  

Watch for more of the state's Larger Than Life Residents to visit St. Paul preparing us all for our national colleagues to arrive next year. Check out the attendance (including 23 from Minnesota) who will be at this year's conference this week in Birmingham, AL.

Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grants

Mid/Large Final Applications Due

If your organization submitted a pre-application for the mid/large Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grants program, you should have received an email with reviewer feedback on your proposal. Final applications are due by September 27, 2013. If you have questions on your application's content, please contact the reviewer listed in your letter. General program questions can go to the Grants Office. 

Spotlighted Project: Winona Armory Battlement Reconstruction

From the Blog

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History's 1250 fans have some 'must-needs' reads this week:

• Indiana Historical Society is publishing an online museum-themed graphic novel.
• Northfield Historical Society preserves a memento of a Civil War Soldier.

Around the Blogosphere

• ​Today, September 18, 2013, Ask a Curator takes place on Twitter. Ask museum curators all those curatorial questions you've been curious about.
• National Parks see the need to boost minority visitation.
• Are there too many public history programs? Too many public historians for the jobs available? 

Job Opportunities

Heritage Byway Coordinator
Prairie Rivers of Iowa, Ames IA, seeks Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Coordinator. Deadline: September 20, 2013. 

Museum Collections Cataloger
Missouri History Museum, St. Louis MO, seeks Museum Collections Cataloger. Deadline: September 30, 2013.

Do History Here

Railroad History

Steele County Historical Society, Owatonna MN, presents a lecture by Rev. Steve Seidler on the history of "Churches on the Rails," Thursday September 19, 2013, 7 p.m. at the history center. Call 507-451-1420 for more information. 

Pioneer Family Day

Carver County Historical Society, Waconia MN, invites the public to their Pioneer Family Day, Saturday September 21, 2013, noon to 3 p.m. Free. Call 952-442-4234 for more information. 

History Meeting

Hamline-Midway History Corps, St. Paul MN, invites the public to their monthly meeting on Saturday September 21, 2013, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 2-4 p.m.

Lecture Series

Ramsey County Library--Roseville will host a series of lectures: "World War II: Warriors Behind the Legends," Sundays September 22 and 29; October 6 and 13, 2013, 2 p.m. Call 651-724-6022 for more information.  

Genealogy and the Internet

Ramsey County Library--White Bear Lake, hosts certified genealogist Tom Rice, who will explain how to do effective genealogy searches on the Internet, Wednesday September 25, 2013, 2 p.m. Program presented by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society. Call 651-724-6022 for more information. 

Lunchbox History Program
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, announces the final Lunchbox History Series program of 2013, Thursday September 26, 2013, noon. Hormel Foods Corporation archivist Charity Lifka will discuss the contributions of Hormel Foods at home during World War II. Call 507-437-6082 for more information. 

Rock'n Sock Hop

Winona County Historical Society's "MP and the History Hotties" will be dancing at Gotta Dance's 5th Annual "Dancing with Winona Stars," to raise funds for the historical society. WCHS will host a Rock'n Sock Hop as a fundraiser kickoff, Friday September 27, 2013, 7-10 p.m. at the History Center. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Civil War Cemetery Tour

Boy in Blue Memorial Project Committee, Mankato MN, sponsors the Glenwood Civil War Cemetery Tour, Saturday September 28, 2013, 1-3 p.m. (rain date September 29). Contact Julie for more information.

Rhineland Dinner

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, hosts a German Rhineland dinner as a fundraiser for the museum, Saturday September 28, 2013, 6 p.m. at the Hjemkomst Center. Tickets $50/person. Contact Tim Jorgensen, 218-299-5511 x6737, for more information. 

Fall Harvest Celebration

Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, invites the public to their Fall Harvest Celebration, Saturday September 28, 2013, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lots of family-friendly activities. Free. Call 507-437-6082 for more information.

Preserving Family Treasures
Carver County Historical Society, Waconia MN, announces the how-to program "Preserving Your Family Treasures," Saturday September 28, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Free. Call 952-442-4234 for more information.

History and Art

Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings and Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council offer an eclectic mix of art, entertainment, and education at the LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, Saturday September 28, 2013, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 651-208-6665 for more information.

Barn Dance

Maplewood Area Historical Society, Maplewood MN, invites the public to a square dance, Saturday September 28, 2013, Bruentrup Heritage Farm, 6-10 p.m. Admission: $7/adults; $5/children. Call 651-426-4718 for more information. 

Walking Tour

Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, hosts a Front Street Walking Tour, October 1, 2013, 6-8 p.m. Contact Shelley, 507-345-5566, for more information. 

Historic Pub Crawl

Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, hosts the North Front Street Historic Pub Crawl, Friday October 4, 2013, 6 p.m. Cost: $15/members; $20/nonmembers. Space is limited; call to reserve a spot, 507-345-5566.

Docomomo Tour Event

Docomomo US/MN presents Minnesota Modern Tour Day, Saturday October 5, 2013, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance ticket sales available online.

Ghosts from the Past

Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato MN, will hold their 27th Annual Ghosts from the Past event, "A Slough Full of Stories," Friday October 18, 2013, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday October 19, 5-8 p.m., at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Mankato. Tickets: $7.50/adults; $5/children. Space is limited; contact BECHS, 507-345-5566, to reserve tickets. 

Continuing Education

Deadline Extended!

Registration for the 2013 AASLH Online Conference has been extended until midnight tonight, Wednesday September 18, 2013. 

Window Workshop

Fort Dodge Historic Preservation Commission, Fort Dodge IA, hosts "Old Windows Aren't a Pane--They are a Goldmine," October 18, 2013. Call 515-574-1293 or 800-362-2793 x1293 for more information. 

AASLH Session Proposals

American Association for State and Local History is accepting session proposals for the 2014 AASLH Annual Meeting in St. Paul MN. Deadline: November 15, 2013. 

News

Sustainability Survey

National Council on Public History invites history professionals to take a short survey to gauge the current level of concern about issues of environmental sustainability.

Advocacy Handbook Available
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits announces that the second edition of "The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofits" is now available.

Congratulations
...to the hard working volunteers of the Monongalia Historical Society on packing up 150+ years of history in just two weeks. Local history folks are amazing and resilient and adaptable. We stand in awe of all that local history accomplishes on a daily basis.

Extra Issue Available
Common-Place recently posted an extra issue online: Volume 13, No. 04.5 (September 2013).

Fund Your Mission

Lake Region Grants

Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) is accepting applications for the LRAC Fall Legacy Grant Round. Eligible counties include: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin. Deadline: midnight, Tuesday October 8, 2013. Call 800-262-2787 for more information.

IMLS Grants Deadline
Institute for Museum and Library Service (IMLS) is accepting applications in five museum grant programs. Deadline for each: December 2, 2013:

• Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
• Museums for America
• National Leadership Grants for Museums
• Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services
• Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums

Field Note

History organizations are future-focused. We collect today so that tomorrow understands its past and lives a richer life knowing its history. History organizations also remember to look ahead for important dates in the future, and then help us remember to observe them. With 100 days left to the possible Christmas shopping season, looking ahead can clear some inventory as well. 

Featured Book

Mr. Teacher, by Ozzie Tollefson.

Register now for one of the online Orientation Webinars

About

The Minnesota Local History Services Office, a service of the Minnesota Historical Society since 1916, assists local historical societies, museums, libraries and archives to preserve and make accessible Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

Services include:

•   Onsite, phone and e-mail
     consultation

•   Professional development

•   Grants

•   Local History News e-newsletter

•   MN Local History on Facebook

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