Field Note

The MALHM Mutual Assistance Team hosted an emergency response workshop at Glensheen in Duluth on September 14. Participants learned practical wet-salvage techniques for collections affected by water, including safely removing and drying documents, photographs, and artifacts. The hands-on training also addressed mold and helped collection caretakers strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery skills.

Heritage Preservation Grants

State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid Program
This grant opportunity supports capital preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, building systems, and accessibility projects at publicly owned historic properties. Sites must be National Register-listed or determined eligible for listing by SHPO, and applicants must provide a 1:1 match. Pre-applications are due January 22, 2027. Learn more »

Small Grant Deadline
Applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants quarterly small grant round (requests of $20,000 and less) will be due Friday, October 9, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions. 

OCTOBER Grants Open House
October 1 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm in order to provide additional grants support to our communities. We encourage people to RSVP to Gillian with a short summary of what you want to talk about and she will try to ensure that someone helpful will be available. Learn more »

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the Meeker County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Clowning Around
Recently, a researcher was going through some old newspapers and came across a photograph of a rather odd-looking band. When it comes to journalism, the typical rule of thumb is to answer who, what, when, where, and why, but in this 1949 edition of the Litchfield Independent Review, the paper admitted to only knowing the “who.”
The same photo is in the Museum Archives, and with a closer look and a bit of research, we were able to fill in the details.
The group in the photo is none other than the well-known and well-respected Litchfield Band. The Museum’s photo is labeled “clown band” while the newspapers called them the “Hayseed band” and “Hey Reuben,” a bit of old slang for a country bumpkin. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Northern Bedrock Returns to Work on the Pastor’s House Roof - Gammelgården Museum of Scandia
• The Printing Plant and The Parks - Minneapolis Park History
• New Renville County shaped Garden on the RCHS Museum Grounds July 2026 - Renville County Historical Society 
• Saint Paul’s Como Lake has signs to share Dakota history - Genealogy by Paula
• Triple Twin Lake - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• September Friday History: Amos Andersen Houses - Kraus-Anderson
• Unburied: Death and Mourning in the Archives - U of MN Libraries
• The Right of the People: Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence - U of MN Libraries
• The Right of the People: Anti-Fascist Propaganda, 1914-1945 - U of MN Libraries

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Robbinsdale Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Interview with Al Fenner - Browerville Legacy Museum
• Part: 3-4 The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad – Tracking the Original Line from Thomson to New Duluth - Minnesota Bricks
• What's in a Name 7 WBL South: Part 1 - White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
• Tipsinah Root - Grant County Historical Society
• History in the Making with Steve Lange, prominent fixture in local media - History Center of Olmsted County

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.

MNHS

• Google Services Administrator Hybrid - MN History Center

• Head of Enterprise Risk Management & Security - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Director - Hocokata Ti Cultural Center & Museum, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Shakopee, MN

• Head of Patron Services - Minnesota Masterpiece Hall, Winona, MN

• Marketing Assistant - American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Curator and Community Engagement Coordinator - Richard I Bong Veterans Museum, Superior, WI

• Director of Experience Design - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

• Director, Projects and Strategic Support Office - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

• IT Inventory and Solutions Support Technician - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

• Special Collections Librarian - University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

• Assistant Curator of Photography and Media Arts - Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI

• North Dakota Studies Curriculum Specialist - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND; Job ID: 3033773

• Gallery & Education Specialist - ND Heritage Center & State Museum, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND; Job ID: 3033771

• Tourism Partner Engagement Manager - Iowa Economic Development Authority, Des Moines, IA 

• Education & Program Coordinator - Journey Museum, Rapid City, SD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Assistant Director and External Affairs Officer - Organization of American Historians, Bloomington, IN

• Archivist - UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement, Northbrook, IL

• Environmental Manager (Historic Structures Reviewer) - Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, IN

• Cataloging & Archival Support Librarian - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Associate Curator - Fort Laurens, Ohio History Connection, Bolivar, OH

• Operations Program Coordinator, Partner Managed Sites - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

• Executive Director - Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH

• Director of the Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

• Development Director - Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont, OH

• Event Operations Supervisor - Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI

• Executive Assistant - Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, MI

• Museum Educator 2 - Pennsylvania Military Museum, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Boalsburg, PA 

• Exhibit Designer - Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO

• Archivist - State Historical Society of Missouri, Kansas City, MO

• Manager of Security and Visitor Experience - Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, NE

• Archivist II - Oral History: African American History Research Center, Houston Public Library, Houston, TX

• Senior Conservator (18-month Contract) - Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON

• Manager, Museum Collections - Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• MPR Archive Intern - American Public Media Group/Minnesota Public Radio, Saint Paul, MN

• Exhibit Design Intern - Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO

• Digital Communications Intern - Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Looking north on West Broadway in 1950, Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Robbinsdale Historical Society.

FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?

Storytelling from the Back Roads of Cook County
October 3 @ 2 to 4 pm - Grand Marais: Historical Alliance of Cook County - The fourth annual collaborative storytelling event brings together presenters from Cook County's historical organizations to share regional history and local lore. Speakers include cultural landscape historian Arnold R. Alanen, Gunflint Trail resident Jim Wiinanen, local historian Skip Lamb, and author Brian Tofte; topics include North Shore development, Seagull Lake resorts, and Norwegian immigration history. Learn more »

Tasty Apple Festival
October 4 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Winona: Polish Cultural Center and Museum - Celebrate Polish culture at the 2026 Tasty Apple Festival, Smaczne Jabłka, with authentic Polish food and beer, live music and dance, arts and crafts, vendors, raffle prizes, and a silent auction. Learn more » 

Introduction to Scandinavian Digital Archives
October 5 @ 1:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Genealogist Sarah Lockwood shares practical guidance for using the online archives of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Drawing on her work with AncestryHelp and training in genealogical research and investigative genetic genealogy, Lockwood will offer tips for navigating these rich but sometimes challenging resources. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Andrew Jackson
October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18 @ 12:30 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Ramsey County Library - Begin a seven-session course examining the life and legacy of Andrew Jackson, the military leader and seventh U.S. president. Sessions explore his early life and family, enslavement, duels, the War of 1812, Native American removal, presidency, political controversies, an assassination attempt, and his response to Nat Turner's rebellion. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Murder Mystery Dinner at the Dunnell House
October 17 @ 6 pm - Owatonna: Steele County Historical Society - Enjoy dinner at the historic Dunnell House, then work to solve a murder mystery. Guests receive instructions upon arrival and are encouraged to wear period attire from the 1800s through the 1960s while identifying the suspects, weapons, and culprit. Cost: $40 members; $50 general public. Learn more »

Civil War Roundtable: Duty, Danger & Destiny: Civil War Soldiers in Meeker County
October 8 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Museum - Brian Pease, Historic Site Manager, at the Minnesota State Capitol, examines the surprising number of Civil War regiments present in Meeker County, what the soldiers did while stationed there, and the fates that awaited them later in the conflict. Learn more »

Flashlight Tours at the Warden's House Museum
October 9 & 10 @ 6 to 8:30 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Take an after-dark, hour-long flashlight tour of the historic Warden's House Museum and grounds, featuring true stories of terror and tragedy connected to the original Minnesota State Prison. Hear about conflict between the Ojibwa and Dakota, rumored inmate apparitions, and the prison wardens and families who lived in the 1853 home. Tours begin at 6 pm, 6:45 pm, and 7:30 pm on both nights. Cost: $35. Learn more »

Folks of Minnesota: Portraits and Stories of LGBTQ Central Minnesotans - Artist Reception
October 9 @ 4 to 6 pm - St. Cloud: Paramount Center for the Arts - Celebrate an exhibition by photographer Max Brunner and writer Kelly Springer highlighting the beauty, grit, resilience, and lived experiences of queer people in Central Minnesota. Held during the St. Cloud Art Crawl, the reception includes refreshments and live music by Kyle Gray Young and Ida Metsberg. The exhibition is on view in Studio C now through the end of October. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Sundown Cemetery Tour Series
October 10 @ 5 to 6 pm - Cold Spring: Stearns History Museum - Take a guided evening walk through St. James Catholic Cemetery in Jacobs Prairie, with stories of the people buried there and local cemetery history. The series continues October 17 at St. Benedict's Monastic Cemetery in St. Joseph and October 24 at Big Grove Church Cemetery in Brooten; tickets include hot cocoa from Korppi Coffee and sugar cookies from Cold Spring Bakery. Cost: Free members; $10 general public. Learn more »

Duluth – Learning from Place: Anishinaabe Duluth/Misaabekong
October 10 @ 1 to 4 pm - Duluth: Minnesota Humanities Center - Experience Duluth/Misaabekong through Ojibwe and Anishinaabe perspectives during an immersive exploration of significant city sites, Indigenous knowledge, community memory, and relationships to land and water. Beginning at the Duluth Art Institute, the program considers the meaning of Misaabekong (“the place of the giant”), Ojibwe fur-trade history, and the story of Chief Buffalo. Cost: $35; complimentary registrations available to help ensure cost is not a barrier with code FEEWAIVER. Learn more »

NAHA Biennial Meeting: War, Identity, and Public Memory
October 10 @ 9 am - Northfield: Norwegian American Historical Association - Join an all-day gathering celebrating Norwegian American history through scholarship, discussion, and community. Presenters will explore Norwegian American experiences during periods of conflict, from the Civil War through World War II. Cost: Not listed. Location: St. Olaf College, Buntrock Commons Ballrooms. Cost: $80 members; $90 general public. Learn more »

Oakwood Cemetery Walking Tour
October 10 @ 10 to 11:30 am - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Explore one of Oakwood Cemetery's most historic sections while visiting the graves of notable Red Wing residents. Learn about Victorian mourning traditions, tombstone symbolism, and everyday life in 19th-century Red Wing. Location: Oakwood Cemetery. Cost: $20. Learn more »

JHSUM Annual Meeting: “Jews in Baseball”
October 11 @ 2 pm - Golden Valley: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - Keynote presenter Marshall H. Tanick examines Jewish participation in baseball from the sport's earliest years to today, including players, owners, writers, broadcasters, and the famous moment Sandy Koufax sat out the first game of the 1965 World Series for Yom Kippur. The program includes Minnesota connections, an all-time Jewish All-Star team, a Jewish baseball Hall of Fame, and a trivia quiz. Refreshments provided. Learn more »

West by Water, West by Wheel
October 13 @ 10 am - Hutchinson: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Elizabeth Williams Gomoll of Red Bird Genealogy Services presents on how 19th-century immigrants traveled across the United States. Location: McLeod County Museum of History. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Protection Spells for Perilous Times
October 13 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - Join a generative poetry-writing workshop that uses “spellcraft” and shared writing as a form of reflection, resilience, and connection during difficult times. No prior poetry or spellcraft experience is required; bring a pen. The event is open to adults 18 and older, with heavy appetizers, beverages, and validated community parking provided. Location: Pillsbury Hall, U of MN. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Clay County X-Files: Early UFOs in the Area
October 15 @ 3 to 4 pm - Moorhead: Clay County Historical Society - Explore two early regional UFO incidents—the 1897 Barnesville Airship and the 1947 “flying saucer” dogfight over Fargo—and consider what these events reveal about mass hysteria and popular culture. The presentation takes place at the Hjemkomst Center. Cost: Free. For more information email levi.magnuson@hcsmuseum.org.

It Took Courage: Eliza Winston's Quest for Freedom
October 19 @ 7 pm - Minneapolis: Linden Hills History Study Group - Author Christopher P. Lehman discusses Eliza Winston's pursuit of freedom in 1860 Minnesota, including her enslavers' effort to remove her from the Winslow House Hotel in St. Anthony to Lake Harriet. Lehman's research, grounded in primary sources nationwide, informed his 2026 Minnesota Book Award-winning nonfiction book and Hognander Minnesota History Award recognition. Cost: Free members; suggested $5 donation for non-members. Learn more » 

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Wilkin County Museum, Breckenridge, MN.

MALHM History Happy Hour
October 8 @ 5:30 to 7:30 pm  - Marshall: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Tour the Lyon County Historical Society, chat about what's going on at your organization, and enjoy food & drinks while networking with colleagues! Cost: Free. Learn more and RSVP »
Making Communities Count: Census Engagement for Local History Museums
October 13 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums & Minnesotans for the American Community Survey and 2030 Census (MACS) - Census data plays a vital role in telling the stories of our communities. Local historians understand how powerful this information can be in documenting place, people, and change over time—but what role can museums and history organizations play in supporting the collection of census data? Cost: Free. Learn more »

Documenting America Wikipedia Course
October 13 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT), Tuesdays through December 8 - Online: Wiki Education and the American Association for State and Local History - Join a free, eight-week training course designed to help history practitioners bring accurate, evidence-based information about American history and local communities to Wikipedia. Through weekly virtual sessions, expert instruction, mentorship, and collaboration with fellow participants, registrants will develop practical Wikipedia editing and research-dissemination skills. The course supports the History & Democracy Initiative’s effort to strengthen the depth, completeness, and integrity of historical content on a platform used by hundreds of millions of readers. Participants will learn how to share their organization’s expertise, improve well-sourced public history information, and help audiences better understand the complexity and value of history. Cost: Free. Learn more & register » 

FREE Upcoming Midwest Art Conservation Center Workshop 
Free to Minnesota Residents. Funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. 

In-Person Safe Storage: Making Boxes + Mounts for Collections
October 15 to 16 @ 10 am to 4:30 pm. This two-day, hands-on workshop introduces stable and inert materials for collection storage and display, along with the protective and environmental benefits of storage enclosures. Participants will learn basic box-making skills, create a tool-storage box and a custom box and support for an example or personal collection item, and leave with a starter set of box-making tools. Led by preventive conservator Bailey Kinsky, the workshop is geared toward library and archival materials but applies to all collection types. Location: St. Olaf College Archives, Northfield, MN. Cost: Free Minnesota residents; $600 nonresidents. Learn more »

Now Open: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Call for Session Proposals

The call for session proposals for the 2027 MALHM Annual Conference in St. Cloud is now officially open! MALHM is seeking proposals for sessions which will be held on Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15, 2027. 

The annual conference is designed for, but not limited to: history museum volunteers, paid staff, board members, and history/museum students. Topics are expected to address a broad range of work typically found in small to mid-sized local history organizations (operating a museum, archive, historic site or house, etc.). Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Video: Museums on Call – Case Studies in Healthcare Partnerships - Association of Midwest Museums

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Minnesota History Awards
Accepting Applications September 30, 2026 - January 13, 2027
Projects must be completed from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026 for the 2027 awards year. 

Since 2009, the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums has recognized outstanding history work by local organizations at its Annual Meeting. A formal nomination process is conducted and reviewed by a panel of peers to determine award recipients. There are two award programs: the Minnesota History Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Learn more »

Award Categories:

• Behind-the-Scenes

• Collections

• Civic Engagement & Public Celebrations

• Publications

• Interpretive Programs

• Lifetime Achievement

2026 Mike Colalillo Medal of Honor Scholarship
Deadline - October 19, 2026: Veterans Memorial Hall, St. Louis County Historical Society - This scholarship is open to any full-time student in a higher education institution in St. Louis County, or a resident who is a full-time student enrolled elsewhere. Scholarship applicants are required to submit a 4 to 10-page double-spaced research paper on a topic relevant to veterans of St. Louis County, MN. Amount: $1,500. See a full list of requirements and learn more » 

Community Possible Grants
Deadline - Ongoing: U.S. Bank Foundation - Access to Artistic and Cultural Programming & Arts Education funding includes programs that provide access to cultural activities, the visual and performing arts, museums, zoos and aquariums, and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities; funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community; programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts; and programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers. Learn more »

Museums, Science Centers, and Cultural Institutions Grants
Deadline - Ongoing: National Federation of the Blind and Tactile Images will underwrite up to 50 percent of the cost of their tactile exhibition displays using Tactile Images’ technology. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Wilkin County Historical Society Museum, Breckenridge, MN (1981). View additional photos on Instagram »
This section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.

MN Digital Newspaper Hub - September 2026 Content Update
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 8,021 new issues and 95,645 new newspaper pages.
New publicly available titles & date spans:

• Stillwater evening gazette (Stillwater, Minn.) 1964-1967 added

• Stillwater weekly gazette (Stillwater, Minn.) 1964-1967 added

• Tribune-herald (Chisholm, Minn.) 1924-1931 added

• Hibbing daily news (Hibbing, Minn.) 1922-1927

• St. Louis County independent (Hibbing, Minn.) 1922-1944

• Eveleth clarion (Eveleth, Minn.) 1923-1941 added

• Lauderdale village crier (Lauderdale, Minn.) 1966-1970

• Flashlight (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1928-1929

• Warroad advocate (Warroad, Minn.) 2019

• Minnesota border patrol (Mercedes, Tex.) 1916

• Maple Grove watchman (Maple Grove, Minn.) 1970

• ADA world. Minnesota ed. (Washington, D.C.) 1947

• Anoka journal (Anoka, Minn.) 1875-1876

New issues for the years 1989-2025 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library. 

Beaver dam threatening water levels near historic buildings at Scandia's Gammelgården Museum
CBS News - A beaver dam near one of the most historic sites in Scandia, Minnesota, is raising concerns about what higher water levels could mean for buildings that have stood for more than 150 years. At Gammelgården Museum of Scandia, the focus is on protecting historic structures near the water, including a barn dating back to the 1860s and 1870s. Continue reading »

Historic signs found hidden under roof of Lindstrom home bring back memories of local landmark
CBS News - The town of Lindstrom, Minnesota, is known for its unique water tower, but an unlikely discovery is bringing back memories of another landmark. Continue reading »

Memorial project explores the lives of fallen Soudan miners
The Timberjay - ...The Herbert R. Lamppa Civic Center was packed for the presentation, which followed the annual meeting of the Tower-Soudan Historical Society. At the front of the room were binders containing the results of five years of research into every man known to have died in or near the Soudan Mine between 1884 and 1957... Continue reading »

Featured Book An Ojibwe Home in the City: White Earth Women and Community Organizing in Minneapolis, by Sasha Maria Suarez University of Minnesota Press. Book Launch Event Date: October 13 @ 7 pm Location: Birchbark Bizhiw, 1629 Hennepin Avenue #275	Featured Article Minnesota History Fort Pillow "Massacre": Observations of a Minnesotan Volume 43, Issue 1, 1973	Featured Article MNopedia Hussein Samatar (1964–2013) Featured MNopedia Article	Inclusion & Community Engagement News, Resources & Events  Featured story: Descendants retrace African American family history in Fergus Falls Fall edition

Minnesota History Organizations Directory  • County, Chapters, and Local • Statewide/Topical Historical • Regional History Coalitions • Professional Organizations	Minnesota Main Streets Reinvigorate your community's commercial district.	2026 Exhibits To Go! MNHS Traveling Exhibits Now accepting applications.	Preservation Specialists Directory Look up products or services.

Local History News is produced by the Minnesota Local History Services Office, a service of the Minnesota Historical Society since 1916, which assists local historical organizations in preserving and making accessible Minnesota history and cultural heritage.
Services include: On-site, online, phone, and e-mail consultation; Professional development; and Grants.

Subscribe to Local History News
Use Local History News as part of your online tools to stay connected to your colleagues while working from home. Know someone who could benefit from this newsletter?
Have them sign up »