MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES JUNE LEGACY GRANT RECIPIENTS

ST. PAUL (July 31, 2014) – The Minnesota Historical Society announces 68 recipients of Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants (up to $10,000 each) totaling $420,777 in 35 counties. The grants are awarded quarterly to help non-profit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations preserve and share Minnesota history.

“Demand for this program continues to grow," said David Grabitske, MNHS manager of outreach services. "With 68 new projects, this is the greatest number of Legacy grant awards made in a single cycle. The activities funded are the kind of urgent and supplemental activities made possible through the Legacy Amendment."

A number of grants in this cycle were awarded to support scholarships to attend the national meeting of the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), which will be held in St. Paul Sept. 17-20.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

Small Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Recipients

Recipients of small grants (up to $10,000) from the June 2014, deadline cycle are listed by county, in alphabetical order below. Each project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. AASLH conference scholarships are listed as a group below.

Brown County, Brown County Historical Society, $10,000

Acquisition of Microfilm Reader/Printer: To broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.

Brown County, Minnesota German-Bohemian Heritage Society, $9,500

The Persistence of German Bohemian Culture in Brown County: To document in 12 oral history interviews the history of German Bohemians in Brown County.

Carver County, Carver County Historical Society, $ 8,155

Conservation of German Reading Society Banner: To hire a qualified conservator to restore a significant collections piece.

Chippewa County, Chippewa County Historical Society, $10,000

Installation of Alarm System at Historic Chippewa City: To protect the collections from theft.

Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, $6,244

Rehousing the HCS Oversize Collection: To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Clearwater County, Clearwater County Historical Society, $6,375

Exhibit Lighting Evaluation and Redesign: To hire a qualified museum lighting professional to develop a museum lighting plan.

Dakota County, City of Northfield (Northfield Hospital and Clinics), $9,917

History of the Northfield City Hospital, 1910-2010: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of the Northfield City Hospital.

Dodge County, Dodge County, $10,000

Wasioja Ruins Conditions Assessment and Treatment Plan: To hire qualified professionals to conduct a conditions assessment of the Wasioja Seminary, a contributing part of the Wasioja Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hennepin County, AirSpace Minnesota, $7,420

AirSpace Minnesota: Artifact Storage and Collections Rehousing: To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Hennepin County, Minnesota Newspaper Foundation, $3,600

Audience Analysis Summer 2014 State Fair Exhibit: To hire a qualified consultant to conduct an audience analysis of visitors during the State Fair.

Hennepin County, Dunwoody College of Technology, $9,000

Exploring Dunwoody's Place in Local and National History: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of Dunwoody College.

Hennepin County, Hennepin County Library, $5,100

General Collections Needs Assessment Survey: To hire professional conservators to assess historically significant collections and write a long-range preservation plan.

Hennepin County, Seward Neighborhood Group, $10,000

History of the Seward Neighborhood, Phase 2: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript on the history of the Seward Neighborhood in Minneapolis.

Hennepin County, Minnesota Council on Foundations, $9,797

Minnesota Philanthropy Oral History Project: To document in 8 oral history interviews the history of philanthropy in Minnesota.

Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District, $9,000

National Register Nomination, Schmid Farmstead Ruins, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination of the farmstead ruins to the National Register of Historic Places.

Hennepin County, Weavers Guild of Minnesota, $10,000

History of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota Publication: To hire qualified professionals to publish a book on the history of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota.

Hennepin County, DOCOMOMO-US-MN, $8,000

Symposium Planning and Management Services: To hire qualified professionals to research and assemble materials specific to historic preservation in Minnesota preparatory to a national preservation conference.

Kandiyohi County, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, $9,095

Oral History of Downtown Willmar: To document in seven oral history interviews the history of downtown Willmar residents and businesses.

Lake County, Arts on Superior, $10,000

Walking Tour Booklets of the Historic Two Harbors Waterfront: To hire qualified professionals to produce a booklet on the history of the Two Harbors waterfront.

Murray County, Murray County Historical Society, $9,560

Murray County Museum Photograph Collection Cataloging Project: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Nobles County, Nobles County Historical Society, $8,500

National Register Nomination for Two Properties in Nobles County: To hire a qualified historian to complete nominations to the National Register of Historic Places for the Nobles County War Memorial Building and Worthington Chautauqua Park Band Shell.

Pine County, Pine County Historical Society, $9,750

Collections Inventory Preparation: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Pine County, Audubon Center of the North Woods, $9,500

Schwyzer Lodge Beam and Joist Repair: To hire qualified professionals to repair joists and beams on the Schwyzer Lodge, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ramsey County, City of Saint Paul (Parks and Recreation), $10,000

Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom Natural and Cultural History Guide, Phase 2: To hire qualified professionals to produce a teacher guidebook for Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom.

Ramsey County, Maplewood Area Historical Society, $10,000

3M and Maplewood Exhibit Plan: To hire a qualified consultant to write an exhibit plan for an exhibit exploring the relationship between 3M and Maplewood.

Ramsey County, Maritime Heritage Minnesota, $9,625

White Bear Lake Nautical Archaeology Project, Phase 1: To determine the nature of objects discovered through marine archaeology research in White Bear Lake.

Redwood County, Lower Sioux Indian Community, $10,000

Cultural and Medicinal Plants of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Southwestern Minnesota: To hire a qualified historian to research the history of cultural and medicinal plants specific to the Lower Sioux Indian Community in southwestern Minnesota.

Renville County, Hector Historical Center, $3,547

Collections Inventory: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Rice County, Independent School District #659, $9,994

A History of the Northfield Public Schools 1855-2010: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript.

Rice County, Northfield Historical Society, $9,735

General Archives Data Entry Improvement: To gain intellectual and physical control of archival materials held in public trust.

Rice County, City of Morristown, $3,900

Historic Property Evaluation of the Morristown Mill and Millrace: To hire a qualified consultant to evaluate the Morristown Mill and Millrace for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Scott County, Scott County Historical Society, $10,000

Scott County Biking & Walking Tours Research Phase: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of Scott County.

Sibley County, City of Gaylord, $7,500

Developing Gaylord's Historic Preservation Ordinance: To hire a qualified consultant to create a historic preservation ordinance for the City of Gaylord.

St. Louis County, Dorothy Molter Foundation and Museum, $9,980

Basic Archives Processing of Dorothy Molter's Personal Papers: To gain intellectual and physical control of archival materials held in public trust.

St. Louis County, Minnesota Discovery Center, $900

MNopedia Entries, Mesaba Co-op Park and John T. Bernard: To create two Iron Range entries for the MNopedia project for online research.

St. Louis County, Minnesota Discovery Center, $8,240

Inventory of Exhibits Phase 4: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

St. Louis County, Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center, $5,000

Safe Haven Oral History Project: To document in 10 oral history interviews the history of battered women's services and shelter in Duluth.

Stearns County, St. Cloud State University, $9,996

Building Chronologies and Collaboration through Archaeological Research in Lake County, MN: To hire a qualified archaeologist to conduct a survey of four archaeological sites to determine dates of earliest human occupation.

Steele County, Steele County Historical Society, $9,457

“Museum of Professions” Collection Management: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Steele County, Steele County Historical Society, $9,755

Textile Collection Cataloging and Record Update: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Wabasha County, City of Lake City, $10,000

South Oak Street Local Historic District Nomination: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination for a local historic district along South Oak Street in Lake City.

Waseca County, Waseca County Historical Society, $9,640

Implementation of Timeline Exhibit Panels: To hire consultants to develop and install an exhibit on Waseca County history.

Waseca County, Waseca County Historical Society, $5,900

National Register Nomination, Hofmann Farm and Apiaries, Waseca: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Hofmann Farm and Apiaries, Waseca.

Winona County, Winona County Historical Society, $7,131

Acquire Primary Resources on Microfilm: To add 82 rolls of microfilmed newspapers and Alien Registration and Declaration of Holding Forms to broaden public accessibility to primary records.

Winona County, Polish Cultural Institute, $9,985

Collections Inventory, Phase 4: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.

Yellow Medicine County, City of Canby, $9,385

Acquisition of Microfilm Reader/Printer: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.

Yellow Medicine County, City of Canby, $10,000

Historic Canby Theatre Marquee Restoration: To hire qualified professionals to repair the marquee on the historic Canby Theatre, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Small Legacy Grants were provided to the following organizations for professional development scholarships for two staff members to attend the American Association for State and Local History National Conference in St. Paul, Sept. 17-20, 2014.

Anoka County, Anoka County Historical Society, $1,117

Blue Earth County, Blue Earth County Historical Society, $865

Dodge County, Mantorville Restoration Association, $1,455

Hennepin County, City of Edina, $1,085

Hennepin County, Eden Prairie Historical Society, $570

Hennepin County, Minnesota Veterinary Historical Museum, $620

Mille Lacs County, Milaca Area Historical Society, $675

Murray County, Murray County, $1,487 (one staff member)

Murray County, Murray County Historical Society, $2,202

Otter Tail County, Otter Tail County Historical Society, $1,000

Pipestone County, Pipestone County Historical Society, $2,178

Ramsey County, City of Maplewood, $925

Ramsey County, City of St. Paul, $820

Ramsey County, White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, $1,135

Sherburne County, City of Elk River, $700

Stearns County, City of St. Cloud, $575

Todd County, Todd County Historical Society, $2,045

Wabasha County, City of Lake City, $465 (one staff member)

Wabasha County, City of Wabasha, $1,525

Wright County, City of Ostego, $575

About Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants

The Minnesota Historical Society received a legislative appropriation of $11.2 million for the 2014-2015 biennium for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants: $5,525,000 for FY 2014 and $5,565,000 for FY 2015.

Grants are available for history and historic preservation projects in three tiers. Small grants of $10,000 or less are awarded quarterly. The next small grants deadline is Oct. 10, 2014.

Applications for mid-size ($10,001 - $50,000) and large ($50,001 and up) grants will be awarded in two cycles, one for each fiscal year. All grants are administered through a competitive process using professional standards and criteria.

For more information on the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, including application deadlines, visit legacy.mnhs.org/grants. Applications are accepted only through the Society’s grants portal.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.