Minnesota Historical Society Announces January 2015 Round of Legacy Small Grants

Feb 27, 20150

ST. PAUL (February 25, 2015) – The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) announces 49 recipients of Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants (up to $10,000 each) totaling $421,647 in 25 counties.

The grants are awarded quarterly to help non-profit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations preserve and share Minnesota history. The awards were approved on February 20, 2015, by the MNHS Executive Council.

“Each grant round offers further proof that Minnesotans are excited about building a lasting legacy for future generations,” said Carolyn Veeser-Egbide, MNHS grants manager. “This group of 49 recipients, along with past awardees, are preserving what makes Minnesota a great place to live.”

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.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grant Recipients

Recipients of small grants (up to $10,000) from the January 2015 cycle are listed by county, in alphabetical order below. Each project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. All grants are competitive and are awarded according to program guidelines and criteria and professional standards.

Blue Earth County (Mankato), Blue Earth County Historical Society, $10,000

Acquisition of Microfilm Reader/Scanner/Printer: To purchase two microfilm reader/printers to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

Blue Earth County (Mankato), Minnesota State University, Mankato (Department of Anthropology), $9,720

Radiocarbon Dating Early Oneota Sites in Southern Minnesota: To hire a qualified laboratory to conduct radiocarbon dating on Oneota samples from southern Minnesota.

Brown County (New Ulm), Brown County Historical Society, $10,000

Brown County Historical Society Roof Study: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a roof assessment for the historic New Ulm Post Office, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and home of the Brown County Historical Society.

Carver County (Waconia), Carver County Historical Society, $9,825

Acquisition of Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

Chippewa County (Montevideo) Chippewa County Historical Society, $7,489

Chippewa River Dugout Canoe Case: To hire a qualified professional to construct appropriate housing for a significant collections piece.

Crow Wing County (Brainerd), City of Brainerd, $10,000

Brainerd Historic Water Tower Historic Structure Report and Roof Design: To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report that will help preserve the Brainerd Water Tower, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dakota County (Mendota), Pilot Knob Preservation Association, $5,680

Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob National Register Nomination Revision: To hire a qualified historian to complete a revised nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob.

Douglas County (Alexandria), Minnesota Lakes Maritime Society, $9,355

Lighting System Evaluation: To hire a qualified museum lighting professional to develop a museum lighting plan.

Douglas County (Alexandria), Minnesota Lakes Maritime Society, $9,800

HVAC Evaluation: To hire a qualified and experienced HVAC engineer to evaluate how well the current system controls the museum environment.

Freeborn County (Albert Lea), Freeborn County Historical Society, $9,380

Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

Hennepin County (Excelsior), City of Excelsior, $10,000

Revise Excelsior's Historic Preservation Ordinance and Establish Commercial Design Guidelines: To hire a qualified consultant to revise a historic preservation ordinance and establish design guidelines for the City of Excelsior.

Hennepin County (Robbinsdale), City of Robbinsdale, $9,000

Robbinsdale Historic Library Floor Restoration: To hire qualified professionals to repair the flooring in the Hennepin County Library, Robbinsdale Branch, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Farmer-Labor Education Committee, $5,465

Farmer-Labor MNopedia Entries: To create 11 farmer-labor-themed entries for the MNopedia project for online research.

Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Hennepin History Museum, $9,694

Furniture Collections Rehousing and Storage: To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Regents of the University of Minnesota (Institute on Community Integration), $7,965

Edit the Evelyn Deno Anthology on the 1957 State Law Requiring Special Education: To hire qualified professionals to edit a manuscript on the Evelyn Deno anthology.

Hennepin County (Long Lake), Western Hennepin County Pioneers Association, $10,000

Dug Out Canoe Exhibit Case: To hire a qualified professional to construct appropriate housing for a significant collections piece.

Itasca County (Grand Rapids), Itasca County Historical Society: $4,632

Update Lighting in the Karjala Genealogy & History Center: To hire qualified technicians to upgrade Itasca County Historical Society's lighting system.

Lyon County (Marshall), Lyon County Historical Society, $8,431

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

Lyon County (Marshall), Lyon County Historical Society, $10,000

Interpretive Plan for the Lyon County Museum: To hire a qualified consultant to write an interpretive plan for Lyon County Historical Society.

Lyon County (Marshall), Society for the Study of Local and Regional History, $9,015

The Women of Southwest Minnesota and the Great War: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of women's activities in southwestern Minnesota during World War I.

Mower County (Austin), Mower County Historical Society, $9,345

Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

Nicollet County (St. Peter), Nicollet County Historical Society, $6,139

Collections Evaluation and Inventory System Consolidation: To provide better organization of the museum collections, which will allow the public greater access to the community’s historic resources.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), ALLY People Solutions, $5,950

Allies in Changing Times: Fifty Years of Serving People with Disabilities in Ramsey County: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript commemorating the 50th anniversary of ALLY People Solutions.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Arcata Press, $10,000

Research for Kofi Bobby Hickman Biography Manuscript: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript for the biography of Kofi Bobby Hickman, a civil rights activist.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, $10,000

Historic Structure Report for Charles Thompson Memorial Hall: To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report that will help preserve the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Historic Saint Paul, $10,000

Macalester Park Historic Resources Survey: To hire qualified consultants to conduct an architectural survey of Macalester Park for possible local designation or inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Macalester College, $2,910

Digitization of Macalester College Archival Audio Recordings: To digitize part of a large collection of archival audio recordings in order to allow the public greater access to this historic resource.

Ramsey County (South St. Paul), Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, $10,000

Collections Inventory: To provide better organization of the museum collections, which will allow the public greater access to the community’s historic resources.

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

3M and Maplewood Exhibit, Sign and Label Development: To hire qualified consultants to develop an exhibit on 3M's history with the City of Maplewood.

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minnesota Transportation Museum, $10,000

St. Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company Shops (Jackson Street Shops) Historic District National Register Nomination Expansion: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination expansion to the National Register of Historic Places for the St. Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company Shops (Jackson Street Shops).

Ramsey County (St. Paul), Science Museum of Minnesota, $9,988

Burnside School Site, Plant Use and Chronology of an Oneota Village Near Red Wing: To hire a qualified archaeologist to conduct an inventory of archaeological plant remains from an Oneota village near Red Wing.

Renville County (Sacred Heart), Sacred Heart Area Historical Society, $7,600

Hotel Sacred Heart National Register Nomination: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Hotel Sacred Heart.

Rice County (Northfield), Northfield Arts Guild, $10,000

History of the Northfield Arts Guild Music, Dance, and Literary Arts Programs: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript on the history of the Northfield Arts Guild.

Rock County (Luverne), Rock County Community Library, $9,285

Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

St. Louis County (Ely), City of Ely, $7,000

Ely Community Center National Register Nomination: To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Ely Community Center.

St. Louis County (Ely), Dorothy Molter Foundation and Museum, $5,240

An Oral History of Dorothy Molter: To document in 10 oral history interviews the history of Dorothy Molter and her work in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

St. Louis County (Ely), Ely-Winton Historical Society, $9,385

Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

St. Louis County (Duluth), Lake Superior Marine Museum Association, $4,731

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center Collection Rehousing: To provide better storage conditions, allowing for greater public access to objects in the collection.

St. Louis County (Chisholm) Minnesota Discovery Center, $10,000

Labor Exhibit Research: To hire qualified consultants to develop and install an exhibit on labor history in St. Louis County.

St. Louis County (Duluth), Northern Bedrock Preservation Corps, $10,000

Architectural Drawings and Specifications for Halfway Ranger Station: To hire a qualified consultant to develop architectural drawings for reuse of Halfway Ranger Station, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Stearns County (Paynesville), Paynesville Area Historical Society, $6,820

Archival Storage and Rehousing: To provide better organization of archival materials, which will allow the public greater access to the community’s historic resources.

Stearns County (St. Cloud), Stearns History Museum and Research Center, $5,968

Audience Analysis: To hire a qualified consultant to conduct an audience analysis for Stearns History Museum.

Stearns County (Sauk Centre), The Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, $9,950

Church of the Good Samaritan Conditions Assessment: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Swift County (Benson), Swift County Historical Society, $6,500

HVAC Evaluation: To hire a qualified consultant to perform an assessment of Swift County Historical Society's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Todd County (Long Prairie), Todd County Historical Society, $9,385

Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to make microfilmed records more accessible to the public.

Wabasha County (Lake City), Wabasha County Historical Society, $10,000

Reads Landing School Cupola/Bell Tower Stabilization: To hire qualified professionals to stabilize the cupola on the Reads Landing School, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Waseca County (Waseca), Waseca County Historical Society, $10,000

Interpretive Plan for Hofmann Apiaries: To hire a qualified consultant to write an interpretive plan for Hofmann Apiaries, a historic farm located in Janesville, MN.

Washington County (Afton), City of Afton, $10,000

Local Designation of Historic Properties in Afton: To hire qualified consultants to evaluate several properties in Afton for possible designation as local historic landmarks.

Wright County (Cokato), Cokato Historical Society, $10,000

Akerlund Studio Collection Nitrate & Acetate Negative Digitization Project: To digitize part of a large collection of photo negatives in order to allow the public greater access to this historic resource.

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 deadlines is April 10, 2015.

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 MNHS’s grants portal.

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.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.