Development of Regional History Groups
To support the development and restructuring of regional history groups.
Partners: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, Blue Earth County Historical Society, Glensheen, Otter Tail County Historical Society, Winona County Historical Society
In Minnesota, there are approximately 570 local history organizations around the state. Some areas of the state have regional history groups that serve a large number of organizations, but others don:t. The Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM) aims to grow the state:s network of regional history groups in partnership with several local history organizations.
One of the top requests from MALHM members and conference attendees is additional networking opportunities to connect with colleagues in the field. By creating additional regional history groups, colleagues can learn from one another, increase collaboration, and offer support and advice close to home.
Otter Tail County Historical Society will lead the creation of a regional history group that encompasses Clay, Wilkin, Traverse, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Pope, Becker, and Stevens Counties and approximately 20 area organizations.
Glensheen will work with organizations on the North Shore and in the Iron Range and Boundary Waters area. Currently, the Northland History Coalition exists:covering Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties:but it has struggled with regular meetings and structure, in part due to the group:s large geographic region. Glensheen and MALHM will work with the area:s 29 organizations to figure out the most effective structure for the group, including the option of splitting up into multiple smaller regions covering Northern Minnesota.
Blue Earth County Historical Society and Winona County Historical Society will develop a regional history group in south-central and southeast Minnesota. The area was once part of the Southern Minnesota History Assembly, which has disbanded. This area covers a 20-county region from Brown and Watonwan Counties in the west, south to counties on the Iowa border like Fillmore and Mower Counties, north to Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, and Sibley Counties, and east to Winona County. The area includes approximately 91 organizations, and partners will determine the feasibility of such a large group early on or if multiple regional history groups are needed.
For more information about Advisory Group Members and conflicts of interest disclosures, please contact:
Carolyn Veeser-Egbide
Grants Manager
Minnesota Historical Society
651-259-3469
carolyn.veeser-egbide@mnhs.org
$2,000,000 each year is for partnerships involving multiple organizations, which may include the Minnesota Historical Society, to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota's history and cultural heritage in all regions of the state.
Available upon request. Contact:grants@mnhs.org
We achieved our short term goal. Each of the regional groups created sustainable models for continuing beyond the grant period. These were adapted to function during a global pandemic to include virtual meetings. We would like to recognize the leaders of the four regional groups for their creativity, organizational skills, and commitment to empowering their groups:
:Northland History Coalition : Milissa Brooks-Ojibway, Glensheen, and Dustin Heckman, Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center
:South Central Regional History Collaborative : Jessica Potter, Blue Earth County Historical Society
:Southeast History Group :Genia Hesser, formerly of Winona County Historical Society
:Park Region History Coalition: Chris Schuelke, Otter Tail County Historical Society
The MALHM board of directors is committed to supporting the further development of additional regional groups within Minnesota. By utilizing the product/toolkit created in this project, MALHM will assist these regions with developing structure and models for success to start regional groups in other areas.
Available upon request, grants@mnhs.org