Information was gathered as a follow-up to the public hearing testimony of Liberian immigrants' experience, given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. Interviews were conducted of Liberian people who gave original testimony to the commission to document how they experienced the hearings and what impact the hearings had on those that testified as well as on those that assisted them.
To better showcase the talent of local artists by enhancing the display areas of the open class and 4-H buildings. Will also create a "Minnesota Made" butterflies exhibit.
To restore the front steps and add handicap accessibility to St. John's Episcopal Church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and current home of the Dodge County Historical Society
"Minnesota and the Civil War," a new 5,000-square-foot exhibit opening at the Minnesota History Center March 2, 2013, will reveal the words and actions of Minnesotans who lived during the war. Minnesota responded first in the nation and, fighting in almost every major battle, Minnesotans were among the most tested and honored in the Union Army. Stories of soldiers and their loved ones at home will be drawn from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections: letters, diaries, memoirs and reminiscences that capture the personal impact of this tumultuous period.
Vermilion Community College Library added 73 volumes and 33 titles to their collection.
The library is working on building a collection covering all eras of Minnesota history, as well as the geographic and ethnic distribution of Minnesota's population to support the outside reading required in Minnesota History.
Twelve oral histories, discussing the history of psychiatry in Minnesota, were recorded in the late 1970's on audiotape. To preserve them, they were digitized, transcribed and archived along with 2 other oral histories taken in 1996. Forty years later twenty-three more interviews of senior MN psychiatric leaders were conducted, digitized and transcribed. These additional oral histories were added to the archive. A full set of the transcripts will be catalogued into the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) is a statewide, multi-institutional collaboration that supports discovery, education and personal enrichment through digitization of and access to the rich historical resources of the state's public and academic libraries, archives, museums and historical societies, while also preserving these resources for future generations.
MDL partnered with:
* 180+ organizations through Minnesota Reflections, a premier searchable, online collection of primary source materials of more than 51,000 photos, maps, journals, letters, works of art and more.
* In association w
Partner Organization: Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations (AMPERS)
This partnership project with AMPERS, a network of Independent Public Radio stations across Minnesota, has created a series of 130 radio mini-features, 90 seconds in length.
Each episode of MN90 educates listeners about Minnesota history and links an important aspect of our past to current news, events and daily life in an entertaining and informative way.
The Minnesota Historical Society has launched and is expanding MNopedia, the first online encyclopedia about Minnesota. MNopedia is a growing digital resource that provides reliable, multimedia entries related to the state and its history. MNopedia will be tested, refined and broadened with additional content and tools, giving students, teachers, researchers and the general public greater access to information, images, documents and other historical resources relating to Minnesota.
The Minnesota Historical Society is developing a mobile application that will allow students to investigate Minnesota history anywhere, any place and anytime, using their handheld mobile devices.
In addition, the Society is designing a mobile technology component for the History Center's "Then Now Wow" exhibit (the exhibit's working title was "Our Minnesota") that will enable students to immediately apply what they've learned in exhibits.
The Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency (MVNA) has revised and expanded their history book, first printed in 2002 to honor the organization's centennial, for a second printing. The revision includes historic photographs, excerpts from sixteen oral histories and updated information on the organziation's continuing efforts. The book, titled Caring For The Community Since 1902, was printed in January of 2011 and is being distributed, at no cost, to donors and potential donors, government officials and other decision-makers to raise awareness about the MVNA and it's continuing work.
To provide a visual display depicting the history of the Nicollet County Fair's volunteers, fairgrounds, projects, and community. The Nicollet County Fair will erect a booth next to the Historical Society with information about the 140 years of the fair. Exhibit materials will include a slideshow of photographs and written documents.
To offer arts and educational opportunities for youth and seniors of Norman County. The Norman County Fair will offer several interactive arts and educational workshops including tie dying, a singing and dancing event called “Penny and Pals,” and a glass blowing demonstration. The fair will also feature a folk band and a draft horse exhibition.
Implement and train on the new scope and sequence model for preschool-early childhood (k-3) for Ojibwe Language Instruction. Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia will provide whole staff training on the new model with follow up Skype sessions. The White Earth Band will also provide opportunities for students to demonstrate language skills to the community.Develop new scope and sequence model with curriculum framework up to fifth grade by the end of the second year of the grant.
To provide needed repairs to a historical building, the Old Church, on the Anoka County fairgrounds. Over 100 years old, the Old Church is also home to the Anoka County Arts Alliance during the week of the fair. The mission of the Anoka County Arts Alliance is to identify, provide support for, and promote the activities of the Anoka County arts community.
To provide educational opportunities for fair visitors to learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in southern Minnesota. Between 1933 and 1939, the Olmsted County Fairgrounds was home to the regional headquarters of the CCC company 1774-V. The fair will create two exhibits documenting the living conditions of CCC and WPA workers, and the long-term impact of both programs.
To increase the availability of resources about Minnesota in the Civil War, the Washington County Library combined Legacy Funds to purchase 170 copies of three featured titles that cover the topic.
Twenty copies of the children's selection B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet, 50 copies of the student selection Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War and 100 copies of the adult selection Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg were added to the library's collection.
In 2010, the Minnesota Historical Society researched the development of an Online Fur Trade Interactive Learning Experience as a supplement to the Northern Lights history textbook.
This web-based application, geared toward middle school students, will not only offer a glimpse of Minnesota's history, but also provides a lesson about the foundation of today's complex global economy.
A comprehensive overhaul and expansion of the existing outdoor tour system at the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum was competed by contractors, volunteers and Museum staff. The overhaul involved outdoor tour map re-creation, kiosk guide improvement, script re-writes and audio track replacement. Two new kiosks and an outdoor display of the 1898 School cornerstone and capstone were also installed.
To bring arts and cultural heritage programming to the Kittson County Fair, and purchase a sound system to enhance the new programs. A lumberjack show will highlight the history of logging in Minnesota, and a bluegrass band will expose fair attendees to a genre of music inspired by the music of Appalachia.
A new interpretive exhibit was installed in the North Gallery of the History Center of Olmsted County. The exhibit examines the interaction between culture, place and the environment. Comparisons between the natural and the man-made help to inform perceptions of home and the familiar. The public is able to explore the relationship of the built environment to the natural environment.
To enhance fairgoers experience of arts programming at the Pine County Fair. A new sound system and sun screen for the arts and culture stage will allow the fair to bring more diverse events and artisans to the fair. These additions will allow the fair to offer several bands that play historic music, a chainsaw artist, and a cattle dog demonstration.
To increase awareness of and promote local Native American history. Over two days, events will include: peacepipe carving demonstration by the members of The Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers, an interactive display that allows the public to carve pipestone, Native American dance demonstrations by six members of The Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers and Pipestone Indian Shrine, and a Native American dance costume display.
The grant money was utilized for the creation of Record Drawings and plans.
Record Drawings are documents produced by licensed professionals detailing the existing condition of the a particular structure which is needed in order to proceed with the project's scope of the Chatfield school and Potter Auditorium renovation and creation of a regional arts center.
Indigenous people have always used stories to preserve and teach culture to each succeeding generation. Through this project, the Minnesota Historical Society will collect, record and interpret stories specific to the Jeffers Petroglyphs site.
The stories from tribal elders will be recorded and transcribed in their native language as well as in English, culminating in written interpretations that will be made available to a wide audience of scholars, students and the general public.
To meet the expectations of the legislature and the people of Minnesota, an evaluation coordinator is measuring the outcomes and value of programs, projects and partnerships supported by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) through the Minnesota Historical Society. In October 2010, the Society worked with Wilder Research to improve the Society's ability to evaluate its ACHF projects and programs.
Minnesota Historical Society staff created and implemented communication strategies for FY12 and FY13 Legacyfunded history projects and programs, including the "Then Now Wow" exhibit, designed with schoolchildren in mind. Increasing public awareness of these investments ensures that students, teachers and the general public use and benefit from them, giving greater understanding of Minnesota's history and legacy for the future.
A detailed Historic Structures Report was prepared that will guide future restoration of the Reads Landing School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building houses the Wabasha County Historical Society Museum. Three consultants with historic heritage, design and architectural expertise were hired to work with the WCHS Board to analyze the condition of the building and propose solutions for both building rehabilitation and programming..
Two storms in July/August of 2010 caused the east wall and gable ends of the historic Peterson North Barn to collapse. The barn was stabilized in October of 2010. The owner and the Friends of the Peterson Barn were advised to quicky develop a phased plan for reconstruction to prevent further damage. A qualified historical architect was hired to undertake the planning and design work with the ultimate goal of restoring the building to it's original appearance.
To provide a variety of programming at the Winona County Fair that preserves and promotes Minnesota's history and cultural heritage. Art demonstrations will feature painting, watercolor, drawing, oils, spinning, weaving, and quilting. Visitors will be able to view antique tractors and learn about their history and restoration process. Children can watch a marionette show and learn about ventriloquism. The fair will feature a bluegrass band and a dog sledding display.
To rehabilitate the original horse racing judges’ stand. The stand is the last relic of the 143 year old fair grounds and dates back to the late 1800’s. The stand is comprised of a first story entry and refreshment area, and an upper section for judging the races. It’s 360 degree observation of the track was made possible by its hexagon shape and large doors that could be lifted when needed on each side. This is the first stage of the multi-year restoration of this prized building and is an important part of the plan to initiate a daily educational program at the fair.
To highlight past agricultural practices at the Steele County Fair. The Milk Buds are an eight horse miniature hitch, and will stroll the fairgrounds on a regular schedule to showcase a time when horses and hitches were a key method to moving freight in the country. The fair will also rebuild display cases and tables for their Organic Crops department. All displayed crops are certified organic and will feature the ways crops were grown over 50 years ago.
To improve the lighting in the arts area that features textiles, photography, culinary, gardening and hobbies exhibits, and the antique automobiles display area. Funds will also be used to hire a strolling performer during the fair.
The Chippewa Falls Townhall has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979 as part of the Terrace Mill Historic District.
Storm damage accelerated the need for repairs to the more deteriorated areas of the building. Four areas were identified for this repair project. Roof shingles were replaced, the bell tower was restored, cornice returns were reconstructed and window frames and sashes were repaired, reglued and repainted. These maintainance measures are estimated to provide the building with protection from the elements for the next twenty years.
Increase rural community capacity to teach and transmit Dakota language. Create a safe, nurturing immersion - learning environment that actively engages 15 intergenerational families in learning and speaking Dakota together through traditional Dakota lifeways.
As a pilot project for the grantee, Maritime Heritage Minnesota (MHS) the goal was to digitalize 6-10 of the 62 known log books of the USS Essex log books held at the National Archives and Records Administration and the United States Naval Academy.
After twelve days not only did they digital the entirety of the 62 log books but they were able to digitalize a private journal of a USS Essex sailor as well as a hand written journal of a sailor who served on her maiden voyage within the time allotted for the project (101 hours). In total 21,499 images were produced.
To expand children's arts programming at the Watonwan Count Fair by providing hands-on learning opportunities and demonstrations. The fair will also welcome Latin, Norwegian, Swedish, and German Dancers to the stage, enhance the fair’s creative arts exhibits, host a historic horse pull, and purchase a portable PA system to ensure that all cultural activities can be heard by fairgoers.
A history of the college was written in preparation for the 2013 observance of it's Centennial Anniversary. The history examines the context of women's higher education in America as perceived by the College of St. Benedict alumnae. Information gathering included oral history interviews that were conducted with twenty nine alumnae exploring their experiences and perceptions of what college taught them. Two assistants were hired to conduct the interviews. Because of scheduling conflicts, the project director shared this work.
