Northfield Historical Society Awarded $79,000 Grant to Enhance Archives

The Northfield Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received a $79,000 Legacy from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Program.

The grant will fund much-needed improvements to the society’s archival/collection facilities, including the installation of movable shelving that will better preserve the more than 15,000 historical artifacts in the society’s collection.

“Making sure that the historical objects we collect are well preserved is at the heart of what we do,” says NHS Executive Director Hayes Scriven. “For years we have been over-capacity — storing objects in places that are less than ideal. This grant will fix that problem by allowing us to install museum-quality movable shelving that will ensure proper storage of all artifacts. ”

In addition, the new system will enhance the facility’s usability for visiting researchers, and allow the NHS to more quickly respond to research requests. The project also will support the exhibit program by making the collection more accessible for display.
“By more effectively storing our collection we will meet the highest professional standards, allowing more people to learn about the great history of Northfield,” adds Scriven.

The shelving project will begin in November and should be completed by February 2013.
The new grant comes on the heels of a 2010 $200,000 Minnesota Historical Society Legacy Grant that allowed the NHS to add six ADA-compliant restrooms and an elevator.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Minnesota Legislature from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution in 2008. The grants are awarded to support projects “of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation across the state.”