Historic Resources Advisory Committee

Committee Responsibilities

Responsibility for administering this competitive grants program lies with the Minnesota Historical Society. The appropriations bill (H.F. 1231) establishes the Committee:

The Minnesota Historical Society shall appoint a historic resources advisory committee, with balanced statewide membership and representatives of local, county, and statewide historical and cultural organizations and programs, to provide policy and grant-making guidance on expenditures of funds from this paragraph. This membership shall include but is not limited to members representing the interests of historic preservation, local history, archaeology, archival programs, and other cultural programs related to the history of Minnesota. This committee shall seek input from all interested parties, and shall make recommendations for expenditures from these funds to the executive council of the Minnesota Historical Society; all expenditures must meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 138.01.

Members

The Historic Resources Advisory Committee consists of thirteen members serving two-year terms and two ex-officio members. They represent a variety of disciplines and are from diverse areas of the state. The committee roster for the calendar year 2023 with two vacancies:

Tisha Allen, Minneapolis, Chair

  • Senior Project Coordinator, Full Circle Indigenous Planning + Design, LLC, Minneapolis MN
  • Master in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania
  • Qualified in historic preservation, grant-making, and community development.
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2024)

Milissa Brooks-Ojibway, Duluth

  • Liberal Arts Associate of Arts degree, Fond du Lac Community College
  • Collections Manager at Glensheen Historic Estate
  • Qualified in collection policies, object car, grant writing, and grant implementation.
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Crystal Boyd, Burnsville

  • Master of Science, Museum Studies at University of Colorado Boulder, CO
  • Museum Consultant with Crystal Boyd Consulting LLC Burnsville, MN and Grant Program Manager at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Bloomington, MN
  • Qualified in local history, collections, exhibits, museum interpretation, grant writing, project management, and grant program management
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Kate Dietrick, Saint Paul

  • Archivist, Upper Midwest Jewish Archives at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
  • M.S., Library and Information Science from the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
  • Qualified in archiving, research, collections management, and fundraising.
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Melissa Ekman, Minneapolis

  • Architect at Miller Dunnwiddie
  • Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • Meets the SOI professional qualification Standards for Historic Architecture
  • Qualified in historic preservation, and project management.
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2024)

Margaret Hedstrom, Grand Marais 

  • Professor Emerita, University of Michigan
  • Ph.D. in History, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Qualified in archives, digital preservation, and grant reviewer
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Heather Hoagland, Minneapolis, Deputy Chair

  • Sr. Project Manager at 106 Group
  • Master in Museum Studies from the George Washington University, Washington DC
  • Qualified in collections management, exhibit development, grant writing, registrar, and museum services.
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2024)

Dr. Maureen Kelly Jonason, Moorhead

  • Executive Director, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County
  • Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning: Higher Education from the University of North Dakota
  • Qualified in museum services, grant writing, and community development.
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Anne O’Keefe-Jackson, Morton, Deputy Chair

  • Human Resource Director at Jackpot Junction Casino, 
  • M.A. Business, M.A. Leadership from Augsburg University
  • Board member of Southwest Minnesota Arts Council
  • Qualified in compliance, leadership, grant management, and tribal community.
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2024)

Merlin Peterson, Glenwood

  • Executive Director/Administrator at Pope County Historical Society
  • Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from Moorhead State University
  • Qualified in grant writing, management and implementation, non-profit administration, local history, collections, exhibit development and construction, museum interpretation, project management, fundraising, and public speaking.
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2024)

Katrina Phillips, Saint Paul

  • Assistant Professor (American Indian History, American West) at Macalester College, History Department
  • Ph.D., University of Minnesota, History
  • Qualified in teaching history, research, writing, and public speaking
  • Currently serving 2nd term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Hillary Swanson, Brainerd

  • Executive Director, Crow Wing County Historical Society and Museum
  • Master of Arts in Art History from the University at Buffalo
  • Qualified in historic preservation, grant-making, and community development.  
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Dr. Kathleen Thomas, Afton

  • Heritage Commission for the City of Afton
  • Ph.D. in History, University of Minnesota
  • Qualified in DEI administration, historian, grant recipient, author, conference presenter, and curriculum and program development.
  • Currently serving 1st term (expires on December 31, 2025)

Peter M. Reyes, Jr., MNHS Board President (ex-officio member)
Thomas M. Forsythe, MNHS Board Treasurer (ex-officio member)

Meetings

HRAC meetings are open to the public. 

Upcoming Meetings:

Previous HRAC meetings:

  • September 26 and 27, 2024, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul, the committee deliberated and made FY 2025 large grant award recommendations
  • May 3, 2024, the Albert H. and Jennie C. Sperry House, Willmar, MN, the committee discussed policy and procedures.
  • November 2 and 3, 2023, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul, the committee deliberated and made FY 2024 large grant award recommendations.
  • June 16, 2023, Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, St Paul, MN, the committee discussed policy and procedures. 
  • September 22 and 23, 2022, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul, the committee deliberated and made FY 2023 large grant award recommendations
  • June 7, 2022, virtually, the committee discussed policy and procedures. 
  • November 4 and 5, 2021, virtually, the committee deliberated and made FY 2022 large grant award recommendations
  • June 4, 2021, virtually, the Committee discussed policy and procedures 
  • September 24 and 25, 2020, virtually, the committee deliberated and made FY 2021 large grant award recommendations.
  • June 5, 2020, virtually, the committee reviewed policy and procedures.
  • November 7 and 8, 2019, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul, the committee deliberated and made FY 2020 large grant award recommendations
  • May 3, 2019, at Pope County Historical Society, Glenwood, MN. Committee reviewed the results of fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and review upcoming grant manual revisions.
  • September 20 and 21, 2018, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul, the committee deliberated and made FY 2019 large grant award recommendations
  • May 7, 2018, at James J. Hill House, the committee reviewed policy and procedures
  • November 2 and 3, 2017, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul. The committee deliberated and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2018 large grants.
  • May 5, 2017, at the Stearns County Museum in St Cloud, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., reviewed the results of FY 2016-2017 and grant manual changes.
  • September 22 and 23, 2016, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul. The committee heard presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations, and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2017 large grants.
  • May 20, 2016, at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., provided advice on grants policy and procedures.
  • November 5 and 6, 2015, in the State Office Building in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. both days. The committee heard presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations, and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2016 large grants (funds requests over $10,001).
  • May 1, 2015, Archer House and Northfield Historical Society, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., reviewed the results of FY 2014-2015, provided advice on grants policy and procedures, and reviewed 13 completed grants at the Northfield Historical Society.
  • August 14-15, 2014, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. both days. The committee heard presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2015 mid- and large- grants.
  • November 7-8 2013, November 7, the Minnesota State Capitol, room G-153M; November 8, Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. both days. The committee will hear presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations and will make its recommendations for awards for FY 2013 mid- and large- grants.
  • May 3, 2013, Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Reviewed the results of FY 2012-2013 grants, toured the paper preservation project, and met with independent investigators concerning overall legacy funding.
  • September 6-7 2012, The committee heard presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2013 mid- and large- grants.
  • December 19-20, 2011, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. both days. The committee heard presentations by grant applicants, followed by deliberations and made its recommendations for awards for FY 2012 mid- and large- grants.
  • November 17, 2011, Committee Orientation at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, noon to 3 p.m.
  • June 6, 2011, in the Litchfield Opera House, Litchfield, Minnesota, beginning at 10 a.m. HRAC toured this historic preservation legacy grant project prior to considering the outcome of the FY2010-2011 biennium. HRAC also visited the Meeker County Historical Society to view another four grant projects. Rep. Dean Urdahl guided HRAC on a visit to the Forest City Stockade toward the end of the day. 
  • May 24-25, 2010, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. both days. The Historic Resources Advisory Committee heard presentations by grant applicants on the first day, followed by deliberations and to finalize its recommendations for grant awards. Further information about the review process is available in the grant guidelines.
  • January 11-12, 2010, in the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, beginning at 9 a.m. Historic Resources Advisory Committee met to consider grant applications received for the November 23, 2009, deadline for Mid-Size and Large grants.
  • The Committee held its first meeting on September 15, 2009. This was the initial organizational meeting of the committee.

Contact Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants • grants@mnhs.org • 651-259-3497