Historic Resources Advisory Committee

Responsibility for administering this new 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 one- or two-year terms and two ex-officio members. Members were selected following an open solicitation process held during late summer 2011. They represent a variety of disciplines and are from diverse areas of the state. The committee roster for FY 2012:

Serving a two-year term ending fall 2013

• Mark Peterson, Winona (Chair)
  • Executive Director, Winona County Historical Society
  • Governor’s appointee to Minnesota Sesquicentennial and Minnesota Humanities Commissions
  • Qualified in history, historic preservation and history museum administration
• Leanne Brown, Eden Prairie
  • Director of Development, Carver County Library/Library Foundation
  • Formerly, Executive Director, Carver County Historical Society
  • Qualified in history, project management and museum studies
• Jack Byers, Minneapolis
  • Manager, Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED)
  • Manages CPED’s Preservation and Design Section
  • Qualified in historic preservation, architecture, urban geography and planning
• Tamara Edevold, Bagley
  • Executive Director, Clearwater County Historical Society
  • Active in Minnesota’s Historic Northwest, regional historical organization
  • Qualified in history, archaeology, anthropology and history museum administration
• Ram Gada, Eden Prairie
  • Engineer
  • Active in the documentation of Minnesota’s East Indian community
  • State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB), former member
  • Qualified in engineering, energy consulting and grants administration
• William Latady, Tower
  • Bois Forte Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
  • Curator, Bois Forte Heritage Museum
  • Qualified in archaeology, anthropology, historic preservation and history museum administration
• Benjamin Vander Kooi, Luverne
  • Attorney practicing as Vander Kooi Law Offices, P.A., in Luverne, MN
  • Active in Vote Yes! Campaign
  • Past chair, MN State Arts Board
  • Advisor, National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Qualified in historic preservation, nonprofit and grants administration

Serving a one-year term ending fall 2012

• Brenda Child, Minneapolis
  • Chair, Department of American Indian Studies, University of Minnesota
  • Enrolled member, Red Lake Nation
  • Qualified in history, American Studies and American Indian Studies
• Nicole Foss, Bemidji
  • Executive Director, Beltrami County Historical Society, Bemidji, MN
  • Qualified in anthropology, historical archaeology, library and museum fields
• Kris Kiesling, Roseville
  • Director of Archives and Special Collections at University of MN Libraries
  • State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) member
  • Qualified in library and archives, digital services and history
• Jan Louwagie, Marshall
  • Coordinator, Southwest Minnesota Regional Research Center, Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Founding member of Society for the Study of Local and Regional History
  • Former member of State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB)
  • Qualified in history and archival administration
• Ann Meline, Saint Cloud
  • Deputy Director, Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud
  • Formerly Assistant Director/Public Programs managing Exhibits, Collections and Education Departments
  • Former grant reviewer for Institute of Museum and Library Services
  • Qualified in history, nonprofit and museum administration
• Peter Reis, White Bear Lake
  • President, White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
  • Chair, Minnesota Historical Society’s Grants Review Committee
  • Qualified in history and nonprofit and grants administration

Ex Officio Members

• William Stoeri, Minneapolis, ex-officio member (president of the MHS Board)
• Missy Staples Thompson, Saint Paul, ex-officio member (treasurer of the MHS Board)

MEETINGS

Upcoming Meetings:

• September 6-7 2012, in the 3M 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.

Previous Meetings:

• 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.