The majority of our nation’s treasures are not found in museums; they are tucked away in attics, garages and basements, according to Bob Herskovitz, outreach conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society. On May 4, Herskovitz will show area residents how to care for and preserve these beloved family heirlooms for future generations to learn from and enjoy. The workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Waseca County Historical Society, 315 Second Ave. NE, Waseca.

“Preserving Family History: Minnesota’s Greatest Generation” will teach participants how to preserve and care for different types of memorabilia, give tips on how to organize family papers, photos and other family treasures, and hints on creating a successful oral family history. Participants are encouraged to bring in items that can be safely transported for Herskovitz to answer specific preservation questions.

This event is co-sponsored by MHS and the Waseca County Historical Society. For more information or to register for the free workshop, call Joan Mooney at (507) 835-7700.

A great generation, a one-of-a-kind project

The workshop is presented as part of MHS’s Minnesota’s Greatest Generation project. The members of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation grew up during the Depression, came of age during World War II, participated in the post-war boom and created a lasting legacy that has shaped all of us. The Minnesota’s Greatest Generation project was established to collect, preserve and share the legacy of this remarkable generation for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

The capstone of the project is an interactive, large-scale exhibit that opened at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on May 23, 2009, and is currently on view. “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, the War, the Boom” features more than 6,000 square feet of artifacts, displays and hands-on elements using multimedia interpretive techniques to reveal the experiences of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation. For more information, visit www.mngreatestgeneration.org.

The MHS calendar of events is available at events.mnhs.org/calendar. The web site also features information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites. To request a free guide to museums and historic sites, call 1-800-657-3773.