Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

January is a busy time for the museum staff and volunteers behind the scenes as we take down Christmas decorations and set up new exhibits, work on grant projects, plan 2015 events and programs and explore new partnership and program possibilities for the new year. We received a grant from Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Albert Lea to help with our ongoing clothing collection project. We have two volunteers that work a full day per week to sort, catalog, photograph and box — in acid free tissue — each article of clothing. The special archival boxes are quite expensive so we really appreciate the grant to purchase additional boxes to continue this very big project. Hundreds of boxes are already full, but we aren’t done yet. This important project will help us to protect and preserve the articles we have for future generations to see and experience the styles from the past.

We had our first of four photo workshops yesterday and encourage you to sign up for one of the three remaining to secure an appointment for your photo contributions to our project. The dates are Jan. 24, Feb. 21 and March 7. Appointments will be scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on each date. We are looking for family generation or group photos, business or organization photos from throughout the county, as well as event or business photos from the county. We will scan your photo, take the identification info from you and return your original to you right away. There is no cost to you. You may bring up to six photos per appointment. This project is made possible in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Call the museum at 507-373-8003 to make your appointment.

The Freeborn County Genealogical Society meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at the museum. Monthly meetings during January, February and March are held during the day rather than at night. These meetings are open to anyone with an interest in family genealogy. Membership to the Genealogical Society is $20 per year.

The museum will be hosting a smart driver safety four-hour refresher class from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The fee is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members and includes the AARP course materials as well as an administrative host charge. Your driver’s license number is needed at the time of registration and your AARP number if you are a member. Pre-registration is required. You will receive your certificate the day of the class.

The museum will host its next lecture at 9 a.m. Feb. 14 in the museum meeting room. The title of this lecture is “Stars of the Big Band Era.” Please plan to join us for this hour lecture followed by time for questions and discussion. The lecture is free to all museum members and $5 for nonmembers. Bring a friend, listen and reminisce about music from the past.

Jan. 19 is the date of the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday program. It will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Riverland Community College in the lecture hall. Everyone is welcome! Beverages and meat, cheese and veggie trays will be served from 5 to 5:30 p.m., with donations appreciated, followed by the program. The program theme is overcoming obstacles to economic success. The keynote speaker is Dr. Adenuga Atewologun, president of Riverland Community College. High school students will also be speaking regarding economic challenges then and now. There will be music before and during the program as well. We hope you will plan to attend.

If you have questions contact Dennis at the Family Y at 507-373-8228 or Linda at Semcac at 507-373-1329.

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village, 1031 Bridge Ave.