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The National Council for History Education announces early bird registration for its 2008 conference, Leadership in History, in Louisville, Ky., Apr. 3-5, 2008. The registration fee will be $89 through Dec. 16, 2007. Registration includes admission to all conference sessions, two lunches, two morning breaks, the opening reception, access to enrichment excursions, the exhibit hall and more.

The workshop will be held at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Visit www.nche.net/conference/ to register on-line.

For more information, contact the NCHE at conference@nche.net or 26915 Westwood Rd., B-2, Westlake, Ohio 44145.

Programs

Please confirm events specifics with sponsoring organization, especially if traveling any distance.

Barn & Bridges, with Amos Swartz

The DeKalb County Historical Society will offer its annual banquet, Barn & Bridges with Amos Swartz, at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2007, at Hopewell Church, 6852 CR 35, Auburn.

Tickets cost $10 each. Contact society treasurer Lynn Kaiser at (260) 337-5337 to purchase tickets, or send money to the DCHS Museum, 201 E. Main St., Butler, IN 46721.

Christmas at the Seiberling

The Howard County Historical Society will host Christmas at the Seiberling from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2007. View the mansion in its holiday splendor. Enjoy the lighting ceremony on the lawn at 6 p.m. Get your picture taken with Santa. Catch a carriage ride. Indulge in cookies and wassail. Listen to special music by the Kokomo Chamber Brass, the Flute Ensemble and the Chancel Choir of St. Andrew Episcopal Church.

The society will also hold a gingerbread house competition and special exhibit Nov. 24 to 26, 2007.

Tickets are $4 for adults, $1 for children under 12 and free for society members.

For more information, contact the society at (765) 452-4314.

Funding Opportunities

IMLS Conference Calls to Help Applicants Prepare Proposals

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is pleased to announce the availability of guidelines and application forms for the 2008 Museum Grants for African American History and Culture, a grant program that increases the institutional capacity and sustainability in the nation's African American museums by building the knowledge, skills and abilities of staff members and volunteers. The postmark deadline for sending applications to IMLS is Jan. 15, 2008. The 2008 Guidelines may be accessed at: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm.

IMLS program staff will be offering technical assistance audio-conference calls to answer questions from potential applicants regarding the application process. The calls are scheduled for 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Nov. 29 and Dec. 11, 2007.

Within the next month, the toll-free number and detailed information about how to participate in these calls will be posted on the IMLS Web site (www.imls.gov). Interested applicants with questions about IMLS's Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program are encouraged to contact Chris Reich, senior program officer, at (202) 653-4685 or creich@imls.gov; or Twinet G. Kimbrough, program specialist, at (202) 653-4703 or tkimbrough@imls.gov.

In addition to the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program, African American museums are eligible and encouraged to apply for other IMLS grant programs (http://www.imls.gov/applicants/name.shtm).

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2008, all applications to IMLS-funded programs must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Interested applicants can visit the Grants.gov Web site to find information about this process and should register as early as possible at www.grants.gov.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, visit http://www.imls.gov.

IMPS Seeks CAP Applications

The Institution for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for its Conservation Assessment Program. Grants of approximately $5,000 to $8,500 are given toward a two-day site visit by a conservation professional to perform the assessment and up to three days to write the report. For museums located in historic structures, the grant supports a two-day site visit by a preservation architect or an architectural conservator, and up to three days to write the report.

Deadline is Dec, 1, 2007.

For more information, contact:
Heritage Preservation
1012 - 14th St., NW, Ste. 1200
Washington, D.C. 20005
cap@heritagepreservation.org
www.heritagepreservation.org

NEH Offers Interpreting America’s Historic Places Grants

As part of the National Endowment for the Humanities' (NEH) We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Interpreting America's Historic Places planning grants support planning that leads to the interpretation of a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. The place taken as a whole must be significant to American history, and the project must convey its historic importance to visitors. The audience for Interpreting America's Historic Places projects is the general public. (For other public humanities projects that may not focus so closely on historic places, refer to the planning grant guidelines for America's Historical and Cultural Organizations.)

The goals of Interpreting America's Historic Places grants are to:

enhance lifelong learning in American history by connecting nationally significant events, people, ideas, stories, and traditions with specific places;
foster the development of interpretive programs for the public that address central events, themes, and issues in American history;
and encourage consultation with humanities scholars and history organizations in the development of heritage tourism destinations.

Eligibility Requirements:

Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; county governments; private institutions of higher education; Independent school districts; city or township governments.

Due Date: January 23, 2008

Award Amount: $75,000

For more information, contact Ned's division of public programs at (202) 606-8269 or publicpgms@neh.gov, or visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Planning.html.

Exhibits

First Lady's Gown to be Displayed in Lincoln Museum Exhibit

The Lincoln Museum recently received word from the White House that Laura Bush's 2002 Scaasi Holiday gown will be sent to the museum to be displayed in its First Ladies and Fashion Exhibition: Featuring the work of Arnold Scaasi exhibit. The exhibit will also display Scaasi gowns from Mamie Eisenhower and many more.

First Ladies and Fashion is a celebration of the style of Scaasi, favorite 20th-century designer for numerous First Ladies and opens Nov. 19, 2007. The exhibit will continues through Feb. 18, 2008.

For more information about the exhibit or The Lincoln Museum, visit http://www.thelincolnmuseum.org.

Organizations in the News

Huntington County Historical Society Offers DVDs of Local 1930s Films

The Huntington County Historical Society has preserved some of its vintage films by having them digitized and recorded on DVDs. Three titles are available: Life in Huntington in 1938, which includes many street scenes and the animal parade; Huntington High School 1939, with many scenes from classes and activities, including the senior play; and The 1964 Viking State Championship highlights.

DVDs are for sale for $25 each and are available only at the Huntington County Historical Society Museum, 315 Court St., Huntington. For more information, call (260) 356-7264.

People in the News

Putnam County Museum Hires New Staff

The Putnam County Museum in Greencastle has hired Jennifer Ro as its new executive director. Ro recently graduated with a Master of Arts degree in museum studies from Washington University in Washington D.C. While there, she held internships at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum or American History, Meridian International Center and the United Stated Department of Interior Museum Program. She also holds an undergraduate degree from Ball State University.

In addition, the museum hired Anne Lovold as fundraising coordinator. Lovold earned a master's degree from DePauw University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University.

On the Internet

Handing Historic Pharmaceutical Collections

A general guide on handling historic pharmaceutical collections can be obtained from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain at www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/mussheetcaresafety.pef.

Note from the Editor

If your historical organization, genealogical society or museum has changed its address or phone number in the past six months, please send the updated information to Katherine Dill, Coordinator, Local History Services, at kdill@indianahistory.org or 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

COMMUNIQUE ONLINE is provided for the benefit of local historical societies and museums throughout Indiana.

It is e-mailed to a subscriber list maintained by Katherine Dill, Coordinator, Local History Services Office, Indiana Historical Society. Anyone may subscribe. This is a free publication. To be added or removed from the mailing list, simply

e-mail kdill@indianahistory.org or call toll free (800) IHS-1830.

News releases from local societies are welcomed and may be faxed to (317) 234-0427, e-mailed to the above address or

s-mailed to Local History Services, Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Please visit the IHS Local History Services Web site atwww.indianahistory.org/LHS.