The Heritage Studies and Public History graduate program (HSPH) at the University of Minnesota recently received a $350,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Over two years, this grant will support HSPH students and their collaborative work with community partners.

“This funding from the Mellon Foundation allows us to engage
students with project work that will not only build the students’ skills, but
also shape the future of the heritage studies and public history fields,” says
Chris Taylor, co-founder of the graduate program and chief inclusion officer at
the Minnesota Historical Society.

The HSPH interdisciplinary program was created by Taylor, Greg Donofrio, associate professor at the College of Design, and College of Liberal Arts professors
Kevin P. Murphy and Katherine Hayes to address issues of diversity in education
and professional development in the heritage studies and public history fields.
The program is a partnership between the Minnesota Historical Society and
University of Minnesota and began its first classes in fall 2017.

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural
institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story
of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections,
historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of
history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories
and connects people with history.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners:
Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.