As history organizations around the country adapt to the rapidly evolving public health situation, we’ll be sharing resources and ideas from across the field through our newsletter and Professional Development webinars.

The content posted here is from our weekly e-newsletter, Dispatch, for the week of April 20.

Upcoming webinar topics: mission and historic house museums and insurance best practices.

This Week
Emergency relief from NEH: NEH announced guidelines for “NEH CARES,” an emergency relief funding program for cultural institutions “to help these entities continue to advance their mission” during the coronavirus pandemic. The funding opportunity will prioritize “short-term projects that emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff.” Applications are due May 11, with decisions in mid-June. You can find more information about the program here. Tomorrow (Wednesday, 4/22), the National Humanities Alliance will host an informational webinar about the opportunity. You can register here.

Audience research in times of crisis: AASLH encourages history organizations to participate in a nationwide audience survey, “Culture + Community in a Time of Crisis,” organized by Culture Track. The research will survey the audiences of cultural institutions to answer questions about how the pandemic has affected Americans’ views about the role and future of culture and the arts in their communities. There is no cost to participate, and organizations will be able to view responses from their audience and compare them to the national results. For more information on the project and to sign up to take part, click here.

Earth Day at 50: April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide event credited with birthing the modern environmental movement. Although #EarthDay50 will be celebrated virtually this year, there are still many ways to participate and learn about its extraordinary history and impact on our country and the world. Read more.

Commemorating tragedy in OKC: The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum marked the 25th anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing on April 19 with an online remembrance ceremony. Read more.

You are the primary source: Made By Us shares a list of COVID-19 collecting initiatives around the country and collection tips. “As an organization rooted in the power of the past, we know our day-to-day experiences, stories, artifacts and recollections will become the primary source for future generations to learn ‘what it was like.'” Read more.

Virtual celebrations: The Motown Museum in Detroit has begun hosting Friday night dance parties on Instagram Live, among other online program offerings. “‘Even in the most challenging moments, there is room for creativity and connectivity,’ museum CEO and chairwoman Robin Terry said.” Read more.

Zoom exhaustion is real: If your daily schedule of virtual meetings is more stressful than you thought, you’re not alone. Mindful has some tips for navigating our non-stop virtual world. Read more.

From AASLH
Reminder: All AASLH staff are working remotely until further notice. We’re still answering phones and voicemails. If you need to connect with a specific staff member, please email them directly.

History News free digital issue: The latest issue of AASLH’s member magazine is online-only and available free. We are reaching out to serve the entire history community in this time of crisis when people are homebound. This issue features articles on transforming tours, uncovering hidden stories through preservation, self-care for mid-career professionals, and more. Download here.

Leadership principles: The latest entry in The Inclusive Historian’s Handbook, our digital resource for inclusive history work produced with NCPH, is “Leadership Principles” by Brian Alexander. “While most definitions include similar elements—such as setting direction, aligning resources, and communicating with, motivating, and inspiring people—they often confuse leadership with management and do not recognize the true essence of leadership.” Read more.

AASLH webinar feedback: If you have taken part in one or more of our new AASLH Conversations webinars, we would love to hear your thoughts on how the series is helping you. We also welcome suggestions for future topics of discussion. Submit your feedback and suggestions here.

Crisis resources for historical organizations: AASLH has created a landing page of COVID-19 resources, including blog posts, webinars, and external resources from around the field. We’ll keep it updated with the latest news to help you navigate the crisis. Read more.

Share visitation data: AASLH’s “National Visitation Survey” will remain open indefinitely to allow more institutions time to respond. We are asking institutions to submit their 2018 and 2019 visitation figures. Reliable data will ensure we can properly assess the impact of this year’s coronavirus closings. Submit your information here.

Upcoming Events from AASLH
*All in-person events scheduled through July 1 have been cancelled or postponed. AASLH is developing new online events to help practitioners and institutions respond to COVID-19. Please check our calendar for the latest updates.

April 23: Webinar: Historic House Call: Mission
April 29: Webinar: Insurance Best Practices
April 30: Webinar: How to Spot Opportunity When it is Disguised as Chaos
May 7: Webinar: AASLH Conversations: Local Advocacy Matters
May 19: Webinar: How to Build Your Own Successful Traveling Trunk Program
May 26: Online Course: Financial Structures and Strategy
June 1: Online Course: Basics of Archives
June 1: Online Course: Leadership and Administration for History Organizations
June 1: Online Course: Caring for Museum Collections

Upcoming Events from Other Organizations
April 22: Webinar on collaboration: On Wednesday, April 22, Cuseum will present “Collaborating on Virtual Educational Programs During Coronavirus.” Read more.

April 22: Webinar on professional growth: On Wednesday, April 22, AAM’s Education Committee will present “EdComversation: Staffing and Professional Growth.” Read more.

April 23: Webinar on human resources: On Thursday, April 23, Nonprofit Quarterly will present “Human Resources: Balancing Urgency and Equity.” Read more.