The Morrison County Historical Society was founded in 1936, at the height of the Great Depression. The organization was the outgrowth of a Works Progress Administration project to collect oral histories from long-time families in Morrison County. Over 1,000 oral histories were collected and this project set the course for the Morrison County Historical Society’s foundational belief that everyone who makes Morrison County their home (past or present) has important history to share.
The institution, which owns and operates The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum, is the only one that specializes in covering the entirety of the county’s history.
From its founding, membership in the Morrison County Historical Society has always been open to the public. According to Mary Warner, executive director of the organization, “Members are the life blood of MCHS, providing support, encouragement, ideas, and feedback. Without our members, the organization wouldn’t be as vibrant as it is today.”
The Morrison County Historical Society invites new members to join the organization during the month of November. Those who establish new memberships during the month will receive a free copy of the book, “A Big Hearted Paleface Man: Nathan Richardson & the History of Morrison County, Minnesota.”
This award-winning 378-page hardcover book features Richardson’s earliest histories of the county, written in 1876 and 1880. As the “Father of Morrison County,” Richardson had a unique perspective on the early history of the area. According to Warner, who wrote his biography for the book, “He had a great sense of humor that shows through his writing.” The book also includes Richardson’s addresses as mayor of Little Falls.
MCHS members also receive 4 newsletters per year and discounts on events and select items from the museum’s gift shop.
To become a new member of the Morrison County Historical Society, stop by The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls, MN, or visit https://squareup.com/store/morrison-county-historical-society to purchase a membership at MCHS’s online shop during the month of November. People from outside Morrison County can become members. Gift memberships can also be established. For more information, call 320-632-4007.