Download a photo of Chris Schuelke and Gibson Stanton.
Download a photo of Jill Wohnoutka and Nicole Elzenga.
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — On the next Compass program, learn about how historical societies have been impacted by COVID-19 and how they’re thinking about documenting this historic time. This special will air Thursday, May 21 at 9 p.m. and will rebroadcast on Sunday, May 24 at 12:30 p.m. It will be viewable online at www.pioneer.org/compass after the original airing.
Amanda Anderson from Pioneer PBS talks with Nicole Elzenga, the executive director of the Renville County Historical Society, and Jill Wohnoutka, executive director of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, about what their response has been to the novel coronavirus. Elzenga and Wohnoutka also talk about what most concerns them about reopening their facilities: how to clean delicate historical pieces and research books and how to access scarce personal protective equipment like hand sanitizer and face masks.
Gibson Stanton, alliance coordinator for the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums and Chris Schuelke, executive director of the Otter Tail County Historical Society talk with Anderson about how Minnesota’s response to the COVID-19 compares to the response of the 1918 flu. “As a historical society ... we can provide perspective on how this pandemic has compared to other situations in our history,” Schuelke said. Stanton and Schuelke also talk about how the story of this time will be told in the future and how we can include all Minnesotans in that narrative.
Viewers with story ideas and issues they would like to see discussed on Compass are encouraged to contact Pioneer PBS via email at yourtv@pioneer.org or call the station at 1-800-726-3178.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.
