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Local stories. A countywide legacy.

Supporting the Isanti County Historical Society

Susi's story is one part of a much larger community history. Spark House aims to help the Isanti County Historical Society (ICHS) preserve that wider story—with our skills, our volunteers, and materials shared with permission.

Support the Society How sharing works

Meet the Society

Keeping the county's history within reach

A museum that connects generations

The Heritage Center in Cambridge brings together photographs, letters, tools, and other objects that help people explore life in Isanti County.

Explore the museum

Collections, research & family history

The Society helps researchers investigate family roots, historic properties, people, and events through local records, photographs, and newspaper collections.

Ask about research

History to learn from and take part in

Educational programs, exhibits, historic sites, and community events connect the county’s past with the people who live here today.

Discover programs & historic sites

Where Spark House can help

Small, careful work adds up.

We want to be a welcoming place to begin and a practical source of help—not a replacement for the Society's expertise. Here is the support we aim to offer.

  1. Gather the stories close to home

    Invite families and neighbors to share photographs, memories, corrections, and the context behind Susi’s and the wider Isanti community. Distinguish documented facts from recollections and unanswered questions.

  2. Make careful digital copies

    Use our scanning and photography skills to capture suitable materials, including backs and captions. Check quality, keep unchanged master files, and protect fragile originals.

  3. Make a collection easier to understand

    Prepare clear filenames, dates, people, places, transcriptions, source notes, credits, and permission records so that a digital file arrives with its story intact.

  4. Offer willing hands and useful skills

    Help volunteers find a good fit for their interests—digitization, research, organization, technical help, or community outreach—and coordinate any shared work with the Society’s priorities and training requirements.

Our intent, with room to listen. These are Spark House's aims, not a claim of a formal partnership, endorsement, or an agreed transfer program. Shared projects and collection handoffs need the Society's agreement.

Bring your skills to Spark House

Permission comes first

Your contribution. Your choice.

With your separate opt-in, Spark House will work to share digital copies and their historical context with ICHS for preservation and research review. Uploading alone does not authorize a handoff.

  1. 1 · Choose what you allow

    In the heritage contribution form, choose Spark House's use preference, then separately check the optional ICHS sharing box if you want copies shared. It is unchecked by default; earlier contributions are not automatically opted in.

  2. 2 · Volunteers review the contribution

    We check files, historical descriptions, chosen credit, and recorded permission. The opt-in does not include forwarding your form email, phone, or mailing address. Files and notes must also be checked for private details before sharing.

  3. 3 · Coordinate a documented handoff

    A coordinator confirms that ICHS can accept the copies with these restrictions, then records what was sent, when, to whom, and with which permissions. Nothing is sent automatically when you submit the form.

Sharing copies is not permission for every use.

The opt-in covers preservation and research review—not public use by ICHS or transfer of originals or copyright. Any wider use needs additional permission. If the Society cannot accept the restrictions, we pause and ask you before proceeding.

To change your choice before a handoff, contact Spark House or call 763-444-3669 with your contribution reference. If copies have already been shared, we will coordinate your request with the Society; we cannot promise to recall all copies.

Share a photograph or document

Support the work directly

Give time, encouragement, or a gift.

These links take you to the Society's own website or donation checkout. Spark House does not receive or process these gifts. Donations to Spark House remain paused.

Become a member

Membership is another way to support preservation and stay connected to the Society's work. Find current options and benefits on its website.

Explore ICHS membership

Volunteer with the Society

ICHS welcomes help with collections, research, events, facilities, and outreach. Ask its team about a role and the guidance you need to get started.

See ICHS volunteer opportunities

Have an original item to offer?

The Society considers materials with a strong Isanti County connection and known background. Contact ICHS first to discuss an object, photograph, document, or possible scanning loan. Its own collection review and donation process apply; a Spark House upload is not a donation of an original item to ICHS. Read its historic-item guidance.

For help making a digital copy, request a Spark House scanning visit. An appointment with Spark House is not an appointment with the Society.

Connect with ICHS

Visit the Heritage Center in Cambridge

33525 Flanders St. NE, Cambridge, MN 55008
763-689-4229 · director@isanticountyhistory.org
Check current hours, directions & contact information

Society information and support links checked against the linked ICHS pages on . For current policies and opportunities, please consult the Society's official website. This page is maintained by Spark House.