Smoot Returns to Lead Dunn County Historical Society

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Longtime local history authority Frank Smoot is back in the Chippewa Valley, this time as executive director of the Dunn County Historical Society. Smoot was recently hired to succeed Matt Carter, who became executive director of the Dakota County (Minn.) Historical Society. Most recently, Smoot served for 2½ years as executive director of the Coos History Museum in Coos Bay, Ore. Prior to that, he had a 14-year career as an editor and researcher at the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire, where he helped create exhibits, wrote and edited books and other materials, led seminars and workshops, and penned the “Thanks for Asking” column in this very magazine. “We admired his accomplishments in (his previous) roles, and were encouraged by his deep ties to this part of Wisconsin,” said Jim Bryan, chairman of the search committee for the Dunn County Historical Society position. “We were struck by his emphasis on the importance of balancing long-range lofty goals and practical day-to-day operations when running a small museum – that both are needed for an organization like ours to successfully fulfill its purpose. We are looking forward to working with Frank and expect great things in the years to come.” The Dunn County Historical Society operates several historical sites, including the Rassbach Heritage Museum in Menomonie. To learn more, visit dunnhistory.org.