Dacotah Prairie Museum (DPM) will host a special guest speaker, Kiera Ball, at its March 25 workshop entitled, “Family Histories: Your Legacy.” This workshop will complete a series of adult workshops highlighting preserving family history and heirlooms.

Ball, an Aberdeen resident and local author, will introduce creative writing practices and encourage participants to identify important life memories and record them onto paper through fun, hands-on activities. The DPM staff is excited to offer this type of class. Museum director, Patricia Kendall states, “this fits right into our primary purpose and mission, to share the stories of the Dakota prairie and its inhabitants. This is our way of helping patrons share their own stories and history for future generations.”

According to Ball, creative writing has many benefits aside from preserving valuable memories. It helps sharpen the mind and provides a therapeutic outlet for emotions. Kiera Ball will be walking participants through this creative process. Additional workshops in March feature topics on preserving images, textiles, and documents. A special preservation kit (worth ~$25) has been assembled by the museum staff for each attendee. This kit was made possible by a community grant from the 3M Corporation. Additional preservation and conservation resources will be available via handouts and digital links.