The Steele County Historical Society (SCHS) was founded in 1949 as a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Steele County, Minnesota. Its mission has always been to “preserve history today for tomorrow,” ensuring that the stories of the county endure for future generations.
Over the years, our people have been at the heart of what we do. Our dedicated staff and volunteers bring enthusiasm, knowledge, and care to everything from exhibits and events to research and daily visitor experiences. Together, we work to make history welcoming, meaningful, and relevant to our community.
Board of Directors & Staff
Directors
Officers
Dave Effertz, President
Dan Gorman, Vice President
Jerry Ganfield, Treasurer
Board Members
Elizabeth Anselmo
Tait Berg
Tom Bonacci
Bryan Duncan
Matt Kottke
Alexandra McGuire
Nancy Vaillancourt
Diane Wilson
County Commissioner Liaison
John Glynn
Staff
Anne Peterson
Orphanage Museum Manager
Anne is an Owatonna native with a lifelong interest in history and genealogy. She majored in history at St. Cloud State College. During a nearly 30-year career at Federated Insurance, she earned various professional designations and a Certificate in Technical Communications from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Anne found passion in her next chapter working with local attractions as the Group Tour Coordinator for the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. That led to a position managing the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum at West Hills, which she has held since 2013. In 2022, the Museum joined forces with the Steele County Historical Society.
MaryAnne Higgins
Event, Program, Tour, & Volunteer Manager
MaryAnne has spent her career working in the recreation field where she gained experience working with children and adults. She attended Winona State University and has a B.A. in Recreation & Leisure Studies. MaryAnne has been an active member in the Owatonna community volunteering in numerous organizations, mentoring YSL students and was on the planning committee to help with the development of Owatonna High School Options program. Through these various experiences, she has honed her skills working with others and leading by example. She was nominated for the Owatonna Business Women 2015 Woman of Achievement Award.
Amy Lowery
Archives & Collections Manager
Amy grew up in Postville, Iowa. Some of her most memorable summer vacations as a child were spent by a lake in Minnesota where she swam and fished. Fishing wasn’t her favorite activity, but she enjoyed reading while family fished. Today, she also enjoys cross-stitching and knitting. She attended Iowa State University for degrees in Anthropology and Biology. There, she discovered her passion for museums as an elective in Museum Studies. Next, she went to Texas Tech University to get her master’s in Museum Science. She looks forward to continuing her career at the Steele County Historical Society.