We Want You!

Please check out the September program page for things to do this weekend and next week on the PHMC's Trails of History.

Here on the PA Trails of History, we are blessed with a great many wonderful volunteers who serve their fellow citizens by supporting programs and activities at our sites and museums. Each year we recognize outstanding contributions from volunteers and try to share their stories with the public (read the most recent Trailheads post about volunteers from April 2016). I've seen several calls for volunteers in the past week, so today's post brings you some specific opportunities. Don't see your favorite site in these examples? Rest assured our sites and museums are always on the lookout for new volunteers (find your spot here).

From Ephrata Cloister's Facebook page

Ephrata Cloister is looking for a few good young women and men to be part of the Student Historians group at the site. Students age 14 and up learn about local history, do hands-on projects related to historic crafts and material culture, travel, and share history with the public, primarily (though not exclusively) through the annual Lantern Tours theatrical program offered in the days between Christmas and New Year's. It's a great way to meet other people interested in history and to hone skills that will serve you well throughout your life. And there's always food, so that's a plus. For more information, contact museum educator Michael Showalter at mishowalte@pa.gov or 717/733-6600.

Through their Facebook page, Pennsbury Manor issued a call for volunteers this week. They have opportunities for students, scouts, and businesses/organizations looking for community service projects and for individuals looking for meaningful ways to share their time and talents. I believe they also have food. Visit Pennsbury's website for more information and to find out how to apply.

(Top) Curator Rachel Yerger and Chief of Special Projects David Dunn inventory at teapot
(Bottom) Volunteer Sharon O'Neal Lehner assists with computer tracking of inventory
(photos by Bruce Bomberger, Curator, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum)

As part of PHMC's Collections Advancement Project (CAP), a major collections inventory is underway at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. Under the direction of David Dunn, chief of special projects for the Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, this project will provide a physical inventory of some 150,000 objects in Landis Valley's collection. The current focus is the Landis Collections Gallery - objects in storage are examined closely, comparing the catalog number, dimensions, and condition to a collections database. The work moves much more efficiently and effectively when teams of two work together - a "caller" reads out info and describes the object while a "recorder" matches info to the database or makes note of items not listed (for later review and reconciliation). Volunteers are already assisting curators with this work, but it's a huge project and more hands are needed. Computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Excel are helpful; experience with digital photography and/or collections management software is a plus! If you're interested or want to know more, contact David Dunn at 717/569-0401 x 230. Oh, and there will be food, but not in collections storage or the galleries.

And I just noticed this article about United Way volunteers helping out at Old Economy Village recently. Thanks folks!