Work!

Be sure to check out the December programs page for all your holiday needs.

This Sunday (12/4) at 2 pm, the State Museum of PA will open a new exhibit, Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania. On view through the end of 2017, the exhibit explores the history of Pennsylvania's namesake ship during World War I and World War II (there have been several - earlier and later - that carried the name). The exhibit also inaugurates PHMC's most recent history initiative, "Pennsylvania at War," commemorating the 100th anniversary of U.S. entry into WWI (2017) and the 75th anniversary of entry into WWII (2016). On a related note, the Pennsylvania Military Museum will hold its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day tribute on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 12:45 pm. The event (rain or shine) takes place beneath two 14-inch guns from USS Pennsylvania. The ship was in dry dock at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. You can read more about USS Pennsylvania and about how the Pennsy guns ended up at the PA Military Museum in the Fall 2016 issue of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine.

Earlier this week, the State Museum shared a short clip of curators and exhibit staff installing a detailed scale model of USS Pennsylvania in the gallery (see below). I've included a photo of the Pennsy Guns at PMM to give you an idea of the size of the ship.

2015 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tribute (photo by Chuck Smith)

So, if this kind of activity - museum and archival work - appeals to you, there are currently three PA State Civil Service Commission tests open to fill jobs with the PHMC. They're called tests, but they're more of a resume restatement around a series of pre-qualifying factors (I ain't been a bureaucrat for more than 20 years for nothin'). Anyway, those who successfully pre-qualify are placed on a list from which interviews are scheduled when a civil service job opening is filled. (Unless you are in a PA civil service classification that allows you to bid on a job opening, you MUST be on the list to be eligible for consideration.) The timetables and requirements vary, so please be sure to read and follow all instructions carefully. Each test announcement includes info on existing vacancies, but these lists will be used for future openings as well (until the list is exhausted or expires). So don't wait!!

• Archivists, job openings at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg (test and additional info)
• Museum and Historic Site Administrators, vacancies expected at Eckley Miners' Village, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (test and additional info)
• Museum Educators, vacancies at Eckley Miners' Village and Erie Maritime Museum/U.S. Brig Niagara (test and additional info)

Everything you always wanted to know about curating, but were afraid to ask

Looking for something to do on the Trails of History this weekend? Be sure to check out the September program listings; there have been some updates since they were posted a couple of weeks ago.

Confused? Unclear? Curious? #AskACurator

For the past several years (since, I think, 2010), museums worldwide have been participating in Ask A Curator Day, an initiative using social media to connect museum staff with the public. This year, on Wednesday, September 17, PHMC will take part for the first time. I don't have all the details yet regarding which curators are going to be in the mix, but I hope you'll check back here next week for more info. The primary source of information will be the Pennsylvania Trails of History page on Facebook and @PHMC on Twitter. On the day, you can submit questions via Twitter using the hashtag #AskACurator.

So, not sure where to start? Don't be scared. Curators are people, just like you and me. Well almost. Except for the white gloves. And the need to label everything (literally, not metaphorically). And the way they gasp when you innocently set down a lid-less cup of coffee next to an 18th-century textile. (I just made up that last one, I swear!) Seriously, some of my best friends colleagues are curators. Bazinga!

All kidding aside, some very helpful curators have provided tips for playing along. Thanks to BHSM's Lauren Jaeger for links to the National Museum of American History's "O Say Can You See" blog posts for Ask A Curator Day 2012 and Ask a Curator Day 2013. I've selected a few highlights (text not in quotation marks is paraphrased or added to make them more PHMC-specific).

• "Some questions can’t be answered in 140 characters, the limit Twitter puts on tweets." Depending on how things go with this first year's effort, we'll try to use these as a springboard for future blog posts or other communications.
• "Questions about what it’s like to work in a museum, how curators got where they are today, and what a typical work day is like are most welcome. Our curators appreciate the opportunity to reflect on their work and increase awareness about the jobs they do."
• "Asking a question out of the blue can be intimidating. 'I'm interested in ___. Can you tell me more about it?' is a classic and will be sure to get our curators talking."

My plan is to update this information early next week with more details on the participating curators, their areas of expertise/interest, and any additional instructions for how to join in. In the meantime, you can think about what you'd like to know about PHMC's collections and its curatorial staff. However you spend the coming weekend, I hope you have a great time!

STEM and the Trails of History

Info about programs on the Trails of History this weekend can be found in the "About Us" section on the right side of your screen.

Earlier this week, a great bunch of people gathered at the Pennsylvania Military Museum (thank you for hosting!) to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education as it relates to the work that museums and historic sites do. Thanks to Rhonda Newton of the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, the program included Sally Flaherty and David Bauman, curriculum advisors (Social Studies and Science Education, respectively) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), as well as Jill Whelan from Conner Prairie Interactive History Park (via Skype).

Connecting science, math, and history standards (photos by AKF)

Staff from all over the Trails of History participated in discussions about STEM and how much of what they already do in their programming touches on these disciplines. Flaherty and Bauman shared with us PDE's working definition: "STEM education is an intentional, integrative approach to teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students become adept problem solvers, innovators, and inventors who are self-reliant by asking questions, investigating, making informed decisions about how they live their daily lives and engage in their vocations and communities." They also walked us through an exercise that showed the connections between academic standards for scientific and mathemtatics practice and academic standards for history, in terms of the kinds of intellectual frameworks and activities that engage students.

It struck me that "integrative approach to teaching" and "asking questions, investigating" also describe the best ways that museums and historic sites help students (of all ages) learn about the past and how it relates to their lives. Hmmmm.

Skyping with Jill Whelan at Conner Prairie

Whelan shared with us a bit about her experience working with front-line staff at Conner Prairie to help them be more comfortable talking with visitors about STEM. She also created a sample matrix that can be used to articulate the STEM concepts that are embedded in so many educational components and public programs at our historic sites, from cooking and food preservation, to gardening, to clothing, to transportation, to...you get my point.

Small group discussions

Perhaps the best part of the day (shhh, don't tell our bosses) was the small group and large group discussion at the end of the day, where long-time and newer colleagues talked about how to apply what we heard and about what we, as a group, can do next. It has been quite a while since we got this bunch together and it was invigorating to see the possibilities for sharing expertise across sites. Stay tuned.

Finished Your Taxes?

If you haven’t finished your taxes, quit reading this and get to work (I’ll have no part in your procrastination ritual)! Otherwise, enjoy an assortment of items selected especially for you (according to the post count on Blogger, this is the 100th post on Trailheads—we’ll be breaking out the streamers and party hats shortly).

As you know from last week’s post Pennsylvania’s (and most of the country’s) commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War took place this Tuesday. Governor Tom Corbett (see his remarks here) and legislative leaders spoke at a kickoff event in the Capitol Rotunda and were joined by historical interpreters from a variety of groups. PA Civil War 150 reported live on their Facebook page and Twitter, so I’ll let you check that out for yourself.

John F. Hartranft

Keeping with the Civil War theme, the Pennsylvania State Archives will host an open house on Monday, April 18, from 10 am to 3 pm. They’ll be showing off their newly renovated Search Room and highlighting interesting documents from the vast archival collections of the Commonwealth. Among the featured items is the 1865 letter book of Gen. John F. Hartranft, who oversaw the imprisonment and treatment of the accused conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In “The Conspirator,” which opens today in theaters, Hartranft is played by Jim True-Frost. (Never heard of him? IMDb says he’s been in some movies, mostly tv series—maybe this will be his breakout role). General Hartranft also went on to serve as Governor of Pennsylvania (1872-79) and is a subject of the recent PHMC publication, From Soldiers to Governors.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Tomorrow, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania opens a new temporary exhibit, “Rail Traffic Control: Managing the Crossroads of Commerce.” The exhibit explores railroad signaling and communications through artifacts, photographs, and videos, as well as an opportunity for visitors to run a simulated rail traffic operation (hands-on isn’t just for kids, after all). The exhibit is in the 2nd floor gallery and will run through December.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Charlie Fox, director of the Railroad Museum (and, in the spirit of blogger transparency, my husband), recently received an alumni award from the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University. Fox was honored by the Art History Department (he holds bachelor’s degrees in Art History and History) for his professional achievements and for his service to the College (he just finished a third term on the board of the alumni association). During the awards festivities, he had several opportunities to talk candidly with undergrad and graduate students about his experiences at Penn State and his subsequent career in museums.

Herb and Garden Faire

My ambitions as a gardener have always been very modest (and my abilities usually fall short), but I love gardens, garden stores, and nurseries. So I was a happy girl attending Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s Herb and Garden Faire for the first time (although it was the 23rd annual) on Friday, May 7. It was a brilliant spring day, and I had lots of company. In fact, by 9:30 a.m. the regular parking lot was full and they were parking cars wherever they could find space.

My first stop was the Heirloom Seed Project Marketplace, which featured more varieties of herbs, tomatoes, flowering plants, and veggies than I could count. The Heirloom Seed Project began in the mid-1980s with a focus on preserving seeds from traditional varieties of plants and making them available to modern gardeners who want to experience history first-hand. Museum staff and volunteers work hard to make sure they have a good supply of seeds and plants ready for Faire attendees to take home to their gardens.

(Sorry it's a little blurry...)

More than 80 outside vendors filled the site with plants, flowers, herbal foods and lotions, garden décor, and lots of other good stuff. There was music by Seasons, plus food and beverages by Hess’s Barbeque Catering, the Landis Valley Mennonite Church, and Express Café (not to mention ice cream, cold drinks, and soft pretzels at the Weathervane museum store). I didn’t get a chance to try the food (except for some yummy herbal breads I bought to take to a dinner party) because my time was limited but I will definitely plan ahead for next year.

If you visited the Faire this year (or have in past years) please leave a comment about your favorite part. Mark your calendars for next year—May 6 and 7, 2011—and check out Landis Valley’s website for more programs coming up this summer and fall.

Moving Forward

When a decision is made to close a historic site or museum, even temporarily, it’s a terrible thing for all concerned. Years of work and care that have gone into maintaining the structures and programs seem suddenly to have been for nothing. Colleagues start talking about, and experiencing, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). Community members react in a variety of ways to the news; some want to know who to blame and some want to know what they can do to intervene.

In the fall of 2009, the PHMC was faced with a budget cut of roughly 40%. An initial round of furloughs and site closures in August was followed by a second round in November after the budget was finally enacted. Last spring, PHMC began preparing for some of the closures, following the release of an internal report that recommended changes to the historic sites and museums program in light of dwindling financial support. The budget cuts greatly accelerated and broadened the scope of the proposed changes and provided less time for everyone—staff, volunteers, communities—to make sense of what was happening. No site was unaffected; eleven sites lost most or all of their state staff.

PHMC/Old Economy Village

After the initial shock, it was time to just deal with it. Buildings, artifacts, and documents had to be assessed and secured, especially where most or all PHMC staff presence was withdrawn. In some cases, collections were removed from sites and placed in more secure storage elsewhere (for obvious reasons, we don’t say much publicly about the details). Operating and program schedules (often somewhat curtailed over the winter anyway) were reviewed and adjusted in light of reduced staffing levels. The response was different at each site, because the circumstances were different at each site.

There were, however, some basic facts that did not change. For starters, the historic (and non-historic) buildings, artifacts, landscapes, and documents that were under PHMC’s stewardship before the cuts continue to be our responsibility after the cuts. Furthermore, caring for structures and objects, keeping sites open on a regular schedule, and staging public programs all require people to do the work. Site friends groups have stepped up to help fill the gaps wherever possible, continuing their strong support for programming. Moving into 2010, some sites remained closed to the public, but most were open in some capacity, due to the efforts of our friends groups to make sure that their site remained on the public’s radar screen.

PHMC/Brandywine Battlefield

Living in “the new normal” will mean seeking expanded means of sharing PHMC’s responsibilities with our friends groups and other organizations. Now that spring has arrived, we’re continuing to assess our situation, even as we await the fiscal year 2010-2011 budget. Negotiations are ongoing (or recently completed) to put long-term management agreements in place at sites where our administrative presence has been reduced. Through these partnerships, we will work to keep the sites open on a sustainable basis and continue to safeguard the historic structures and collections for the people of Pennsylvania.

If you want to learn more about how you can help, the Pennsylvania Heritage Society has posted useful information and links.

Sometimes You Get Your White Gloves Dirty

Taking care of Pennsylvania’s historic artifacts and buildings can be an extremely rewarding job. The curators, site administrators, and maintenance staff who work at sites on the Trails of History bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and dedication to the task of managing and protecting the material heritage that ties us to past and future generations. They are frequently assisted by other staff, such as museum educators, and volunteers who are knowledgeable about the care of museum collections.

PHMC/Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

Last month, providing a peek at winter activities on the Trails, I mentioned a collections cleaning blitz at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, planned for the last week in January. The Bitzer building, which was the focus of the effort, provides storage for some of Landis Valley’s extensive collection of farming equipment and exhibits many of these items for visitors.

PHMC/Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

This tremendously successful effort pulled together staff and volunteers from all over the site, under the direction of the museum’s curatorial staff, to accomplish a wagon load of cleaning chores. Some of the Bitzer building exhibits were refreshed and reorganized in the bargain. And a wonderful lunch was served each day to the hungry workers (thank you, Cindy).

PHMC/Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

Planned collections cleaning is definitely a curator’s preference and our sites frequently use winter downtime for that reason. Staff are generally not as busy with visitors, so an all-out effort can be easier to pull together.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

But sometimes, you don’t get to plan for it. A week before the Landis Valley blitz, an unplanned collections care effort swung into action at a moment’s notice. A sprinkler malfunction in the kitchen of the Saal (meetinghouse) at Ephrata Cloister brought down a mess of plaster, mud, and water.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister staff, supported by a contingent from Landis Valley (which is nearby), moved quickly and decisively to assess and deal with the problem. The first order of business was triage for the objects—identifying damage (and potential damage) and moving artifacts out of harm’s way. Documenting the event was also extremely important (the photos included here are just a few of many that were taken to make a record of what happened).

Once the initial condition assessments were made, the grunge work began. The kitchen’s brick floor had to be washed, and then it had to be dried to avoid the possibility of mold growth.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Objects were carefully cleaned to remove mud and debris that, if left to dry and harden, could do irreparable damage. Ephrata staff are monitoring the objects for signs of water damage and/or rust. In the long term, some objects will require further care and treatment by conservation professionals, but the quick actions of PHMC staff and volunteers ensured that these items will continue to help us tell the important story of religious freedom that is embodied at Ephrata. We prefer our lives not to be so dramatic. But preserving our shared heritage is what the people who work on the Trails of History do every day.