Insights in History for Seniors: R.I.P. - Victorian Mourning Customs in South Bend
This event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 1:30 p.m. at the Center for History in South Bend.

Admission is $3 and reservations are required by September 29.

Barbara Whiteman, the Center for History’s exhibit coordinator, will talk about mourning customs in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including the sentimental symbolism often found on headstones, traditional clothing worn during grieving periods, and such personal keepsakes as hair wreaths. A tour of the museum’s exhibit, R.I.P. - Victorian Mourning Customs, which features photographs and artifacts that show how Victorians and other cultures dealt with death and grieving.

For more information, call (574) 235-9664 or visit http://www.centerforhistory.org/.

Mystery at the Mansion: Copshaholm Cold Case in South Bend
These mystery tours from the Center for History in South Bend will take place at the Oliver Mansion on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 every five minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the last tour leaving at 8 p.m.

Each tour lasts approximately one hour.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for youth ages six to 17 and $5 for members.

One autumn evening over 125 years ago in 1879, Henry and Esther Morris were shot in their home in Van Buren County, Michigan. Although the Pinkerton Detective Agency was hired to track down the villain, the mystery was never unraveled. Using this unsolved misdeed as a basis for its plot, the Center for History presents its second annual Mystery at the Mansion: Copshaholm Cold Case.

During tours of the Oliver Mansion, visitors will "travel back in time" as they walk from room to room, hearing conversations and clues given by over 15 performers portraying witnesses and suspects related to the crime.

This year’s story begins in 1936 when a newspaper reporter reopens the Morris file. At a dinner party given at the Oliver Mansion, he recounts the heinous crime. The reporter provides several clues, including the fact that on the night of the incident, one man passed someone–presumably the villain–riding on a horse he recognized as being from the Morris farm and that the following day, that horse was found at a home in nearby South Bend. Listening to the accounts of those involved, including the hired girl who was asleep in the house when the crime took place, a man who inadvertently passed the villain on horseback on the moonlit night, a temperance leader who lived next door to the house where the stolen horse was found, and a "rowdy, no-good hooligan," visitors will complete a ballot to answer "whodunit." Correct ballots will be eligible for a drawing for the grand prize.

For information, call (574) 235-9664 or visit http://www.centerforhistory.org/.

Highflying History and Miami Indian Heritage Day in Fort Wayne
These events will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Chief Richardville House, located at 5705 Bluffton Road in Fort Wayne.

Highflying History
Be on hand from noon to 1 p.m. for Highflying History, as daredevils fall from the sky bringing clues to help identify famous characters from Fort Wayne history. It’s fun for the entire family!

This event is free to the public.

Miami Indian Heritage Day
From 1 to 4 p.m., join M.I.A.M.I (Miami Indiana Alliance of Miami Indians) and Laura Nagy for traditional wikiami building and cattail matting, and tour the historic 1827 home of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville. This restored site affords visitors the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our area’s history. The first floor of the Chief Richardville House is handicap accessible.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for History Center members and children under five.

For more information call the History Center at (260) 426-2882 or visit http://www.fwhistorycenter.com/.

Sammy L. Davis to Speak in Jasper
This special Dubois County Museum dinner program will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jasper Middle School.

Tickets are $25 per person and are limited to the first 500 buyers.

Sammy L. Davis is an Indiana native who earned our country’s highest military honor for his uncommon valor in a night fight in Vietnam on Nov. 18, 1967. Davis, U.S. Army retired, is a nationally-known speaker who has been delivering his stirring patriotic messages since the Vietnam War. He is a 1966 graduate of Mooresville (Ind.) High School, and one of only two living recipients of the Medal of Honor from Indiana.

Davis earned the Congressional Medal of Honor by going “above and beyond the call of duty” by saving several American soldiers’ lives and fighting off hundreds of North Vietnamese enemy troops, all with a broken back, crushed ribs and numerous dart, bullet and burn injuries.

Adding spice to Davis’ story are the tie-ins the hit movie Forrest Gump has with his saga. The actual film footage of Davis receiving the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 was used in the movie, with the head of actor Tom Hanks superimposed over that of Davis.

He was a speaker at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., in 1982, helped bring the living POW issue into the public’s eye when he addressed 250,000 at the National Mall in Washington in 1984, and continues to give about 300 of his inspirational speeches a year. In the past, Davis has been invited to speak at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Tickets can be purchased at the museum, from any board member, from the Dubois County Veterans Organization, or by calling Bernie Vogler at (812) 482-2996 or Greg Eckerle at (812) 482-3866.

Ghost Tours in Scottsburg
These Ghost Tours will take place each Saturday night this October at 8 and 10 p.m. at the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum, located at 1050 S. Main St. in Scottsburg.

Guides will provide a history of the Scott County Home and its former residents, while recounting strange happenings, bizarre occurrences and unexplained phenomena within the building. Participants will tour the building and hear previously recorded “EVPs” (electronic voice phenomena).

Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum during regular business hours. 

Tour group sizes are limited, so please call the museum at (812) 752-1050 to make reservations and check tour availability. Reservations will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Special tours may also be arranged by calling the museum.

Quilt Program and Exhibit in Plainfield
This program will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library in Plainfield.

Quilts have a long history of providing comfort, yet many are also beautiful works of art and fine needlecraft. Peggy Long, board member of the Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, will talk about this unique organization and its programs and collections. Learn about Marie Webster, author of the first book of quilt history and owner of a thriving early 20th century home-based mail order quilt pattern business. 

Collections Assessment Survey from the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is currently planning to develop a collections assessment tool to measure and report performance in the area of collections stewardship, inform our strategic planning, and to leverage support for collections.

Their challenge is to develop performance metrics based on levels of best practice that are relevant and meaningful across museums and collecting units of different disciplines, scales, and organizational structures.

As part of a larger environmental scan, they are conducting a survey in order to identify and document the variety of collections assessment and survey tools used by museums, archives and libraries world-wide to measure collections stewardship.

Through this survey, they also wish to solicit input regarding professional interest in developing and implementing collections assessment tools which might be applicable and beneficial to the entire field.

They invite and encourage you to participate in this survey which is now available at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AexkGlto8a31TFtMrUaxjA_3d_3d.

For the purpose of this survey, they refer to a collections assessment as a tool to evaluate policies, practices, and conditions based on established professional standards and best practices.

A report of the findings of the survey will be available by the end of the year.

The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Responses to the survey are due by October 6, 2008.

Indiana History Train
Don’t miss the train! The Indiana History Train visits Sullivan, Bargersville, New Castle and Evansville in October.

This fall, hop aboard the History Train and get a hands-on, close-up look at Hoosiers whose lives were touched by the Civil War. Three 65-foot refurbished freight cars will roll into four Indiana communities with a unique traveling exhibition, Faces of the Civil War, which explores Indiana and the Civil War. Hands-on activities and a Civil War-era actor/interpreter help visitors learn more about Indiana life during that era. Enjoy the film Well Done, Indiana and purchase Civil War-related items at the depot gift shop.

Stops:

• Oct. 2 through 4: Sullivan
• Oct. 9 through 11: Bargersville
• Oct. 16 through 18: New Castle
• Oct. 23 through 25: Evansville

The Indiana History Train is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To schedule group visits call (800) 447-1830 or e-mail welcome@indianahistory.org. The tour is free, but space is limited.

Visit www.indianahistory.org/historytrain for more information.

The 2008 Indiana History Train is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and a gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. The History Train is a partnership between the Indiana Historical Society and The Indiana Rail Road Company and is sponsored by BKD, LLP.

Director of Foundation and Government Relations at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago
Reporting to the Vice President for External Affairs, the Director is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing fund-raising initiatives in two key sectors of museum support: philanthropic foundations and city/state/federal government entities. This senior member of the development team works with museum project staff, trustees and foundation/government officials.

Curator of Exhibitions at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich.
This position provides a senior leadership role that is responsible for shaping and creating engaging experiences that are content-rich, audience-focused, and further the institution's mission, brand and strategic goals. These include new and improved program and exhibition products in all of the institution's venues.

This position focuses efforts to support the overall mission and vision of the institution and providing a bridging role between Historical Resources and Experience Design. The curator of exhibitions works closely with Experience Design, Education, Historical Resources, other units and outside resources to ensure that new and existing experiences are marketable, successful and of the highest quality for the museum's many and diverse users. The position reports to the Director of Historical Resources.

Responsibilities:
Essential functions include the responsibility for conceptual planning, including: project team leadership in developing Big Idea, interpretive themes and institutional and visitor goals; translating historical content into compelling stories and meaningful visitor experiences; ensuring mission and brand alignment; and advocating the guest perspective in content and experience choices and techniques.

Educational Requirements:
Requires a Master's degree or equivalent in American History or related field; at least 5 years' experience in positions of increasing responsibility in the development of content-based public programming; demonstrated success in team leadership. Must be conversant with methodologies such as American Studies, Material Culture, Social History and the History of Technology. Must be conversant with issues and trends in public experiences and in education, both formal and informal, as well as with the principles of marketing, audience research and customer service.

Complete job description can be viewed at: www.thehenryford.org/employment.

Please submit resume with cover letter to employment@thehenryford.org or fax to (313) 982-6245.

National:

Executive Director at the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, Okla.
The J.M. Davis Memorial Commission is seeking an Executive Director for the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum. The museum houses and displays the largest privately owned arms collection and other artifacts belonging to the late J.M. Davis along with a research library and other displays. The museum is located on Historic Route 66 in Claremore, Oklahoma, 25 minutes from downtown Tulsa.

The Commission is seeking a highly motivated individual with a history of successful organization administration (business or nonprofit). Professional museum administration is preferred. Management of a state agency also preferred. Successful accomplishments in fundraising and grant writing are also required.

The successful candidate will hold the highest personal and professional integrity, be a team leader, possess excellent public speaking and written communication abilities, and be optimistic, visionary and motivational. The Executive Director is expected to work with and make presentations to state legislators for the museum's annual appropriations. The position also requires activity in various community and regional groups to promote the Museum. Advanced degree is preferred. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. 

The deadline for applications is Saturday, Nov. 1, by 5 p.m.

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume and professional references to:
Executive Director Search Committee
J.M. Davis Memorial Commission
P.O. Box 966
Claremore, OK 74018-0966

Historian at the Valentine Richmond History Center
The Valentine Richmond History Center seeks a mature, creative and flexible individual to serve as Historian and Richmond History Gallery Project Manager. The successful candidate will plan and develop exhibitions that are engaging and accessible to diverse audiences and that effectively communicate multiple themes and content, utilizing current presentational methods.

This two-year, grant-funded full-time position will lead the History Center's Collections and Interpretation team in the development of a new 4,300 sq. ft. core exhibition scheduled to open in 2011. Responsibilities include the oversight and management of all phases of the Richmond History Gallery project including: research, storyline development, planning, design, exhibit schedule, production, construction, installation and maintenance.

Salary is competitive and with benefits. 

Resume review begins Sept. 30, 2008. 

For the full job description and application process visit http://www.richmondhistorycenter.com/jobs.asp.

Textile Conservator at the North Carolina Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History seeks a professional conservator to preserve the Museum's costume and textile collection, comprised of men's, women's and children's civilian clothing, military uniforms, household textiles and the Museum's extensive collection of banners and flags.

The salary range is $35,337 to $56,330.

The Textile Conservator will be responsible for condition and treatment reports, stabilization techniques, vacuuming, wet cleaning, laboratory maintenance and dressing mannequins. This position will train and supervise volunteers, interns and assistants and will prepare costumes and textiles for an active exhibition program. The Textile Conservator will also respond to patron requests regarding the care of privately owned costumes and textiles. Some night and weekend work and overnight travel is required.

Please mail a (clearly typed or neatly written) State of North Carolina Application for Employment Form PD 107 for each vacancy to: Human Resources, Dept. of Cultural Resources, 4603 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4603.

For a full job description and applicaltion visit the State of North Carolina's Job Opportunities Web site at http://www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/gnrlinfo.htm.

Multiple Positions at the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center
The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History seeks a part-time floor manager and part-time facilitators to work in Spark!Lab and the Invention at Play exhibition.

Spark!Lab is a hands on activity  center that helps visitors, especially children and families, learn about the history and process of invention. In IAP, visitors learn about inventors of yesterday and today and explore interactive learning stations to help them understand the parallels between the ways inventors invent and the ways in which children play.

For full job descriptions and application instructions visit http://invention.smithsonian.org/about/about_news.aspx.

Free Online Preservation Tools from NEDCC
The Northeast Document Conservation Center is pleased to announce new products that address the training needs of archivists, librarians and museum and historical society professionals.

These tools were developed primarily with grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities for NEDCC's Field Service Program.

To view the full list of preservation tools, which includes the topics of disaster planning, digital readiness, and preservation education, visit http://www.nedcc.org/eblasts/NewPreservationTools.html.

If you would like to comment on NEDCC's preservation tools, e-mail Julie Martin, jmartin@nedcc.org.