Children’s Activity Day: Presidential Campaigning at the at the Elkhart County Historical Museum
This event will be held on Saturday, March 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the at the Elkhart County Historical Museum located at 304 W. Vistula St. in Bristol.

Give it a try for yourself as you explore different campaigning techniques fashioned throughout the years. Paint a parade lantern, create a slogan and put it on a button or ribbon, recreate the face of Glover Cleveland from a sketch of 4 pigs, and come dressed in your best patriotic red, white and blue outfit. There will be a prize for the most patriotic costume!

For more information, please call (574) 848-4322.

Musical Presentations Marking the 200th Birthday of Abraham Lincoln
This musical presentation, Mystic Chords of Memory, by the Lincoln Trio will be held on Friday, March 13, at 7 p.m. at the Dubois County Museum in Jasper and on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m. at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Lincoln City.

The program is free to the public.

The program is presented by the Ravinia Festival of Illinois and will consist of spoken work and music honoring the 16th President and prepared especially for the Lincoln Bicentennial. The members of the trio have experience spanning the globe. Violinist Desirée Ruhstrat has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe, appearing at the White House and performing on live radio broadcast heard around the world with the Berlin Radio Orchestra; cellist David Cunliffe has performed with the BBC and royal Scottish orchestras as well as touring as a member of the Balanescu Quartet; pianist Marta Aznavoorian has appeared with the Chicago Symphony and has performed at the Kennedy Center and the Sydney Opera House.

The Dubois County Museum is located at 2704 N. Newton Street (U.S. 231) in Jasper and will have special hours on Friday, March 13, from 10 a.m. until after the 7 p.m. program. The gift shop with its large selection of historical and Lincoln era items will be open during the same hours. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are accepted.

For more information regarding the contents of the program, call the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial at (812) 937-4541.

Abigail Adams Dinner Program from the Ohio County Historical Museum
This program will be held on March 14 at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Hall on Main St. in Rising Sun.

This will be the third and last in the series of first person presentations. This first person is presented by Jessica Michna from Racine, Wis. She has been presenting these programs for years to a wide range of groups including schools, libraries, churches and historical societies. Step back in time and join us for a entertaining history lesson.

As the nineteenth century dawned, the infant nation of America stretched and grew across the continent. For the second time the reins of power had been peacefully transferred to the newly elected president, Thomas Jefferson. John and Abigail Adams had retired to their farm outside of Weymouth, Mass. Abigail settled into the calm life of the Adams’ farm, content to finally have Mr. Adams to herself. After forty years of marriage Abigail looks back to the days of her early marriage as the young wife and mother. Referring to the many letters written between the Adams, she recalls the days of revolution and uncertainty. She reminisces about the friendships forged in France and England as a diplomat’s wife. Mrs. Adams brings to life the early days of Washington, D.C. as seen from the windows of the unfinished White House.

A buffet dinner begins at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by a question and answer period. The program is sponsored by the Ohio County Community Foundation.

The cost of the dinner is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. To attend the program only (begins at 7:30 p.m.), the cost is $4 for members and $5 for nonmembers.  Membership in the Historical Society is $15 for families and $10 for individuals.  The deadline to sign up is March 12.

For more information about the event or museum, please call Bill Dichtl at (812) 438-4915.

Youth Activity Day at the Greentown Historical Society
This event will be held on Saturday, March 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Greentown Historical Society located at 103 E. Main St. in Greentown.

Students will explore the History of Native American Indians of Indiana exhibit, learn about the Indians of the area from a researcher and make a dream catcher.

The cost is $2 per person for the dream catcher supplies.

School-age children who want to attend will need to register by calling Karen Swan at (765) 628-3565 before March 15. 

Historical Treasures of Dubois County at the Dubois County Museum
This day for learning more about Dubois County will be held on Sunday, March 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Dubois County Museum located at 2704 N. Newton St. (U.S. 231) in Jasper.

Have you ever wondered about where things were in Dubois County? How about Bluebird Rock? Or Jasper College?  Do you remember pieces of information but want to know more?

People who have ties to the history of all the towns are invited to come together at the museum to reminisce and to learn more.

The event will be Historical Treasures of Dubois County. The treasures are the people and the information which can be put together. Martina Eckert, age 90, will be there to talk about the Depression. Bob Steffe will offer information on St. Joseph’s Church in Jasper and the area, Elsie Neukam and several more persons from the north of the county will bring scrapbooks with facts and photos. Lee Bilderback will offer his knowledge of the Holland area. The list goes on and on. If you have something of interest you wish to show, bring it along. The informal gathering will be in Exhibit Room II.

A wall-sized map of Historical Sites of Dubois County will be displayed to show where the museum’s largest artifacts were found. It marks the spots where the giant Fruit Press was located, the Double Pen Log House, the Lindauer Stone Cutting Machine, the Meyer Planing Mill and the Silver Smelter to name a few. Find out historical spots you never were aware of.

The book store is well stocked with histories of local towns such as St. Henry, Ferdinand, Dubois, Birdseye, Duff, Huntingburg, Celestine and Northeast Dubois County. The best of the area history books are available.

For more information, please call (812) 634-7733.

Demonstration of Cordage Using Native Plants at the Greentown Historical Society
Dan Lincoln of Upland will demonstrate the use of various native plants to make cordage on March 22 at 2 p.m. at the Greentown Historical Society located at 101 E. Main St. in Greentown.

Cordage is the term used for any type of rope or string made by twisting fibers together.  We may not appreciate the value of cordage today. For the native American, various weights of cordage were a part of daily life. For hunting, there were bow strings and animal snares. Cord was useful in building their homes (tying the wood frame together and then adding the cattail mats). The cattail mats were first formed with string made from plants or animal sinew. Clothing items, including moccasins, were made by using cordage.

The program is free to the public.

For more information, please call (765) 628-3800 or (765) 628-7840.

An Evening with Photo Detective Maureen Taylor
Maureen Taylor, known as The Photo Detective, will be lecturing at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m.

Taylor, an internationally recognized expert on the intersection of history, genealogy and photography, has been featured in top media outlets including “Today,” “The View,” The Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes & Garden. She is the author of numerous books and magazine articles as well as a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine.

For the past 10 years, Taylor has employed a variety of diagnostic techniques, combining genealogy, art history, costume history and cultural anthropology in her work dating and identifying the subjects in photos. The Wall Street Journal called her “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective.”

Tickets are $10 or $8 for IHS members. Call (317) 234-1830 to purchase.

Have a mystery photo and need some expert advice?

Sign up for a 15-minute private consultation with Maureen Taylor. Once you’ve registered for a consultation, here’s how the process works:

• Think about which photos you’d like her to look at.
• If you have additional information about the pictures, please bring that with you.
• It’s helpful to bring a family history chart with you as well.
• For note taking purposes, Maureen suggests you make a photocopy of each image and bring it with you.

Consultations will be scheduled during the day on Tuesday, March 10. They are $25. Call (317) 234-1830 for your appointment.

For more information about Maureen Taylor, visit her Web site at http://www.photodetective.com/.

IMLS American Heritage Preservation Grants Awarded
An 18th century wool quilt, a 19th century Alutiiq spruce root basket and 20th century posters from World War II will be preserved for future generations with grants from the new American Heritage Preservation Program awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

Through this new public-private partnership, 39 museums and 14 libraries and archives will receive individual grants of up to $3,000 to preserve treasures that convey the essential character and experience of the United States. In the program's inaugural year, 53 grants totaling $152,308 were awarded.

In this first round of grants, AHP grants were awarded to museums, libraries and archives to treat, re-house and improve the storage environments of important collections.

• In Indiana, the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville received a $3,000 award for their project titled Stabilization of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum's Textile and Oversized Historic Object Collections.
  
  The General Lew Wallace Museum will purchase acid-free boxes, tissue, storage tubes and other archival supplies to rehouse the textile and oversized objects collections, including a Civil War uniform worn by General Wallace in 1861; a silk dress that is the collection’s only piece of clothing worn by Susan Wallace, General Wallace’s wife; a Civil War saddle; a Mexican war drum and six Kilim and Navajo rugs.

Approximately 150 grants of $3,000 each will be awarded over the next three years to preserve specific items, including works of art and historical documents, held in small museums and libraries.

The next application deadline is Sept. 15, 2009. For questions about museum projects, please contact Christine Henry, Senior Program Officer, at (202) 653-4674. For questions about library or archival projects, please contact Kevin Cherry, Senior Program Officer, at (202) 653-4662.

To view the complete list of winners of this year's grants, please visit http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/022309_list.shtm.

National:

Museum Director at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan State University seeks a dynamic leader with significant museum experience to serve as director of its AAM-accredited natural history and cultural museum.

The new director will demonstrate a strong commitment to the Museum's mission of research, scholarship and public engagement, provide sound management and fiscal direction, and balance the unique needs and interests of multiple constituencies. The new director will obtain extramural funding and strengthen university investment in support of scholarship, technology, education, exhibition and distance learning activities of the Museum. The new director will enhance collaborations between the MSU Museum, other academic units and other organizations where they intersect with teaching, research, exhibits and public programs.

The position is open until filled. Review of applications will begin on March 27, 2009.

For a full job description and application information, please visit http://museum.msu.edu/directorsearch.

New Media Assistant at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
The National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, Smithsonian Institution, is seeking a motivated team member to support Web and new media efforts at the Museum. 

Duties include posting and maintaining content on the Museum Web site, contributing to social media outreach and preparing and organizing digital materials. The New Media Assistant’s work will specifically support the Museum’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, and promote our education partnership with Thinkfinity.org. The New Media Assistant will also provide administrative and general office support.

Applicants must demonstrate organizational skills, familiarity with educational uses of the Internet and experience with the tools of Web publishing such as Dreamweaver and Photoshop. The best qualified applicants will also have strong writing skills and experience producing digital multimedia.

This is a full time, one-year non-federal position (renewable).  The salary is $41,210 plus excellent benefits. To apply, send your resume to nmahweb@si.edu by March 15, 2009.

Curatorial Assistant at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in South Hadley, Mass.
The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum seeks a full-time (37.5 hours per week) Curatorial Assistant to provide administrative and research support to the Museum’s Curator.

Responsibilities include assisting with the development and oversight of the Museums collection of over 15,000 objects, including acquisitions, scholarly research and writing, cataloguing, display and conservation. The Curatorial Assistant will participate in the planning and execution of special exhibitions and the writing of exhibition-related materials; s/he will respond to requests for information from researchers, scholars and students, and manage the museums rights and reproductions operation. S/he will work with student assistants and interns on curatorial matters and help to train and oversee them. S/he will report to the Curator.

Qualifications include B.A. and advanced degree in art history, a minimum of one to three years of museum or other directly relevant experience; foreign language skills a plus. Necessary attributes include a broad knowledge of art history, strong research and writing abilities, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills,  the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and discretion in handling sensitive inquiries and confidential materials.

Qualified applicants should forward cover letter and resume by March 15 to the Director, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, Lower Lake Road, South Hadley, MA 01075.

Museum Educator at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wyo.
The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wyo., is accepting resumes for the position of Museum Educator.

The salary offered will be $27,500 to $30,000.

This is an excellent opportunity for a creative, experienced and trained educator to create the museum’s educational programs from the ground up.

The Museum Educator will be responsible for administration, leadership and management of the Education Department including coordination, development, implementation and evaluation of museum’s educational and interpretive programs.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the education department, including developing departmental vision, goals, priorities and strategic plans.
• Managing education department volunteers, including supervising, inspiring, training, and creating a positive, team-oriented, productive work environment.
• Coordinating, developing, implementing and evaluation of museum educational programs, events and activities.
• Participate in developing and evaluating exhibits as a member of the museum’s exhibit committee.
• Participate in developing, writing and editing as a member of the museum’s publishing committee.
• Participate in developing, designing and writing grant proposals for educational programs in collaboration with museum director and/or other museum staff.
• Participate in service to the museum community and professional organizations at the local, state and regional levels.

Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree with an emphasis in history or social sciences, education, museum studies or related discipline. Leadership and management skills are paramount. The successful candidate also will have demonstrated forward-thinking museum educational ideas, programs and practices, the ability to work in a team environment, management of multiple priorities and strong communication, and planning. The position is permanent with full benefits; salary depends on education, experience, skills, knowledge and interview.

Please attach a letter of interest addressing the above qualifications and responsibilities, a detailed resume, and a list of three professional references and mail to
John Gavin, Director
Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum
P.O. Box 596, 100 Fort St.
Buffalo, WY 82834

Please indicate if you will be attending the Colorado, Wyoming Association of Museums 2009 annual conference at Estes Park, Colo. Applications will be accepted until May 12, 2009.

Internships:

Museum Education Internship at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, Ill.
The Monticello College Foundation Internship in Museum Education provides a challenging opportunity to work closely with museum educators, exhibits staff and curators in a museum of natural history, anthropology and art. The program is designed for candidates who wish to explore a career in the field of museum education. The Monticello Intern helps coordinate the day-to-day operations of "A Place for Discovery," a hands-on children’s gallery, including the gallery's 45 volunteers. The Monticello Intern also assists with other museum education programs including school groups, monthly children’s programs and special events.

A Bachelor's degree in education, anthropology, natural science, museum studies, history or art, a career interest in museum education, experience working with the public and ability to use a personal computer required. Teaching experience or Master's degree a plus. Flexibility, maturity, caring personality and enthusiasm for working with children and volunteers—especially retirees—are very important.

The internship will run from Sept. 1, 2009 to Aug. 31, 2010. There is some flexibility in start and end dates. A monthly stipend of $1,565 plus benefits package including fully-paid medical and life insurance, holidays, vacation, personal business days and sick time are offered.

To apply, send cover letter, resume, college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, if applicable, photocopies are acceptable), an e-mail address where you may be reached and contact information for three professional references (letters are not required) to:

Beth Shea, Education Chairperson
Illinois State Museum
502 S. Spring St.
Springfield, IL 62706-5000

The deadline is May 1, 2009. E-mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. E-mail inquiries are invited. Send inquiries to bshea@museum.state.il.us. Please, no phone calls.

Summer Internship Opportunities at Stratford Hall in Stratford, Va.
Stratford Hall is pleased to offer paid residential internships for the summer of 2009:

• Building Preservation/Restoration Intern ($1,000 stipend)
  The Restoration Intern will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with a variety of preservation projects, including the execution of a Cyclical Maintenance plan that includes repointing, painting and window and door repair. The intern will also participate in the restoration of one original outbuilding, the restoration of a room within the Great House and the restoration of a Spring House.
   
  Applicants should be working toward a degree in Historic Preservation with the desire to work professionally in a museum setting. Hands-on historical restoration/preservation training and/or experience (including: masonry, painting, carpentry and plaster) preferred.
   
• Curatorial Intern ($2,000 stipend)
  The Curatorial Intern will focus on researching original Lee family silver at Stratford Hall and in other public and private collections. This project will involve study of silver patterns, makers and engraved crests used by the Lees, as well as analysis of extant inventories to determine the types of plate that would have furnished Stratford’s rooms in the 18th and early-19th centuries. Site visits to other collections may be necessary.  Strong interest in American and English decorative arts required.
   
  Applicants should be currently enrolled in or recent graduates of M.A. or Ph.D. programs in American Studies, Museum Studies or related field with a demonstrated interest in material culture research.
   
• Collections Management Intern ($1,000 stipend)
  The Collections Management Intern will assist the Collections Manager with multiple projects. These projects include inventory, researching and re-housing objects, taking digital images, and preparing and updating artifact records in the Rediscovery database. Coursework or experience in collections care and management, experience with digital imaging and familiarity with database systems is a plus.
   
  Applicants should be enrolled in a B.A. or B.S. program majoring in Art History, American Studies or a related field with an expressed interest in pursuing either further study at the graduate level or a career in museums.

Each internship carries a generous stipend and free on-site housing with kitchen and laundry facilities. Due to Stratford’s relatively remote location, personal vehicles are recommended but not required. All of these positions require a full-time, 10-week commitment with specific dates negotiable depending upon the applicant’s schedule.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter stating their reasons for applying, including their goals for the internship and dates available for work. Also, please attach a resume and contact information for three references. Applications should be received by April 5, 2009.

Inquiries and applications should be directed to:

Restoration Internship:
Phil Mark, Director of Preservation
483 Great House Rd.
Stratford, VA 22558
pmark@stratfordhall.org

Curatorial/Collections Internships:
Gretchen Goodell, Curator
483 Great House Rd.
Stratford, VA 22558
ggoodell@stratfordhall.org

Summer Internship in Collections Management in Manassas, Va.
The Manassas Museum System in Manassas, Va., is offering a summer internship in collections management for a graduate student in Museum Studies.

The collections reflect the spectrum of Prince William County, Va., with an emphasis on the immediate Manassas area. Collecting priorities have been objects with a local provenance and those that illustrate the intense Civil War activity of the Manassas area. 

Much of the collection is catalogued in PastPerfect. For an overview of the Museum System, visit http://www.manassasmuseum.org/. The Intern will assist the Curator with various projects related to maintenance of the collection. Duties include cataloging new acquisitions, completing condition reports and measurements, preparing for a Collections Committee meeting, photographing objects, housing material and entry into the PastPerfect database.

First or second year graduate student in Museum Studies, with an emphasis in collections management preferred. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office a minimum; PastPerfect preferred. Basic photography skills, including use of a digital camera. Strong organizational skills. Ability to work independently on a large project. Attention to detail and neatness. Background and interest in history preferred. Museum experience a plus.

The internship requires a minimum of 40 hours a week for ten weeks. Salary available.

Send the completed and signed City of Manassas Employment Application with a resume and a cover letter discussing your qualifications, experience and an explanation of why you should be considered for this internship. Please be sure to give the names, addresses and contact numbers of three references. The Employment Application is available at http://www.manassascity.org/Documents/Human%20Resources/employmentapp.pdf.

Collections Care Intern at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah
This three-month internship will begin July 1 and offers an opportunity to gain general knowledge of museum registration and how the Church History Museum aligns itself with the larger mission of the Family and Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Projects include cataloging, storage and record keeping, deaccession practices and inventory.

Applicants must be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and capable of holding a Temple Recommend. Interns will have completed at least three years of undergraduate work in any of the following fields: museum studies, art, art history, history, archaeology or anthropology.

Please respond to:
Carrie E. Snow
Supervisor Collections Care - Art and Artifacts
Church History Museum
45 North West Temple St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
(801) 240-4619
(801) 240-5342
Snowce@ldschurch.org

Internships at Montpelier in Thomaston, Maine
Montpelier, the General Henry Knox Museum, an historic house museum in midcoast Maine, is pleased to post two paid internships for 2009. 

• Museum Internship
  This internship is designed to offer a broad range of experience in museum operations, including collections management, interpretation, research, and program and exhibition development. Specific projects will be developed in consultation with the museum’s director of education and special interests of the intern will be taken into account. 
  
  This internship is 5 days a week (30 hours) for 11 weeks and pays a stipend of $2,600.
   
• Educational Internship
  This internship is part of the museum’s Center for the Study of Early American History and will provide a focused experience in museum educational programming.  The educational intern’s primary responsibility will be to provide support for the Center’s summer teacher institute, which includes answering phones, preparing mailings, handling teachers’ logistical concerns, assisting teachers with research projects, and assisting with program delivery, working with noted experts in the field of history.  In addition, the educational intern will be responsible for developing educational materials and/or activities to expand the museum’s education and interpretive programs.  A very high level of organization, motivation and energy is required. 
  
  This internship is 5 days a week (37.5 hours) for 12 weeks and pays a stipend of $4,400.

For all internships, undergraduate or graduate students with a background or strong interest in history, historic preservation, education, library and archival science or museum studies are encouraged to apply. A high level of self-motivation and initiative is required. Saturdays and some special evening and weekend events are required.  Starting and ending dates are flexible. We regret that the museum can not provide housing.

To apply, please send a letter describing your interest and experience with museums and/or nonprofits, a resume and three references to Ellen Dyer, General Henry Knox Museum, P.O. Box 326, Thomaston, ME 04861 or by e-mail tocenter@knoxmuseum.org. Please indicate in which internship you are interested. 

The application deadline is Monday, March 9, 2009.

For more information about Montpelier, please visit http://www.knoxmuseum.org/.