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March Professional Development Opportunities From AASLH
AASLH is offering two opportunities for professional development in March. They provide excellent opportunities for you to improve the care of items in your archives and learn new techniques for their care. For more information or to register, visit www.aaslh.org/workshop.htm, e-mail hawkins@aaslh.org or call Bethany Hawkins at (615) 320-3203.

The Basics of Archives
This will be an online course offered from March 10 to April 11.

Participants proceed at their own pace through this online workshop that covers the basics of archives management and practices including acquiring collections, processing, housing and preservation and providing access.

Registration is limited! Sign up by March 1 to guarantee a spot.

Digitization and Museums: Bringing Your Collections Into the 21st Century
This workshop is hosted by the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, Nev. from March 12 to 14.

This 3-day workshop allows you to explore new technologies in museums with in-depth training on digitizing your collection. Day 1 is an introduction to issues surrounding the digitization of primary source materials. Day 2 focuses on basic digital imaging techniques. Day 3 is an introduction to creating metadata for digital objects. The workshop is presented in partnership with CDP@BCR.

Leigh Grinstead from the Collaborative Digitization Project at BCR will be the instructor. The registration deadline is Feb. 14.

MS213: Museum Artifacts: How They Were Made and How They Deteriorate

This is an online course offered at www.museumclasses.org that will be instructed by Helen Alten from Feb. 4 through March 14. The cost of the course is $425.

Every museum object is unique, but items made of similar materials share characteristics. Museum Artifactsgives participants an understanding of the materials and processes used to make objects knowledge that better prepares them to decide how to care for their collections. Participants study two objects that represent all materials found in our museums. Through an in-depth analysis of their components, participants explore all possible objects found in any museum collection.

Participants in Museum Artifactswork through 12 sections on their own. Instructor Helen Alten is available for scheduled email support. Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and online chats led by the instructor. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Museum Artifactsruns six weeks. Please enroll at www.museumclasses.org and pay for the course at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html. If you have trouble completing an on-line order, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org.

Helen Alten is an objects conservator and owner of Northern States Conservation Center, St. Paul, Minn. She has been an educator, conservator and trainer since 1986. Ms. Alten received her master's degree in archaeological conservation and materials science at the Institute of Archaeology, University of London in 1986. She began working with small, rural and tribal museums as conservator for Montana and Alaska.

MS303: Found in the Collection: Orphans, Old Loans and Abandoned Property

This will be an online course offered at www.museumclasses.org that will be instructed by Lin Nelson Mayson from Feb. 4-29. The cost of this course is $425.

Every museum has a few stray items. Some lost tags long ago. Others turn up as surprises during inventories. A few are all that remain from long-ago exhibits. While you'll want to keep some, others may be deteriorating. Even worse, some pose significant hazards for staff and the rest of the collection. All raise legal and professional questions. How do you deal with objects that have no records? Or loans from unidentified or deceased lenders? Found in the Collection addresses how to identify abandoned objects and old loans. It further covers the application of state laws and rules for identifying owners or establishing ownership.

Participants in Found in the Collectionwork through sections on their own. Instructor Lin Nelson-Mayson is available for scheduled e-mail support. Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and online chats led by the instructor. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Found in the Collectionruns six weeks. Please enroll at www.museumclasses.org and pay for the course at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html. If you have trouble completing an on-line order, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org.

Lin Nelson-Mayson, with over 25 years of museum experience at small and large institutions, is currently the director of the Goldstein Museum of Design, part of the University of Minnesota's College of Design. Ms Nelson-Mayson's experience includes teaching museum studies and museology courses. Her particular interest is the needs of small museums.

Museum and Historic House Pest Management Workshop
This workshop will be offered by Insects Limited on March 25 in Indianapolis.

Topics to be covered include:

IPM in Museums
A detailed Insect ID session w/microscopes
IPM in Historic Homes
The Case of the ‘What Dun It’
Trapping Strategies in Museums
Case Studies from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Treatment Strategies using the Fumigation Bubble.

Speakers will include 3 entomologists, Patrick Kelley, Alain VanRyckeghem and David Mueller all of Insects Limited, Inc., Michael Schuetz of Historic New England, Christy O’Grady of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Michel Maheu of Maheu-Maheu in Quebec, Canada.

The cost is $245.00.

Please contact Kalah Stocker at k.stocker@insectslimited.com or call (800) 992-1991 for more information or to reserve a spot.

Programs

Please confirm events specifics with sponsoring organization, especially if traveling any distance.

The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne Celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s 199th Birthday

We are just one year away from celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday! The Lincoln Museum, and the rest of America, will honor Abraham Lincoln’s birth date with a bicentennial celebration that kicks off in February of 2008, and continues through 2010. To begin the festivities, the Friends of The Lincoln Museum invite you to Abraham Lincoln’s 199th Birthday Celebration!

The party will take place Sunday, Feb. 10, from 1-4 p.m.

In honor of Mr. Lincoln’s Birthday, Fred and Bonnie Priebe will portray Abraham and Mary Lincoln! They will present two special programs for the big event! The first program will be “Who Would Jack Vote For?” The presentation will examine the 1864 election campaign with all its twists and turns that would make today’s politicians blush. The Priebes will also present “Why Are Those Footsteps Up There?” This presentation will feature a host of humorous and inspiring stories told by President Lincoln. A question and answer session follows both programs.

The 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry also will be on hand with its traditional encampment, home front ladies, dancing, songs and roll-call. You also are invited to join us for Secret Treasures of the Lincoln Museum. This interactive search highlights the gems of the Museum. You will work your way through the Museum solving riddles that will help you locate a key that unlocks a treasure chest. Winners will be rewarded!

While you’re celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s birthday at the Museum, you may be inspired to participate in a Lincoln log building contest and other hands-on activities!

Remember to bring your camera. There will be lots of opportunities for family photos!

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday Celebration Continues on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008!
Join us at The Lincoln Museum, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, for a special celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday! You are invited to the unveiling of an Abraham Lincoln bust by local sculptor Will Clark at 11:30 a.m. Clark is a man of many passions – he is an active supporter of minority rights and a promoter of the arts. He began sculpting in 1998. The winners of “The Lincoln Door Decorating” contest also will be announced. The contest was open to all Allen County schools. Plus, we will honor the businesses that participated in The Lincoln Museum “Celebrate Lincoln Day.”

Four exhibits will be offered at The Lincoln Museum to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's Birthday:

First Ladies and Fashion: Featuring the Work of Arnold Scaasi
This exhibition will be open through Feb. 18, 2008. Scaasi designed gowns for Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.

Encounters with Lincoln
This art exhibition by Thomas J. Trimborn, will be available until June 13, 2008. Trimborn’s work portrays Lincoln from an artist’s point of view. Trimborn’s book, the original art, and a limited selection of prints of his work will be for sale in the Museum Store.

Insuring Lincoln’s Image
This art exhibition is open to the public through June 8, 2008. Discover how a local Fort Wayne business, Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, rallied to promote the spirit of our country’s legacy. The company commissioned a series of paintings portraying Abraham Lincoln’s honesty, hard work, and his belief in equality, freedom and the nation’s future.

Abraham Lincoln and the American Experiment
The life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln comes alive through hands-on exhibits, films, historic photographs, documents signed by Lincoln and other priceless artifacts from one of the largest Lincoln collections in the world.

The Lincoln Museum is located at the corner of Clinton and Berry Streets in downtown Fort Wayne. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. General admission is $4.99, seniors and children (5 - 12 years old), $3.99. The Lincoln Museum also features one of the largest museum stores in northeastern Indiana. Shop on-line at www.TheLincolnMuseum.org Call (260) 455-3864 for additional information.

Valentine’s Dinner and Concert at the Morris-Butler House

This event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Thursday, Feb. 14 from 6-8:00 p.m.

Celebrate the most romantic day of the year and indulge in an elaborate dinner and dessert at the Morris-Butler House. Experience the beauty of the 1865 historic home and a Celtic harp concert by Laura Hiner while sampling the decadent 19th century menu, which includes Parker House Rolls, Butternut Squash Bisque, Salmon with Maple Glaze, Whipped potatoes, Green Beans, fresh Salad, Raspberry Sorbet, Fruit and Cheese and delectable Chocolate Cheesecake. Each lady who attends also receives a red rose to take home!

Tickets are $100/member couple; $120/non-member couple (includes membership). Reservations are required. Contact the Morris-Butler House Museum at (317) 636-5409 or mbhouse@historiclandmarks.org for reservations. The Morris-Butler House is located at 1204 N. Park Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46202.

IHS News

Herbst Receives Special Award from American Labor Museum

Indiana Historical Society President and CEO John Herbst recently received a Special Recognition Award from the American Labor Museum. The award was presented to Mr. Herbst at the 25th Annual Sol Stetin Awards Gala Program, which took place in Passaic County, New Jersey.

The purpose of the American Labor Museum is to advance public understanding of the history of work, workers and the labor movement throughout the world. The museum operates the Botto House National Landmark as a living history museum and education center.

John Herbst was one of the five incorporators of the American Labor Museum. In the late 1970s, John was a working museum professional when he became involved in the idea of establishing a museum at the Botto House. He spent four years as a Vice President of the Board of Trustees and wrote the successful applications for the Botto House to become a National Historic Landmark and to receive an Endangered Properties Loan from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to fund the purchase of the property.

In 1982 he became the first Executive Director, leading the restoration of the Botto House, creating the Furnishings and Interpretative Plans, developing the first exhibitions and opening the museum. In 1983, he was project director for Life and Times in Silk City, a nationally acclaimed exhibition, which from 1984 to 1985 attracted more than 100,000 visitors. John led the initiative for an annual state appropriation that continues to support the museum.

In 1986 John became the Executive Director of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. During the next 11 years it grew to be the largest historical society in Pennsylvania. He opened the new Pittsburgh History Center in 1996, dedicated to the late Senator John Heinz. In 1997 John became the President and CEO of Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is currently the president and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society.

For over 35 years, John has been an author, consultant, leader in the museum community, and a board member and officer of many professional associations. He now lives in a historic 1890 home in downtown Indianapolis, where his garden has been featured in magazines such as Victorian Homes and Better Homes and Gardens. He has one son, John (IV) who is a freshman at Seton Hall University.

In Your Neighborhood Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 7, noon to 1 p.m.

The Studebaker National Museum will host the second Local History Services In Your Neighborhood meeting focusing on organizational change. Feel free to call Local History Service in advance about issues you are facing or just drop in to ask a question or share a success story. The Studebaker National Museum is located at 201 S. Chapin St., South Bend.

IHS Welcomes Newly-Elected Board Members and Officers

The Indiana Historical Society is proud to announce the election of three new members and six re-elected members to its Board of Trustees to serve in 2008. This year’s officers of the Board of Trustees have also been chosen. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of the IHS, is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.

Elected by the membership of the IHS, the Board of Trustees is a statewide volunteer body that meets on a quarterly basis and governs the operations of the IHS. Trustees serve a three-year term and may serve three consecutive terms. It is comprised of historians, business and civic leaders, attorneys, teachers, retirees, and other citizens of Indiana.

“I am honored to work alongside this experienced and talented group to fulfill the mission of the Indiana Historical Society,” said John A. Herbst, IHS President and CEO. “We look forward to building upon the great legacy of this wonderful organization together.”

New trustees include: Frank Basile, senior vice president of the Gene B. Glick Company and professional speaker, author and columnist; James T. Morris, special advisor to CEO/President of Pacers Sports & Entertainment; and Joseph A. Slash, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League.

Re-elected Board of Trustees members include: Joseph E. Costanza (Munster, Ind.), William Brent Eckhart (Indianapolis), Richard D. Feldman (Indianapolis), Janis B. Funk (Indianapolis), Thomas G. Hoback (Indianapolis) and Margaret Cole Russell (Carmel).

“Our Board of Trustees is comprised of an excellent balance of newly-appointed and long-tenured members, all of whom bring a wealth of experience and possibilities,” said Michael A. Blickman, Chair of the IHS Board of Trustees. “We are proud to welcome these three new members and thank them for their willingness to serve the mission of the Indiana Historical Society.”

During its January meeting, the Indiana Historical Society’s Board of Trustees elected the following officers for 2008: Michael A. Blickman, Indianapolis, Chair; Sarah Evans Barker, Morgantown, Second Vice Chair; Patricia D. Curran, Indianapolis, Secretary, Thomas G. Hoback, Indianapolis, First Vice Chair; James Shook, Jr., Indianapolis, Treasurer.

Exhibits

Quilting Comfort at the Marshall County Historical Museum in Plymouth
This new exhibit opens on Feb. 1.

The perfect winter topic, all three floors of the museum will feature quilts from the early 1800s through today. The exhibit tells stories of over 70 quilts and will feature a special quilt on loan every month.

The Friendship Quilting Group will join us for Quilting Live! on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Visitors can watch them actually creating quilts and even take a few stitches themselves, if they would like. Cliff Berger will also be joining us beginning at 10:00 a.m. performing piano music from the 1940s Big Band era.

Quilts and coverlets are made of more than fabric and thread. They contain hours of artistic handwork, stories of how and why they came to be and in most cases…lots of love. Come experience the tradition and artistry of Quilting Comforton display through the spring.

Pick up a copy of our 2008 event calendar at the Museum, the Plymouth Public Library, the Life Enrichment Center on Harrison Street or print one from our Web site at www.mchistoricalsociety.org. Call the Marshall County Historical Museum for additional information at (574) 936-2306. The Marshall County Historical Museum is located at 123 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth.

Traveling Exhibits

Freedom: A History of US at the Working Men's Institute in New Harmony

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson based the colonists’ right to separate on the King’s denial of their freedom—their “inalienable rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet for more than 225 years, the principle of freedom and our understanding of its implications have evolved. The debates, decisions and battles of our past shape the United States in which we live today. This exhibition invites viewers to read the words and see the images of men and women who arrived in this land either by choice or in chains, but who together forged this nation. Their words and images provide insight into the complexity of the past.

This traveling exhibit is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society. For more information about the IHS traveling exhibit program, go to www.indianahistory.org/LHS and click on “Traveling Exhibition.”

Organizations in the News

Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville Receives Grant for Summer Youth Arts Program
A grant in the amount of $2500 was received from the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana to implement Calliope Arts and Activities, a summer youth program. The program will offer drama, art, history and fun activities for community youth. Multi-media arts will spotlight steamboats, the Ohio River and the Howard legacy.

Job Opportunities

Curatorial Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking a Limited Term Employee. Tasks would entail mostly collection management with other duties as needed. Applicants need to be available to work a minimum of 10 hours per week but have the option of working up to 40 hours per week.

The official job posting can be found at: http://www.ohr.wisc.edu/pvl/pv_058243.html

Applications must be received by Feb. 8, 2008.

On the Internet

Foundation Grants for Preservation in Libraries, Archives and Museums Guide
The Library of Congress and the Foundation Center, in a joint partnership, have recently compiled a new Web-based fundraising guide to help the preservation community save the nation's millions of at-risk artifacts for future generations. The guide, titled Foundation Grants for Preservation in Libraries, Archives and Museums, is available for free download at the Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov/preserv/.

To create the guide, The Library of Congress and the Foundation Center consulted with Heritage Preservation, a nonprofit group serving libraries, archives and other groups dedicated to preserving historical and cultural collections.

IRS Warns of New e-Mail Scam Targeting Exempt Organizations
In IR 2008-11, the IRS warned that a current version of a scam e-mail which falsely claims to come from the IRS appears to be directed toward certain tax-exempt organizations. The IRS reiterates that it will never send unsolicited, tax account related e-mails to taxpayers.

Visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178061,00.html for more details.

Orphans Corner

Equipment Available

An older Micron 797A microfiche reader, believed to be in good working order. Must be picked up at the Indiana Historical Society.

To claim this item, send an e-mail to localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org. Items will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note from the Editor

If your historical organization, genealogical society or museum has changed its address or phone number in the past six months, please send the updated information to Coordinator, Local History Services, at col@indianahistory.org or Indiana Historical Society, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Communique Online is provided for the benefit of local historical societies and museums throughout Indiana. It is e-mailed to a subscriber list maintained by the Local History Services department of the Indiana Historical Society.

Anyone may subscribe. This is a free publication.

To be added or removed from the mailing list, simply e-mail col@indianahistory.org or call toll free (800) IHS-1830.

News releases from local societies are welcomed and may be faxed to (317) 234-0427, e-mailed to the above address or mailed to

Local History Services, Indiana Historical Society, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center,

450 W. Ohio St.,Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Please visit the IHS Local History Services Web site at www.indianahistory.org/LHS.