Blog and Newsletter

In the towns of the District of Maine in 1819 voting for statehood, or to approve the proposed state constitution, could have occurred at a town hall, a meeting house, a tavern, a private residence or a school. In 1820 the announcement of statehood may have been read from the steps of these buildings or announced in a common or posted on a tree.

As the Bicentennial of Statehood approaches this survey seeks to identify the physical places in each Maine community that were associated with the 1819 vote for statehood and the announcement that Maine had been granted state status in 1820. Communities are encouraged to search their record books for information on where the votes were taken in 1819, or from which the Proclamation of Statehood was delivered the following year.

Once locations or properties are identified, please upload photographs and descriptions of the properties to the survey and locate the properties on a GIS-based map. If the historic properties do not exist you may post photographs of town documents describing polling locations, or photographs of where the townhouse or meeting house was located showing what is there now.

This survey may be completed multiple times as necessary.

The information collected here will be used to curate a narrative story map that helps Mainers to envision the places where Maine was created, one vote at a time.

Anyone can undertake the research and post information to the survey. So please share this with your community's schools, scouts, historical societies, or town officials and complete the survey for your town or city.

The survey will remain open until August 1, 2019.

Click here to start the survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/bc5dcfbdc19e416eadb4f195f5693978

NEH guidelines now available for Research & Development Grants! Up to $350,000 to address major challenges in preserving or providing access to humanities collections and resources. Propose better ways to preserve materials of critical importance to the nation’s cultural heritage—from fragile artifacts to digital assets—& develop advanced modes to organize, search, discover, & use such materials. Deadline: 5/15/19. https://bit.ly/2mVHRaP

Thank you to everyone who provided input during the planning process and thank you to the Maine Arts Commission for providing crucial funding.  The 2019-2024 MAM Strategic Plan is now complete!

Read here the summary of goals and tactics.

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums is now on Instagram!  If you use this service, please follow us: www.instagram.com/mainemuseums

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the President released details from the budget request to Congress for FY 2020 that proposes $23M in funding for the orderly closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

This is the first step for the FY 2020 federal budget, and we will provide information to the Office of Management and Budget and Congress throughout the process as requested. We are disappointed that for a third year, the President’s budget request did not provide funding for the continuation of IMLS activities for the next fiscal year. In the meantime, the agency will continue normal grantmaking operations with allocated FY 2019 funds.

The libraries and museums across our nation provide essential programs, services, and resources to the public. As the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries, IMLS grants make a difference in communities of all sizes, from rural to urban, in every U.S. state and territory. For example, IMLS ensures public library services for all Americans, helps preserve the heritage of our nation, and provides critical funding for literacy and workforce development programs.

IMLS funding enables museums and libraries to provide increased access and navigation to information so that more people can continue their education, learn critical research skills, and find employment. Through IMLS investments in libraries and museums, children and families are being taught essential STEM skills and how to lead healthier lives. Visually impaired people are now able to read public library materials through new technology and training. And veterans are getting the help they need to receive critical services.

As the budget process moves forward, IMLS will continue to carry out our work on behalf of the millions of Americans served by libraries and museums each day.

For more information, a FAQ page on IMLS FY 2019 operations and the FY 2020 budget request can be found here.

The National Endowment for the Humanities would appreciate your sharing the following announcement with your members in any appropriate forum: newsletter, blog, etc.

NEH guidelines are now available for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants! Awards up to $750,000 in federal matching funds support capital expenditures, equipment & software, collections preservation & conservation, and existing digital infrastructure. These grants have a fundraising component and offer special encouragement to projects addressing the 250^th anniversary of American independence and those from HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and community colleges. Optional drafts reviewed if sent by April 3. Questions welcome at challenge@neh.gov or 202-606-8309. Deadline: May 15.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Colby College Museum of Art

Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried, Administrative Staff Appointment

The communications manager will serve as a key member of the Museum team, managing and executing communication strategy, media relations, and print and digital outreach efforts for the Colby College Museum of Art and the Lunder Institute for American Art. In this new position at the Museum, the communications manager will be responsible for developing and managing a diverse portfolio of marketing and communications projects that promote a dynamic roster of exhibitions and programs, world-class collections, innovative scholarly and creative initiatives, and forward-looking advancement efforts to multiple audiences. This position will coordinate communications efforts and workflows across the Museum and will work closely with the Colby College Office of Communications.

For more information and to apply, please visit:

https://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/humanresources/employment/communications_mgr_3_2019.cfm

Responses Needed: What visitation trends have you seen at your site over the last few years? The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is conducting a national visitation survey  and wants your feedback! Please take five minutes to complete the survey and share it with other interested institutions. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AASLHVisitation 

Your response is critical: The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is conducting a national survey of institutions seeking information about visitation trends between the years of 2013-2018.  Please take five minutes to complete this survey and pass along to any institutions who may be interested in participating.  Results will be shared with participants in August of 2019.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AASLHVisitation 

Dear members of MAM,

My name is Jennifer Hochuli. I am a graduate student in the Museum Professions program at Seton Hall University. For my Master’s thesis, I am researching outreach programming within museums, and my goal is to compile a list of information from museums throughout the country. I am writing to ask that you consider completing the attached survey about outreach programming at your institution. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will be invaluable to my research.

As thanks for your assistance, I am happy to send you a summary of my results and recommendations for best practices in outreach programming for you to distribute throughout your organization.

I appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Jennifer Hochuli

Graduate Student, Museum Professions, Seton Hall University

jennifer.hochuli@student.shu.edu