Blog and Newsletter

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

Quarterly Print Newsletter

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Read now: Click here to view the current and past issues of the print newsletter (members-only; log in first).

News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

Posts to this news blog are automatically shared to the MAM Facebook page to get even more exposure!

MEMBERS: Log in, then click "Add Post." If you have trouble logging in, email info@mainemuseums.org.

NON-MEMBERS: To submit your bulletin board post, please email info@mainemuseums.org.

  • 01 May 2014 5:22 PM | Anonymous member

    Collections Internship

    Founded in 1936, the Brick Store Museum is a small museum of history and art in Kennebunk, Maine. It is open year-round, and produces 3-4 exhibitions per year, with programs and special events for all learning levels and ages. The Museum houses about 70,000 items in its collections, which range from documents and photos to chests of drawers and portraits. All staff members, as well as interns, are often called on to do any number of things such as assisting with public programs, basic office work, mailings and visitor services. 

    An internship with the Brick Store Museum is a great way to gain hands-on experience in museum practice. You will have access to areas of the Museum that most people do not get to see, and you will be entrusted with projects that are a valuable part of the work we do at the Museum. Through this commitment, an intern will gain a better understanding of museum work while contributing to the development of the Brick Store Museum as a whole.

    The Education/Special Events internship will provide opportunities to develop educational curriculum for programs and exhibitions.  Duties will vary according to availability of projects and student interests.  Projects will include preparing materials for classes; interacting with visitors and groups; developing educational programs and public programs for specific exhibits; and developing outreach programs for local schools.  The intern will report to the Collections and Archive Associate Manager.

    Experience in the following areas is preferred: experience supervising children; good written communication skills; background in educational theory and practice; understanding of Maine’s Common Core Standards; computer skills; word-processing; and basic office skills. Please inform your museum supervisor of any requirements if you are completing this internship for college credit. It is the responsibility of the student/intern to complete these requirements.

    The Museum offers a $350.00 stipend to ease cost of travel. Time required: 10 - 15 hours per week for eight weeks, beginning in June and ending in August.

    To apply: E-mail your resume and cover letter to info@brickstoremuseum.org with "Education Internship" in the subject line.

  • 01 May 2014 5:18 PM | Anonymous member

    Collections Internship

    Founded in 1936, the Brick Store Museum is a small museum of history and art in Kennebunk, Maine. It is open year-round, and produces 3-4 exhibitions per year, with programs and special events for all learning levels and ages. The Museum houses about 70,000 items in its collections, which range from documents and photos to chests of drawers and portraits. All staff members, as well as interns, are often called on to do any number of things such as assisting with public programs, basic office work, mailings and visitor services. 

    An internship with the Brick Store Museum is a great way to gain hands-on experience in museum practice. You will have access to areas of the Museum that most people do not get to see, and you will be entrusted with projects that are a valuable part of the work we do at the Museum. Through this commitment, an intern will gain a better understanding of museum work while contributing to the development of the Brick Store Museum as a whole.

    The Collections Intern will learn how collections are stored, managed, cataloged and cared for in a museum setting.   Duties will vary according to availability of projects and student interest. Projects will include any combination of cataloguing into our PastPerfect database; assisting with the storage and organization of collections; and researching artifacts.  The intern will report to the Collections and Archive Associate Manager.

    Experience in the following areas is preferred: computer skills, background in art history, history, decorative arts or museum studies. Please inform your museum supervisor of any requirements if you are completing this internship for college credit. It is the responsibility of the student/intern to complete these requirements.

    The Museum offers a $350.00 stipend to ease cost of travel. Time required: 10 - 15 hours per week for eight weeks, beginning in June and ending in August.

    To apply: E-mail your resume and cover letter to info@brickstoremuseum.org with "Collections Internship" in the subject line.

  • 30 Apr 2014 10:03 AM | Anonymous member
    April 30 update: Hurrah!  LD1664 became law today, which means that charitable donations in Maine will be fully deductible in the future. Click here for the full update from Maine Association of Nonprofits.  MAM was very proud to play a role in this advocacy initiative. 

    Early this year, MAM  signed onto the Community Nonprofit Letter in support of LD1664, proposed legislation to restore incentives for donations to charitable organizations like archives and museums. We also expressed our support of the bill individually to members of the Taxation Committee.

    The community letter was drafted by the Maine Association of Non-profits and was presented at a public hearing on January 22. The bill has been in committee since then and various compromise efforts have been considered.  Late last week, Brenda Peluso, Director of Public Policy and Operations at the Maine Association of Non-Profits, sent this update, thanking the signors of the letters: 

    "Just a quick note to let you all know that the taxation committee voted out a compromise bill today unanimously.  While it is not ideal, we do feel like it is the best we could have gotten this year.  I have heard from more than one legislator that if it were not for all of your good advocacy on this issue, this bill would have died in committee two months ago - if it had even made it out of Legislative Council to be considered.

    The compromise looks like this:
    • for tax year 2014 - no relief from the cap
    • for tax year 2015 - tax payers will be able to deduct an additional $10K in charitable donations above the itemized cap
    • for tax year 2016 - tax payers will be able to deduct and additional $18K in charitable donations above the itemized cap
    • for tax year 2017 and beyond - all charitable deductions will be exempt from the cap

    Because this passed unanimously out of committee, it should go under the gavel in both the House and Senate with no issues and the Governor has indicated he will sign the bill.

    We look forward to taking another run at this next year and encourage you to ask candidates for public office during this upcoming election season how they feel about restoring full deductibility for charitable contributions."

    MAM was proud to be a part of this advocacy effort on behalf of all nonprofits in Maine.  Please visit our Advocacy page for more about our recent and ongoing initiatives.

    UPDATE: On April 8, 2014, MAM followed up with the following message to the Appropriations Committee: 

    Dear Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman,

    We're contacting you today to ask you to support the compromise version of LD 1664, An Act to Encourage Charitable Contributions, fund it, and exempt it from the Appropriations Table.  As the taxation committee unanimously intended, this hard fought, negotiated compromise bill was designed to be revenue neutral when coupled with the Governor’s bill on medical expense deductions, LD 1795.

     

    The Association of Maine Archives and Museums is the state's only membership organization dedicated to "supporting and promoting Maine's collecting institutions." From the Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Maritime Museum to the smallest local historical societies, our members act as vital economic drivers for the state and their communities, provide essential public educational services, and, of course, do the important work of preserving and publicly presenting a shared cultural heritage in which we can all take pride as we anticipate Maine's bicentennial in 2020. We urge you to review our new, statewide Economic Impact Statement (MaineMuseums.org/About) and see how the data demonstrate that our member institutions employ hundreds, raise millions of dollars in revenue, and attract millions of visitors to the state. To achieve all this, they depend upon the generosity of private donors in fulfilling their missions that benefit all citizens of the state. Membership fees, fundraising events, and capital gifts (in the form of endowed investments)--not government or other grant funds--comprise the majority of our members' regular operating income each year.

     

    Passage of LD1664 will let Maine's collecting institutions--and so many other worthy non-profits in the state--continue to operate in an independent and financially sustainable way as we serve the state and its citizens. The compromise bill sends a message that charitable giving is broadly valued by our state, and that we are all committed to nurturing a culture of giving here.

     

    Very truly yours,

     

    Jessica Skwire Routhier, President

    Erin I. Bishop, Ph.D., Director

    Maine Archives and Museums

  • 25 Apr 2014 12:49 PM | Anonymous member

    The MHC is seeking a full-time Program Assistant to provide support for the programming efforts of the organization. In that capacity, this individual assists Program Officers in every phase of planning, promoting, organizing, and evaluating our programs. The Program Assistant’s primary duties include:

    • undefinedOrganizing program details: coordinate and disseminate paperwork and program materials, communicate with program partners, order and manage books, assist with PR and marketing, other jobs as needed;
    • undefinedOrganizing event details and assisting at events;
    • undefinedRecording and tracking evaluations;
    • undefinedOrganizing and reporting on program data;
    • undefinedCoordinating the Letters About Literature program; and
    • undefinedProviding additional program and event support as needed.

    EXPERIENCE

    Strong verbal and written communications skills, organization, background in humanities, must be able to clearly communicate to a variety of audiences. Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to multitask, and a background and interest in the humanities are required.

    EDUCATION

    Bachelors degree required.

    REQUIREMENTS

    The ideal candidate will have:

    • undefinedExcellent writing, editing, and communication skills
    • undefinedExceptional attention to detail
    • undefinedProven ability to multi-task, juggle priorities, and meet deadlines
    • undefinedFlexibility and a creative approach to problem-solving
    • undefinedProficiency in Word, Excel, and database software
    • undefinedAbility to work independently as well as collaboratively
    • undefinedA commitment to the humanities

    The salary for this position is $25,000 with a benefit package.

    To apply, please send a résumé, cover letter, and three references to trudy@mainehumanities.org.

    Applications will be accepted through May 9.

    Public humanities scholars

    The Council is always interested in expanding its roster of public humanities scholars who are available on a project-by-project contractual basis to advise council projects or facilitate group humanities discussions in locations around Maine. If you are an experienced humanities teacher or scholar who is interested in working with the public and you would like more information, please e-mail your resume and contact information to info@mainehumanities.org and we will be in touch with you.
  • 25 Apr 2014 10:25 AM | Anonymous member
    Below is the text of a letter that Maine Archives and Museums sent to Senators Collins (R-ME) and King (I-ME) and Representatives Michaud (D-ME) and Pingree (D-ME) on April 25, 2014, encouraging them to reject the budget proposed by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), which would defund and effectively eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services as well as defund the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Public Broadcasting Service.

    MAM has also added its signature to a statement prepared by the American Alliance of Museums on behalf of state and regional museum associations, directed at Representatives Ryan and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who are heading up the budget committee.  When that letter is made public, we will share it with our membership.

    April 25, 2014

    The Association of Maine Archives and Museums, the state’s only membership organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Maine’s collecting institutions, rejects the new budget from Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), in which he disregards the critical role that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) plays in supporting civic engagement, literacy and lifelong learning in more than 17,500 museums and 123,000 libraries nationwide. This budget plan seeks to eliminate federal funding for multiple programs dedicated to the public good that directly benefit Maine libraries, museums, and their patrons. Ryan’s budget resolution effectively calls for the dissolution of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that administers grants to libraries and museums.

    Rep. Ryan recommends that the federal government not have a role in these vital and essential educational resources and that Congress shift the federal agency’s responsibilities to the private sector in his 2015 fiscal year budget resolution. The proposed House Budget says, "The Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent agency that makes grants to museums and libraries. This is not a core federal responsibility." In addition, Ryan would like to make similar cuts in federal funding to agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Public Broadcasting Service, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a move that would result in the loss of cultural heritage on an epic scale.

    It is the view of Maine Archives and Museums that having an informed and literate citizenry and protecting cultural heritage are priorities for the administration. Providing funding for institutions such as IMLS, NEH, and NEA that contribute to this work is indeed a core federal responsibility and should continue unimpeded.

    Maine has received nearly $6 million over the last four years from IMLS, which funded vital programs such as: the Maine Regional Library System, special services (books-by-mail, video services, talking books and large print books), school library/ media services, Maine InfoNet, and electronic database licensing. In the last year, more than $775,000 grants were awarded to Maine museums.
    The NEH supports museums as institutions of learning and exploration, and as keepers of our cultural, historical, and scientific heritages. These programs teach essential skillsundefinedsuch as creativity, critical thinking, and effective communicationundefinedthat are increasingly being sought by employers. NEH also funds humanities councils in every state and U.S. territory, which sponsor family literacy programs, speakers' bureaus, cultural heritage tourism, exhibitions, and live performances.

    The nonprofit arts industry generates $135.2 billion annually in economic activity, supports 4.1 million full-time equivalent jobs in the arts and related industries, and returns $9.6 billion in federal income taxes. We encourage you to find out more about the economic impact of such organizations in Maine by looking at MAM’s statewide Economic Impact Statement at www.mainemuseums.org/About. In partnership with the NEA, state arts agencies annually award 22,000 grants to organizations, schools, and artists in 5,000 communities across the United States. On average, each NEA grant leverages at least nine dollars from other state, local, and private sources. Private support cannot match the leveraging role of government cultural funding.

    Library and cultural heritage funding support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services wields large returns in the form of literate and civically engaged communities. We hope that our members of Congress will support the important roles that the IMLS, NEA, and NEH play in supporting educated communities by rejecting the House Budget resolution.

    About Maine Archives & Museums:
    Maine Archives and Museums actively stimulates the flow of knowledge and support among organizations and individuals in Maine who identify, collect, interpret, and/or provide access to materials relating to history, living collections, and culture, in order to strengthen and promote all collecting institutions in Maine. For more information, visit www.mainemuseums.org.

    Very truly yours,

    Jessica Skwire Routhier, President
    Erin I. Bishop, Ph.D., Director
    Heather Moran, Advocacy Committee
    David O. Smith, Advocacy Committee
  • 21 Apr 2014 1:21 PM | Anonymous member
    The Belfast Historical Society is pleased to announce that the exhibit, "Belfast During the Civil War , The Home Front" is now live and online at the Maine Memory Network.

    The Belfast Historical Society and Museum, in cooperation with the Belfast Free Library, Senior College and the Game Loft, has posted a permanent exhibit on the Maine Memory Network website (civilwar.mainememory.net) telling the story of the Belfast home front during the Civil War. The exhibit features information about the role of the Belfast ladies, letters from soldiers, photographs and the story of the 1864 Belfast Civil War quilt.

    The exhibit is part of the Local and Legendary project recounting Maine in the Civil War, made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Ten Maine communities are participating during 2013 to 2015. The Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Historical Society are acting in an advisory capacity and are providing technical support.

     


     
  • 18 Apr 2014 3:00 PM | Anonymous member
    Maine Humanities Council and Maine Historical Society invite historical societies, museums, and archives with Civil War collections--particularly those in the Greater Bangor area--to participate in a community history fair at the Civil War Legacies in Maine statewide symposium on May 10 in Hermon. Display tables (6-8') will be provided free of charge. We welcome organizations to bring table top displays of historical material and other resources of interest. The symposium begins at 9AM and ends at 12:45PM, with the fair taking place from 12:15-12:45. Fair participants must register individually for the conference at the discounted rate of $7 and are welcome to arrive starting at 8:30AM to set up; or, displays may be set up at the 10:45AM break.

    To reserve a display table, please email Janet Lyons, MHC project consultant, at janet.lyons@outlook.com by May 5. For full symposium details and online registration, visit http://www.mainehumanities.org/special-programs/civil-war/symposium.html.
  • 17 Apr 2014 9:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Maritime Education Summit

    MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY

    CASTINE, MAINE

    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    17-19 October 2014

    CAMPUS CULTURE AND CHANGE

    Students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit a proposal of 300 – 500 words that relates to the topics below or other topics of interest that fit the general themes of Campus Culture and Change or Maritime Education. Presentations at the conference will include a poster session, panel discussions, research papers, and workshops. Students, staff, and faculty may submit proposals for more than one type of presentation. 

    Example topics are listed below; authors are encouraged to propose other topics of interest

    Campus Culture and Change in Maritime Education

    Education: 

    • Pedagogy—Share Best Practices
    • Environmental Content
    • Educational Standards
    • Technology
    • Humanities

    Operations/Facilities:

    • Grants & Research
    • Alternative Energy
    • Cruise/School Ship Program

    Leadership:

    • Regiment & Independent Leadership Development
    • Opportunities for Women
    • Regimental Challenges

    Student Experience:

    • Health & Wellness
    • Extra-Curricular Activities
    • LGBTQIA


    The proposal must be submitted in English and should include the objectives of the research or paper, any research methods used, the results, and conclusions. All proposals must include the paper title, full names, titles, and email addresses of all authors, as well as the full mailing address of the principal author. Presentations will be scheduled anywhere from 20 to 100 minutes. Please indicate in your proposal the type of presentation and the amount of time you want for your presentation. Proposals are due 09 May, 2014.

    Proposals received after the due date will only be considered if there is room in the conference schedule. Successful authors will receive notification of acceptance on or before 01 June, 2014.

    More information about the conference will be available at http://mes2014.mma.edu. Information will be updated frequently so please visit this website to obtain the latest news and information

    Important Dates

    09 May, 2014: Submission of Proposals for Review

    01 June, 2014: Notification of Acceptance

    22 August, 2014: Complete Presentation Descriptions and Papers Due

  • 07 Apr 2014 1:56 PM | Anonymous member
    UPDATE April 25, 2014: USM's President Theodora Kalikow's response follows this original message.  Please scroll down.  In brief, she writes, "There may very well be better ideas out there, which, if implemented, should still get us to the $14 million and a brighter, more sustainable future. I need those ideas! We need those ideas!"

    With the approval of the Advocacy and Executive Committees, MAM president Jessica Routhier recently wrote to University of Southern Maine President Theodora Kalikow to protest the decision to eliminate the American and New England Studies graduate program. Similar letters were also sent to USM Provost Michael Stevenson, University of Maine Chancellor James Page, Maine Senate President Justin Alfond, and Governor Paul LePage. 


    April 7, 2014

    Theodora Kalikow, President
    University of Southern Maine
    Office of the President
    707 Law Building
    Portland, Maine 04104

    Dear President Kalikow,

    The Association of Maine Archives and Museums (MAM), the state’s only membership organization dedicated to “supporting and promoting Maine’s collecting institutions,” is adding its voice to those that have already expressed dismay over the University of Southern Maine’s decision to terminate the American and New England Studies master’s program. As representatives of our field--including museums, historical societies, libraries, archives, other cultural organizations, and those who provide services for them--we feel that the ANES program is important for the health of both our industry and the state’s economy.

    At MAM we have a mounting concern that we must do more to attract, train, and empower the next generation of leaders for our field. ANES has long been the only museum studies/public history graduate program in the state, and while we certainly wish there were more, it alone has done a remarkable job of turning out dedicated, capable young scholars with tangible and employable skills. The vast majority of MAM’s member institutions--which range from the Portland Museum of Art and the Abbe Museum to the all-volunteer Pittston Literary and Historical Society and others--have had an ANES graduate as a staff member, intern, volunteer, or trustee. In my professional and personal experience (I took two ANES courses as a special student in 1999 and 2000), the ANES program is a model of what USM should be striving to achieve with the idea of a “metropolitan university.” If you share the often-expressed concern that our talented young people must leave Maine to find opportunities, then the elimination of this unique graduate program, and the resulting migration of our best and brightest to Boston in order to attend analogous programs, is emphatically a step in the wrong direction.

    If, like we often do at MAM, you are battling a misconception that museums and other cultural organizations do not contribute valuably to the state’s economy, and that for that reason they do not represent practical or viable career tracks or business models, I urge you to visit MaineMuseums.org/About and take a look at our Economic Impact Statement, which summarizes the positive impact of our member institutions throughout the state. In short, our members--many staffed by graduates of ANES--employ hundreds, generate millions in revenue, and attract millions of visitors to Maine. To eliminate the ANES program would be to sever an artery that feeds not only Maine’s museum and archive community, but also its tourism industry. We urge you to work with the University of Maine system and the state to reconsider this short-sighted act and restore the American and New England Studies master’s program.

    Sincerely,

    Jessica Skwire Routhier, President
    Maine Archives and Museums


    UPDATE, April 25, 2014:

    President Kalikow was good enough to send an individual response to MAM President Jessica Routhier.  The response in full is copied below:


    Dear Jessica:
     
    As you can imagine, my office has been inundated with phone calls, mail, and emails regarding the  proposed actions to address the University's financial challenges.  Each message is being read and considered.
     
    My thanks to you and the Association of Maine Archives and Museums for sharing your thoughts with me about the American and New England Studies Program.
     
    I'd like to share a little about the process we're currently undergoing regarding the proposed program eliminations. At the time that I announced them, I also stated
     
    I fully expect you to offer critiques of these proposals. Those will be helpful but insufficient to address the challenges ahead. I still have to close the FY 15 budget gap and position this university to move ahead.
     

    So, I also need your alternatives. Remember, these are proposals, the details of which still need to be fleshed out. There may very well be better ideas out there, which, if implemented, should still get us to the $14 million and a brighter, more sustainable future. I need those ideas! We need those ideas!

    Also, in accordance with the USM governance constitution, my proposals were placed before the Senate and I am asking for recommendations by May 5. All this is to say that we are mid-process and that we are awaiting the Senate, which is now reviewing, considering, and developing alternate proposals. This process must be played out. 

    Again, I thank you for contacting me and sharing your passionate endorsement of the ANES program.

    Sincerely yours,

    Theo

    Theodora J. Kalikow
    President, University of Southern Maine
  • 05 Apr 2014 2:56 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    For Immediate Release

     

    March 18, 2014

     

    Contact: Elizabeth Nash, Marketing & Event Manager, Maine Historical Society, 207-774-1822 ext 206, enash@mainehistory.org

     

    Maine Genealogical Society Spring Workshop with Maureen Taylor, “The Photo Detective”

     

    Portland, ME – Maine Historical Society (MHS) and the Maine Genealogical Society team up on Saturday, April 5, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm for a spring workshop in Augusta.  Keynote speaker Maureen Taylor, the “Photo Detective” (www.maureentaylor.com), present on topics relating to historic photo analysis.

     

    Sessions include Identifying and Dating Family Photographs, Preserving Family Photographs – 1839 to Present, Hair-steria: Celebrities and Their Historical Look-Alikes, and The Last Muster: Photographs and Stories from the American Revolution. The Dating and Preserving sessions include a special focus on Civil War photography.

    Workshop Location: Augusta Elks Club, 397 Civiv Center Drive, Augusta. Registration is required. Cost: $40 MGS/MHS members; $50 non-members. Includes lunch. To register:
    http://conference.maineroots.org/.

     

    Maine Historical Society

    489 Congress Street

    Portland, ME 04101

    www.mainehistory.org

    207-774-1822

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