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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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.

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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.

  • 02 Apr 2014 9:55 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 26, 2014
    Contact:  Raphaelle A. Silver
    207.626.8400

    03/26/2014 05:03 PM EDT

    AUGUSTA - Numerous Maine corporations have received mailings recently from a business operating under the name Corporate Records Service, whose address is usually listed as 125 Western Ave. #338 Augusta, ME 04330-7252. These unsolicited mailings include a form titled "2014 - Annual Records Solicitation Form" and an offer from Corporate Records Service to prepare documents "to satisfy the annual corporate records for your corporation" for a fee of $125. This is not being sent on behalf of the Department of the Secretary of State, and the records described are not required to be filed with the Secretary of State. 


    The solicitation correctly states that Corporate Records Services is not a government agency. However, the form of the mailing and the way the information is presented may create the impression that this is an official government communication. The form provided by Corporate Records Service is not a document prescribed or recognized by the Department of the Secretary of State. 

    The form provided by Corporate Records Service is not an official annual report and will not be accepted as an annual report if submitted to the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Additionally, the preparation of these records does not satisfy the requirements to file the annual report with the Secretary of State. The legal deadline to file annual reports with the Secretary of State's office is June 1st, and those reports may be filed on line: http://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS .

    Please contact the Division of Corporations at (207) 624-7752 should you have any further questions or concerns regarding these solicitations. Any corporation that has questions about the solicitation is also encouraged to obtain advice from its lawyer or business advisor.
  • 01 Apr 2014 12:18 PM | Anonymous member
    Narramissic Summer Internship

    Mid-June – August (exact dates are negotiable)

    25 hours per week

    $1,500 Stipend plus living quarters

    Bridgton Historical Society has a graduate or undergraduate-level internship available for the summer of 2014 at Narramissic, the Peabody-Fitch farm in South Bridgton.  The Narramissic Summer Intern is responsible for staffing the house during regular open hours in July and August. Duties include conducting guided tours, performing light housekeeping and maintenance, and assisting with workshops and events. Interns are also expected to undertake a special project that fits with institutional needs and the intern’s interests and skills. Projects typically involve activities such as cataloging a portion of the collection, or researching and designing a program or exhibit.

    Narramissic is in a remote location, situated on approximately 25 acres of fields, with spectacular mountain views.  It includes a house, built in 1797, a barn, and a workshop with a functioning, restored, blacksmith’s forge. Based on extensive knowledge of the family’s activities and a remarkably intact collection, the house is furnished to reflect life in the 1850s on a New England hill farm.

    Please email a letter of interest, resume, and at least three personal references to info@bridgtonhistory.org.
  • 01 Apr 2014 9:52 AM | Anonymous member
    The interpretive farm assistant works closely with the Historic Farm
    Manager in delivering educational farm programs for school children. Using
    living history interpretive methods, the farm assistant helps to
    demonstrate and teach the chores, tasks, and jobs that were traditionally
    performed by males, around the period of 1870.   All training is provided.


    Specifically, the interpretive farm assistant:

    *Helps the Farm Manager with interpreting early life in rural Maine during
    educational programs for students of all ages by sharing accurate
    historical information about the museum buildings, agricultural methods,
    and the way people lived during the 1870s.

    *Assists with all aspects of care of livestock and works to ensure that the
    proper health, safety and welfare of livestock is maintained at all times.

    *Helps with seasonal chores such as maintaining and harvesting vegetable
    and herb gardens, cutting and splitting firewood, and other farm
    maintenance and agricultural tasks.


    We are seeking a person willing to learn historical material and period
    activities, who enjoys people of all ages and feels at ease talking with
    groups of people, and who is able to stand for several hours at a time and
    be able to perform light to moderate physical activity.

    This is an on-call, as needed position.  A stipend is available per program
    worked.

    For more information, call 207-897-4366 or email norlands@norlands.org.
  • 01 Apr 2014 9:36 AM | Anonymous member
    Maine Maritime Museum, a nationally recognized, state-wide cultural institution located on the Kennebec River in Bath seeks a Director of Finance/Business Manager who will play a key role in the leadership team and help the museum continue to grow and excel. The Director of Finance is responsible for all aspects of financial planning and management including preparation of income statements and financial reports, budgeting, forecasts, and leading the annual audit process; and human resources including payroll and benefits management. The Director also oversees various business activities of the museum including the museum store, admissions, facility rentals, and is the primary contact with the museum’s IT vendor. The Director reports to the Executive Director, works closely with the board, auditors, bank and investment manager, and oversees three direct reports with a total staff of 11 plus occasional volunteers.

    Qualifications include a B.A. or B.S. in Accounting, Management, or Finance, with at least five years of relevant financial, supervisory, strategic, and board interaction experience, preferably with a not-for-profit organization. Experience with human resources function and general understanding of current law. Ability to translate financial concepts to staff and board and effectively collaborate with programmatic and fundraising colleagues. Technology savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors; knowledge of accounting and reporting software, preferably Blackbaud Financial Edge. Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

    The position start date is May 27.

    Salary commensurate with experience, competitive benefits, positive working environment.

    For a full job description, please visit: www.mainemaritimemuseum

    Please send a cover letter and resume to Jacqueline Berry, Personnel Officer, Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street, Bath, ME 04530. Electronic submissions accepted at berry@maritimeme.org. Applications will close April 11. No phone inquiries, please. Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer. This position is subject to background checks including sex offender, criminal and credit checks.
  • 31 Mar 2014 12:21 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Education Program Coordinator, Maine

    Classification: Regular/part-time (twenty-two hours per week)   

    Location: South Berwick, Maine

    Description: This position promotes, schedules, coordinates, and evaluates
    all school and youth programs at the
    http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/sarah-orne-jewett-house

     Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum and Visitor Center and
    http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/hamilton-house

    Hamilton House in South Berwick and

    Castle Tucker and
    http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/nickels-sortwell-house
    Nickels-Sortwell House in Wiscasset, as well as off-site
    programming at schools and youth organizations throughout Maine, in order to
    reach annual attendance, revenue, and strategic goals. In conjunction with
    institutional planning, works with local teachers and other education
    program coordinators to develop innovative school program curricula, and
    creates educational materials, including seasonal teacher-training
    materials, curriculum binders, and pre- and post-visit activities and
    lessons. This position also assists the Education Program Manager to develop
    and manage the school program budget for the Maine sites.

    Qualifications: A minimum of a B.A. in American history, education, museum
    studies or relevant field. MA preferred. A minimum of four years of
    job-related experience, including classroom or museum teaching experience,
    and the ability to work independently. Problem-solving ability and
    familiarity with team approach and multi-tasking. Strong communication
    skills. Experience managing a small budget. Ability to drive and a valid
    driver's license is required.

    Date Available: April 1

    Applications: Please send cover letter and resume to
    Jobs@HistoricNewEngland.org.

    Historic New England is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

    http://www.historicnewengland.org/about-us/employment/education-program-coordinator-maine
  • 25 Mar 2014 12:00 PM | Anonymous member

    FREE CONFERENCE ON ARCHIVAL MATERIALS AND THEIR ROLE IN CONSERVING IDENTITY            

    AUGUSTA - The Holocaust and Human Rights Center (HHRC) and the Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) will present a free conference entitled The Role of Archive in Restoring and Conserving Identity on Tuesday, March 25th, from 12:00 – 9:00 PM, at the Michael Klahr Center.

    This dynamic conference - open to students, professionals and the general public - will encourage discussion on the critical role archive plays in both social and cultural contexts.

    Whether family photos, official documents, newsreel or home movies, archive materials are invaluable to both the individual and a society’s identity. Who gathers these materials and how are they catalogued, preserved and made accessible to the public? Presenters Karan Sheldon (Northeast Historic Film), Magnus Gertten and Lennart Strom (Auto Images), Diane Afoumado (US Holocaust Memorial Museum), and Sharon Rivo (National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis) will answer these questions and further the discourse on the role of archive management.

    The day will conclude with a screening of the new documentary Harbour of Hope, which features archival footage filmed on April 28, 1945undefinedthe day several hundreds of concentration camp survivors came to Malmö, Sweden on ships from Copenhagen.

    This conference is made possible through the support of the Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies and will be held at the Michael Klahr Center on the University of Maine at Augusta campus, home to the HHRC. The conference is free, but advance registration is strongly recommended. To register, please call 207-621-3530 or email betsy.spekke@maine.edu. FMI visit the calendar page at hhrc.uma.edu.

  • 19 Mar 2014 2:55 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Division of Preservation and Access has offered Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions for more than a decade. These grants help small and mid-sized cultural heritage institutions such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections. Awards of up to $6,000 support preservation related collection assessments, consultations, purchase of preservation supplies and equipment, training and workshops, and institutional and collaborative disaster and emergency planning. Preservation Assistance Grants also support assessments of digital collections and education and training in standards and best practices for digital preservation, and the care and handling of collections during digitization. NEH does not fund digitization or the development of digital programs in this grant category.



    All applications to the NEH must be submitted through Grants.gov. See the application guidelines for details.


    The 2014 guidelines for Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html. You will also find sample project descriptions, sample narratives, and a list of frequently asked questions. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2014.



    See our feature article and interactive map of PAG awards across the country, up on our Web site now: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/preservation/preservation-and-access-grants-map



    Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are encouraged to apply. This year, we have added a special encouragement for applications from presidentially designated institutions (Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal Colleges and Universities), and from Native American tribes with significant humanities collections.



    For more information, contact the staff of NEH's Division of Preservation and Access at 202-606-8570 and preservation@neh.gov
  • 14 Mar 2014 11:18 AM | Anonymous member

    Late 19th-century Mawson & Swan camera expands BCMA’s extensive Winslow Homer Collection and will be featured in 2015 exhibition on Homer and photography

     

    The Bowdoin College Museum of Art (BCMA) has acquired a late 19th-century Mawson & Swan camera originally owned by the renowned American artist Winslow Homer (1836–1910). The quarter-size dry plate camera, manufactured around 1880, is a significant addition to the Museum’s robust collection of archival material and over 100 vintage photographs related to Homer’s life and work. It will also serve as the centerpiece for the BCMA’s upcoming special exhibition on Homer and photography, planned to open in August 2015. The camera was donated to the BCMA by Neal Paulsen, a long-time resident of Scarborough, Maine.

     

    “We are so pleased to receive this exciting gift, which complements our current holdings of Homer’s work and documentation perfectly,” said Frank Goodyear, Co-Director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. “The camera highlights Homer’s varying artistic interests, and helps to illuminate a lesser-known side of one of America’s greatest painters.”

     

    Sold by Mawson & Swan, a photography business in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, the camera was designed for the serious amateur rather than the studio professional, and was notable at the time for its portability and ease of use. The camera produced images that were approximately 3 x 4 inches. Homer purchased this model in 1882, during a two-year residence in Cullercoats, a small fishing village in north east England that is less than ten miles from Newcastle-on-Tyne. The date – “Aug 15, 1882” – and the artist’s initials are inscribed into the camera’s wooden plate holder, likely by Homer himself.

     

    Homer spent his final decades living with his extended family on a large estate in Prout’s Neck, Maine. He constructed a studio on the estate as well, and it was here, where Homer painted some of his most iconic works that capture the beauty of the Maine coastline and the power of the sea. The Winslow Homer Collection at the BCMA includes photographs taken at the artist’s home in Prout’s Neck, Maine that are similar to those produced by the Mawson & Swan camera. The BCMA’s exhibition will bring forward many of the photographs in Bowdoin’s collectionundefinedtogether with loansundefinedand will allow scholars to continue to investigate the compelling and complex history around Homer’s work in photography.

     

    Paulsen acquired the Mawson & Swan camera from his grandfather Weston H. Snow in the 1950s, and exhibited the camera at Scarborough High School for more than two decades. Snow, an electrician and a great admirer of Homer’s work, acquired the camera from Homer’s nephew Charles L. Homer in exchange for electrical work. The Museum’s acquisition follows a major recent gift to the BCMA from the celebrated collection of Dorothy and Herbert (Herb) Vogel earlier this year and further strengthens the Museum’s dynamic acquisition program.

  • 13 Mar 2014 9:39 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Let’s Move Museums and Gardens Webinar: Wednesday, March 19

    Learn How Museums and Gardens Can Use the USDA’s MyPlate in Programming and Food Service

    Washington, DCundefinedThe Institute of Museum and Library Services will host a free webinar for museums and gardens that are looking for strategies to improve the nutrition and well-being of their communities. Representatives from Let’s Move! Museums & Gardens will share how they use MyPlate resources to support programs and healthy food service. 

    MyPlate is part of the U.S Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion which works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. ChooseMyPlate.gov provides downloadable materials, healthy recipes, online tools, and access to expert nutritional advice.

    This webinar is being offered free of charge and no pre-registration is required. Webinar presenters will provide an introduction to MyPlate resources, and show how museums and gardens are using MyPlate to support programming for children and families. To participate in the webinar, simply go to this Blackboard Collaborative Meeting Room at the time of the webinar, enter your information, and join the conversation. You may listen using your computer’s speakers or dial 1-866-299-7945. When prompted, enter the passcode 9485763#.

    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT  

    Webinar presenters include:

    • Christopher Reich, Senior Advisor, Office of Museum Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services
    • Donna Johnson-Bailey, Acting Director of Public Affairs, USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    • Marjorie Collins-Della Rocco, Education Coordinator,Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut 
    • Melanie Martin, Early Childhood Specialist, Children’s Museum of Phoenix

    About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
    The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

    About Let’s Move! Museums & Gardens
    Let’s Move! is a national initiative to get kids moving and eating healthy food. It aims to support healthy children and families.

    Through Let’s Move! Museums & Gardens, museums, zoos, gardens, science and technology centers can join the call to action. With their impressive reach and great potential for impact, museums and gardens can launch community efforts to create a healthier generation using interactive exhibits, outdoor spaces, gardens and programs that encourage families to eat healthy foods and increase physical activity.

    About MyPlate
    MyPlate is part of a larger communications initiative based on 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help consumers make better food choices. MyPlate is designed to remind Americans to eat healthfully. The icon is the centerpiece of the initiative which is amplified through strategic partnerships, social media, interactive tools, and a strong Web presence. Learn more at ChooseMyPlate.gov.

     


  • 11 Mar 2014 11:09 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    On Sunday, March 16th,  1:30pm-4:30pm at Harrington House (45 Main Street,)

    Freeport Historical Society is offering an Oral History Interviewing Workshop.

     

     

    Community members will learn how to conduct an oral history session, including

    preparation and practice interviews. Equipment will also be reviewed.

    FHS volunteer Molly Graham, who is a professional oral historian, will be leading the

    workshop which costs $10.00/pp. For those who volunteer to collect four oral histories

    over the next twelve months the fee is waived.

     

    Ms. Graham is an oral historian, radio producer and archivist with archival and field

    experience in Massachusetts and Maine. She served as Oral Historian for the Wisconsin

    Veterans Museum. Molly holds an M.A. in Library Science and is a graduate of the Salt

    Institute for Documentary Studies.

     

    Collecting oral histories is a very important dimension to the work of Freeport

    Historical Society and was an issue which surfaced in several of our recent Lunch with

    Locals  programs.

     

    FHS is interested in capturing a range of stories including recollections of the

    development of the Interstate through Freeport, in preparation for its 2014 Exhibit,

    titled, “ You CAN Get There from Here-How Transportation Defined Freeport.”

     The development of roads and highways has connected and disrupted Maine’s

    communities and shaped the towns around them.  The Freeport Historical Society, in

    an effort to capture the history and impact of Maine’s transportation systems, seeks

    to record and preserve the stories of those who witnessed and experienced the

    changes in Freeport  roads and highways.  In order to create a more complete

    record of the past, we hope to compile a variety of perspectives and voices from the

    community.

     

    While we are particularly interested in capturing oral histories which share details

    of the impact of the Interstate and other transportation systems on Freeport, we are

    also interested in collecting stories about Freeport’s once-vibrant shoemaking

    industry. (Shoemaking will be our exhibit-focus in 2015.)

    Please tell us your story (even if it is not related to the Interstate/

    transportation systems or shoemaking,) we are still very interested!

     

    Contact Freeport Historical Society at 865-3170 or  info@freeporthistoricalsocciety.org.

    to sign up for the workshop or to schedule a convenient time at your location or ours  to be interviewed by            

    Molly Graham or volunteer Rebecca Hotelling.

     

                                                                                                     
    SAVE THE DATES!

     

    Sunday, March 16th 1:30p-4:30p Learn How to Conduct Oral History Interviews. 45 Main Street.  $10pp

     

    Sunday,March 23rd 2p-4p  45th Annual Meeting  at Freeport Community Library  Guest speaker, awards program, brief business meeting . Beverages

     

    Please support our generous and community-minded 2014 sponsors: L.L. Bean, Bath Savings Institution and Bath SavingsTrust Company, Taggart Construction, Chilton Furniture, Hilton Garden Inn, Brown Goldsmiths, Riley Insurance, Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern, and Freeport USA

     

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