Newport, Rhode Island
November 13-15, 2013
Who Cares? Why Museums Are Needed Now More Than Ever

 Behind the question "Who cares?" lies the fundamental struggle challenging today's museums to stay relevant in an evolving, revolving, revolutionary world. How do we deliver the "authentic" experiences the public craves as an alternative to the virtual, electronic worlds of mass entertainment? Who is our audience in an increasingly diverse community? What do we have to do understand and connect to those audiences? Where are communities headed if they don't have vibrant museums in their midst? Most important, why do museums have value at all?

These are the important questions we'll be raising at the 95th Annual NEMA Conference in Newport, Rhode Island. Fueled by the theme "Who Cares? Why Museums Are Needed Now More Than Ever" (which you and your colleagues crowdsourced at the 2012 conference), the museum field will descend on Newport with more ideas, interactivity, and inspiration than ever before. It's your chance to add your voice to the debate about who cares about museums and the roles we play in society. So put on your thinking cap and make plans for a dynamic conference session that helps us find the answer to "Who cares?"

 In addition to theme-related sessions, we also welcome sessions exploring issues of technology, future leadership, and public accountability in museums. Sessions on professional development topics for individuals such as networking, personal growth, and public speaking are also welcome. NEMA strives to offer sessions on topics including museum governance, administration, visitor services, volunteer management, human resources, education, exhibitions, curatorial and conservation, registration, membership, development, and marketing. In content and in format, all sessions should stimulate discussion, raise new ideas, debate solutions, and spark imagination. Join us and share your experience!


A great conference begins with great NEMA members! Consider joining us in Newport as a session chair or presenter. To submit a proposal click here. Proposals must be received by February 1, 2013.

The Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award Subcommittee of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for the 2013 award.

This award recognizes an archivist, editor, group of individuals, or institution that has increased public awareness of a specific body of documents through compilation, transcription, exhibition, or public presentation of archives or manuscript materials for educational, instructional, or other public purpose. Archives may include photographs, films, and visual archives. Publication may be in hard copy, microfilm, digital, or other circulating medium.

Recent winners include:

• 2012: Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota
• 2011: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project Team
• 2010: The Giza Archives Project at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• 2009: Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections of the University of Toledo’s “From Institution to Independence”
• 2008: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the CBC Digital Archives (Les Archives de Radio-Canada)

Eligibility:

Individual archivists and editors, groups of individuals, organizations.

Application Deadline:

All nominations shall be submitted to the Awards Committee by February 28, 2013.

For more information on SAA awards and the nominations process, please go to http://www.archivists.org/recognition/index.asp .

Portland Creative Conference Seeks Presenters

Job Description

The Farnsworth Museum is seeking a Director of Finance for its day-to-day operations in Rockland. This is a senior management position working directly with the CFO and Executive Director. This individual will manage a Blackbaud Financial Edge general ledger system with related modules and supervise a part-time bookkeeper.

Responsibilities:
As part of the senior management team, the Finance Director shall assure the integrity of the general ledger under 403(b) FASB standards and assist management in financial analysis, cash flow planning, monthly financial reporting compared to department budgets and audit preparation. This is a hands-on position requiring skill sets that range from inputting and reconciling revenues and expense from admissions, development activities, membership, special events, and gift shop revenues to managing payables and overseeing payroll and balancing various fund accounts.

Qualifications:
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Competent Excel skills are a necessity. Blackbaud experience is preferred but competency in other platforms is acceptable.
A B.S. in a related field is preferred, along with a minimum of 10 years accounting experience and demonstrated ability to fulfill the position responsibilities.

Interested Candidates should forward cover letter and resume to employment@farnsworthmuseum.org or fill out an application at the museum.

Maine residents will have the chance to support public libraries by checking a box on their 2012 income tax returns.  Read more here.

Local & Legendary: Maine in the Civil War

The state of Maine holds a special place in the history of the American Civil War. To recognize and celebrate the role of Mainers on the battlefield and the home front, Maine Historical Society (MHS) and Maine Humanities Council (MHC) are offering 10 Maine communities the opportunity to explore their local Civil War history through a new joint program, “Local & Legendary: Maine and the Civil War.” This project, which is meant to bring communities together around their stories, has received major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Each community involved in “Local & Legendary” will form a team consisting of a local historical institution, a library, and an education institution. The team will work collaboratively on a variety of activities including digitizing local historical collections, creating online exhibits on Maine Memory Network (www.mainememory.net<http://www.mainememory.net>), and hosting a series of “One Story, One Community” programs. Each participating community will receive a $2,000 grant and substantial training and resources to support their work. A one-day public symposium on April 27, 2013 at USM’s Hannaford Hall, featuring national and state-based speakers, formally kicks off the project.

The community application process for the first five communities opens on January 1, 2013, with a deadline of March 1, 2013. Five additional communities will be selected in 2014. Visit www.mainehumanities.org<http://www.mainehumanities.org> or www.mainememory.net/cwgrants<http://www.mainememory.net/cwgrants> for program details and application materials, or contact Anne Schlitt at MHC (annes@mainehumanities.org<mailto:annes@mainehumanities.org>) orLarissa Vigue Picard at MHS (lvpicard@mainehistory.org<mailto:lvpicard@mainehistory.org>) for more information.

Event: Basic Archival Workshop
Sponsor: Maine Historical Records Advisory Board/ National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Time: Newfield and Augusta Workshops are 9:00 to 4:00; Bangor is 10:00 to 4:30.
Price: $30

Places and Dates (choose one):

Tuesday, November 27th
19th Century Willowbrook Village, Newfield
Peter Parker, workshop presenter

Friday, November 30th
Bangor Public Library
Bill Cook, workshop presenter

Wednesday, December 12th
Maine State Library, Augusta
Albert Whitaker, workshop presenter


REGISTRATION DEADLINES (registration by mail only): Nov. 19 for Newfield or Bangor; Dec. 5 for Augusta.


Have you always wondered how to care for your historical records?
Do you need the basic archival training that is required by the MHRAB Archival Grant Program?

This workshop is for you! The full day workshop will cover definitions, mission statement, collecting policy, appraisal and related issues,
arrangement, description (and use) of collections.

Many previous workshops have been filled and had waiting lists, so don't delay.
WE WILL NOT TAKE PHONE OR E-MAIL REGISTRATIONS for the Basic Archival Workshops, although we will answer questions using those methods. You are not registered until we receive your registration form and check.
(The only exception is for institutional registrants who must deal with a bureacracy. In that case, we will accept a completed form with a note that a check request has been submitted and payment will follow
shortly.) Checks should be made out to the workshop presenter listed.

----------------------------------------------
Event: Grant-Writing Workshop, focussed on the Historical Records Collections Grants
Sponsor: Maine Historical Records Advisory Board/ National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Time: 9:30 to 3:00
Price: Free, but you must register
Place: Maine State Library Conference Room, Augusta

Dates:
December 7 (Friday),or
January 15 (Tuesday)

You may register for the Grant-Writing workshop by phone or e-mail (287-5791; janet.roberts@maine.gov). Be sure to include ALL the registration information, including snail mail address and phone number.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Five days before the workshop

The Maine Civil War Trail

The Androscoggin Historical Society has published a 32-page booklet to commemorate the sacrifice of men and women from Androscoggin County who had roles in the Civil War.

 

The booklet, entitled “Faces of the Civil War,” was compiled by AHS board member Russ Burbank, a retired writer and editor who worked with other members of the board to find tales that portray the sacrifices of local men and women who were caught up in the conflict.

 

The booklet can be purchased at the Society office (County Building, 2 Turner St., Unit 8, Auburn, ME, 04210-5978) and other locations including the Auburn and Lewiston public libraries. The cost is $4 plus sales tax, or $5 by mail including tax and postage. The office, located on the third floor of the County Courthouse, is open Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. For information call 784-0586.

The Board of Directors approved the project as part of a statewide effort by Maine historical societies and museums to observe the 150^th anniversary of the war.

 

Most of the stories and photos were found in files of the AHS, the Maine State Archives, and old newspapers. Internet sites such as the Library of Congress and the National Park Service also provided information.

One of the Maine military figures portrayed is Gen. O.O. Howard, a native of Leeds who led troops in several Civil War battles including the Battle of Seven Pines, where he lost his right arm when hit by a Confederate rifle ball. After the war Howard led the Freedmen’s Bureau, which provided food, work and education to former slaves. He went on to become the second-ranking general in the U.S. Army before retiring from a 44-year military career. Congress gave him the Congressional Medal of Honor, four different universities gave him an honorary degree, and the French government made him a Chevalier of Honor in 1884.

 

The booklet tells the stories of other local men including Dr. Alonzo Garcelon, of Lewiston, appointed Maine’s surgeon general when the war began and later elected governor of Maine; Edward W. Bartlett, of Lewiston, who fought in several battles and was confined in the infamous Andersonville prison; Horace Wright and his son Lyman, of Auburn, soldiers together in the 10^th Maine Infantry Regiment; and Alonzo G. Frost, of Lisbon, who was one of 30,000 Union soldiers to die from typhoid.

 

A love letter written by Carrie Wentworth, of Turner, to her soldier husband Edwin, describes her loneliness and her struggle to survive in poverty with her daughter Annie.

 

Another story looks into the mystery of an unknown Confederate soldier buried in the Strout Cemetery in Durham.