Drawing from Life & Inspiration

Transcription

1 Volume 14, Issue #3 August 2011 ABOVE: Christy Bergland, Late Summer, Western Quadrant, from the series Late Seasons of Great Pond, chalk pastel on paper, 24 x 18, photo courtesy of the artist. ABOVE: Gibeon Elden Bradbury ( ) Two Pears, circa 1870, gouache, ink, and graphite on tones paper, Saco Museum, gift of Kitty Tonis. Drawing from Life & Inspiration Two concurrent exhibitions at the Saco Museum this fall will celebrate the art of drawing, presented in conjunction with The Maine Drawing Project. Drawn from the River: Drawings by Artists of the Saco River Valley will use drawings from the Saco Museum s permanent collection to explore how drawing was part of the artistic process for 19th-century local artists like Gibeon Elden Bradbury and Charles Henry Granger. And Christy Bergland: Late Seasons of Great Pond will highlight a 16-piece series of drawings in a variety of media by Biddeford Pool artist Christy Berland. The exhibitions will be on view at the Saco Museum September 17 through November 13, 2011, with a preview reception scheduled for Wednesday, September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The reception is FREE and open to the public. Nineteenth-century art critic John Neal once observed that It is a thankless calling, that of a landscape painter in our day, noting that even the most talented and dedicated artists of his time had to struggle to make a living in this state. Saco River Valley artists Gibeon Elden Bradbury and Charles Henry Granger were no exceptions, as both of them worked tirelessly to establish a reputation and a market for their work. One of the ways in which they did this was to diversify their artistic output, producing large-scale, fully-realized drawings for exhibition and sale alongside their more expensive paintings. Like their paintings, their drawings demonstrate a range of subject matter portraits, landscapes, city views, architectural studies, and more demonstrating the varied tastes of their clientele, as well as the artists mastery over various drawing techniques and materials. Drawing was also a fundamental part of the painting process, for Bradbury in particular. Numerous sketches and studies made out-of-doors, including several sketchbooks given to the Saco Museum from the artist s estate, will be featured, demonstrating that drawing was the backbone for his art and that of his contemporaries. Contemporary artist Christy Bergland also uses a variety of drawing media to capture the landscape of southern Maine. Her Late Seasons of Great Pond series explores the view outside her Biddeford Pool studio in a series of 16 drawings, depicting four quadrants of the view from each of four seasons: late summer, late fall, late winter, and late spring, over a full calendar year. The series was inspired by my being profoundly moved by my experience as an acupuncture patient and coming to be with the many seasons and climates within me, says Bergland. This series sprang out of my recognition that external reality is the contextual container for internal experience. The 16 drawings are presented here together for the first time, giving a rare artist s view into the change of seasons with all the associated colors, textures, and shapes in a single place over the course of a year. For more information about Christy Bergland, visit Presentation of the Saco Museum s Maine Drawing Project exhibitions has been made possible with the support of Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution. WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE: The Maine Drawing Project is a statewide visual arts initiative, developed by the Maine Curators Forum, that represents a unique collaboration among Maine s arts organizations. As part of the Maine Drawing Project, museums and galleries across Maine will offer exhibitions in the 2011 calendar year that focus on drawing as a vehicle for creative, diverse forms of visual expression. Each 2011 issue of the Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter will feature the offerings of a MAM member organization involved in the statewide initiative. The Farnsworth Art Museum and the L.C. Bates Museum have been featured previously; this issue highlights the Saco Museum s Maine Drawing Project exhibitions. For more information on The Maine Drawing Project, visit

2 GRANT SOURCES Maine Archives and Museums MAM Newsletter Volume 14 Number 3 August 2011 Maine Archives and Museums mam@gwi.net The Maine Archives and Museums Newsletter is published on a quarterly basis as a benefit of membership in MAM, whose purpose is to develop and foster a network of citizens and institutions in Maine who identify, collect, interpret and/or provide access to materials relating to history and culture. Contributions to the MAM Newsletter may be submitted to MAM. Contact information provided above. To purchase copies of the MAM Newsletter, please contact MAM at the above address or phone number. Third Class postage paid at Bangor, Maine. OFFICERS President: Jay Adams Vice President: George Squibb Secretary: Patricia Burdick Treasurer: Patricia Henner BOARD MEMBERS Jane Bianco Leigh Hallett Candace Kanes Sheri Leahan Niles Parker Candy Russell Jessica Skwire Routhier Joanna Torow NEWSLETTER STAFF Editor: Jessica Skwire Routhier and Jane Bianco Typesetting & Design: Deborah J. McGee Printer: Bangor Letter Shop & Color Copy Center, Bangor LEGAL SERVICES Contributed by James C. Pitney General Counsel Preti, Flaherty, Beleveau & Pachios MAINE ARTS COMMISSION (MAC) (207) , Call for deadlines. MAINE HUMANITIES COUNCIL (MHC) (207) , Discretionary Grants (up to $500), reviewed on a rolling basis. Outreach Grants (up to $1,000), reviewed quarterly. Major Grants (up to $6,000), reviewed twice a year. NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS (617) Call for deadlines. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS (202) , Call for deadlines. Museum Assessment Programs I: Operations Museum Assessment Programs II: Collections Museum Assessment Programs III: Public Perception HERITAGE PRESERVATION Conservation Assessment Program 1625 K St., NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC Phone (202) Fax (202) NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES NEH Consultation Grants for Libraries, Museums, or Special Projects Sept. 16. NEH Preservation & Access Research & Development Grants Oct. 1. NEH Stabilization of Humanities Collections Oct. 1. (202) , NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS NEA Artistic Creativity & Preservation and Heritage & Preservation Aug. 18. NEA Challenge America: Access to the Arts Aug. 18 (202) , INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM & LIBRARY SERVICES General Operating Support Call for deadlines. (202) , Conservation Project Support 110 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC (202) Deadline March 5. IMLS Conservation Project Support Oct. 15. NEH Exemplary Education Projects Oct. 15. ODIORNE GRANT PROGRAM Supports projects combining archives and archaeology. Maine State Archives, #84 State House Station, Augusta, ME deadline March 1. NATIONAL HISTORIC PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (NHPRC) Application guidelines and forms may be requested from NHPRC, National Archives & Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room 106, Washington, DC (202) fax (202) nhprc@arch1.nara.gov or web site at Deadline is October 1. Information and advice available from State Archives (207) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) (202) NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION (617) TABLE OF CONTENTS Drawing From Life & Inspiration... Cover MAM NEWS: Summary of Board Meeting, January 10, Summary of Executive Committee Meeting, April 4, Summary of Special Meeting of Executive Committee, May 2, Summary of Executive Committee Meeting, June 6, Maine Archives and Museums Annual Conference... 5 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS... 5 DISPATCHES Visit the Past at Windham s Village Green by Kay Soldier Documenting the Present: A View Through a Window on History OPPORTUNITIES SEEN & HEARD Disaster Response for Cultural Institutions: AIC-CERT by Jon Brandon NEXT ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2011 Only submissions received by the Editor by September 30, 2011, will be considered for publication. Jessica Skwire Routhier Saco Museum, 371 Main St., Saco, ME , ext Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

3 SUMMARY OF BOARD MEETING January 10, 2011 at Colby College Library Attending: Jay Adams, Pat Burdick, Edna Comstock, Leigh Hallett, Patty Henner, Candace Kanes, Sheri Leahan, Candy Russell, Jessica Skwire Routhier, George Squibb, Joanna Turow, and guests from local historical societies. MHS Leadership Grant Project: Steve Bromage gave overview of project. This IMLS grant expands outreach and supports training for historical societies to digitize and to do online exhibits. It develops 21st century skills and encourages collaboration between groups. The Maine Community Heritage Project helped MHS test collaborative process. New (IMLS) grant will broaden this model and make it accessible to groups around the state. MAM s role will be to employ the Regional Rep system to arrange workshops and to use various communication tools to promote these opportunities. MAM membership fees: Edna explained categories and fee structure, observing that we need to revisit the issue of corporate membership. Need to reorganize Membership Committee since Amelia has resigned as chair. George will act as chair in the short term. Regional reps need to be involved in membership recruitment and renewal. MTA membership: Last year we paid basic membership in order to sponsor map project (which did not have sufficient participation in the end). Maine Office of Tourism is better venue for promoting MAM members. Motion: Terminate MTA membership. Second. Passed. Adoption of 2011 budget: Budget presented without $145 MTA fee. Motion to adopt. Second. Passed. Replacement for Amelia Chamberlain: Amelia has resigned. President can fill via appointment for duration of term. Send names to Jay in next two weeks. Think about gaps to be filled on board. Filling Executive Committee at-large position: Motion to accept Candace Kanes on EC. Second. Passed. MAM web site assessment: Pat will send her informal assessment to all board members. There was a consensus that MAM should have a Facebook account to build relationships; Jessica will set up account and link to MAM site. Note: Soon after the 10 January meeting, Jessica ed the board with cost and details about Constant Contact, a group service. An e-vote was taken, with consensus being that MAM should begin to use Constant Contact as a communications venue. MAM NEWS Legislation governing disposition of abandoned property: Joanna explained that JR Phillips, director of the Maine State Museum, has submitted a bill to the Maine State Legislature that would shorten period of custody for abandoned property from 25 to 3 years. MAM expressed support of the bill and can help coordinate feedback from the professional field and encourage participation at hearings. Fundraising and investing in MAM s future: George summarized regional rep comments from Saco meeting. Regional reps having trouble conveying value of MAM membership. Board should review long range plan directives at each meeting to stay on track. We have not pursued external funding - many of our initiatives are fundable. Ultimately we should invest in MAM s future. SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING April 4, 2011 via Free Conference Call Attending: Jay Adams, Jane Bianco, Pat Burdick, Edna Comstock, Patty Henner, Candace Kanes, George Squibb. Called to order 10:14 a.m annual conference/meeting: Joanne and Jay visited Newport Cultural Center. They were in agreement that this would be a very good site for both the MAM conference and the MMN workshop the day before. Agreement that the EC would recommend Newport at the forthcoming board meeting. Paid advertising in newsletter: Jessica had distributed suggested guidelines for managing paid advertising. Consensus: this idea is timely to explore. EC will recommend to board to adopt this as policy. Maine Maritime Museum: Jay has talked with Amy Lent. There is a bill in the current legislative session to reduce property taxes for nonprofits. Bill killed in committee. This is an example of the type of advocacy MAM can provide. MAM s stand on removal of labor mural: Jessica has pointed out that the Maine Curators Forum has taken a stand, and the cover story for the upcoming newsletter alludes to this controversy. EC supports cover story but declines to make statement on MAM s behalf. We cannot accurately reflect members and the field unless we can poll opinions. Business Manager position: Edna has presented MAM with letter of resignation, explaining that her schedule cannot accommodate MAM s increasing demands. Jay thanked Edna for giving us sufficient notice; she will stay with MAM through the 11 July board meeting. continued on page 4 GET EXTRA NEWSLETTERS Single extra copy: $3.00 (members free) To order an extra copy or for price information on bulk orders, mam@gwi.net Advertise in the Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Do you have a great product or service that you want Maine s museums and libraries to know about? Consider a quarter-page ad in our quarterly newsletter, which is directmailed to Maine s community of collecting organizations and published on-line. Ads are $100 per issue for non-members of MAM; $25 for members. For complete specifications, please contact Jessica Skwire Routhier Newsletter Editor and Chair of MAM s Communications Committee museum@sacomuseum.org (207) , ext. 114 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 3

4 President Jay Adams (2008) Director Emeritus Old Fort Western (cell) VICE PRESIDENT George Squibb (2007) Belfast Historical Society and Museum 42 Grove Street Belfast, ME SECRETARY Patricia Burdick (2007) Colby College Special Collections 5150 Mayflower Hill Waterville, ME Fax: TREASURER Patricia Henner (2009) Page Farm and Home Museum University of Maine Orono, ME Maine Archives & Museums 2011 Board of Directors Jane Bianco (2010) Leigh Hallett (2011) Candace Kanes (2011) Sheri Leahan (2011) Niles Parker (2010) Candy Russell (2008) Farnsworth Art Museum 16 Museum Street, Rockland, ME x104, newport Cultural Center 24 Shaw Street, Newport, ME , Maine Historical Society 489 Congress Street, Portland, ME , independent Museum Professional 35 Cummings Hill Road, Temple, ME , Maine Discovery Museum 74 Main Street, Bangor, ME Moosehead Historical Museum PO Box 1116, Greenville, ME , Jessica Skwire Routhier (2009) Saco Museum 371 Main Street, Saco, ME x114, Joanna Torow (2007) BOARD MEMBERS Maine State Museum 83 State House Station, Augusta, ME , (In parentheses after each name is the year the director began serving his/her term. A director can serve up to three successive two-year terms.) MAM News, continued from page 3 SUMMARY OF SPECIAL MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE May 2, 2011 at Farnsworth Art Museum Present: George Squibb, Jessica Skwire Routhier, Candace Kanes, and Jay Adams; directors Candy Russell, Leigh Hallett, and Edna Comstock. Present via conference call: Jane Bianco, Sheri Leahan and Niles Parker. The MAM Executive Committee, along with other members of the board of Directors, met in special session to discuss and decide possible changes to the MAM contract business manager s job description, identify the elements of a RFP designed to attract individual and firm-based contract candidates to replace Edna Comstock, determine the process for vetting candidates, and establish a timetable in an effort to ensure a replacement is in place a close as possible to Edna s departure in July. Thanks to Edna and using the job description currently in place, the committee reviewed and made changes to the job description. It was observed that expanded duties would translate into expanded hours, thus a greater expense for MAM. MAM has enough in the bank to fund the expanded position for some period of time, with the understanding that additional funding can be sought out. It was determined that MAM would only employ independent contract staff and not hire direct staff. Jessica volunteered to draft a RFP for board review, in time for advertising via , Facebook, listservs (especially to individual candidates), and by mail to management support and consulting firms. Applications are due no later than June 1. All applications must be submitted electronically to make distribution to board members easy. All applications will be sent initially to Jay. The Executive Committee will serve as the search and interview body. Assuming all goes well, a candidate will be recommended to the board for action at the July board meeting. SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING June 6, 2011 via Free Conference Call Attending: Jay Adams, Patty Henner, Candace Kanes, Jane Bianco, George Squibb, Edna Comstock Jay Adams opened the meeting by noting the purpose of this session, which was to review the applications for the position of Business Manager and make a decision about who would be interviewed. The group decided to interview the two top candidates. Jay agreed to assemble an interview committee which would meet in Augusta within the next two weeks. There was discussion of how many hours to request because of the variation in the proposals. The group agreed to start at 30 hours and adjust from there as necessary. Jay thanked the group for their counsel and said he would contact the other candidates as appropriate. Meeting adjourned at 10:35am Please see November issue of MAM Newsletter for minutes from the April 11 and July 11 meetings of the full board and subsequent Executive Committee meetings. continued on page 5 4 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

5 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS Working the Shaker Acre Exhibition at the Alfred Shaker Museum Ongoing Friends of the Alfred Shaker Museum opened the 2011 season with this new exhibit featuring the various farming endeavors in which the Alfred Shakers participated, such as cutting ice to sell to Portland and Boston markets; raising cucumbers to sell to a Portland packing house that sold them as Shaker pickles; making butter; milking, feeding and caring for a large herd of cows. The Alfred Shaker Museum will host several workshops this season including Beginner Tatting with Maddie Kelley on August 27 and Beginner Knitting with Maddie Kelley on September 17. For more information concerning the workshops call or aaskov@myfairpoint.net.the Shaker Museum, 118 Shaker Hill Road in Alfred is open each Wednesday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through mid October. The country heer is plentiful : Trade, Religion and Warfare in York and Southern Maine Exhibition at Museums of Old York Ongoing Marking the beginning of its 112th season, the Museums of Old York is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit at its Visitor MAM News, continued from page 4 This strongbox belonged to Father Sebastien Rale of Norridgewock. Seized by Colonel Thomas Westbrook in the raid of January 1722, the box contained Father Rale s French-Wabanaki dictionary, the product of nearly 30 years of work. Courtesy of Maine Historical Society. Center Gallery in Remick Barn, 3 Lindsay Road. The exhibit treats the first century of York s development as an English settlement: trade, religion, war and everyday life. The display features over 200 objects including rare surviving weapons, furnishings, and trade items. Museum Registrar and Acting curator Cindi Young-Gomes has created hands-on exhibits exploring archaeology and early life in York. Kids will be invited to unearth buried artifacts like those left behind by the town s earliest settlers. FMI:(207) / www. oldyork.org. Buckle from the Richard Hitchcock site. This site is one of the earliest English homesteads excavated in New England, making it an important type site, telling us what to expect to find in the region. Courtesy of Dyer Library/Saco Museum. Save the Date! 2011 Maine Archives and Museums Annual Conference Partnerships & Best Practices Newport Cultural Center Friday, October 28, 2011 The MAM annual conference is a great way to connect with your colleagues, gain some new skills and knowledge, and share your successes. This year s theme focuses on collaborations one session will be an outgrowth of the Maine Drawing Project, for example (see p. 1) and working together to find the place where our resources and ambitions meet up with industry standards. We re delighted this year to hold the conference at the Newport Cultural Center s brandnew facility, just south of Bangor. Watch this fall for mailings, s, and Facebook updates including full conference details and information on how to register. Questions? Contact MAM Program Committee Chair Joanna Torow at joanna.torow@maine.gov or Maine Archives and Museums Annual Conference Call for Proposals The theme of the October 28 MAM Conference in Newport Partnerships & Best Practices was selected based on feedback from MAM members. Now we are asking members and others in the field to help make the Annual Conference the type of professional development event Maine collecting institutions need. We welcome you to submit a session proposal and tell us what you would like to discuss, how you would like to share your knowledge and expertise, what unique programs you would like to spotlight, or which success stories you would like to tell. Proposals must be submitted electronically to Joanna Torow at joanna.torow@maine.gov. For more information and guidelines for proposals, contact Joanna at (207) or joanna.torow@maine. gov. RIGHT AND BELOW: Museums of Old York Registrar and Acting Curator Cindi Young-Gomes demonstrates archaeological hands-on activities in the new exhibit. Horse-Drawn Summer Delivery Vehicles Exhibition at Skyline Farm and Carriage Museum, Yarmouth Through August 21 The newest exhibit at Skyline Farm is receiving rave reviews and record attendance. Vehicles on loan to Skyline Farm Carriage Museum for this exhibit include a West Falmouth, Maine, Milk Wagon from the Falmouth Historical Society and a common New England pole sided Hay Wagon from Kennebec Morgan Horse Farm. Be sure not to miss our other exhibits: the Hitching Post, Sanford Mills/ Chase Lap Robe, and Kimball Bros. Carriage Company history exhibits. FMI: farm.org / (207) Glorious Ridges and Princely Peaks : Artistic Visions of the White Mountains Exhibition at the Bethel Historical Society Through August 31 Held in conjunction with the Society s exhibition on the White Mountain Club of Portland, this display presents 19th- and 20th-century paintings of the highlands of northern New Hampshire and western Maine. With its outstanding combination of superb scenery, important historical associations, and easy accessibility to millions of people in the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada, the White Mountain region has long occupied an important place in our collective imaginations. Mason House exhibit hall; Tues. Sun. 1:00-4:00 PM thereafter. Bethel Historical Society, Broad St., P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217; / ; www. bethelhistorical.org. continued on page 6 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter

6 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 5 World War I soldiers from Hinckley and Fairfield. Central Maine Serves Local Military History Exhibitions at Central Maine Museums Summer and Fall 2011 To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Central Kennebec Heritage Council has organized a series of exhibits under the banner Central Maine Serves. The member organizations will each offer displays about local people who have served in war time, from the colonial period to the modern era. The participating institutions include: Taconnett Falls Genealogy Library in Winslow, Fairfield History House, Macartney House Museum in Oakland, L. C. Bates Museum at Good Will- Hinckley, Norridgewock Historical Society, Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Skowhegan History House, and Old Canada Road Museum & Research Center in Bingham. Each organization has used its unique collections to create an exhibit and related programs that examine how its town s citizens served in or assisted military efforts. Supported by the Maine Humanities Council, the project will continue into fall. FMI about Central Maine Serves, contact the L.C. Bates Museum at or lcbates@gwh.org. Antique Radios Exhibition at Stetson Historical Society Through October The Stetson Historical Society s newest display is of antique battery operated radios. The collection includes Silvertone radios, sold by Sears Roebuck & Co., a Crosley Model XV, and a FADA Seven, probably the first radio brought to Stetson. The collection is being researched and anyone with an interest in early radios is welcome to help provide information. The Stetson Historical Society is located at 24 Stetson Road, Stetson. The museum is open Saturdays from 10am to 2pm through October and by appointment. FMI: net / Diggin History Piecing Together Pettengill Farm s Past Exhibition at Freeport Historical Society Harrington House Ongoing and through October 7 Interactive activities for children and families at Harrington House will include a dig sandbox with fake artifacts to unearth, fun exercises on interpreting objects, mystery artifacts that invite children and adults to identify the function, and copies of actual documents to read. Special children s archaeology programs are scheduled throughout the summer. Concluding the program in early September at Harrington House is a panel discussion on 18th- and 19th-century coastal farmsteads, historic archaeology, prehistoric archaeology and interpretation where we will contextualize the Pettengill findings and also share insights on the apparent absence of prehistoric sites in this area. Harrington House is located at 45 Main Street, Freeport. FMI: society.org History Barn Open Houses Events at the New Gloucester Historical Society First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to noon The New Gloucester Historical Society continues to holds its monthly History Barn Open Houses from 9 AM to 12 Noon on the first Saturday of the month. The August Open House will feature historic photos of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village (to commemorate the 237th anniversary of the Shaker arrival in America) and the September Open House will feature an exhibit on schools. The History Barn is located behind the New Gloucester Town Hall on Route 231. FMI: lkgard@securespeed. net or tsiblake@yahoo.com. Mollie Tucker s Kitchen Tour at Castle Tucker, Wiscasset Thursday, August 4 and Thursday, September 1, 10 a.m. Come get an insider s look at the way a nineteenth century family kitchen functioned. From 1858 when she moved in as a young bride of 16 until her death in 1922, Mollie Tucker prepared food in the kitchen at Castle Tucker for her family of eight, visiting friends and family, and in the summer season, paying guests. How did she do it? What did they eat? Did she have any help? Hear Mollie s story in the actual rooms where she worked. Admission is $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. Pre-registration for ticket purchase is required. Space is limited. The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. at Castle Tucker, 2 Lee Street, Wiscasset. FMI: / www. HistoricNewEngland.org. Fiber Arts Exhibit and Workshop: A Quilting Bee Workshop at Washburn Norlands Living History Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 5, 6, and 7, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring your thimble and lend a hand (or watch) on any of the dates! Washburn Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME FMI: (207) / Herrmann s Royal Lipizzan Stallions Event at Hamilton House, South Berwick Friday, August 5, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7, 2-3:30 p.m. The Herrmann family, breeders and trainers of the famed Lipizzan horse for over 300 years, demonstrate the highest levels of horsemanship in three shows. The stallions of the Herrmann line are among the last horses capable of executing the Airs Above the Ground maneuvers. These dramatic leaps and plunges were developed as aggressive battle maneuvers in the sixteenth century, and are now among the most beautiful displays of equine grace and strength. Please bring your own seating. Snacks and souvenirs available.ticket prices $8- $15. CASH ONLY ticket sales at the gate the day of the show. Hamilton House is located at 40 Vaughan s Lane, S. Berwick, ME. FMI and to purchase advance tickets: A recent performance by the Herrmann s Royal Lipizzan Stallions. Annual Open House and Exhibit Day Jefferson Historical Society Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Old Jefferson Town House, built in 1869, will be open for tours and exhibits. The main floor where generations of Jefferson citizens discussed and settled town business has just undergone a complete restoration with new electrical wiring and lighting; walls and ceilings replastered and painted; trim and benches freshly painted; and a new handicapped accessible bathroom with storage on part of the footprint of the old brick vault. Displays will feature items and documents from the JHS collection, with a focus on Jefferson s involvement with the Civil War continued on page 7 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

7 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 6 as well as school-related items since the 100- year-old Jefferson Village School is being replaced this year by a new elementary school. Jefferson memorabilia and local history books also will be available for sale. The justpublished Arcadia pictorial history book on Damariscotta Lake (see Dispatches, p. 13) will be available. The Old Jefferson Town House is located at the intersection of Route 126 and 213, 7 Gardiner Road. FMI: The History of Pemaquid s Prominence in the 17th Century Living History event, Colonial Pemaquid Saturday, August 6, 1-3 p.m. Fish, fur and forest products established Pemaquid as a unique and prominent seaside trading post during the 17th century. In its early years, the settlement at Pemaquid grew to perhaps 40 structures and 200 or more inhabitants who eventually needed protection from French and Indian attacks. The area remains a prodigious source of artifacts from all over the world. The Friends of Colonial Pemaquid invites visitors and friends to come and hear about the exciting history of Pemaquid on Saturday, August 6. Historical interpreters George Robbins and Gus Konitsky will relay interesting stories and facts from 1 to 3 PM. Rain date is Sunday, August 7. Visitors are encouraged to return to Colonial Pemaquid on Monday, August 8 at 7:30 PM when University of Maine professor, Dr. Liam Riordan will lecture on Ambivalent Allegiances in Revolutionary Maine, and on Saturday, August 15 when Kai Nalenz will lecture on Veterans Gravestones: History and Restoration. Colonial Pemaquid is located off Route 130, approximately 12 miles south of Route 1 and 3 miles north of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. FMI: alpemaquid.org / Fort William Henry presides still at Colonial Pemaquid State Historical Site. Wallace Nutting and the Invention of Old America Lecture at Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset Sunday, August 7, 3 p.m. Portland Museum of Art Chief Curator Thomas Collections of Historic New England. Denenberg tells the uniquely American story of the former minister who played a significant role in shaping the twentieth-century consumer s ideas about our colonial and Revolutionary era past. From his romantically choreographed photographs, his historic house museums, and his line of colonial reproduction furniture, the legacy of Wallace Nutting permeates mainstream American design and historical stereotypes to this day. This lecture series is sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council. The lecture will be held at 3 p.m. in the Nickels-Sortwell House Barn, 121 Main Street, (entrance on Federal Street) Wiscasset. Admission is free for Historic New England members (a Members Week special), $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is recommended. FMI: / www. HistoricNewEngland.org. Collections of Historic New England. Kid s Day Happy Birthday, Stanley! Seal Cove Auto Museum Wednesday, August 10, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sing happy 100th birthday to the Museum s 1911 Stanley Toy Tonneau and enjoy cake, croquet on the lawn, and Model T toy car races. All kids get a museum grab bag with balloon, stickers, and more. Enjoy a free bag of popcorn from our popcorn wagon. Silent movies throughout day. Kids 12 and under are free. FMI: / admin@sealcoveautomuseum.org. Wine and Cheese Summer Social Event at the Readfield Historical Society August 12, 5-7 p.m. A variety of wines and non-alcoholic beverages will be offered, along with cheeses, sausages, and other tidbits. The event is free to members, with new memberships accepted at the door ($10 annual). The brand new annex and real, honest-to-goodness flush toilet will be celebrated at that time. Rte. 17 in Readfield Depot (that s 759 Main St., Readfield for those with GPS). FMI: Bethel Histocial Society Heritage Days August 12 and 13 Heritage Days kick off on Friday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. with the Hall Memorial Lecture, honoring the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Thomas Desjardin, Historian, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, will present a talk entitled Reluctant Warriors: Mainers React to the Outbreak of the Civil War. The lecture will take place at the Mason House exhibit hall and is free and open to the public. Heritage Days continue on Saturday, August 13 with events celebrating the exhibition The White Mountain Club of Portland: Exploration and Adventure in the Crystal Hills : a lecture by Randall H. Bennett, White Mountain author, historian and BHS Executive Director at 1 p.m. (fee); an exhibition opening reception from 2 to 5 p.m. (free); and a special guided house tour of the circa 1820s Hastings Homestead ($25/person). Tickets for the house tour will be available from the Society s Museum Shop the day of the tour or by sending a check to the Society at PO Box 12, Bethel, ME Bethel Historical Society, Broad St., P.O. Box 12, Bethel, Maine FMI: / ; cal.org. Annual Open House Event at Hiram Historical Society August 13, 2-5 p.m. Jo Radner, noted adult storyteller, will tell the story of the devastating 1947 wildfires in Fryeburg/Brownfield/Hiram. We will show videos of recollections of Hiram residents and hear stories from the audience. Photographic exhibit. Donations accepted. Hiram Historical Society is located at 20 Historical Ridge, Hiram, ME off Route 117 (Main Street in Hiram Village). FMI: Sally Williams, or gardenlit@gmail.com. An Evening with The Marden s Lady Event at the Readfield Historical Society August 14, 7 p.m. The Readfield Historical Society will host a benefit by The Marden s Lady on August 14th at 7:00 PM. Tickets are on sale at The Lighthouse Market in Manchester, Apple Valley Books in Winthrop, and Marie s Whole Foods in Readfield. They are $10 in advance and $12 at the door the night of the perfor- continued on page 8 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter

8 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 7 mance at the Union Meeting House on the Church Road in Readfield. FMI: Shipboard Songs and Tales Performance at Yarmouth Historical Society Monday, August 15, 7 p.m. Castlebay, a maritime and Celtic music-andsong duo from Round Pond, Maine, will perform Monday, August 15, at 7 p.m. at the Cousins Island Community House, 422 Cousins Street, Yarmouth. Tickets are $9 for members and $10 for non-members, and can be purchased in advance at the Yarmouth Historical Society, online, or at the door. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to enjoy this outdoor musical performance. Co-sponsored by the Cousins and Littlejohn Islands Improvement Association. FMI: / info@yarmouthmehistory. org. Lecture by Jay Robbins Boothbay Region Historical Society Thursday, August 18, 4 p.m. On August 18 at 4 p.m. Jay Robbins will speak at Boothbay Region Historical Society. He will discuss his Jay Robbins project to uncover the industrial history of Edgecomb, including examination of its mill sites, quarries, brickyards, icehouses and canning factories. The presentation is free to the public, but seat reservations are suggested. It will be held at Boothbay Region Historical Society at 72 Oak Street in Boothbay Harbor. FMI: / Twilight Tours at the Nickels-Sortwell House Thursday August 18, tours begin at 5 and 6 p.m. Enjoy a special early evening tour of this beautiful mansion. Built in 1807 for Captain William Nickels, this high Federal style house is a testament to Wiscasset s heyday as a seaport. Purchased by the Sortwell family in 1899, the house was lovingly restored and decorated in the Colonial Revival style. See rooms not usually open to the public, offering a deeper picture of how the Sortwell family and their servants lived in the house in the summer. Nickels-Sortwell House is at 121 Main Street. Admission is $10 for Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers. Advance registration for ticket purchase is required. Please specify your preference for either the 5:00 or 6:00 tour. FMI: / The Way They Were Tour Special Tour at Hamilton House, South Berwick Saturday, August 20, 5:30 7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 10:00 11:30 a.m. Go behind-the-scenes to learn about the daily routines of domestics, groundskeepers, and others who worked for families like the Tysons of Hamilton House early in the 20th century. See the fourth-floor attic space where servants lived, and enjoy the stunning view of the river from the rooftop skylight. Hamilton House is located at 40 Vaughan s Lane, S. Berwick, ME. Registration required: $8 for Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers. Please call or visit toricnewengland.org to register. Electric Car Day The SUNN EV Project Seal Cove Auto Museum Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. See the SUNN EV built by College of the Atlantic students and hear talks on electric cars then and now. See an original Chevy Volt by Morrison Chevrolet and the Museum s 1908 Rauch & Lange Electric and 1913 Kimball Electric. Screenings of the movie Who Killed the Electric Car?at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Regular museum admission applies. FMI: (207) / admin@sealcoveautomuseum.org. Sack race at Willowbrook s Old Home Day event. Newfield Old Home Days Newfield Historical Society, Limerick Newfield Lions and Willowbrook Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21 On BOTH Saturday & Sunday, see a Revolutionary War Encampment on the Newfield Historical Society Grounds (located next to Willowbrook), presented by the 2nd Regiment of York County. On Saturday, August 20, enjoy free admission to Willowbrook! Enjoy historic craft and trade demonstrations, relay races and contests, cake walk, vendors, music and entertainment, carousel rides and more! Take part in blueberry pie contests either enter your best recipe OR race to see who can eat their slice of pie the fastest! Finally, on Sunday, August 21, Ruth Bridges Ayers will present Four Murdered One June in Newfield at the Newfield Historical Society Building at 3 p.m. The Sunday event is free and refreshments will be served. FMI: / Jefferson Day Community Event, Town of Jefferson Saturday, August 20, 9 a.m. -3 p.m. An all-day event featuring early morning road races, barbecue, silent auction, music, activities, and vendors and organizations offering information, food, and items for sale on the Village Green, between the Jefferson Town Office and the school. The Jefferson Historical Society will have its home-made fudge and Choose-Your-Own Cookie Sale along with Jefferson memorabilia and local history books, including the newly published Arcadia pictorial history book, Damariscotta Lake (see Dispatches, p. 13). FMI: Native American-English Relationships in the 17th Century Living History Event, Colonial Pemaquid Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21, 1-4 p.m. Early contact between Native Americans and European settlers in the Midcoast area may have been for the purpose of trade, but that contact often disintegrated into conflict. Both ends of that spectrum will be represented when living history interpreter Ken Hamilton portrays a 17th-century Indian encamped at Colonial Pemaquid for the purpose of trade on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. From 1 to 4 p.m. each day he will provide a Native American perspective to that uneasy alliance with the often treacherous English. Sponsored by the Friends of Colonial Pemaquid, admission to this event is free but donations are welcome.visitors are encouraged to return to the Contented Sole Restaurant adjacent to the site museum on Monday, August 22, at 7:30 p.m. when historical archaeologist Dr. Neill DePaoli will lecture on The Dutch Colonial Pemaquid will host living history interpreter Ken Hamilton on August 20 and 21, as he portrays a 17th-century Woodland Indian participating in trade with the English settlers in the 17th century. continued on page 9 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

9 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 8 in Maine?! Pemaquid s New York Connection Revisited. Colonial Pemaquid is located off Route 130, approximately 12 miles south of Route 1 and 3 miles north of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. FMI: ialpemaquid.org / Lecture sponsored by Belgrade Historical Society August 24, 7 p.m. Join us as the historian of Lakeside Advent Christian Campground in North Belgrade tells the history of their summer enclave. Camp meetings were held in tents near Pittsfield as early as 1842, but permanent structures were not raised until 1880, when the railroad hauled the lumber to some farmland on the banks of Messalonskee Lake. The Campground drew hundreds to its services; by steam launch, by rail, by buggy, and now by car. The program will be given at the Campground off Route 11. FMI: (207) Dixey Bull returns to Colonial Pemaquid! Interactions with 17th-Century Pirates : Kid Pirates Wanted for Dixey Bull s Crew Event at Colonial Pemaquid August 27, two performances at 1 and 3 p.m. Clear the decks for action! Historical interpreters Greg Latimer and Jim Nelson will regale visitors with stories of pirates and interactive activities. Learn how real piracy affected the settlers at Pemaquid. Children are invited to join Dixey Bull s pirate crew. New recruits will participate in piratical activities with crew mates Sassy Sally and Jiggs. Apprentices will learn about pirate lore, practice how to talk like a pirate, and make their own pirate hat and necklace. Following a dramatic appearance, Dixey Bull, portrayed by Jim Nelson, will regale the crew with tales of his exploits before leading his novice pirates on a treasure hunt. The Friends of Colonial Pemaquid is sponsoring the event. Visitors are encouraged to return to Colonial Pemaquid on Sunday, September 4 for the end of the season concert of Celtic music by the popular Castlebay. There will be two performances at 1 and 3 p.m. Colonial Pemaquid is located off Route 130, approximately 12 miles south of Route 1 and 3 miles north of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. FMI: / Walking Tour of Wiscasset Village Friday, August 26, 2 p.m. Earle Shettleworth, director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Maine State Historian, leads a very special walking tour to benefit Historic New England s Preservation Maintenance Fund. Earle shares his architectural expertise while Dan Stevens, Nickels-Sortwell House tour guide, tells tales of heroes, rogues and damsels in distress on a walk from Castle Tucker to the Nickels- Sortwell House. The walk will be followed by refreshments in the Nickels-Sortwell House solarium. Admission is $25 for Historic New England members, $30 nonmembers. Space is very limited. Pre-registration for ticket purchase is required. The price includes house tours of both Castle Tucker and the Nickels- Sortwell House which can be taken any time. The walking tour leaves from Castle Tucker at 2:00 p.m. FMI: / www. HistoricNewEngland.org. Women in Everyday Life Tours at Marrett House, Standish Saturday, August 27 and Saturday, September 10, tours run hourly 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Historian Elaine Bradbury leads special tours focusing on the lives of upper class rural Maine women, like the three generations of women who lived at the Marrett House between 1790 and Learn how women were educated, how they fed their families and took care of their homes, and how they entertained themselves in their leisure time. Occupied by the Marrett family for more than 150 years, the house showcases the treasured possessions of three generations as they chose to display them. The parlor is preserved exactly as it was decorated for a family wedding in These tours will be given on the hour from 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Admission is free for Historic New England members, $5 nonmembers. Preregistration is recommended. Marrett House is located at 40 Ossippee Trail East (Route 25), Standish. FMI: / www. HistoricNewEngland.org. Third Annual Maine Native American Summer Market and Demonstration Event at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester Saturday, August 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fifteen Maine Native American artists representing three Maine tribes will hold demonstrations of many aspects of Native American life and culture at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. Traditional and contemporary crafts will be available for purchase. Free and open to the public. Three Apple Saturdays will be held at the Village on Sept. 24. Oct. 1 and 8 with free cider pressing each of the Saturdays as well as a special event per Saturdayapple pie sale, Apple Art, and cider and donut sale respectively. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is located off Route 26 in New Gloucester. FMI: (207) / www. shaker.lib.me.us. Everything Old is New Again: Revivals and Reproductions of Historic Furnishing Textiles Lecture at Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset Sunday, August 28, 3 p.m. Historic New England Associate Curator Laura Johnson discusses how textiles were designed, produced and later reproduced for new generations wanting an authentic historic look for their homes. This lecture series is sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council. The lecture will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the Nickels-Sortwell House Barn, 121 Main Street, (entrance on Federal Street) Wiscasset. Admission is $5 for Historic New England members and $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is recommended. FMI: / Steam Car Day Locomobile, Stanley & White Seal Cove Auto Museum Sunday, September 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Watch as we fire up a Stanley Steamer, and take a ride in our 1914 Stanley Mountain Wagon, ($5.00 per person). Hear Susan Davis, founder of the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, speak about the Museum s steam cars, and see the museum s steam car collection ranging from a 1900 Locomobile, a 1910 White, and Stanley Steamers from 1903 to 1914 including the most valuable Stanley in existence, an original, un-restored, 1908 Model K Semi- Racer. We ll be showing the movie Jay Leno: Certified Car Nut throughout the day: see Jay s 1909 Stanley Steamer, 1925 Doble steam car and other classics. Regular museum admission applies. FMI: / admin@sealcove automuseum.org The Age of Innocence and the Tuckers of Wiscasset, Maine Special Tour at Castle Tucker, Wiscasset Thursday, September 8 and Thursday, October 13, 10 a.m. In the world of Edith Wharton s classic novel, public perception was paramount if you were to be considered a member of polite society. How do the wealthy and socially prominent Tuckers of Wiscasset, Maine compare to the characters of Victorian New York depicted in The Age of Innocence? What are the con- continued on page 10 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter

10 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 9 nections between these stories? Come to a special tour and find out. The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. at Castle Tucker. Admission is $10 for Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers Pre-registration for ticket purchase is required. FMI: / Live-In History Experience Program at Washburn Norlands Living History Center Saturday and Sunday September 10 & hours working and learning on the farm; overnight in an authentic farmer s cottage. Limited space available. Reservations required. Washburn Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME FMI: (207) / org. Hiram Historical Society Meeting and Lecture September 10 meeting at 2 p.m., program 2:30 Nancy Greenleaf, weaver, will explore the exacting intricacies of silk production and Sally Williams will reveal the history of the heretofore unknown silk industry in Hiram in the early nineteenth century. Photographic exhibit and display of articles made of silk. Hiram Historical Society is located at 20 Historical Ridge, Hiram, ME off Rte 117 (Main Street in Hiram Village). FMI: Sally Williams, or gardenlit@gmail.com. Two Hundred Years of the Academy: Thornton Academy Bicentennial Exhibition EXHIBITION AT Dyer Library and Saco Museum September 17 through November 13 A special exhibition presented simultaneously at the Dyer Library and Saco Museum this fall will be offered in conjunction with the bicentennial celebrations of Thornton Academy. Exploring tradition, mission and history, 200 Years of the Academy celebrates Thornton Academy s place in local history and the nation during the school s Bicentennial year. The exhibition will open with a special preview reception (in conjunction with the opening for concurrent Saco Museum exhibitions Drawn from the River and Christy Bergland: Late Seasons of Great Pond, featured on page 1) on Wednesday, September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The reception, held at the Saco Museum, is FREE and open to the public; members of Thornton Academy s community are especially welcomed. FMI: (207) / Jonathan Hamilton s Berwick Landscape tour at Hamilton House, South Berwick Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. 11:30 p.m. Historic archaeologist Dr. Neill De Paoli leads a lively tour of the grounds with a focus on the landscape as it was in Hamilton s day. Using research based on historic maps, archaeological evidence, and similar sites in the region, De Paoli describes an eighteenth-century working landscape that is very different from the tranquil gardens and woods we see today. Please note, the tour involves prolonged standing and walking on uneven ground. Hamilton House is located at 40 Vaughan s Lane, S. Berwick, ME. $8 for Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers. Reservations recommended. Please call or visit to reserve your spot. Book, Bake and Yard Sale Event at Hampden Historical Society Saturday, September 17 starting at 8 a.m. Come stock up on books for your winter reading enjoyment. Select some homemade goodies to take home to your family and browse the items in our yard sale. You never know what might be there that you ve wanted for a long time. Docents will be available for tours of our historical home and the archives will be open. 83 Main Road South, P O Box 456, Hampden, Maine FMI: (leave a message). Middle Intervale Meetinghouse, Bethel, Church & Meetinghouse: A Historical and Architectural Tour Bethel Historical Society September 17, 9 a.m. Held in conjunction with the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce s 13th Annual Harvest Fest, this self-guided tour of a number of local churches and meetinghouses will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets, at $10/person, will be available at the Society s Robinson House (10 Broad Street) beginning at 9:00 AM. A map containing photographs and brief histories of each structure will be provided. Bethel Historical Society, Broad St., P.O. Box 12, Bethel, Maine FMI: / ; Historic House Tour Event at Yarmouth Historical Society Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Yarmouth Historical Society s third Annual Historic House Tour will take place on Saturday, September 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Take a self-guided journey through unique homes from the lower village to the water. Visit one site, or see them all the choice is yours! Tickets are on sale now at the Yarmouth Historical Society, 215 Main Street, Yarmouth. Tickets are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door. FMI: / info@ yarmouthmehistory.org. Second Annual Autumn Pie and Arts Event at Washburn Norlands Living History Center September 17, Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Live musical performances on the lawn, and yummy pies for sale! 290 Norlands Road, Livermore, ME FMI: (207) / The 1813 Durgin Moore house one of several historic structures during the Architectural Lecture and Tour Program, September 17 at Willowbrook. Architectural Lecture and Tour Willowbrook Museum, Newfield Saturday, September 17, two tours at 1:00pm or 4:00pm Peek into unexpected corners of two historic Newfield homesteads! Architectural Historian Ryan Hayward of The Preservation Collaborative, Inc., Medford, MA, will lead a 90-minute tour through the Durgin Moore and Trafton homes and barns, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy a leisurely in-depth tour of rooms, passageways, closets and other spaces not usually open to the public. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the architecture, construction details and technological innovations of the era that provided the house with heat, power, light and water; as well as the current challenges in preserving historic structures for future generations. Event fee: $8, $5 members. Space is limited to 15 at a time; call continued on page Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

11 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page to reserve your space for the 1:00 OR 4:00 program. Dress is casual, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to go up and down steep stairs and through narrow passageways. Willowbrook Museum is located at 70 Elm Street, Newfield. FMI: (207) / willowbrookmuseum.org. Side chair by Duncan Phyfe, photo courtesy Winterthur. From Artisan to Mechanic: Duncan Phyfe and the Early Nineteen-century Furniture Trade Lecture at Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset Sunday, September 18, 3-4:30 p.m. Matthew Thurlow, former curator at New York s Metropolitan Museum of Art and now development officer at Winterthur, presents From Artisan to Mechanic: Duncan Phyfe and the Early Nineteen-century Furniture Trade, a lecture on the furniture of Duncan Phyfe and his New York area contemporaries from This lecture offers a special preview of the Duncan Phyfe exhibition opening in December at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers. FMI: / www. HistoricNewEngland.org. Work table by Duncan Phyfe, photo courtesy Winterthur. Civil War Photographs: An Illustrated Discussion of Maine s Soldiers and Veterans Lecture at Yarmouth Historical Society Monday, September 18, 7:30 p.m. Maine State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. will illustrate Maine s important role in the Civil War through period images of the people and places that figured in this epic American conflict. Portrait photographs will depict the state s political leaders, military officers, and enlisted men, while scenic photography will offer a glimpse into both the home front and the battlefield. Post-war activities including veterans parades and monument dedications will also be discussed. Suggested donation is $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members. The lecture will be held at the Log Cabin, 196 Main Street, Yarmouth. FMI / info@yarmouthmehistory.org. Jefferson Historical Society Meeting and Lecture Friday, September 23, 7 p.m. Les Fossell will present a program about Old Buildings of Lincoln County, with an emphasis on the Old Jefferson Town House. Location: Old Jefferson Town House, 7 Gardiner Road. Jefferson. FMI: Nooks & Crannies Tour of Castle Tucker Friday, September 23, 10 a.m. Join Site Manager Peggy Konitzky on a tour that peeks into unexpected corners of this unique house in Wiscasset. Built in 1807, this Regency-style mansion is filled with the furnishings and belongings of the Tucker family who lived here from The Tuckers were at the pinnacle of Wiscasset society for four generations but the public never saw the private turmoil of these lively and colorful personalities. Enjoy a leisurely, in-depth experience of the house with stories and rooms not included on the general tour. See where family, friends and servants stayed during the busy summers of the boarding house period. Admission is $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration for ticket purchase is required. FMI: / Transcending Traditions: The Next Generation and Maine Indian Basketry Exhibition at Hudson Museum, University of Maine, Orono Opens September 24 The Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA) in collaboration with the Hudson Museum received an Indigenous Contemporary Arts Programs grant from the National Museum of the American to support the development of an exhibit on the next generation of Maine Indian basket makers. The exhibition opens September 24 in conjunction with the Collins Center for the Art s gala and the Hudson Museum s 25th anniversary. The exhibit features the extraordinary art of five contemporary Maine Indian basketmakers who represent the next generation: Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy), Ganessa Bryant (Penobscot), Sarah Sockbeson (Penobscot), George Neptune (Passamaquoddy) and Eric Otter Bacon (Passamaquoddy). These artists range in age from early 20 s to early 30 s and their Point basket by Ganessa Bryant, Passamaquoddy. artistic practice is a direct result of MIBA s arts programming over the past two decades. FMI: Shaker Hill Apple Festival Event at Alfred Shaker Village September 24 and 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Our Annual Shaker Hill Apple Festival will take place September 24 and 25 with a huge yard sale, craft demonstrations such as Shaker broom making, tatting demonstrations, making Shaker poplarware baskets, and making Shaker knitted rugs. Pies made from apples picked from the seven remaining trees planted by the Shakers will be on sale as well as several luncheon specials. Wagon rides through the former Alfred Shaker Village and many more special events make for an exciting day. Events will start at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. each day. FMI: info@alfredshakermuseum.com. Third Maine reenactor Glen Lawson at Willowbrook s annual event. Annual Civil War Encampment Willowbrook Museum Saturday, September 24, 10a.m.-3p.m. Company A, Third Maine visits Willowbrook in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Tour through the camp and chat one-on-one with these knowledgeable reenactors. Also on this day, author Jean Flahive signs her book, Billy Boy, The Sunday Soldier of the 17th Maine. Willowbrook Museum is located at 70 Elm Street, Newfield. FMI: (207) / willowbrookmuseum.org. Art at Marrett Event at Marrett House, Standish Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sunday October 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Come see Maine art at its best! Stroll around continued on page 12 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 11

12 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS continued from page 11 the grounds of the 1789 Marrett House, home to three generations of the most prominent family of rural Standish, Maine. Enjoy art and artists and take a free tour of the house. The Marrett House parlor is preserved exactly as it was decorated for an 1847 family wedding. The Saco River Art League and other Maine artists will be on hand to display and sell their work. Fair hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fair hours on Sunday are 10 a.m. 2 p.m. There will be a silent auction of works chosen by the artists to benefit the Marrett House and Historic New England. Marrett House is located at 40 Ossippee Trail East (Route 25), Standish. FMI: / Quiet Warrior: William Sumner Appleton and the Battles to Save Maine s Historic Homes Lecture at Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset Sunday, October 2, 3 p.m. William Sumner Appleton founded the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in 1910 as a regional heritage preservation organization. One of America s first professional preservationists, he helped fight the battles to save Victoria Mansion, Castle Tucker, Nickels-Sortwell House and many other Maine landmarks. Site Manager Peggy Konitzky tells the story of this remarkable man and his contributions to Maine. The lecture will be held at 3 p.m. in the Nickels- Sortwell House Barn, 121 Main Street, (entrance on Federal Street) Wiscasset. Admission is $5 for Historic New England members and $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is recommended. FMI: / Archival Storage and Presentation Products & MORE SAVE 15 % Use COUPON CODE #13512 on next order Limited Time Offer Expires September 30th 2011 Columbus Day Holiday Hours at Castle Tucker and Marrett House Monday, October 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Commemorate the discovery of America by taking a historic house tour. Built in 1807 and lived in by one family from 1858 until the turn of the 21st century, Castle Tucker reveals the life of an upper middle-class Victorian family in Wiscasset. Step back in time and hear the story of Captain Richard Tucker, Jr., his wife Mollie and their five children in the setting of their home in this large, fully-furnished, Regency style mansion. Castle Tucker is located at 2 Lee Street in Wiscasset. Built in 1789, Marrett House was home to three generations of the most prominent family of rural Standish, Maine. Hear the stories of this large and colorful family in the setting of their home. The parlor is preserved exactly as it was decorated for an 1847 family wedding. Marrett House is located at 40 Ossippee Trail East (Route 25), Standish. Both houses will be open from 11 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Admission is free for Historic New England members and $5 for nonmembers. FMI: / Environmental Legacies: Land-Clearing, Forest Use, and Conservation in Northern New England, Lecture at the Bethel Historical Society October 15, 2011, 2 p.m. This first annual Stanley Russell Howe Lecture is presented in honor of the Society s longtime Executive Director, and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Act (the 1911 Federal law that allowed for lands in the eastern U.S. to be acquired and maintained as national forests). The speaker will be Dr. Richard Judd, Col. James C. McBride Professor of History at the University of Maine and an expert in the field of U.S. environmental history, particularly in New England. Mason House exhibit hall, 2:00 PM. Bethel Historical Society, Broad St., P.O. Box 12, Bethel, Maine 04217; / ; Hiram Historical Society Meeting and Lecture October 15, meeting at 2 p.m., program 2:30 Jacqueline Field, former professor of textiles and design at Westbrook College, will examine the HHS collection of antique clothing, including military uniforms, and talk about the care, dating of, and preservation of historical dress. Hiram Historical Society is located at 20 Historical Ridge, Hiram, ME off Rte 117 (Main Street in Hiram Village), FMI: Sally Williams, or gardenlit@gmail.com. A Building History of Northern New England Lecture at Yarmouth Historical Society Monday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. Join New Hampshire State Architectural Historian James Garvin for a talk at the Yarmouth Historical Society on Monday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. This lecture is not about restoring old buildings; rather, it is a necessary prelude to preservation or restoration. It is about understanding old buildings through the form and pattern of architecture in Northern New England. Suggested donation is $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members. The lecture will be held at the Log Cabin, 196 Main Street, Yarmouth. FMI: / info@yarmouthmehistory.org. Jefferson Historical Society Meeting and Lecture Friday, October 28, 7 p.m. Jason Libby will present a program on Ralph Rexford Libby, his greatgrandfather who kept a journal telling of his family and life in Jefferson in the early 1900 s. Location: Old Jefferson Town House, 7 Gardiner Road, Jefferson. FMI: Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

13 STATEWIDE MAM Member Institutions Take Honors in 2011 NEMA Publication Awards The New England Museum Association sponsors an annual Publication Awards Program, which recognizes excellence in design, production, and effective communication in all aspects of museum publishing. Entries are judged by a panel experienced in publication, design, marketing and communications. Awards are given to those entries which most effectively present their message to the intended audience. The 2011 Judges were Deb Pesanti Payson, Director of Development & Communications, Essex National Heritage Commission, and Jeff Stammen, Senior Graphic Designer, Christopher Chadbourne + Associates. Congratulations to these MAM members who won awards! Joint Third Place, Books over $10: Brick Store Museum, Windows on the Past: An Illustrated Guide to Kennebunk s History through Architecture. Project Director: Tracy L. Baetz; Outside Designers: Claire Bigbee and Lauren Fries, Dietz Associates Inc. Third Place, Exhibition Catalogues Under $10: Saco Museum, Making History: Art and Industry in the Saco River Valley. Project Director: Jessica Skwire Routhier; Outside Designer: Sue Gold, Custom Communications, Inc. Honorable Mention, Calendar of Events and Programs, Seal Cove Auto Museum, Automobile Calendar for Project Director and In-House Designer: Roberto Rodriguez. BETHEL The Bethel Historical Society is pleased to announce the release of Write Quick : War and a Woman s Life in Letters, Published in a new, second edition by the BHS and transcribed and edited by Ann Fox Chandonnet and Roberta Gibson Pevear, this book is based on Civil War era documents, letters and diaries donated to the Bethel Historical Society by Mrs. Pevear in The book tells the story of one New England family s daily experiences on the Civil War home front and battlefield, through never-before-published primary source materials. Andrew Bean, a teacher and farmer from Bethel, Maine, answered the call to the Union infantry. His younger sister, Eliza, having found both employment and a suitable marriage in the bustling mill city of Lowell, Massachusetts, soon saw her husband, Henry C. Foster, enlist as well. In more than 150 revealing letters dispatched from camp and field and home front, as well as Eliza Bean Foster s own diary, the honors and horrors of war play out on an intimate stage. Illustrated DISPATCHES Our member organizations report on news, awards, and achievements from throughout the state. with original documents and never-beforepublished photographs, the book traces Eliza s life from New England mill girl, to young married woman and mother, to war widow and victim of consumption. 572 pp., softcover, $ FMI: / ; DAMARISCOTTA A new title from Arcadia Publishing, Damariscotta Lake, was published on July 11 and is now available for sale. The book was a collaborative effort by the historical societies of Jefferson, Newcastle and Nobleboro, and the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association. The story of Damariscotta Lake is told through over 200 old photos and text. To order, please call or mmrgs@roadrunner.com or send a check to Jefferson Historical Society, P.O. Box 302, Jefferson ME ($ $1.10 ME sales tax, total of $ $2.00 shipping.) PEAKS ISLAND The Fifth Maine Regiment Museum has received a $10,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation in support of the Maine Civil War Trail. The Maine Civil War Trail is a statewide collaboration of museums and cultural organizations, all of whom will present exhibitions and programs in the summer of 2013 related to Maine s role in the Civil War. The Davis Family Foundation grant will support production of a website and brochure to promote the collaboration. FMI: / (207) The Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island, Maine has a lot going on right now. The new website, as colorful and quirky as this museum of umbrella sleeves itself, came online in June, 2011, at org. Another internet sensation has been the weekly weather reports from the museum. Done in a casual and amusing style, the reports can be seen on Youtube by searching for Umbrella Cover Museum Weather Report. Guest director and filmmaker from Belgium, Hans Manshoven, did an exceptional job on the report from June 23rd, if you only have chance to watch one. There are now about 700 umbrella covers in the museum from 44 different countries. Knowing that there is a story behind the cover, the donor of each cover is asked to write an anecdote to go along with their submission. The accession form is online on the website if any MAM member would like to make a contribution to this ordinary exceptional collection. Please or call for hours for your visit: info@ umbrellacovermuseum.org, (207) READFIELD The Readfield Historical Society received a $ grant from the Maine State Archives Historical Records Collections Grant Program to Save the Little Cards. The little cards are about 4,000 3x5 index cards on which is handwritten valuable information about the early settlers of the town. In the 1980s, three ladies, themselves in their 80s, sifted through every piece of paper they could find in the Historical Society s holdings at the time, and every time they came to a name, they either made a new card or added to one already extant, with the information. The result is all these cards with bits of information in non-chronological order. (For instance, So-and-So worked on the roads in 1898 and was paid $3, or Mr. Somebody was a member of the Methodist Society in X year.) The cards now will be sheathed in nonacid sleeves so that they may be used without harm from handling. SACO The Saco Museum is now accepting applications from artists for the 2012 Mill-ennial exhibition, a juried exhibit of works in ALL media, including performance, film and video. Any artist who can demonstrate a significant connection to Saco, Biddeford, or Old Orchard Beach is invited to apply. Download and print a call for entries at www. sacomuseum.org/pdf/ Millennial2012.pdf or receive a printed copy by ing museum@ continued on page 14 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 13

14 continued from page 13 sacomuseum.org or calling (207) Postmark/drop-off deadline is October 30! The Dyer Library and Saco Museum are also pleased to report the completion of funding for the project to conserve and interpret the Moving Panorama of Pilgrim s Progress, a rare, 8 x 850-foot painting on canvas created in Recent grants from the Maine Arts Commission and the Davis Family Foundation have completed the fundraising phase for this $155,000, which includes the conservation treatment of the panorama, the creation of a full-size replica that can be performed in motion (as the original was meant to be seen), creation of a web-based animation of the panorama that can be performed on-demand, a major exhibition in the summer of 2012, a publication with Kent State University Press, a distinguished lecture series, and more. For more information about the panorama project, visit or call Ali Clift SKOWHEGAN The Margaret Chase Smith Library is pleased to announce the winners of its 15th annual essay contest, the theme of which this year was stewardship of the environment. First prize of $500 went to Zoe Anderson of Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro. The recipient of the $250 award for second place was Ali Clift from Bonny Eagle High Zoe Anderson DISPATCHES Jack Rakove at the Margaret Chase Smith Library on June 9. School in Standish. Third place and $125 was presented to Allaina Murphy of St. Dominic Regional High School in Auburn. In addition, the library awarded five honorable mention prizes of $25, along with a book about Senator Smith to: Devyn Bell from Dexter Regional High School, Joe Bosse of St. Dominic Regional High School, Sarabeth George from Bonny Eagle High School, Krysta Moulton of Madison Area Memorial High School, and Kaity Richard from Acadia Christian School in Trenton. The Margaret Chase Smith Library held its annual Maine Town Meeting on June 9. The speaker was Pulitzer Prize-winning, Stanford University historian Jack Rakove. Drawing upon research for his most recent book, Revolutionaries: a New History of the Invention of America, Rakove focused on the revolutionary significance of the First Amendment. His major point was that whereas most rights limit the authority of the government, free conscience and free exercise of religion are premised on the idea of individual moral autonomy. Rakove s remarks resonated with an audience familiar with Senator Smith s act of conscience when she spoke out against the excesses of McCarthyism in her famous 1950 Declaration of Conscience. The event drew over fifty participants who had opportunities to question Dr. Rakove extensively, have him autograph his book, and discuss the implications for our own times of his argument about the centrality of conscience in the American experience. YARMOUTH Visitors to Skyline Farm this spring experienced a rare and genuine moment of living history. The beginning of spring on a turn-ofthe-century farm meant readying the land for planting. Horses needed to be muscled-up for the backbreaking work ahead, and the plowing equipment needed to be dusted off, inspected, and sharpened. The cool early morning scene of steam rising up over the backs of muscular teams of draft horses, turning over row after row of earth, must have been quite a sight. The work was hard, and the teamsters generally halted their horses at the end of each row so the horses could catch their breath and let their heart rates return to normal. During these halts, teamsters checked over their horses leather harness and metal plowing equipment for broken parts. A broken metal part might mean a possible injury to a horse and/or loss of valuable work time. If a metal part was found to be broken, the farm forge would need to be fired up or a trip to the nearest blacksmith to make the necessary repair. This is precisely what happened at the 21st century Skyline Farm/ Deri Farm Plow Day this year. One of the teamsters, plowing in the field, discovered a broken metal plow control arm. He thought he was done for the day and unhitched his team. As luck would have it, Tim Greene was giving blacksmithing chain-making and metal-twisting demonstrations using Skyline s old forge. Tim said he could fix the broken metal arm in much the same manner as it would have been done in bygone days. Tim made the on the spot metal weld with the addition of Borax and melted brass. To the fascination of the many spectators, the part was reinstalled and the idle draft team put right back into service! At Skyline Farm s Plow Day demonstration, blacksmith Tim Greene is fabricating a figure 8 link to connect chain. Photo by Ed Morin of Portland, Maine. The Skyline Farm vehicle collection continues to grow in numbers and quality. In the first six months of this year the collection committee has added eight vehicles, for a new total of 107. New vehicles include its first three seat sleigh, a finely made Portland Cutter (possibly attributed to Brewster Co.), and a large unique wheeled lumber/log carrier all gifted by Margaret and Sut Marshall. Others include a J.C. Safford, Exeter, New Hampshire Boston Chaise, lovely Concord Wagon, Downing & Abbott Pleasure Wagon, four wheel Racing Cart gifted by Deborah Plengey, and most recently, an ornate Democrat wagon gifted by Lorna and Donald Dorsey. 14 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

15 Visit the past at Windham s Village Green The population of Windham, Maine, has nearly tripled since the Windham Historical Society was organized in Farms and farmland have been replaced by housing developments. Villages have given way to commercial development. The past seems to be disappearing, but things are about to change if Windham Historical Society has its way. Approximately a decade after the society was formed, one of its members, a retired teacher, volunteered to help instill a sense of local history by hosting a school-sponsored history tour of the town, pointing out important sites and providing a more in-depth view of the rich local history. Today, more than 40 years after formation, the hunger for information about the past is growing and Windham Historical Society continues to work with the schools, enriching the knowledge of local history. Society member Walter Lunt, another retired teacher, provides a day-long tour to hundreds of third graders, their teachers and parents each year. This is preceded by his visit to the classroom where he explains the next day s bus trip. It has long been evident, given the growth of the town, that for the society to continue its work, including preserving the history, providing education and protecting our unique resources, more space was needed. With more space, the Society could give workshops, and eventually perhaps have a living history center. What a dream it was! Members of the society could envision the fields behind the current building, sited in Windham Center, in the former town house (c.1833), as a place ideal for such a project. In the fall of 2010, the owner of the abutting property decided to sell the very old house, adjacent buildings and the two and a half acres of fields. The society acted quickly and contacted all members, the public and anyone else remotely connected with Windham, including high school alumni! In a matter of a few weeks, funds were raised for a down payment the dream was going to become a reality. It s called Village Green, and its location is in the center of town, near schools, town hall, and the library. The five-year plan calls for paying down the mortgage and systematic development of the property with financial help from fundraisers, grants, and the support of the community. The society owns three of the town s most historic buildings and plans to include them in the Village Green. The 1833 brick town house, headquarters for so many years, will be renovated to provide handicap accessibility but otherwise look the same. The so-called Old Grocery, an 1820 wood by Kay Soldier structure located close by, will be moved to the Village Green. The circa 1820 Windham Center Circulating Library is presently adjacent to the headquarters, and it will be relocated on the site. A barn, either acquired or built from scratch, will provide space for classes and displays of farm equipment; a little building presently onsite may become a blacksmith shop; and there is promise of acquisition of a circa 1837 brick schoolhouse. Members of the Windham Historical Society are committed to this project. Walter Lunt, the retired teacher who provides volunteer history bus trips each year, explains: I m involved with Village Green because I hope it will contribute to the sense of place I felt while growing up in Windham. I work with nearly 200 third-graders on behalf of the (Windham) Historical Society because I truly believe that ties with the past, both intellectual and emotional, create inseparable bonds with the present, and a desire to carry on that heritage into the future. Programs that purport to address the so-called brain drain (the tendency of our best and brightest to leave Maine for better opportunities) ignore the staying power of sense of place, which is fostered by being steeped in heritage during the early years by family, neighborhood, and schools. Another enthusiastic Village proponent is Penny Sayward Loura, whose ancestors logged and farmed in Windham for generations: As a relatively new member, I feel the acquisition of the this property is a blessing; so close and easily visualized... a barn with storage for the larger farm equipment, a working blacksmith shop (and we have a blacksmith in our membership). Windham people are very community-minded and I have no doubt this small village will happen. Just how many people does it take to make a village? Stay tuned. In the future, children from the nearby primary school, middle school and high school will be able to walk to history, only steps away from their technology-ruled world. When the project is completed, the Village Green is envisioned as a destination for not only area schools, but also tourists who enjoy visiting museums and places like Norlands and Plymouth. A lifelong Windham resident and society member spearheads one of the most successful annual fundraisers, an old-fashioned Christmas Fair. The event is anticipated by many and features all handmade items, seasonal music and décor. Norma Rogers is aware of the promise this project holds: For some time we have needed more space to be able to accept donations of larger items such as farm implements and many more items. With donations from people who could visualize our dreams of having a space for historical buildings for our displays we were able to make the down payment and acquire the property. There is an opportunity to have an area for people to come and view the way of living in the past, to do research on cemeteries, genealogy, and so much more. Linda Griffin, current President of Windham Historical Society, is the point person for this huge project and comes well qualified. When she isn t tending her real estate business, she s teaching a class about house restoration, leading a tour of ancient properties or helping save history by salvaging old doors, windows, hardware and even granite foundation blocks. In the past local folks have seen her in coveralls, up on a ladder, removing centuries-old parts of buildings which are being demolished. Recently, an old house and barn was purchased by the town so the property could be razed and used for additional parking. Since the property is within view of the site of the Village Green, it was thought perhaps the barn could be saved and used in the project. This was not meant to be, but with persuasion and straight talk, Griffin managed to obtain salvage rights for the society. Volunteers, under Griffin s guidance, were busy during the summer carefully removing shutters, doors, moldings and anything that might be reused in creating Village Green. A full schedule of fundraising activities continues at Windham Historical Society. When possible, double mortgage payments are being made. Donations of labor and in-kind contributions help a great deal. A busy Grant Committee seeks every opportunity for support. Fundraising activities have included plant and garden sales, the Christmas Fair, guided tours of local historic sites, membership drives and other events. This fall, the society will conduct its annual campaign and offer businesses of all sizes the opportunity of having a link on the historical society s website. For more information about the progress of Village Green, visit org or call Linda Griffin, (207) Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 15

16 Documenting the Present A View Through a Window on History by the Belfast Historical Society and Museum Belfast Main Street, 1880s As the Belfast Historical Society and Museum worked through the winter to prepare its 2011 program schedule, a recurring question arose: How do we document the present? Focused as we were on documenting Belfast s earlier times, we didn t want to lose sight of the present, that is, tomorrow s past. BHS&M s free, monthly public presentations about Belfast and its varied history were slated to begin in April. Over the following seven months, guest speakers and local historians would be considering topics as varied as Belfast s early commercial enterprises, 19thcentury architectural styles, Belfast s mid- 20th-century sardine and poultry industries, traditional musical instruments of the British Isles, and Belfast during the Civil War years. But in spite of all the research and preparation that was dedicated to developing such programs, there would be no record to reference in the future. In addition, fewer than 100 people would probably attend and enjoy each month s presentation. There might, we thought, be a larger audience out there, if only we could access them. It seemed obvious that filming each month s program would address the basic question, How do we document the present? Filming presentations had been tried before, but the quality of the end-product had been highly dependent upon the skill and equipment of the good soul who volunteered at any given time. As we considered this issue, a second question occurred: How do we share what we document? And, with this question came the answer: The Media television, the Internet, and home video. Belfast enjoys the presence of a local cable television network which serves approximately 1,200 homes. Always looking for interesting programming, the network s director was delighted to work with BHS&M to develop a multi-media package. The package included a television program, a filmed and edited version of BHS&M s monthly presentations; an upload of the television program to the Internet; and DVDs of the television program which were to be made available to the local public library and, thus, available throughout Maine through its inter-library loan system. Financing the project was the next challenge. Fortunately, a generous gift from one of Belfast s oldest manufacturing firms, Mathews Brothers, made the package complete. And, on May 3, 2011, the Belfast Historical Society and Museum premiered its new program, Window on History. Each month s Window on History is available for television viewers to watch on Belfast Community Television, BCTV-2, during the four weeks after each public presentation. Three different, dedicated time-slots a day, evening, and weekend hour make viewing easy and accessible. The Belfast Historical Society and Museum s web site, museum.org, now offers on-demand viewing of both current and prior Window on History programs. And, we ve been told, the DVDs given to the Belfast Free Library are borrowed before they are even shelved. Given their popularity, additional DVDs of each month s Window on History have been printed and are available for purchase. We ve succeeded in both documenting the present and making it accessible to more people. We ve combined Belfast s past and present and brought them home to the public, thanks to Window on History. Window On History is aired on BCTV-2 (Belfast Community Television) Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Available on Vimeo on our website: The Belfast Historical Society is located at 10 Market Street, Belfast, ME, The BHS holds seven monthly program meetings April through October, fourth Monday of each month. Programs are held at the Belfast Free Library at 7pm. All programs are free and open to the public. Coming up are: August 22, Movie Night, film clips from the Belfast Museum s Robert Hall film collection, 1920s to the 1980s in Belfast; September 26, Images from the Photographic Collection of the Penobscot Marine Museum, Kevin Johnson, photo-archivist; October 24, Belfast During the Civil War, Megan Pinette President, Belfast Historical Society. For more information: / info@belfastmuseum.org, 16 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

17 OPPORTUNITIES 21st-Century Skills Workshops The Maine Historical Society and Maine State Archives, in partnership with Maine Archives and Museums, is offering 21st-Century Skills Workshops for historical society and museum professionals, staff, and volunteers. The FREE half-day workshops will introduce attendees to the opportunities that local history, technology, and Maine Memory Network provide to develop professional skills, increase the capacity of their organizations, engage their communities, and deepen collaboration with local schools, libraries, and other community organizations. The workshop includes an in-depth, interactive demonstration of Maine Memory Network and its many search tools and content offerings. Workshops will be offered in spring/summer and fall in regions around the state over the next three years. Upcoming 2011 locations include: Turner Memorial Library, Presque Isle (August 4, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Lubec Memorial Library (August 18, 1-4 p.m.) McArthur Public Library, Biddeford (October 11, 2-5 p.m.); Rumford Public Library (October 12, 2-5 p.m.) Topsham Public Library (October 13, 2-5 p.m.) Newport Cultural Center (October 27, 1-4 p.m.) Note that the October 27 workshop is offered in conjunction with Maine Archives and Museums Annual Conference, which will take place at the same location the following day. For more information and to register, visit or contact MHS s Community Partnership Coordinator Larissa Vigue Picard at , ext. 215, lvpicard@mainehistory.org. Maine Memory Network Grants and Training Available Next Grant Deadline: September 1 Maine Historical Society, in partnership with the Maine State Library, and thanks to support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), has a variety of Maine Memory Network grant and training opportunities open to historical organizations and museums over the next three years. Grants are now available to help organizations and community teams digitize local historical collections (up to $750), create online exhibits related to topics in the community s history (up to $1250), and build websites that gather and provide access to the community s history (up to $3,000). The next grant deadline is September 1. (Subsequent deadlines: April 1 and September 1, 2012.) For details, visit memory.net/grants. On-line Oral History Course through University of Maine Continuing and Distance Education ANT 425/MES498 Recorded Interviewing Techniques and Methods: This course, offered for Fall 2011, will introduce students to the theory and methodology of ethnographic and oral history fieldwork as it is practiced by social scientists and humanities researchers. Students will learn to prepare research plans, develop questions, and conduct and record interviews. They will learn how to navigate the essential practices of permissions, understand the concepts of copyright of research materials as it pertains to interviews, and fulfill the requirements of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) - Required Training at the University of Maine. Students will learn about the practices of archiving research materials and how to interpret and incorporate interview research into a research paper or documentary. No prerequisites. May be taken for graduate credit.3 credits. Contact Pauleena MacDougall, 110 South Stevens Hall, University of Maine, , Pauleena@ maine.edu, CONFERENCE SEASON IS COMING UP! Save these dates and check the organizations websites for updated information! American Association of State and Local History Commemoration: The Promise of Remembrance and New Beginnings September 14-17, 2011 Richmond, Virginia Sustaining Heritage, Sustaining Communities Museums and Historic Preservation in the 21st Century Friday, September 30, 2011 Boston Athenaeum New England Archivists Teaching with Primary Sources Oct , 2011 Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. Maine Archives and Museums Partnerships and Best Practices Friday, October 28, 2011 Newport Cultural Center, Newport, Maine New England Museum Association Museums in the Mirror: Reflecting Relevance in a Diverse Society November 16-18, 2011 Hartford, Connecticut What Do Borders Mean? Lecture Presented by the Maine Humanities Council Free and Open to the Public September 16 at the Cary Library, Houlton, 5-8 p.m. September 17 at the St. John Valley Technology Center, Frenchville, 9 a.m. - noon The term border has so many interpretations: personal, professional, political. Living on a political border influences people s lifestyles and perspectives, and arguably contributes to a very special experience. Join us for a short lecture by Scott See, Libra Professor of History at University of Maine, followed by an opportunity for reading and reflective discussion on the history and contemporary issues of the border. We hope to see you at this free program...bring your friends! The program will include a lecture and small group discussion as well as light refreshments. CEUs will be available for K-12 teachers and Adult Education instructors. The same program will be held at both locations; register for one at Participate in National Museum Day: September 24, 2011 Join over 1,300 museums and cultural institutions across the country in a national celebration of culture and learning. Museum Day, sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine, is a nationwide event where participating museums and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission on September 24, 2011 to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket. Participation in the event is FREE and will provide your museum with a tremendous amount of exposure through advertising and publicity. For details and registration, visit day/register/2011. The Politics of Conscience: Margaret Chase Smith and Today s Political Climate Symposium presented by the Maine Humanities Council Good Will-Hinckley, Hinckley, Maine Friday, September 30, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Today s divisive political atmosphere has prompted much hand-wringing and analysis in the popular media. The United States also experienced extreme politics during the Cold War, and one of the few Senators to protest the lack of civility was Margaret Chase Smith. The first woman to be elected to both houses of Congress (and more often than not the only woman in the Senate), Smith s Declaration of Conscience speech, given in response to Senator Joseph McCarthy s interrogations of suspected Communists, represents the power of an individual holding firm to her own moral compass. In this one-day program, we will explore the influence of Margaret Chase Smith s approach to politics, focusing on the culture in Congress (both then and now) and the women who have followed in her footsteps. All participants will receive a copy of the Margaret Chase Smith biography No Place for a Woman by Janann Sherman. Morning refreshments and lunch will be included. CEUs will be available. Conference fee: $50 ($20 for college students and free for K-12 students). FMI and to register, visit Historical Records Collection Grant Program Single Deadline for Major Archival Projects will be in October The Historical Records Collection grant program will continue, but with one major change. Instead of two deadlines for Major Projects (grant awards up to $4000), there will be a single deadline of October 1, Basic Projects (grant awards up to $1000) will continue to have rolling deadlines through June Basic Project applications are accepted at any time, but should be submitted at least six weeks before a project begins. The grant program is sponsored by the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board (MHRAB) and funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The primary purpose of the Historical Records Collection grant program is to preserve Maine s significant historical records (e.g., manuscripts, photographs, architectural drawings, existing audiotapes, video tapes) and make them available to the public. More information and application forms can be found at html. You can also contact Janet Roberts ( ; janet. roberts@maine.gov) to get answers to questions and to request forms. Organizations that are planning to apply for Major Projects grants are strongly encouraged to contact Ms. Roberts as they develop their applications. IMLS Grant Deadlines Coming Up The Institute of Museum and Library Service s Conservation Project Support program helps collecting institutions identify conservation needs and priorities and perform activities that ensure the safekeeping of their collections. It assigns priority to the development and implementation of a logical, institution-wide approach to caring for their living and material collections. Grants are available for many types of conservation activities, including surveys, training, treatment, and environmental improvements. Deadline: October 31 for grants up to $150,00. A 1:1 match is required for the total project request. FMI: (202) /cbodner@imls.gov. continued on page 18 Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 17

18 SEEN & HEARD ABOVE: Students from the University of New England s History Hands-On course pose with professors Beth DeWolfe and Camille Smalley at the opening of their exhibition at the Saco Museum, Voyage and the Great Age of Sail. ABOVE: Illustrator Kerry LaPointe signs a new children s book about the 1894 carousel at Willowbrook for Samuel, Benjamin and Michah Gerry. DurgenHouse porch, Willowbrook, Newfield. RIGHT: Enjoying the opening reception for Trade, Religion, and Warfare in York and Southern Maine at the Museums of Old York, June 4, Opportunities, continued from page 17 Museums for America grants strengthen a museum s ability to serve the public more effectively by supporting high-priority activities that advance the institution s mission and strategic goals. Museums for America grants are designed to be flexible: funds can be used for a wide variety of new or ongoing museum activities and programs, such as improvement of institutional infrastructure, planning, management of collections, public access, professional development, purchase of equipment or services, research and scholarship, public programming and exhibitions, development and/or implementation of education programs, or efforts by museums to upgrade and integrate new technologies into their overall institutional effectiveness. Grants are awarded in the following categories: 1) Engaging Communities; 2) Building Institutional Capacity; and 3) Collections Stewardship. Deadline: November 1, 2011 for grants from $5,000 to $150,000. A 1:1 match is required for the total project request. FMI: (202) /snarva@imls.gov. NEMA Salary & Benefits Survey Reliable, up-to-date information to help you run your institution is always at a premium. That s why museums value NEMA s New England Museum Salary & Benefits Survey. It provides salary figures for almost 50 key museum job positions and the benefits museums around New England offer their employees essential information that helps keep your museum competitive in the all-important human resources arena. Of course, the quality of the information depends on the participation of museums like yours. This year, the survey is online, making it easier than ever to participate. All you need to do is point your browser to NEMA aggregates your information with that of your colleagues, then presents it in an easy to read format that tracks by size and type of institution. You can be assured that your museum s specific data is always kept confidential. Those who complete the survey are ed a complimentary copy of the final report, to be published later this year (a $60 value). Yarmouth Historical Society Seeks New Program Director The position requires a professional with a M.A. in the Humanities field. Excellent interpersonal skills are required as well as administrative and planning skills. A background with Past Perfect is required. This position will involve working closely with collections. Experience in the Education field will be considered as the Program Director will be involved in developing and coordinating lectures, events and in-house communications. Local knowledge is a plus. M-F, 24 hours/week. Occasional special events take place after hours. Competitive hourly wage. No benefits. Qualified candidates please send résumés and three references to info@yarmouthmehistory.org. No phone calls. ABOVE: On May 17, 2011, Boothbay Region Historical Society celebrated the dedication of the Marion Dash room at their annual meeting. The election of new board members also took place. Pictured from left to right: exiting board president John McKown, current director Barbara Rumsey, and incoming board president Sally Bullard. LEFT: Camp Kohut (Oxford, Maine) campers and counselors enjoying the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island in June. Umbrella Covers reign! 18 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 3

19 MAINE ARCHIVES & MUSEUMS PURPOSE Maine Archives and Museums is a membership organization whose purpose is to develop and foster a network of citizens and institutions in Maine who identify, collect, interpret and/or provide access to materials relating to history and culture. MEMBERSHIP Students, trustees, volunteers, entry-level or experienced paid and unpaid professionals, museum and historical society members, the interested public and service providers all are welcome as members of MAM. BENEFITS Quarterly Newsletter Provides information on funding opportunities; books and publications; statewide museum, historical society, archives news and activities; shared resources; all-volunteer organizations; ideas that work in Maine; computers; conservation; technical questions; ethical matters. Listings On the Department of Tourism s Internet/World Wide Web Home Page (free!). Annual Conference Opportunities to gather with fellow professionals, volunteers and other colleagues in the state to share ideas, network and review and acquire the skills to manage our state s cultural resources. Regional Workshops Conference topics listed above are also available as local and regional workshops to make attendance easier and to tailor needs to local issues and groups of societies, museums and archives. Discounts on Museum and Archival Supplies Offered to all MAM members by Brodart, Gaylord, and University Products. JOIN/RENEW TODAY! Your support and participation enable MAM to provide ever-improved services to Maine s cultural community of historical societies, archives, museums and galleries. We have very important work to do. By working together, we can realize our vital dreams and visions. JOIN MAINE S CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS LIST! This is a great opportunity to share with others what we are all doing and to get information about problems, resources, grant opportunities, and more. Maine s cultural community has an based discussion forum available through the Internet. Intended for archives, museum, historical society, preservation, arts, library, etc., organizations, their professional staff and active volunteers, the Maine Cultural Organization List Serve is a way of keeping in touch. If you re not familiar with this type of thing, it s a way of sending an message to everyone who has joined the list. When you join, you also receive any message posted to the list by others. You can read, ignore, or respond as you please. You need to subscribe before you can send and receive list messages. To subscribe, point your web browser to mcultr-l.html. Click on Join or leave the list, and follow the directions. Then, whenever you send mail to the list at MCULTR-L@lists.maine.edu, all subscribers will see your message and will be able to respond to the list in general or to your own address. If you have problems subscribing, janet.roberts@maine.gov. Vol. 14, No. 3 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter 19

20 with staff trained and ready to implement them. Even with a plan in place, museums, libraries, and archives can easily be overwhelmed by a catastrophic event, especially a regional disaster that also affects the personal lives of staff, their families, and the community at large. AIC-CERT can provide volunteer expertise for advice, coordination of salvage efforts, assessments, and referrals for a broad range of cultural materials. Accidental fire to a historic Maine home in Disaster Response for Cultural Institutions: AIC-CERT by Jon Brandon Assistance is now available to institutions that have experienced a disaster that has affected its collections or its structures. The assistance is provided by AIC-CERT (American Institute for Conservation Collections Emergency Response Team). The mission of AIC-CERT is to respond to the needs of cultural institutions during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors and the public. In 2007, the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC) received funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to develop advanced workshops to train conservators and other library and museum professionals. These workshops have produced a group of 107 rapid responders who are trained to react to disaster. The group provides assistance by phone and to collecting institutions affected by everything from leaking pipes to roof damage. Response teams are deployed to larger scale disasters. AIC-CERT has deployed experts to assist with major floods in the Midwest and Hurricane Ike, both in 2008, and to other events. Disasters can strike anywhere at anytime, and they can pose threats to public health and safety, to infrastructure, and to Americans cultural heritage. From hurricanes and earthquakes to fires and leaking sprinkler systems, collecting institutions need to have disaster plans in place, AIC-CERT is a volunteer program designed to assist collecting institutions on an emergency basis. Team members can provide advice and referrals by phone or by . Onsite assistance, as funds are available, typically is limited to one or two days of assessment, organization of salvage efforts, and recommendations for follow-up care of affected collections. Larger-scale salvage or treatment of damaged items should normally be done by paid professionals. Insurance or government emergency funds are typically available to support these kinds of postdisaster needs. There is no cost to the affected institution for the services of AIC-CERT. Members volunteer their expertise and time; FAIC supports their travel costs. For 24-hour assistance you may call the AIC-CERT hotline at (202) Less urgent questions can also be answered by ing info@ conservation-us.org. The hotline will put you in touch with a volunteer who will answer basic questions and gather preliminary information. Requests for onsite assistance will be forwarded by the volunteer to the AIC-CERT Coordinator and Project Director for response. For more information you can reach Jon Brandon at or jon@eastpointconservation.com. Jon is the owner of East Point Conservation Studio located in Brunswick, Maine. Aftermath of a fire showing heat and soot damage. The room contents are water-soaked as a result of firemen hosing down the room. Send news directly to MAM Newsletter Editor mam@gwi.net