Museum Village volunteers find fun amidst local history

More volunteers are needed to complete inventory of 20,000 artifacts Monroe - This past summer Museum Village received a prestigious grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to begin to inventory, catalogue and care for the thousands of items collected since the museum opened its doors in 1950. Volunteers are carrying out most of the hands-on-work in the deep recesses of the museum’s storage areas. “We are already plotting future exhibits,” said Museum Village Executive Director Kate Mitchell. “We’ve always been big on printing and have an amazing collection of printing presses and type from throughout the 1800’s into the 20th century.” In fact, every student who visits the museum learns to operate a press. But with some of these new finds, such as a telegraph, phonograph, radio and early telephone equipment, Museum Village can have a unique and outstanding communications display. Volunteers have been taking inventory of the museum’s collection since late summer and plan to go through the winter to get all 20,000 plus items photographed and into the computer before the end of June. “With it being the 60th anniversary of the Museum’s founding, this grant represents great timing. It permits us to move forward and plan for our future,” said Jeffrey Albanese, the Goshen attorney who was recently elected chairperson of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “We are beginning to see changes for the better at the museum; it is becoming a vibrant resource for our area. We welcome volunteers who are interested in furthering this work to come and take part in this project.”

Volunteers needed at Museum Village
The next training session for volunteers is Friday, Oct. 29 from 1-4 in the afternoon.
Volunteers work in teams with cameras and computers after training by historian Mimi Sherman.
You can join with a partner or be teamed up by the museum.
For more information call 782-8248 or e-mail info@museumvillage.org.