A little over a year ago I sat in my office working when my coworker, archivist Barbara Quigley, appeared in my doorway. In her hand, she held several 5×7 photographs. She asked, “Do you know someone named Janice Steimel?” For a moment, my answer was no. I didn’t know Janice Steimel. And then it dawned […]
This post is based on an interview between Bryce Gorman, fundraising educator for Local History Services, and Julie Zasada, executive director of the Cedar Lake Historical Association for 13 years. Through the hard work of Julie and her board, CLHA has received eight Heritage Support Grants. Heritage Support Grants, made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc., […]
Did you know there are more than 400 historical societies and history museums in Indiana? There’s at least one in every county! The best thing about my work in our Local History Services department is that I get to travel the state with my colleagues to visit these amazing organizations. We get to see extraordinary […]
It’s that time of year again; cooler days, longer nights, an electric stirring to the air as plans are made … and a whole USPS truck of solicitations stuffed in your mailbox. These mailings often use terms like “where most needed,” “organizational priorities,” or “greatest need.” Phrases like these are ways nonprofits traditionally refer to […]
Many museums pride themselves on their collections. These collections are held in the public trust, meaning that although the museum may be the physical owner, they do so with the purpose of benefiting the public. Museums, therefore, always do their best to make sure these objects are cared for to the best of their abilities. […]
Have you ever been to visit a museum where they asked you to tell them about your experience? Have you seen questions on exhibit labels? Were you asked to vote on a future exhibit topic? Or approached about participating in a focus group? As museum-goers, we might wonder: why so many questions? Most museums operate […]
Giving is a deeply personal action. When you or I make a gift, we are unconditionally giving up our money. Giving reflects what is meaningful to us and what we value most. Let’s dive into this a bit more to discuss why people give. In The Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating […]
Museums collect items for a variety of reasons. Some museums collect items for their artistic value or cultural influence. Others take items into the collection that tell historical stories and provide historical context. Museums also collect items, whether objects, photographs, books or manuscripts, to preserve the past. These items are used to educate others through […]
Editor’s note: While the data referenced in this article is from 2017, museums continue to play an important role in local economies throughout the U.S. If we were to poll a random cluster of people with the question “What’s the benefit of having a museum,” what do you think the response would be? Many answers […]
Each May, historical societies, museums, preservation organizations, archives and libraries celebrate Preservation Month. We use the month to highlight collections and building preservation issues, focus on our efforts to preserve the physical evidence of our histories and share preservation successes. It’s a chance for us to open the doors of our institutions and shine a […]
