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Blog and Newsletter

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

Quarterly Print Newsletter

Submissions: If you are a member interested in submitting articles, dispatches, opportunities, and/or photos to the print newsletter, please review these guideline and deadlines.

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News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

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  • Call for Proposals: Maine Education Summit, 17-19 October 2014

    17 Apr 2014 9:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Maritime Education Summit

    MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY

    CASTINE, MAINE

    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    17-19 October 2014

    CAMPUS CULTURE AND CHANGE

    Students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit a proposal of 300 – 500 words that relates to the topics below or other topics of interest that fit the general themes of Campus Culture and Change or Maritime Education. Presentations at the conference will include a poster session, panel discussions, research papers, and workshops. Students, staff, and faculty may submit proposals for more than one type of presentation. 

    Example topics are listed below; authors are encouraged to propose other topics of interest

    Campus Culture and Change in Maritime Education

    Education: 

    • Pedagogy—Share Best Practices
    • Environmental Content
    • Educational Standards
    • Technology
    • Humanities

    Operations/Facilities:

    • Grants & Research
    • Alternative Energy
    • Cruise/School Ship Program

    Leadership:

    • Regiment & Independent Leadership Development
    • Opportunities for Women
    • Regimental Challenges

    Student Experience:

    • Health & Wellness
    • Extra-Curricular Activities
    • LGBTQIA


    The proposal must be submitted in English and should include the objectives of the research or paper, any research methods used, the results, and conclusions. All proposals must include the paper title, full names, titles, and email addresses of all authors, as well as the full mailing address of the principal author. Presentations will be scheduled anywhere from 20 to 100 minutes. Please indicate in your proposal the type of presentation and the amount of time you want for your presentation. Proposals are due 09 May, 2014.

    Proposals received after the due date will only be considered if there is room in the conference schedule. Successful authors will receive notification of acceptance on or before 01 June, 2014.

    More information about the conference will be available at http://mes2014.mma.edu. Information will be updated frequently so please visit this website to obtain the latest news and information

    Important Dates

    09 May, 2014: Submission of Proposals for Review

    01 June, 2014: Notification of Acceptance

    22 August, 2014: Complete Presentation Descriptions and Papers Due

  • USM Graduate Program Good for Maine's Museums, Maine Economy

    07 Apr 2014 1:56 PM | Anonymous member
    UPDATE April 25, 2014: USM's President Theodora Kalikow's response follows this original message.  Please scroll down.  In brief, she writes, "There may very well be better ideas out there, which, if implemented, should still get us to the $14 million and a brighter, more sustainable future. I need those ideas! We need those ideas!"

    With the approval of the Advocacy and Executive Committees, MAM president Jessica Routhier recently wrote to University of Southern Maine President Theodora Kalikow to protest the decision to eliminate the American and New England Studies graduate program. Similar letters were also sent to USM Provost Michael Stevenson, University of Maine Chancellor James Page, Maine Senate President Justin Alfond, and Governor Paul LePage. 


    April 7, 2014

    Theodora Kalikow, President
    University of Southern Maine
    Office of the President
    707 Law Building
    Portland, Maine 04104

    Dear President Kalikow,

    The Association of Maine Archives and Museums (MAM), the state’s only membership organization dedicated to “supporting and promoting Maine’s collecting institutions,” is adding its voice to those that have already expressed dismay over the University of Southern Maine’s decision to terminate the American and New England Studies master’s program. As representatives of our field--including museums, historical societies, libraries, archives, other cultural organizations, and those who provide services for them--we feel that the ANES program is important for the health of both our industry and the state’s economy.

    At MAM we have a mounting concern that we must do more to attract, train, and empower the next generation of leaders for our field. ANES has long been the only museum studies/public history graduate program in the state, and while we certainly wish there were more, it alone has done a remarkable job of turning out dedicated, capable young scholars with tangible and employable skills. The vast majority of MAM’s member institutions--which range from the Portland Museum of Art and the Abbe Museum to the all-volunteer Pittston Literary and Historical Society and others--have had an ANES graduate as a staff member, intern, volunteer, or trustee. In my professional and personal experience (I took two ANES courses as a special student in 1999 and 2000), the ANES program is a model of what USM should be striving to achieve with the idea of a “metropolitan university.” If you share the often-expressed concern that our talented young people must leave Maine to find opportunities, then the elimination of this unique graduate program, and the resulting migration of our best and brightest to Boston in order to attend analogous programs, is emphatically a step in the wrong direction.

    If, like we often do at MAM, you are battling a misconception that museums and other cultural organizations do not contribute valuably to the state’s economy, and that for that reason they do not represent practical or viable career tracks or business models, I urge you to visit MaineMuseums.org/About and take a look at our Economic Impact Statement, which summarizes the positive impact of our member institutions throughout the state. In short, our members--many staffed by graduates of ANES--employ hundreds, generate millions in revenue, and attract millions of visitors to Maine. To eliminate the ANES program would be to sever an artery that feeds not only Maine’s museum and archive community, but also its tourism industry. We urge you to work with the University of Maine system and the state to reconsider this short-sighted act and restore the American and New England Studies master’s program.

    Sincerely,

    Jessica Skwire Routhier, President
    Maine Archives and Museums


    UPDATE, April 25, 2014:

    President Kalikow was good enough to send an individual response to MAM President Jessica Routhier.  The response in full is copied below:


    Dear Jessica:
     
    As you can imagine, my office has been inundated with phone calls, mail, and emails regarding the  proposed actions to address the University's financial challenges.  Each message is being read and considered.
     
    My thanks to you and the Association of Maine Archives and Museums for sharing your thoughts with me about the American and New England Studies Program.
     
    I'd like to share a little about the process we're currently undergoing regarding the proposed program eliminations. At the time that I announced them, I also stated
     
    I fully expect you to offer critiques of these proposals. Those will be helpful but insufficient to address the challenges ahead. I still have to close the FY 15 budget gap and position this university to move ahead.
     

    So, I also need your alternatives. Remember, these are proposals, the details of which still need to be fleshed out. There may very well be better ideas out there, which, if implemented, should still get us to the $14 million and a brighter, more sustainable future. I need those ideas! We need those ideas!

    Also, in accordance with the USM governance constitution, my proposals were placed before the Senate and I am asking for recommendations by May 5. All this is to say that we are mid-process and that we are awaiting the Senate, which is now reviewing, considering, and developing alternate proposals. This process must be played out. 

    Again, I thank you for contacting me and sharing your passionate endorsement of the ANES program.

    Sincerely yours,

    Theo

    Theodora J. Kalikow
    President, University of Southern Maine

  • Maine Genealogical Society Spring Workshop with Maureen Taylor, “The Photo Detective”

    05 Apr 2014 2:56 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    For Immediate Release

     

    March 18, 2014

     

    Contact: Elizabeth Nash, Marketing & Event Manager, Maine Historical Society, 207-774-1822 ext 206, enash@mainehistory.org

     

    Maine Genealogical Society Spring Workshop with Maureen Taylor, “The Photo Detective”

     

    Portland, ME – Maine Historical Society (MHS) and the Maine Genealogical Society team up on Saturday, April 5, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm for a spring workshop in Augusta.  Keynote speaker Maureen Taylor, the “Photo Detective” (www.maureentaylor.com), present on topics relating to historic photo analysis.

     

    Sessions include Identifying and Dating Family Photographs, Preserving Family Photographs – 1839 to Present, Hair-steria: Celebrities and Their Historical Look-Alikes, and The Last Muster: Photographs and Stories from the American Revolution. The Dating and Preserving sessions include a special focus on Civil War photography.

    Workshop Location: Augusta Elks Club, 397 Civiv Center Drive, Augusta. Registration is required. Cost: $40 MGS/MHS members; $50 non-members. Includes lunch. To register:     http://conference.maineroots.org/.

     

    Maine Historical Society

    489 Congress Street

    Portland, ME 04101

    www.mainehistory.org

    207-774-1822

  • Alert to Corporations and Non-Profit Entities Regarding Solicitations from Corporate Records Service

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

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

    Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap Issues Alert to Corporations and Non-Profit Entities Regarding Solicitations from Corporate Records Service
    03/26/2014 05:03 PM EDT

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


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

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

    Please contact the Division of Corporations at (207) 624-7752 should you have any further questions or concerns regarding these solicitations. Any corporation that has questions about the solicitation is also encouraged to obtain advice from its lawyer or business advisor.

  • Summer Internship Opportunity in Bridgton

    01 Apr 2014 12:18 PM | Anonymous member
    Narramissic Summer Internship

    Mid-June – August (exact dates are negotiable)

    25 hours per week

    $1,500 Stipend plus living quarters

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

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

    Please email a letter of interest, resume, and at least three personal references to info@bridgtonhistory.org.

  • The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore seeks farm assistant/male interpreter.

    01 Apr 2014 9:52 AM | Anonymous member
    The interpretive farm assistant works closely with the Historic Farm
    Manager in delivering educational farm programs for school children. Using
    living history interpretive methods, the farm assistant helps to
    demonstrate and teach the chores, tasks, and jobs that were traditionally
    performed by males, around the period of 1870.   All training is provided.


    Specifically, the interpretive farm assistant:

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

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

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


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

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

    For more information, call 207-897-4366 or email norlands@norlands.org.

  • Position Announcement: Director of Finance/Business Manager, Maine Maritime Museum

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

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

    The position start date is May 27.

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

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

    Please send a cover letter and resume to Jacqueline Berry, Personnel Officer, Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street, Bath, ME 04530. Electronic submissions accepted at berry@maritimeme.org. Applications will close April 11. No phone inquiries, please. Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer. This position is subject to background checks including sex offender, criminal and credit checks.

  • Job Listing: Education Program Coordinator, South Berwick, Maine

    31 Mar 2014 12:21 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Education Program Coordinator, Maine

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

    Location: South Berwick, Maine

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

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

    Hamilton House in South Berwick and

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

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

    Date Available: April 1

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

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

    http://www.historicnewengland.org/about-us/employment/education-program-coordinator-maine

  • Free Conference on ARCHIVAL MATERIALS AND THEIR ROLE IN CONSERVING IDENTITY

    25 Mar 2014 12:00 PM | Anonymous

    FREE CONFERENCE ON ARCHIVAL MATERIALS AND THEIR ROLE IN CONSERVING IDENTITY            

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

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

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

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

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

  • PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR SMALLER INSTITUTIONS: GUIDELINES NOW AVAILABLE!

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

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



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


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



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



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



    For more information, contact the staff of NEH's Division of Preservation and Access at 202-606-8570 and preservation@neh.gov

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