the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
Last week I blogged about my ALHFAM plow match experience and how it allowed me to experience an "artifact" in a new and thought-provoking way. I believe these experiences help museum professionals interpret the past. The knowledge we gain when we try our hand at a historic skill, using appropriate tools, far surpasses anything we… Continue reading Romanticizing the Past?
The plowing match is one of my favorite events at ALHFAM annual meetings/conferences. I wrote the following after a particularly rewarding experience: This summer at the ALHFAM annual meeting I plowed. Granted it was only two furrows in the horse-drawn plowing match, but in my mind, I plowed. I was nervous, as there were lots… Continue reading Why Every Curator Should Enter a Plowing Match
I've been doing the museum thing for some time now; just about mid-way through my 3rd decade in the museum world. That being said, it's really nice to get a reminder every now and then of just what got me started in this field well over 20 years ago. Here at the Historical Park, we've… Continue reading Touching the past
For those of you who attended the 2012 Annual Meeting at Farmers Branch, Texas - you might recall the cornerstone of our park, the 1856 Gilbert House. Over time, our staff has been noticing some potential issues with the foundation of the house and to ensure that the Gilbert House makes it through another 160… Continue reading Hidden Treasures
ALHFAM member Blake Hayes brought this wonderful resource to our attention on the ALHFAM-L a few weeks back. I've checked out their website and it's chock full of great stuff including jobs, event calendars, resources, newsletters, social media and in-person networking opportunities, and even a map of farm-based education programs. It's administered by Shelburne Farms… Continue reading Farm-Based Education Network
An interesting feature on the improved ALHFAM website are the forums. Forums are set up for all of the Professional Interest Groups (PIGs), for the membership at large, and for the MidAtlantic region (regional forums need to be initiated by your regional rep--if your region doesn't have one yet, contact your rep and tell them… Continue reading The Forums are Open
As the year draws to a close I 'd like to encourage you, once again, to consider ALHFAM in your year-end giving. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made easily on our website: Give to ALHFAM As of this writing we have almost met the modest goal set by our President, Tom Kelleher, but… Continue reading Consider ALHFAM
ALHFAM member Martha Katz-Hyman brought an article about marketing gift memberships during the holidays to my attention. The article from The History List gives helpful tips on how to make museum memberships attractive as gifts. It also suggests that Monday of Christmas week be branded as #MembershipMonday I like the ideas the article promotes and… Continue reading #MembershipMonday
Recent discussion on ALHFAM-L (ALHFAM's email discussion list) about living history bibliographies led to one of our members from the Netherlands sharing this: Interpretation: The International Bibliographic Database of Living History. Even though the database is supported by ALHFAM and NAI (National Association for Interpretation) and affiliated with IMTAL (International Museum Theatre Alliance), it was… Continue reading Interpretation: The International Bibliographic Database of Living History
Good question. Logic would dictate that it is a heritage breed being carefully preserved at one of the ALHFAM member historic sites. Not the case. In ALHFAM, PIG = Professional Interest Group. There are many and they do important work. ALHFAM Professional Interest Groups give members the opportunity to explore and share information on specific… Continue reading What is an ALHFAM PIG?
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