AASLH is proud to announce the first participants to complete the Small Museum Pro! certificate program. In 2017, AASLH has been able to offer all five Small Museum Pro! courses for the first time since the launch of the first class in 2014. Each online course (Collections Management, Caring for Museum Collections, Leadership and Administration in History Organizations, Developing Exhibitions, and Museum Education and Outreach) is organized for working professionals, being a shorter program than a college degree, and the classes are designed around the key areas necessary for success in a small history-minded organization. We are excited to be able to celebrate these two AASLH members who recently completed this program.

Sharon F. Corey

Where do you work/volunteer and what do you do?

I became a volunteer at the Georgetown County Museum in South Carolina as their Archivist in March 2009 and I have been a volunteer at Hobcaw Barony, The Belle W. Baruch Foundation, since November 2009.

At the Georgetown County Museum, I have worked on many various museum projects including creating an inventory of their archives and a photograph archive of their entire collection, creating a Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan and a learning experience booklet for elementary students, and working in data entry with the PastPerfect Museum Software Database.

I have also had the wonderful opportunity to work on many various projects at Hobcaw Barony including working in data entry with the PastPerfect database, researching the guests in the Hobcaw Barony Guest Book (1907 – 1929), creating volunteer profiles, updating the volunteer handbook, volunteer directory and front desk schedules, creating tour forms, tour and docent survey forms and a checklist for event planning, and being a house docent and cemetery tour guide.

How long have you (or your institution) been a member of AASLH?

I have been a member of AASLH since 2008. I successfully completed the Basics of Archives in June of 2010 and I have attended the AASLH Online Conference every year since it was first offered. I think both Georgetown County Museum and Hobcaw Barony have been members of AASLH as long as I have been a volunteer for each institution.

What was your first Small Museum Pro! course?

Small Museum Pro 100: Museum Administration and Management with Anne Ackerson and Small Museum Pro 200: Museum Education with Stacia Kuceyeski in June of 2014.

How has the Small Museum Pro! series impacted your work?

Before I became a volunteer at the Georgetown County Museum and Hobcaw Barony, my education and volunteer work had been in genealogy research and helping descendants find information about their ancestors. When I moved to Georgetown County, there was not a genealogy society there, so I became involved in the local history as an archivist. Being able to participate in the AASLH Small Museum Pro! Series allowed me to view the bigger picture of what it takes to operate a small museum, from the leadership and administration to the education and outreach to managing and caring for the collections, and finally to developing exhibitions. I have learned so much from all the excellent and knowledgeable instructors as well as my classmates and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Would you recommend the Small Museum Pro! series to a friend?

I would definitely recommend the AASLH Small Museum Pro! Series to my friends and co-volunteers and I already have many times over the past three years.

 

Bernadette Hoffman

Where do you work/volunteer and what do you do?

I have been a museum educator for the Pember Museum of Natural History in Granville, New York since 2008 but assumed additional responsibilities when the executive director retired in 2014. My job is never boring!

How long have you (or your institution) been a member of AASLH?

I joined AASLH in March of 2016 and although my institution is not a member, they pay for my membership.

What was your first Small Museum Pro! course?

My first course was Collections Management which begun days after I joined AASLH. I jumped in feet first!

How has the Small Museum Pro! series impacted your work?

The series has increased the museum’s professionalism as we now have a comprehensive collections management policy, with other policies soon to follow. The courses instruct you on proper museum procedures, and give plenty of guidance, examples and references. I have more confidence in my work and I’m excited to put my knowledge from the series to good use as I continue growing as a museum professional.

The AASLH staff and course instructors, along with their partner, Northern States Conservation Center, are wonderful! Information is one thing but to make it interesting and fun really makes a difference when presenting a course. I enjoyed every class and connecting with other professionals from various museums. It was exciting and a great learning experience.

Would you recommend the Small Museum Pro! series to a friend?

Absolutely!

Interested in learning more about Small Museum Pro? Read more about the program here.