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From the President's Desk My apologies for being remiss on getting newsletters out this year. The first several months of the year were spent by the board of directors completing a very aggressive three-year long-range plan. A detailed copy can be seen upon request or at the museum during open house hours or at the monthly meetings. In brief, AAMI will get the children of the community actively involved with the museum; will work with other museums and organizations in the region through co-operative programs; and will involve the membership in AAMI activities, programs, and everyday operations. On the business side, AAMI will have marketing literature and adequate publicity distributed in the extended region; will increase its membership by 25% each year; will increase operational expense funds by 10% each year; will attract professionals and maintain a competent staff; and will establish an endowment fund by 2001. We are trying to involve the community and the membership in the operation of the museum. When an organization relies on all volunteer help as AAMI currently does, it takes some help from everyone. Many of you have been generous in giving your time during open house hours the second Sunday of each month. We are transitioning into a docent-type program where we will have guided tours in each room. It makes it much more interesting for the visitors to the museum rather than just letting them walk themselves through. What we have on display becomes more real to them. Currently, each person who volunteers to be present during open house is given information on the items in each room. In the fall we will have a more formal training session for docents. The Long-range committees, most of them ad hoc, where we need volunteers to help are: membership; brochure and marketing literature; and monthly programs survey. If you are interested in becoming a docent or helping on any of the temporary long-range committees mentioned above, please call the museum at 597-9010 and leave a message or I can be reached at 597-9325. The museum is always there for the community and must be prepared to welcome whoever walks through the front door. We need your help to be prepared. Bonnie A. Shockey, President
Endowment Fund One of our main goals is to establish an endowment fund of $500,000 by the end of 2001. This means that the community must be willing to support the museum through their generosity of monetary gifts or through bequests. We are very pleased to announce that our anonymous benefactor has again made it possible for us to get started on reaching that goal. Through a gift of stock, that was recently sold, we now have a base of $202,000. This money will be put in our current Trust Fund account until the endowment fund is established. People may wonder why, with this much money, does the museum need to continue building such a large fund beyond the $202,000. The reasons are as follows. Membership income is currently paying our annual expenses. For this, we are very grateful. But looking to the future as part of our long-range goals, the board of directors would like to hire a part-time or full-time curator and other staff, install a climate control system in the museum, and build a separate out building for storage which is also climate controlled. The above mentioned will cost thousands of dollars that the membership income will not be able to pay. It is necessary for Allison-Antrim Museum to do its best to take care of the items that are given to the museum if those items are to survive till end of the next millennium and beyond.
New Sign and Logo
Upcoming Projects *Installation of four parking spaces, on site, as required by the Borough. *Construction of a handicap ramp and restoration of an upstairs room for storage. *Commencing the restoration of the Walter W. Smith paintings.
What's Been Happening Bonnie completed and submitted a grant proposal to the Department of Community and Economic Development in Harrisburg for a state grant to construct a handicap ramp and to restore an upstairs room for storage. It was accepted by the state but the check has not yet arrived. Over the past six months, Bonnie has completed four, multiple-page surveys on the museum for different publications that will give AAMI nation-wide exposure. We have conducted guided tours for the Lions Club, Shady Grove Ruritan Club and the Newcomer's Club and, in July, for the First National Bank's Board of Associates. If an organization with which you are associated is interested in a tour, please contact Bonnie to arrange a time.
Restoration of Smith Paintings Through a generous gift from Alice and Tom Brumbaugh, Allison-Antrim Museum will be able to begin the restoration of the Walter Washington Smith paintings. The gift was given in memory of their parents, Elisabeth Brendle and A. Neill Brumbaugh.
We wish to thank Alice and Tom Brumbaugh very much for their recent gift and continued interest in Allison-Antrim Museum.
Recent Acquisitions AAMI was given a beautiful custard glass hall light from Roy and Ada Leckron. It emits just the right ambience for the grand hallway. A new AAMI sign was donated by Wertner Signs; see article on logo. A circa 1840 campaign banner - "Pennsylvania is Firm for Old Tippecanoe" - originally owned by George W. Ziegler, was given by David and Anne Ziegler Nicademus. A Carl's Drug Store bottle was given by Evelyn L. Pensinger. A World War I infantry shovel/pick used for digging fox holes was given by Clarence L. Harbaugh.
Recent Items Received On Loan Civil War canteen of John T. Koons, great, great grandfather of Don Coldsmith on loan from Don Coldsmith. Wooden pins, nuts, bolts and washers from the original Martin's Mill Covered Bridge on loan from A. Richard Walck
Have You Seen… Do you know the name of the person who was born and raised in Greencastle and served as a diplomat and statesman to six foreign countries? Visit the dining room to find the answer.
Wish List Period Hall Light for Upstairs Four Period Floor Lamps for the Parlors Small (Size 7 or smaller) Dress Forms Padded Hangers (bought or made)
Calendar of Events July - Third annual membership campaign Thursday, July 8, 1999 - quarterly meeting 6:30 PM; Antrim House Restaurant; John Frye speaking on "George Washington Did Not Build the C & O Canal" Sunday, July 11, 1999 - open house 1 PM - 4PM; Antique Car Show on the premises Sunday, August 8, 1999 - open house 1 PM - 4 PM; exhibit of paintings of Leila Hawbaker, well-known artist and teacher Thursday, August 12, 1999 - monthly meeting at the Museum; tentatively - a presentation on Leila Hawbaker and her art work
Tips on Storage of Vintage Clothing and Linens Always handle vintage clothing with clean hands or wear white cotton gloves. Do not store items in the attic, exterior wall closets, or basement of your home as these areas are subject to extreme changes of temperature and humidity. The summer heat in an attic is very damaging. The high humidity of basements can produce mold and mildew spores that attach themselves to the fibers. Store in a cool, dry area away from light but with good air circulation. Clothing should not be stored in anything made from wood pulp, i.e. cardboard, tissue paper, or newsprint, unless the storage material is marked acid free. Otherwise the acid from the wood products will transfer to the material and over time cause deterioration especially to vegetable-based materials such as cotton, linen, and rayon. Wrap the clothing in buffered, acid-free tissue or cotton sheets. If buffered, acid-free tissue cannot be found, acid-free tissue can be used if it is replaced on a yearly basis. The buffering agent prevents the wood pulp acid from transferring from one source to another. If an acid-free box cannot be found, it can be lined with a cotton sheet or muslin if the lining material is washed once a year. Protein based materials such as silk and wool should be wrapped in acid-free tissue without the buffering agent. When placing in a box, try to limit the number of folds. Pad the folds by crumpling the proper acid-free tissue, and stuff the bodice and sleeves for shaping. Remove or "buffer" with tissue paper any fabric covered metal buttons, rubberized, dress shields or foam padding. Do not seal. Material should be allowed to breathe. Air circulation slits could be added to the box. Unless water damage is a possibility, do not wrap or plan long-term storage in plastic bags, especially dry cleaning bags that are made of PVC and are highly unstable. Semi-opaque storage boxes made of polyurethane are acceptable because polyurethane is inert and stable. You may hang clothing on hangers if no damage will occur to the shoulder seams and bodice because of hanging weight. Do not use metal or wooden hangers. Choose a sturdy plastic hanger and pad generously with cotton batting and cover in cotton material (muslin or sheets). Stuff the bodice and sleeves with the proper acid-free tissue paper or cotton sheeting and then make a cotton cover. Check the garment on a yearly basis, replace non-acid-free tissue paper, wash the cotton sheeting cover. Check for stains, especially after the first year of storage. Repack folded items so that folds are in a different place. Check art supply stores, dry cleaners for acid-free containers, or archival supply companies, such as University Products at 1-800-628-1912, for archival storage materials.
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