During Garnavillo Museum’s “off” season (October-May), much work is done to sort and catalog (accession) donations, and to update or change exhibits.
UNI History student, Aeron Stanley of Marshalltown, and Clayton Ridge senior, Devin Reimer of Garnavillo, recently volunteered hours on site at the Garnavillo Museum to help sort and catalog some of these donated items. UNI student, Aeron Stanley, also did research on a number of items, including a prominent American’s “signature” found in a donated Hotel Register to determine its authenticity (it wasn’t authentic), the origin of “goofus” glass, the composition of depression glass, and identifying a timeline for Native American settlements for use at the museum.
Garnavillo Historical Society Board Member, Jane Thein, states that the UNI program has been a great help at the Museum over the years. The Garnavillo Historical Society has benefited from the UNI Public History Field Experience course since 2015, having received the services of nine UNI students. Students have been involved with projects onsite – Sherman’s paintings, gun display, virtual Lodge tour, labeling accessioned items, moving exhibits and more; as well as doing research and completing projects offsite – camera and photography labeling, fraternal society storyboards and organization research, and the Native American settlements timeline. The course, required for all history and history teaching majors, is considered a “service-learning” class with the intent to address the question “What do historian’s do?”
Another student, this time a Clayton Ridge Elementary student expressed interest in helping at the museum. Lucas Sadewasser, Garnavillo, volunteered time this fall to do some mowing for the Historical Society and became the newest member of the Garnavillo Historical Society under its “student membership.” The Historical Society is grateful to all the students who have helped out in any way over the years. Thein is hoping that local area students interested in volunteering and learning a bit more about local history will continue to step forward. Coordinating schedules for busy students, whether they be from UNI or local, is the most difficult part, but it’s worth the effort. Contact the Garnavillo Historical Society for more information.
