Volunteer Activities at the Powers Museum

Would You Like to Assist the Museum?

The Powers Museum is always looking for individuals who can assist us with special projects. You determine how often you want to help!

Click hereOpportunities to see special volunteer opportunities for 2011–2012, many could qualify for academic interships if you are a student!

Volunteers assist staff in monitoring the exhibit gallery and assisting visitors.

GALLERY MONITORS AND GREETERS 

The museum found using gallery volunteers very helpful with the 2010 Lee and Grant exhibit and we would like to start using gallery monitors on an informal basis with our future exhibits during the museum's public season.

Duties include meeting and greeting visitors on arrival, orienting them to museum and its services, and assisting, if necessary, with portions of the exhibits that are hands-on. Work can be done a couple hours each week or every other week as your schedule permits.  Volunteers are needed especially during the 11 am to 2 pm period of operation during the day but other times of service are available.

CURATORIAL ASSISTANTS

One of the ongoing projects of the museum is the computerization of its collection records and volunteers to enter data into the computer per a repeatable form and workers are always needed at any time of the year, even when the museum is closed to the public. Instruction is given three times a year so interested parties can start just about any time.  If you are new to computers and want a little experience learning the keyboard and basic skills, this is a possible project for you!

Volunteer scanners are needed as well, experienced or inexperienced. The museum has hundreds of photographs, postcards, sheet music, ephemera, books and other print materials that need to be scanned to go with collection records.  Also, we have a Steward's Studio glass plate photographic collection that was partially recorded/scanned a few years ago. Its volunteer has since passed away and we would like to finish this project in the next year or so.

Trenton Tubbs Eagle Scout Project, 1988, located behind museum facility. Nature Trail CLOSED due to serious winter storm damage over the past years. Volunteers sought for re-habilitation project. Could qualify for Master Gardener and Master Naturalist hours.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Those looking for educational internships are welcome to inquire about ongoing research projects that may need assistance (or click link at top of page) including several Civil War related projects that will be ongoing through 2015.

Curatorial internships are available, too, for those wishing to work with artifacts or archives in storage (cleaning, encapsulating, marking, covering archival garment hangers, organizing archival collections, etc.).

Also, the museum is always happy to talk to Scouts and other service groups, or individuals wishing to work on Master Gardener certification hours, about special projects inside and outside the museum that may qualify for service badges or service credit. Please contact the Director for suggestions or email today powersmuseum@att.net. 

Currently the museum is looking for painting and staining assistants to help us prepare for spring re-opening.  Exhibit installers also needed.

We also also looking for an assistant or two that could help with digital projects and social networking platforms.

Image at the top of this page:
Red Cross instructor teaching volunteers in first aid techniques at the old Carthage Public Library (downstairs, old section), 1917.