From current Hodson Intern J. Caity Swanson: Farewell!

With the end of August comes the end of my internship here at the Banneker-Douglass Museum! Beginning in September, I will be returning to my life as a student at St. John's, armed with the solid work experience I have gathered here. I may not be going very far (it's a 7 minute walk), but finding myself at the end of this experience still provides a bittersweet moment for reflection.

There have been several projects that I have worked on during my internship, such as my time spent organizing and cataloging the museum's photo collection. During the first part of my internship I dedicated my afternoons to sorting through hundreds of photographs and putting them into some semblance of organization. The next step was to set up a classification hierarchy (an organizational system) that could be used to classify all of the photographs in our collection and allow for the addition of future photographs. Finally I cataloged a select group of our photographs dating from the museum's early years. This cataloging resulted in nine binders of photographs containing almost 500 pictures that are searchable, protected, and organized.

Each step in this process had its own challenges and rewards, but the best part is the project does not end with me. My work may be coming to a close, but the system I organized and implemented can and will continue to be used in the museum's efforts to be an accesible resource for Maryland's African American history. The system will be used to catalog all the photos currently in our collection, in addition to those we acquire in the future. Also, it can be used as a finding aid for researchers and individuals seeking for information about African American or Banneker-Douglass Museum history, exhibit designers, and educators.

In every way my internship has been a great experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn about the museum industry, the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and Annapolis' African American history. I have nothing but praise for my experience as an intern. If you are interested in getting involved in the work here, I highly recommend joining the Banneker-Douglass Museum as an intern, volunteer, or supporter. From my own experience, I have discovered working for a museum or library allows you to engage your mind and the minds of others in a way that is unique from other educational experiences I have encountered. This experience has certainly influenced my own thoughts and decisions regarding my own career path, and I look forward to continuing relations with the Banneker-Douglass museum as I continue my education nearby and there after.

What's Going on in the Museum?

February 24, 2009 will mark the Banneker-Douglass Museum's 25th anniversary. This is a huge achievement for a building that was almost razed and turned into a parking lot. We've come a long way from those days, but it's still important to remember how we got here. Throughout the museum's history there have been many people who have worked tirelessly on its behalf. Now, with so much change in the air and such a great milestone upon us, it is the ideal time to hear the history of the museum from those who lived it. With this in mind, the museum has decided to launch an oral history program. This program will be focused both on gathering histories having to do with our mission of preserving Maryland African American history and serving as a resource for those who want to record oral histories for themselves. Of course, with our own history knocking on our door, our first project will be to interview those who helped the museum get to where it is today. From those who fought for Mt. Moriah in the 70's to those who work here now, everyone has an important perspective on our history and stories that need to be told.

Already we're taking the initial steps to make this program a reality. On July 21, museum staff and community members took part in an oral history workshop led by Laura Croghan Kamoie from the Naval Academy. Dr. Kamoie covered everything from the definition of oral history to the process of interviewing an individual. Everything she covered made the process seem simple and approachable. After learning the basics we're ready to do the work. Currently we're trying to acquire the equipment necessary to record our interviews and decide on the format on which to save our interviews. We are also continuing and intensifying the ongoing task of researching our past so that when the time comes we will be able to ask informed and meaningful questions. This is a new and exciting project, which will hopefully allow us to reconnect with our past and better serve our community. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.

Posted by J. Caity Swanson, Hodson Intern