by Colleen Jenkins, 2016 Tom Desilets Memorial Intern
This is my last week at the Framingham History Center. It is very hard to leave this summer behind and return to Framingham State University. I feel like it was just last week that Stacen (FHC Curator) was teaching me how to use Past Perfect and asking me to clean out the attic. And now, ten weeks later, almost every room in both buildings of the FHC has been altered for the better by me, my researching skills have improved, and I’ve had a lot of laughs with the great staff here (especially over lemonade from Thursday’s Farmer’s Market). Never before have I had a summer job where I was treated with so much respect and kindness by people so willing to share their knowledge with me. The success I had with this internship would not have come without this wonderful crew of volunteers and staff with me every day. I was reminded what it means to study history for the sake of learning new things, and got to share my enthusiasm about the past with everyone here in one way or another. I felt welcomed and accepted by the hardworking (and all female!) crew, and had the most fun ten weeks I have ever had while working.
I don’t know if museum work is in my future, but I do know the skills I took away from the history center will help me throughout my career. I look forward to coming back as a volunteer and a member to watch all the things I have started continue to grow, such as the completion of the Dennison Mfg. Co. Archives, the allocation of the Smith Collection and the new fashion exhibit coming in October. I know these dedicated people will continue to make the museum grow, and I cannot wait to see it.
In my first blog I addressed the fact that I was trying to learn what a museum worker does. And while I could list numerous things many would not think of, I think the most important thing that everyone here does is promote Framingham in the past and now. We keep Framingham alive. We go out of our way to tell stories that are hard to tell and to recover people’s lives that otherwise would have been forgotten. A museum worker keeps history moving forward, doing whatever it takes to tell the world a story they think is important. To answer questions no one thought to ask. Even I as a historian in training, I never understood the impact places like the FHC have on the surrounding community. I encourage everyone who is associated with Framingham to take the time to check out the museum and see what you can learn from it. Thank you to everyone who read this blog and encouraged me along the way. I am leaving with a great sense of admiration and gratitude to the FHC.