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In the last few days I have continued to learn new skills from my internship experience with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, as I recently have embarked on the search for grants that the Foundation could use for a preservation project. This specific project will provide markers and signage for two unmarked cemeteries within Virginia. These two cemeteries are the McClanahan and Persinger cemeteries, both however are in need of these markers as the care for these locations has been lost. In my search for these grants I have found that there are a plethora of different grants available for non-profit organizations such as the Foundation, but I have also found that these grants  can be very specific as to what the funds can be used for.

Lastly I hope that I will be able to help the foundation with the creation of a website that would educate fellow preservation historians about these forgotten areas. Although graduation is only mere days away I can say that I hope I can continue to help the foundation in their progress, but also I would like to say how thankful I am for the skills that this experience has given me. Such skills as researching, writing, and networking are all skills that I believe will ever so help me in my future career.

In the past month I have continued to work and finish my projects with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation. I have now compiled the information on the existing Rosenwald schools that I referred to in my last post into a major powerpoint that for the majority has a picture and the info on the style of school. This powerpoint will be used by the foundation to show fellow preservation historians the important sites that are around Southwest Virginia, that either existed at one point or are still standing.

I also have finished the newsletter that will be sent out by the foundation on the work of Julius Rosenwald and the schools that he helped create. This newsletter gives the important background that made the famous philanthropist who he was, as well as information on how he created the network of schools that were so influential in the thousands of poverty stricken African-American children in the American South.

Both of these projects helped me continue to develop my skills in my college career, as I had to compile the information into a document that gave merit to the famous philanthropist, but also give information as to why preservation historians should place great importance into the preservation of these historic landmarks.

The past weeks within my internship with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, I have continued to work at the tasks presented before me. I have what I believe to have finished the list of public history groups within the Roanoke Valley, but with this I have also marked which groups possibly have a historical location or building that the Foundation could sell a marker to. These plaques indicate how long the building has been there as well as a endorsement from the Foundation.

Another task that I have begun is creating a powerpoint on all existing Rosenwald schools around Southwest Virginia. The Rosenwald schools as I have mentioned earlier, were established all around the United States for African American students during the early 20th century. Many of these schools are still standing, for the purpose of the Foundation I plan to compile any know pictures of the schools within Southwest Virginia. After researching the area schools I plan to also write an article for the Foundations newsletter on the life of Julius Rosenwald and the schools he created.

The skills that I have learned thus far in my internship have been closely related with organization as well as time management as I have continued work on the individual projects at an even pace. I believe that my research skills have also been strengthened from my work with the Rosenwald Schools.

These past few weeks I have been given the task of editing the contacts list of the Foundation. Throughout the list I have editing the web address of individual groups that may have changed throughout the past years. Another aspect that I have changed is the mailing address for each organization. This will hopefully make it much easier for the mailing of the newsletter as well as create an opportunity to mail invitations. Lastly I would also like to add on any history related organizations that are new in the Roanoke Valley. All in all this contacts list is being compiled into an Excel Spreadsheet, with this I will lay out all contacts to where they are far more accessible for anyone to use.

This activity has been one that I have been able to mostly do from my laptop, however I will say there has been many different documents that I have had to refer to. From past contact list to previous award recipients, there is many separate groups within the Valley that I have had to consider. The skills that I have learned from this activity would have to be along the lines of organization and research. Not only am I trying to compile a large amount of contacts into one document, but I am also having to research if there are any changes in the organization’s email, website, mailing address, and phone number.

 

 

For this semester, I have been given the opportunity to work with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation. This group works throughout the Valley in many different ways, however their main focuses are centered around education, special preservation projects, and public policy. All of which are to promote the preservation of historic, natural, and cultural resources of the Roanoke Valley. For my internship I plan to help in the aspects of promotion and advertising, but I will also be working on an article for their newsletter as well as creating a list of contacts that will create a better relationship between the RVPF and other historical groups

 

throughout the Roanoke Valley. As for one the first task that I have been able to help out with was the Rosenwald documentary showing. This film showing was open to the public and was held at the Dumas Center in Downtown Roanoke, I was able to help with the running and clean up of the event but it was a great experience because I was able to meet many different contacts within the RVPF and other historical groups. This event helped me with my communication skills as well as organizational skills as I had to not only help with the check in process but also with donations to the foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

The event itself went very well and the documentary was so interesting. Although I myself had never heard of Mr. Rosenwald before or the many philanthropic activities he carried out, I am looking forward to learning more about this amazing individual and his great outlook on life.

All together I am very excited about this internship and the many opportunities it will present. I think that this internship will help me better understand what I would like to do after graduation as well as grant me a plethora of new skills.

The past week or so has been a very excited one for myself at the Salem Museum. I am happy to say that my supervisor Alex has given me the opportunity to create an exhibit for the museum. Because of the recent 100 year anniversary of the United States’s entrance into WWI, the staff at the museum wanted to create an exhibit to honor those that served our country during that time. The day that I walked into the museum Alex told me of my opportunity, I immediately went to PastPerfect and the archives to start my work.

For this exhibit I tried to keep a theme of “the things they carried”. Some of the pieces that are included in my exhibit are a gas mask, toiletries kit, a helmet, and an overcoat from an infantry division. However possible my favorite piece from the exhibit is a smaller American flag about the size of sheet of paper. This flag’s story is that it was retrieved from a German soldier’s body after battle, although it is tattered it still upholds so much character. This exhibit has been possibly my favorite part yet of interning at the museum because I essentially get to piece together all of the skills I have learned into an exhibit. I cannot reiterate how thankful that I am for the opportunity.

 

 

 

 

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