Blog #5
My internship at the Salem Museum has come to an end but I am thankful for everyhting I have learned! I have spent the summer diving into the history of Salem and learning about the ins and outs of working in a museum. I’ve done everything from research in specific fields to add to the archives to writing and putting together descriptions for exhibits. I met wonderful people along the way, the three advisors I had as well as the visitors and volunteers that came to visit everyday.
My final project at the museum was to create an exhibit all on my own, using the tools and resources I have gained during my weeks. I chose to learn and show the history of the first women’s college in Salem, Elizabeth College. I spent a week researching and collecting data and artifacts that would fit perfectly into my exhibit. Once collected, I began writing signs starting with the beginning as Roanoke Women’s College and it’s journey merging with another school and becoming Elizabeth College. Though the college only stood for a decade before a fire destroyed it, there is still a piece of it in Salem today. Roanoke College absorbed the land it was on and gave remembrance by naming the new addition Elizabeth Campus. I have added pictures of the exhibit for everyone to read about but if you’re in Salem, I recommend going to the museum and learning more. I am so grateful for this amazing experience and look forward to going back the upcoming year and visiting everyone. If you do visit, feel free to add a flower to the Elizabeth College flower chain to leave your mark at the museum as well as to honor the memory of the amazing college.
