No matter the size of the institution or the scope of the collections, cultural heritage organizations are grappling with the reality of stewarding collections that are increasingly digital. Local history is now more likely to be documented on websites than in newsprint. Digitization projects can result in thousands of digital files that require upkeep to ensure they remain safe and accessible into the future. How can your organization develop a manageable plan for preserving and providing access to your community’s digital heritage?

This workshop aims to demystify the digital, giving you simple strategies that will help you tackle these challenges. You’ll also learn about Community Webs, a free program from the Internet Archive that provides support to cultural heritage organizations focused on documenting, preserving, and sharing local history online.

Now Accepting Session Proposals 2025 AASLH Annual Conference The American Experiment September 10 – 13, 2025 Cincinnati, Ohio Proposals Due December 13 AASLH is now accepting session proposals for the 2025 Annual Conference! The theme of the conference is The American Experiment. As we approach America 250, we history practitioners can help the public at large explore the origins of our civic institutions, think critically about how they’ve changed, and how they will actively shape our nation for the next 250 years. The role of history organizations as vibrant hubs of civic and community conversation is more important than ever. How might we partner with our communities to understand and address the pressing issues of today and the future? How can we empower our audiences to consider the effects of The American Experiment and engage in civic participation? The concept of experimentation does not presume success. We hope that conference attendees will further embrace the theme to talk about our experiments even if they were unsuccessful. While it is always great to hear about our successes, we also learn a great deal from our failures. Let us be brave and highlight our spectacular failures in ways that advance our learning and our knowledge in a way that advances the field. Each session must have an organizer responsible for finding session presenters and coordinating logistics. All organizers must be affiliated with an AASLH Institutional Member or be an AASLH Individual Member. SUBMIT A PROPOSAL | CONFERENCE INFORMATION | BECOME A MEMBER

 

Do you have military artifacts in your museum collection but aren’t sure how to handle or talk about them? Do you want to put together new military interpretation or refresh older exhibits? This two-and-a-half-day workshop will focus on the care, conservation, and exhibition of military artifacts in museum collections and help you create great military interpretations no matter your budget or site type.

Registration for this workshop closes on Tuesday, October 15! Register today if you’d like to attend.

Save $125 on registration with an AASLH membership.

This workshop is facilitated by Myers Brown, Executive Director of Belmont Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee, and Gordon Blaker, Director/Curator of the U.S. Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Both facilitators have decades of experience caring for military collections and interpreting military stories.

Receive a 30% discount on the AASLH book Interpreting American Military History at Museums and Historic Sites at rowman.com when you register for the workshop.

Reimagining the Historic House Museum One-Day Onsite Workshops November 12: Dallas, Texas November 14: Houston, Texas Save $50 Before the Early Bird Deadline on October 11 Save an Additional $125 with AASLH Membership REGISTER FOR DALLAS | REGISTER FOR HOUSTON | BECOME A MEMBER There’s only one week left to save $50 on registration for AASLH’s Reimagining the Historic House Museum workshops in Texas. The early bird deadline is next Friday, October 11! Save an additional $150 if you are an AASLH member. This workshop will enable you to analyze your operations, programs, and events to make better informed decisions for your site’s sustainability and relevance. Learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques that can be applied to a wide range of activities at museums both large and small, identify ways to make your house museum more distinctive and relevant, and gain confidence in new and different approaches for maintaining and interpreting a historic home. This is a popular workshop that regularly sells out. Tickets are moving quickly for Dallas and Houston. Register today if you are interested in attending! The workshop is led by Ken Turino and Max van Balgooy who are co-editors of Reimagining Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions. Receive a 30% discount on this book when you register. REGISTER FOR DALLAS | REGISTER FOR HOUSTON | BECOME A MEMBER

The QAR lab is re-advertising for its conservator position.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolina/jobs/4528645-0/qar-conservator

Two job postings in South Florida National Parks.

GS-7 Archeological Technician

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/811545900

GS-9 Archeologist

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/811543400

The Institute of Museum and Library Services participates in the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 62 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Cultural Institutions or Arts Organizations that have been impacted by the recent storm can fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms:

• Cultural Institutions
• Arts Organizations
• Individual Artists and Performing Groups

Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.

For Members of the Public

Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.

HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures#fact-sheets. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages.

Additional HENTF Resources

The National Coast Guard Museum Deputy Director position has posted. This position is for a GS-14 located in New London, CT.

Deputy Director, National Coast Guard Museum -24-3257-HQ-DC-MP

USA JOBS Link: www.usajobs.gov/job/811487500

THE FULL PROGRAM IS OUT NOW Culture wars, artificial intelligence, the loneliness crisis, and climate change all have the potential to radically impact the museum field for decades to come. How do you address these issues right now? What skills, strategies, and ways of working will your museum need to thrive amidst volatility? Join hundreds of museum professionals to learn how to harness the power of AI, manage through turbulent times, inspire climate action, and combat loneliness. Browse a few of the sessions below and register today!

FULL PROGRAM