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2012 Summer Interns Advance Museum Activities
August 13, 2012
This summer, Longyear welcomed four full-time interns who supported a variety of projects in the Curatorial, Visitor Services, Historic House, and Facilities departments. Each brought distinct skills, a commitment to studying Christian Science, and a desire to support Longyear’s mission. Not only did they gain practical experience in their departments, but the interns also had unique opportunities to learn more about Mary Baker Eddy and early workers in the Christian Science movement by participating in weekly research workshops. They also had time to explore the Museum’s exhibits and visited all eight of the historic houses in Longyear’s collection.
Caroline Korthals, a Fine Arts major and 2012 graduate of Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, wore many hats this summer by assisting in Longyear’s Curatorial, Administration, and Visitor Services departments.
In addition to updating Longyear’s collection management database, Caroline also cleaned and compiled condition reports for portraits and paintings in the Museum collection. Her artistic talents were put to use as she designed items for upcoming Longyear programs.
“I especially enjoyed the house tours coupled with my work in Curatorial because it helped me gain a more realistic view of Mrs. Eddy and appreciate her more,” says Caroline. “I’m grateful for the unique opportunity the interns had to tour the residence of The First Reader of The Mother Church at 385 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.”
We are grateful for all the work Caroline has done this summer and happy that she will be staying with us through the fall!
Laura Fleming, who is double-majoring in Art History and Home Furnishings at High Point University in North Carolina, provided support to many historic house projects. In addition to gardening at Mary Baker Eddy’s Chestnut Hill house, Laura was a tremendous help in doing inventories at several of the historic houses. Laura also researched appropriate Victorian furnishings for some of the houses.
“I loved my time at Longyear Museum,” Laura says. “Every day was different and I learned so much about Victorian furniture through my research. But I’m most grateful for the opportunity I had to visit all of Mrs. Eddy’s houses and gain a better understanding of her through the tours.”
Many thanks to Laura for all her hard work in our Curatorial Department. We wish her well as she enters her senior year at High Point University.
Gibson Holland, who graduated from Concord-Carlyle High School in June, spent his summer working with Longyear’s historic house team and the Museum’s facilities department.
At 400 Beacon Street, Gibson singlehandedly painted the historic garage, including the doors and trim. He also worked at many of the other houses where he organized a basement, cleared brush, gardened, and assisted with installing new storm windows. Back at the Museum, working alongside the Collections Manager and a fellow intern, Gibson helped with a significant inventory and re-organization project in the furniture vault.
“I really loved working on the historic houses,” says Gibson. “But the highlights of my summer were our research sessions with Director•Curator, Stephen Howard. Because I plan on majoring in history, I really valued learning how to conduct research in a way that reveals deeper meaning to the material and content.”
We appreciate all the work Gibson has done this summer and wish him well this fall at Dickinson College, where he plans to study history and pre-law.
Hanna Mehring, a 2011 graduate of Principia College who majored in Religion, supported Curatorial projects and worked on education programs.
Hanna developed activities for Longyear’s young visitors and also compiled a timeline resource for teens and young adults. Her enthusiasm for Mrs. Eddy’s history and her interest in teaching were evident in all her work. Hanna also helped answer research requests, organized a large periodical donation, and helped take inventory of Longyear’s Daycroft Library.
“I love how my Longyear internship exposed me to all aspects of the work that’s being done at the Museum,” says Hanna. “I especially valued our weekly research workshops. My love and appreciation for Mrs. Eddy has deepened because of this experience.”
Hanna will continue to develop her teaching skills this fall as an assistant teacher for a Kindergarten class in Washington, D.C.
Longyear Museum regularly welcomes interns. Interested applicants are invited to contact personnel@longyear.org for more information.
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