REBOOT • REVAMP • REVITALIZE

New Approaches to Sharing History

To Reboot: start something again in a way that is new and interesting

To Revamp:give new and improved form, structure, or appearance

To Revitalize: to imbue something with new life and vitality

It’s time for change. To begin anew. A fresh start.

Motivated by the siren song of new technology or by the desire to reach out to new audiences, Connecticut history organizations are reinventing themselves in meaningful and exciting ways. Visitors are part of this change – they crave more interactive experiences from historic institutions, from escape room antics to hands-on learning.

Has your organization started something over in a new and interesting way-- rebooted your exhibition schedule or annual fund-raising event? Have you given new form and structure to roles within your organization, or changed the appearance of your website, logo, labels--or revamped a volunteer recruiting and training program? Have you dusted off a traditional approach and imbued it with new life and vitality--revitalized your school program in response to new research or curriculum frameworks? How did visitor evaluations, surveys, and anecdotal observations impact your thinking?

If you have taken a fresh look at perceived best practices and started tinkering with new or out-of-the-box ideas, we want you at RE3! Inspire others to take the risks you museum pioneers have taken by sharing success stories as well as lessons learned the hard way.

This full-day conference is the perfect opportunity to hear practical advice, learn new skills, and participate in active discussions with colleagues, as well as network with friends old and new. Let’s prove that history organizations statewide can celebrate the past in new and interesting ways.

Download the Program Booklet HERE 

Directions to Welte Parking Garage

Schedule at a Glance

7:30AM - 8:00AM - Exhibitor Set-Up 

Located in Ebenezer D. Bassett Hall (former Social Science Hall) 

Download the above map

8:30AM - Registration and Exhibitors Open 

9:00AM-10:00AM - Breakout Session I 

10:00AM-10:30AM - Coffee Break in Marketplace/Demonstration Station 

10:30AM- 11:30AM Breakout Session II 

11:45AM-1:15PM - Lunch and Keynote featuring Ken Turino of Historic New England, followed by prize winners drawing. (Winners will pick up their prizes at Bassett Hall) 

Lunch, Keynote, and Drawing located in the Constitution Room of Memorial Hall.  

1:30PM-2:30PM - Breakout Session III

2:30PM-3:00PM - Coffee Break in Marketplace/ Demonstration Station 

3:00PM-4:00PM - Breakout Session IV

4:15PM-4:30PM - Wrap-up 

5:00PM - "Drinking About Museums"  RSVP Here

(Five Churches Brewing, 193 Arch Street, New Britain)

Wait! Download the Program Booklet! 

Download Here 

Session info, times, room numbers and exhibitor info can be found there. 

Looking for a quick glance? Scroll below for short session descriptions. 

9:00am-10:00am Session I

Track 1: Confronting History – Room 106

Witness Stones Project: Telling the Untold Story of Slavery in Connecticut

Dennis Culliton, Witness Stones Committee, Guilford

Elizabeth Devine and Tracey Wilson, Noah Webster House & West Hartford Witness Stones Project

Track 2: Working with Collections – Room 109

How Do We Even Start? Selection Strategies and Available Techniques for the Preservation of Paper-based Collections

Jean Baldwin, J. Baldwin Conservation, LLC

Sarah Griswold, Museum consultant and STEPS-CT Mentor

Track 3: Making It Work – Room 125

“E-Vitalize” Your Development Budget through Estate Gifts, Events, and Enterprise

John Avignone, American Clock & Watch Museum 
Kit Eves, Windham Textile and History Museum

Kira Holmes, Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport Museum

Track 4: New Audiences – Room 111

Immerse Yourself in History: Creating Immersive Theatre Experiences at Museum Sites

Diana Dunlap

Carly Dwyer, Artistic Director, Intramersive LLC 

Track 5: Reaching Out – Room 105 Collaborations in a Virtual World

Melissa Josefiak, Essex Historical Society

Hank McInerney, Essex Historical Society

10:00am-10:30am Coffee Break in Marketplace/Demonstration Station

10:30am-11:30pm Session II

Track 1: Confronting History – Room 106

Commemorating History and Lore: New Programs in Connecticut

Joseph A. Citro, Vermont Author and Folklorist

Ilene Frank, Connecticut Historical Society

Deryn Pomeroy, The William G. Pomeroy Foundation

Kate Schramm, Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program

Track 2: Working with Collections – Room 109 

Thinking Outside the Box When Boxing—Storage Solutions for Unusual Items 

Bexx Caswell-Olson, Northeast Document Conservation Center

Track 3: Making It Work – Room 125

But How Do I Get Volunteers?

Sophie Huget, New Britain Industrial Museum
Randall Judd, New Britain Industrial Museum

Track 4: New Audiences – Room 111

Embracing Change: A Creative Chameleon’s Approach to Education Programming On and Offsite

Julie Garvin-Riggs, Florence Griswold Museum

Track 5: Reaching Out – Room 105

Culture Change or Culture Shock?: Revitalizing Your Local Museum and How We’re Doing It

Beth Payne, The Dudley Farm Foundation

Nicole Carpenter, Westport Historical Society 
Alicia D’Anna, Westport Historical Society 
Ramin Ganeshram, Westport Historical Society

11:45-1:30pm Lunch and Keynote

Welcome

Adrienne Saint Pierre, CLHO President 
Jason Mancini, CT Humanities
Elizabeth Normen, CT Explored

Special Suffrage Centennial Remarks, Denise Merrill, Secretary of the State

KEYNOTE: Reinventing the Historic House Museum

Ken Turino, Manager of Community Engagement and Exhibitions, Historic New England

1:45pm-2:45pm Session III

Track 1: Confronting History – Room 106

Uncovering their History: Using Technology to Tell the Story of Hartford’s African and Native Americans in the Ancient Burying Ground

Dr. Katherine Hermes, Central Connecticut State University
Mary Donohue, Ancient Burying Ground Association, Inc

Track 2: Working with Collections – Room 109

What’s Old Can Be New Again: Digitizing Your Collections

Diane Lee, CLHO-Connecticut Collections

Track 3: Making It Work – Room 125

Strategic Planning for Independent Museum Professionals

Leah Ceriello, Museum Textile Services, Andover, MA

Camille Myers Breeze, Museum Textile Services, Andover, MA

Track 4: New Audiences – Room 111

Revitalization through Shared Stewardship

Ellen Arnstein, 2018 Artist & Writer-in-Residence at Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, CT State Historic Preservation Office

Morgan Bengel, Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, CT State Historic Preservation OfficeBetsy Maguire, Freelance Writer

Kate Moran, Wildlife Biologist, Connecticut DEEP, Bureau of Natural Resources 

Sharon Wolf, School Librarian

Track 5: Reaching Out – Room 105

History Obsession: A House Museum and a Historical Society’s Approach to Educational Outreach

Janet M. Conner, Avon Historical Society 
Gene Macy, Avon Historical Society

Bonnie Plourde, Barnes Museum, Southington

Dr. Norman K. Sondheimer, Retired Computer Scientist

2:45pm-3:15pm Coffee Break in Marketplace/Demonstration Station

Drawing Winners Announced

3:15pm-4:15pm Breakout Session IV Track 1: Confronting History – Room 106

Diversifying Your Stories: How to Integrate the Hard History of Slavery into Your Programs

Melissa Houston, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center

Cheyney McKnight, Consultant for Historical Interpretation & Cultural Awareness, NotYorMommasHistory.com

Track 2: Working with Collections – Room 109

As Real as Being There 

Tasha Caswell, Connecticut Historical Society

Michael Kemezis, CTDA-University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library

Tony Healy, President / CEO, Capture LLC 

Track 3: Making It Work – Room 125 

Advocating for Your Interests—Updates, Tips, & Tools

Dr. Jason R. Mancini, Connecticut Humanities
Jane Montanaro, Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
Dan Yaeger, New England Museum Association

Track 4: New Audiences – Room 111

Everything Old is New Again

Gail White Usher, Historic New England’s Roseland Cottage and Arnold House (Lincoln, Rhode Island)

Rebecca Campbell, Historic New England’s Roseland Cottage and Arnold House

Track 5: Reaching Out – Room 105

Creative Ways to Engage your Audience

Mary Donohue, Connecticut Explored magazine

Christine Gauvreau, CT Digital Newspaper Project, CT State Library 
Estelle Kafer, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford

4:30pm End of Day 

5:00pm Drinking About Museums

More info HERE

Five Churches Brewing, 193 Arch Street, New Britain