The Hudson River Museum Docents honed their teaching skills and content knowledge while strengthening their connections with each other at the biannual Docent Intensive on June 17, 18, and 20. During this three-day training, the docents explored the theme of “Reinterpreting the Historic House Museum” and sought to place Glenview, the Museum’s 1877 historic home, and its inhabitants, in a greater historical context.

The training began with guest speaker Dr. Erin Bartram, Associate Director of Education at The Mark Twain House & Museum, who led an engaging talk about the lives of Twain, his family, and those who worked in the household. The docents then participated in a hands-on educational activity about domestic life during the Gilded Age. Other activities during the week included a presentation from the Curatorial Department about the IMLS-funded digitization project, an activity involving primary resources from the HRM archives, and the development of tours on the theme of “Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Galleries.”

The docents also continued the “Adopt an Artifact” initiative, whereby docents select an object from the Museum’s permanent collection to research and present to their peers. One of the highlights of this year’s June Intensive was Docent Glenda Davis’ demonstration of the personal power of art and storytelling by connecting the story of her family’s heirloom quilt, made by her great-grandmother Gustava Wolst (1874–1940), with a nineteenth-century handmade quilt in the Museum’s collection. It sparked a powerful discussion about the ways in which everyday domestic objects can speak to women’s often invisible work and resourcefulness in caring for their families and preserving family memory.

By the end of the Intensive, participants were excited to incorporate new knowledge and facilitation techniques into their school and public tours. In the coming weeks, HRM Docents will begin another school year, welcoming thousands of K–12 students and other members of the public to the Museum. We thank them for their important work on behalf of the Museum, and we look forward to continuing our shared journey of lifelong learning in September.

Interested in becoming a docent? Learn more at our Open House on Monday, October 21, 1pm.

Image: Docent Glenda Davis shares the history behind her family quilt as part of her “Adopt an Artifact” presentation.