Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Garst Museum Welcomes Former Teacher as Latest Intern

The Garst Museum is pleased to introduce its latest Wright State University Public History program intern, Jason Swiatkowski. Jason earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Kent State University and is currently pursuing his Masters of Arts degree with a concentration of Public History from Wright State University. Jason will be responsible for creating a new permanent exhibit that will introduce and interpret the importance of Darke County’s various towns and villages. The planned exhibit will be incorporated into the museum’s Village Wing.

Jason taught social studies for several years in Dayton and Middletown at a charter school for children with ADD, ADHD, and similar learning issues. Jason feels that “as a former social studies teacher, I know how important it is to feel connected to a place and its history. Before moving to Montgomery County to teach, I lived in Wooster, Ohio. If you’ve never been up to Wayne County, Wooster is a medium sized county seat surrounded by smaller towns and villages, fields, and woods, and people proud of their land and history. I am quickly finding Darke County to be very similar, filled with friendly citizens eager to share their stories of the past and hopes for the future. For the next several months, I will be traveling the back roads and gathering those stories, searching for Darke County’s less-well-known history. It promises to be a wonderful search. My work with the Garst Museum promises to combine all of my interests and experiences to a productive end. I couldn’t be more pleased to be at the museum, in Darke County, learning and sharing this important aspect of our history.”

Executive Director Dr. Clay Johnson stated, “The two-year-old partnership with Wright State University’s Public History Program has created a unique opportunity for both the museum and the students.” WSU’s History Department offers a Master of Arts program for students that are interested in pursuing a career in the museum or archives profession. Part of the student’s program of study includes hands-on training under the direction of a public history professional. Garst Museum provides students with ongoing opportunities for short and long-term projects and internships. While working at the museum, students gain experience in exhibit research, design, construction, and promotion, historical research, curator asset management, collections management, collections care, and archives, museum, and records management.

Funding for the new Darke County exhibit is provided by the Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust, the Amie McClurkin Community Grant, the Coppock-Hole Trust, Kay Brown, the Nealeigh Design Group, and the Darke Rural Electric Trust.

The Garst Museum is located at:
205 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5250

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