Donna to speak at New Jersey Forum 11-22-08 on house museums

This Saturday I will be speaking at the New Jersey Forum, a conference that brings together local historians and academics to discuss new research on New Jersey studies.

25th Annual New Jersey History Conference - New Jersey Forum
November 22, 2008
Marriott Hotel, Trenton NJ
Sponsored by:
The New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey State Archives
The New Jersey State Museum

PANEL 2: Interpreting a Preserved Landscape: New Jersey Museums and Architecture (Ewing Room)

Moderator: Ron Emrich, Preservation New Jersey, Trenton

New Solutions for House Museums
Donna Ann Harris, Heritage Consulting, Inc.

Take Any Exit: The Colonial Revival in New Jersey
Harriette Hawkins, independent scholar

Telling the Straight Story: Truth & Fiction in Building Interpretation
Margaret Westfield, Westfield Architects

My talk will include case studies of two New Jersey house museum organizations: the Meadows Foundation in Somerset NJ and the Alice Paul Institute, which owns and operates Paulsdale, the birthplace of Alice Paul, author of the Equal Rights Amendment.

My involvement with Paulsdale goes back more than 20 years when I met Barbara Irvine, one of the "founding mothers" of the Alice Paul Centennial Foundation. Barbara and I met through her husband Geoff who was taking a real estate class with me. After learning what I did for a living, he said "do you think you could talk to my wife about a project she is working on?" I did, and have worked off and on with Barbara over the years, as the organization struggled and fought to buy and restore this important building.

Now, more than 20 years later, I have the joy of talking about an exceptionally successful organization that preserved an important house and provides innovative programming for women and girls at Alice Paul's beloved home, Paulsdale.

The cost of the conference is $40. This fee covers continental breakfast and lunch. Please send check or purchase order to the address below by November 17, 2008 payable to: Treasurer – State of New Jersey.

Annual Conference – New Jersey Forum
NJ Historical Commission
PO Box 305
Trenton, NJ 08625-0305

The convention site is accessible to the handicapped. If you have questions regarding special access needs, professional development credit for teachers, or exhibit tables, or anything else connected with the conference, contact Ms. Sarah-Helen Snow at the Historical Commission (609-984-3458), or via email at historical.temp2@sos.state.nj.us \


Hope to see you there!