Dr. Julie Markin’s Archaeological Methods and Theory course are exploring ways small, local museums can preserve their heritage resources and share their stories with people inside and outside of their neighborhoods. In collaboration with the African American Schoolhouse at Worton Point, students will research objects or history related to a particular exhibit theme to create text for new exhibit labels. The class will divide into groups and talk with community members to record their memories of attending the school and to learn about the objects and activities that were part of daily routines and special occasions. These conversations will become part of the Schoolhouse’s digital archive as well as the virtual tour. Through traditional exhibit design and modern digital technologies, the world will be able to glimpse into the history, culture and people who attended, taught in, and built community in this one room schoolhouse in Worton, MD. Dr. Markin is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department.
As part of this work, with support of Chesapeake Heartland and SCHA, Dr. Markin's students and members of the community were able to attend a presentation from Washington College Alumna, Anna Zastrow. Her talk focused on preservation and conservation methods.
Anna Zastrow graduated from Washington College in 2017 with a double major in Anthropology and Art + Art History and a minor in Chemistry. While at the college, Anna was a gallery assistant for the Kohl Gallery and interned with Kenneth M. Milton Fine Arts in Chestertown, conserving paintings. She also spent a summer on a conservation internship with the Maryland State Archives, cleaning and repairing paper documents, books, and other archival material. Upon graduation, Anna interned with the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute to inventory the condition of objects acquired over the three previous decades. Anna was able to see the effects of time on various conservation techniques and to learn the newest approaches to conservation of objects. Ms. Zastrow is currently employed as a Conservation Technician with the Library of Congress.