Looking back at my time at Glen Foerd, I have mixed emotions. It is frustrating how
much work I did, but how little I feel like I accomplished. I did extensive
research on several different subjects, but was not able to apply them directly
for use in the museum. Before the docents can provide a complete tour about
Arthur Laws, the servant spaces need to be cleared and cleaned (this involves
finding new homes for many large pieces in the collections that are currently
stored in the basement). Some of the servant spaces were completely gutted and
replaced by the Lutheran Church—specifically the butler’s pantry and kitchen.
And the entire servant’s quarters are in use by the staff (the staff offices are
located in the former bedrooms) or the catering company (the servant’s dining
room is used for storage). I began research on the the lives of several leather workers at Robert Foerderer's factory, but did not have the time to discover any significant information. Rather, I feel like I laid the groundwork for a future intern to pick up and apply more directly to the interpretation at Glen Foerd. I also assisted with collections care. I helped relocate and clean dozens of objects, but
there are still thousands (literally) that remain neglected. There is only so much one (or two or three) people can do at a time, and this internship really taught me to take things one day at a time--to focus on the small victories that will eventually affect the bigger picture.
But overall, it was a very positive experience. The days
that I interned this semester were consistently the best days of my week; on my
Glen Foerd days I got out of bed with a smile on my face and looked forward to
the day ahead. This internship taught me so much about different aspects of
museum life, from fundraising to board disagreements to collections management
to research. I’m thankful that I completed an internship at a site with such an
eclectic collection, a small staff, and in the midst of such a transition. I
was fortunate to work with Meg Sharp Walton and Erica Harvey, who were both
happy to take the time to educate me about things I did not know and include me
in all aspects of their jobs—even sharing with me their frustrations over the
challenges they face every day. I enjoyed both of their honesty, level-headedness,
and humor. I think that the next museum I work at (or every museum for the rest
of my life) will seem less overwhelming and easier to manage than Glen Foerd,
but also probably far less interesting! I must say, as much as I complain about the
collection, discovering a shocking (or beautiful or hilarious) object behind a
closet door (or in a drawer or under a desk) nearly every time I entered the
mansion was a unique experience that I truly enjoyed. Glen Foerd is a
beautiful, mysterious mansion with the potential to become an incredible
museum—especially if Meg and Erica stick with it—and I will miss my
time there. I will certainly be back to visit and spread the word of this hidden house museum in the Northeast.
