Audra Campbell

December 17, 2015

Vietnam War Commemoration Blog Entry 1

           At The United States of America Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration I have been privileged to help in several areas of their mission. There are numerous goals of the Commemoration, but the primary goal is to thank and honor Vietnam War Veterans for their service, sacrifice, and valor for the United States of America. With the history of how the Vietnam Veterans were treated poorly upon their return to the USA and how there was not enough support for them during and after the war both by the US government and the Civilian population, the government has sanctioned the Commemoration in an effort to try to right this wrong and ensure that these veterans and their families are shown the respect and honor that they deserve. The idea that veterans are never to be treated like that again is strong at the Commemoration, and the effort to make sure that these events are never repeated for other veterans is a primary motivation. This is a really great project for me since my Dad was enlisted during the Vietnam War. Although he did not serve in combat, the Commemoration still honors him as well as all service men and women for their service. The project that I am involved in during this internship is helping them with gathering partners for the Commemoration. Partners must be organizations that have at least two events a year that honor veterans. It is free to become a partner and is open to military and civilian organizations. My primary function in the Commemoration has been to help them vet (review) these applications. This involves me researching to verify that the organization applying to be a partner is indeed a real organization and then helping them through the application process by making follow up calls and emails. These partners are supplied with flags, fliers, posters, bumper stickers, certificates, pins, etc. so that they can better honor veterans. I also help make the partner starter kits, the information folders, and assemble the certificate and lapel pins packets. The incredible care and detail that each member of the team puts into every aspect of what they do so that everything is perfect for the veterans is inspiring to be around. A powerful and eloquent statement to summarize their goals and motto for veterans is, “A grateful Nation thanks you.” It is important to the Commemoration that these deeds and these veterans never be forgotten for their acts of sacrifice and valor.

First Industries -- First Families

 Near the juncture of Rockburn Branch and the Patapsco River lies the charming, historical estate of Belmont. A location with ties to both Howard Counties early history as well as one of Maryland's first industries -- iron making. The property is known as the home of the Dorsey family for seven generations, but was originally patented Dr. Mordecai Moore in 1695 under the name “Moore’s Morning Choice.”(Schraff, 38) It was not until nearly 1732 that Caleb Dorsey Sr. purchased the land and combined it with neighboring tract, "Dorsey's Chance,” before gifting them to his son, Caleb Dorsey Jr under the new name “Moore's Morning Choice Enlarged.”(Sharp, 53)

Belmont Manor - RS

The 1766-acre parcel was ideal for the industriously minded Caleb Dorsey Jr.  Just inside the southern limits of the property, “a sizable stream (Rockburn Branch) traversed the ridge and descended towards the Patapsco.” (Sharp, 53) The stream and the river with their red-orange clay deposits provided the perfect location Caleb Jr’s iron ambitions. 

Dorsey was not alone in this thinking. As early as 1719, the Maryland General Assembly approved “An Act for the Encouragement of an Iron Manufacture, within this Province,” promoting the production of iron in the region. The General Assembly believed:

“that there are very great Conveniences of carrying on Iron-Works within this Province, which have not hitherto been embraced for want of proper Encouragements to some first Undertakers, altho the Consequences thereof might not only be considerably advantageous to the Persons immediately concerned therewith, but also to the Public Trade of Great-Britain, and this Province”(MD General Assembly, 1717-April, 1720)

Then again, in 1736, the General Assembly thought the work of iron making so important to the state that they passed an additional edict, “An Explanatory Act of the Act Entituled An Act to encourage Adventurers in Iron Works.” This act, excused workers at Iron works from road building and maintenance. (MD General Assembly, 1733-1736)

Excerpt from 1974, Dennis Griffith map, "Map of the State of Maryland laid down from an actual survey..."

Taking advantage of these acts, Dorsey applied for a condemnation writ from the Chancery Court in 1755. After receiving the writ, awarding him a 100-acre parcel for an iron furnace surveyed out of “Moore's Morning Choice Enlarged,” Caleb Jr, along with his brother Edward and an iron master Alexander Lawson formed the Elk Ridge Company Furnace. (Singewald, 168) Three years later, the company expanded, applied for an addition write location near Long Bridge Branch and the head of Curtis Creek (Curtis Creek Furnace). (Singewald, 168) Then, in 1761, Caleb Dorsey Jr. acquired a third forge, on his own, across the Patapsco River from the original Elk Ridge Furnace location. This final site would later be purchase by the Elliott brothers and renamed Avalon Iron Works. (Singewald, 173)

Avalon Iron Works in E. Sachse's 1857 Lithograph. Thomas Viaduct downstream. house in lower left corner still exist on gun Road. - Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore city and County Mills A-C, 16.

The Dorsey’s and Lawson did well in the iron industry  until their deaths. Both Edward Dorsey and Alexander Lawson passed away in 1760 and Caleb Jr. in 1772. After their deaths, the properties Caleb’s minor son, Edward inherited the properties and some were auction off to cover a portion of the Dorey’s debts at death. Once reaching adulthood, Edward spent the remainder of his life attempting to gather and repair the pieces of the auction off Elk Ridge Company Furnace. After numerous attempts, the estate was not officially settled until a final Chancery Court decree 1815; 16 years follow Edward’s death. (Sharp, 57)

Sources: 

Archives of Maryland, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1717-April, 1720 reproduced in William Hand Browne, Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al. eds., Archives of Maryland, 215+ volumes, (Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., 1883-), Vol 33, Page 467 (hereinafter cited as Archives of Maryland). This series is ongoing and available on line at http://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/  where volumes, collectively or individually, can be searched electronically. http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000033/html/am33--467.html

Archives of Maryland, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1733-1736, Volume 39, Page 486. reproduced in William Hand Browne, Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al. eds., Archives of Maryland, 215+ volumes, (Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., 1883-), Volume 39, Page 486. http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000039/html/am39--486.html

Griffith, Dennis, James Thackara and Vallance, John. “Map of the State of Maryland laid down from an actual survey of all the principal waters, public roads, and divisions of the counties therein; describing the situation of the cities, towns, villages, houses of worship and other public buildings, furnaces, forges, mills, and other remarkable places; and of the Federal Territory; as also a sketch of the State of Delaware shewing the probable connexion of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.” (Philadelphia, J. Vallance) 1795. http://www.loc.gov/item/76693265/

Scarff, John H. "Belmont." Maryland Historical Magazine 48 (March 1953) 1: 37-52. Available online from the Maryland state archives http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5800/sc5881/000001/000000/000189/pdf/msa_sc_5881_1_189.pdf .

Sharp, Henry K. “”on the great fall of Patapsco River” A Case Study of Industry and Urbanism in Late-Colonial and Early-Republican Maryland.” PhD diss., University of Virgina, May 2010, 53.

Singewald, Jr., Joseph T. “The Iron Ores of Maryland, With an Account of the Iron History.” Ph.D. Diss. Johns Hopkins University, 1911. https://archive.org/stream/ironoresmarylan00singgoog/ironoresmarylan00singgoog_djvu.txt

Montgomery History – Beall-Dawson House Museum and Dr. Stonestreet Museum of Nineteenth Century Medicine

 

The front door of the Beall-Dawson House

For the third portion of my internship this past summer with Montgomery History, I worked as a docent in the Beall-Dawson and Dr. Stonestreet museums. The museums are open Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00 to 4:00. Wednesday through Friday they use volunteers and on the weekends they have two paid Weekend Coordinators that alternate every other weekend.

The tour consists of the Dr. Stonestreet Museum of Nineteenth Century Medicine, which takes place in the small building that was his office. Inside the building are his actual examination table and a number of instruments and tools doctors of the time would have used. Some were Dr. Stonestreet’s, though most come from other doctors that practiced at the time. Every second Sunday of the month Clarence Hickey from the Speakers Bureau comes to volunteer and act as the Dr. Stonestreet interpreter. He has also written a book about the man, one that is sold in the gift shop.

Dr. Stonestreet’s office

The other portion of the tour is larger and the main focus of Montgomery History. The Beall-Dawson House is a historic home on the National Register of Historic Properties. It is in excellent condition despite having been inhabited continuously from 1817 or so to the mid-1970s. This year is the house’s 200^th birthday as construction began in 1815. The Beall family was a wealthy family in Rockville – they had the only mansion listed on the 1820 census records, for example – and their relatives lived in the house until the 1940s. It is the family that took over the house in the 1940s that is to thank for the quality and structural integrity of the house. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were looking to restore a home and did a great deal of repair work to restore the house to its early nineteenth century look, going so far as to rip the 20 year old porch off the front of the house.

The 1940s addition where the gift shop is located

The gift shop is located in one half of the frame construction addition built in the 1940s when the Davis family moved in. Part of my job as docent is helping out with the gift shop and keeping track of anything a visitor shows an interest in. If they mention a book or item that they’re interested in but we don’t have, I let the shop manager know.

Asia In Context 3

Simply put, the conference went amazingly well. The day started early, we had to put signs up over campus, directing people to the correct building. After which we moved tables around and began to set up. Luckily there was not much to set up. We had to place books out, the schedule for the day and everyone’s nametag. As people started to show up we handed them their nametags and made sure everyone was situated.

After a little breakfast we began the conference promptly at nine. All the speakers did amazingly well. It was interesting to have such diverse topics all at one conference. I think one of the best parts was ample time was given after each speaker for the audience to ask questions. This opened up the floor for everyone to explore and understand the topics better. It was also interesting when scholars from different fields brought in their own perspective. This gave a much more complete understanding of what was being discussed. Another great aspect about the conference was we had scholars, undergraduate, graduate and even high school students all in attendance.

After two of the three speakers went, we had a lunch break. The food arrived and was set up on time. Since we had a lot of trouble ordering the food, I was happy to see everything we wanted arrived and was ready on time. The last speaker went much like the first two. After the conference was over we did a short clean up and everything was done.

I am really happy to have had the opportunity to help with this conference. Although a lot of it was working online or making phone calls, it was great to be able to help organize the event. It was also a great opportunity to meet scholars from the tri-state area who have an interest in Asia. This has helped guide me as I’m looking for graduate schools/ what to do after graduation.

How My Internship Began with Howard County Conservancy

        On a brisk, overcast November day, 64 fourth grade students arrived at Howard County’s Belmont Manor and Historic Park for the first “Rock Hunters” field trip of the season. Filled with excitement and an eagerness to learn the kids were already brimming with questions about what they would experience. This day was months in the making. In September, I began an internship with the Howard County Conservancy to help enhance the “Rock Hunters” lesson, and now we were running it for the first time.

Carriage House at Belmont Manor and Historic Park

            For those that do not know, the Howard County Conservancy is a local, non-profit environmental education center and land trust. Dedicated to educating youth and adults about environmental stewardship and ecosystems, the Conservancy focuses its programs on local animal and plant life found in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Conservancy has been educating Howard County youth since 1997, and has been an Educational Partner with the Howard County Public School System since 2003.

The Conservancy provides environmental education programs at two locations, one at Mt. Pleasant Farm in Woodstock and the other at Howard County’s Belmont Manor and Historic Park in Elkridge. The second, location at Howard County’s Belmont Manor and Historic Park, is a newly acquired location. Howard County Government purchased Belmont Manor and Historic Park to ensure the stewardship of the beautiful 68 acres, intact with a historic 1738 Manor House, formal gardens, barn and smokehouse. As a new site, the Howard County Conservancy is looking to expand their opportunities at the Belmont Manor and Historic Park. The location holds deep ties to local history and the surrounding community and The Conservancy would like to include these ties in their program offerings.

To give the idea of Iron Smelting.
"Casting pig Iron, Iroquois smelter, Chicago."

As part of my internship, I help tell the story of the Industrial Revolution in Patapsco River Valley, the Dorsey family role in the growth and the lasting environmental impact. Currently, The Conservancy discusses the use of Iron Works through Industrial Revolution in Patapsco River Valley and its relation to storm water run-off, including a professional display board with mineral manipulatives for Charcoal, Limestone, Iron Ore, Slag, and Pig Iron. However, they wish to deepen this connection and expand the history and social studies connections to reach more Howard County Students and visitors.

            

          Over the months since I have started this project, it has taken many different directions and approaches. In the end, we settled on designing the “rock hunters” as the first priority. Working closely with their Education Manager and doing external research, I worked with the curriculum and materials to include ties to the location’s iron forging history and how it relates to erosion and rain runoff. As I began to research the site’s history, and the originals Manor owner’s connection to iron milling, I found myself overcome with information. There is contradictory information in some sources, as well as local lore that I cannot find documentation to substantiate. Even with all of this, the real struggle is how to relate the information in a 2-hour lesson for elementary aged students.
             

Irish Railroad Workers Museum Dec

The months that I worked at the Irish Railroad Workers Museum taught me a lot about what goes into running and operating a small museum but also about where I can see myself fitting into that environment.  

I gave a few tours, however most of my work there was done either helping plan events or working from UMBC and home on the website and the virtual tour.  I really got a sense of how places like this run daily, and where they focus their energy and attention.  The Irish Railroad Workers Museum places a big importance on the local Irish community of Baltimore, and strives to encourage community events often.  They hold events that are historically focused, but intended for those with Irish roots themselves.  Such are genealogy seminars for Irish families to trace their roots. So the museum runs on a small sense of community and pride, which had given it a very solid support system and traditions that bring people coming back to visit.  

A few weeks ago I worked at the Irish Festival at the museum's booth and help promote by passing out fliers and talking to people about the collection and history behind the museum’s story.  This was a good place to see that community action being put into action, and it was impressive how many people had heard of the museum, or were interested in a visit.  

However, while the table was a very interactive way to reach out and spread the word about The Irish Railroad Workers Museum, I still believe they would benefit by using social media as more of an outreach for visitors.  This aspect of my internship proved to be the most rewarding since I really enjoyed thinking about how to portray the museum in the best way to increase attendance.  This was there I felt I got the most hands on experience as well, being able to actually rewrite parts of the website, and look for new photos and a few format to use to upgrade it.  While that new website is not yet live, I feel like that was very important to learn the bases of.  

I most enjoyed starting to build the virtual tour app however, and felt that it was projects like those that were really rewarding to me.  I got to help decide what parts of the collection would be highlighted, I even took mock photos before we could get a real photographer to come in and take better quality ones.  Working on this project made he have to step back from the museum as one building and focus on the overall message of it.  What it was trying to tell the public about Irish life in the 19th century and what visitors were supposed to take away.  I then had to think about not only which rooms and items were best to portray that, but also the order in which things should be discussed.  It was not as simple as moving from room to room, talking about the stove, and then the food, and the type of clothes they wore.  I had to think about the story that the Feeley family has, and how that is applied to the larger story of Irish life in Baltimore.

The memory that this museum is trying to give to the public is one that is easily rooted in family and community, so that needed to be shown in the virtual tour.  It is easy to pick up on those things when you are inside their home, but it harder with a picture, so trying to figure out how to arrange the tour to relay this was a challenge.  

While many of these projects are still in their finishing stages I do plan on continuing to work with the museum into next semester and possibly longer if they still have room for volunteers.  I have really appreciated all the insight and opportunity that this internship has given me, and an excited to continue.