Museum News: Doing History

When we think about history, we tend to think of it as a single final version. It’s already written and we know the whole story. But history - like many fields- is always changing. It’s not that the facts of the past are changing (although they do sometimes), but that the meaning of historical events look different from different vantage points and time periods.

History is always undergoing a constant reexamination and reconsideration. So who is doing history? Professional historians, museum staff, volunteers, scholars, genealogists, archaeologists… there are lots of people doing history, both professionally and as an interest.

Who does the history for ACM? In addition to our staff and committee members, the ACM has an established relationship with the Industrial History Survey Group. IHSG was started when a group of industrial history enthusiasts decided to start getting together to share their research projects and visit local sites to gain a better understanding of the built environment of Amesbury.

The IHSG meets monthly at our Industrial History Center to discuss research projects, share ideas, and visit historic sites around Amesbury. Our Researching People & Place page on our website has an entire collection of free, downloadable articles produced by the members of the IHSG. Topics include transportation, people, infrastructure, and places.

This dedicated team of volunteers share their passion for history not just with each other, but with the wider community, by making their work available through ACM. Many of our programs, exhibits, tours, and lectures are a result of the work of the IHSG.

Industrial History Survey Group Members: Ken Aspeslagh, Greg Colling, Francis Gurczak, Mike Harrold, Josh Jackson, Ron Klodenski, Steve Klomps, John Mayer, Tom Murphy, Lawrence Pearl, Joyann Reynolds, Robert Schoen, Dan Staats.

If you see one of the members of the IHSG out and about - doing history - say hello, and thank them for their dedication to Amesbury and ACM!

Kelly Daniell
Executive Director