Moravian
Historical Society
The Moravian Historical Society (MHS), established in 1857, is the third oldest historical society in Pennsylvania. Its mission is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the rich culture of the Moravians, a German-speaking group of Protestants who arrived in what would become known as the Lehigh Valley in the 18th century. MHS oversees two historical sites, the 1740–1743 Whitefield House Museum and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America. MHS estimates that its extensive historical collection contains approximately 20,000 objects, books, paintings and other materials related to Moravian history. MHS provides research, educational programs, rotating and permanent museum exhibitions, and special events to the public seven days a week, year-round.
Our thanks to Executive Director Susan Ellis for participating in this project.
Initial Crisis
I remember people saying, you can’t go to California right now, that’s where “the COVID-19” is . . . We got back from that trip on March 10 and I think it was the 11th that they declared this was a global pandemic and the 12th was the last day the staff reported to work. It happened really fast.
Staffing & the Nature of Work
This is an opportunity to really look at the staffing model and what works best for an organization like this, because it really is different times. We have this staffing model that is based on, you know, low paid docents doing a lot of the work. And it’s not working for me.
We wanted to update our permanent gallery. It really hasn’t been touched in probably, I’m guessing 25 years, maybe 30 years. The labels are seriously out of date.
(view clip)
If we’re going to be able to share what we have with the world, with the general public, we’ve got to digitize things. We’ve got to get at least a catalog accessible that’s searchable.
(view clip)
It’s been really good, gratifying work.
Programming Shifts
We’re starting to plan some virtual events, we really haven’t done a lot of that…last week we recorded an organ concert on our 1776 Tannenberg organ.
(view clip)
That’s really our strength here, is that it’s such an intimate space with real, you know, authentic primary sources that people can interact with. And it helps them understand the past, helps them understand how they’re connected to the past, what it means for our future, all of that.
And I’m not sure that the virtual thing can substitute for that…it should be part of it, but I don’t think it can completely replace it.
(view clip)
Fundraising
I’m looking at it all, you know, I’m doing the budget right now, but I’m thinking we’ve maybe broke even. So our second fundraising event for the year was a wash, maybe even a loss.
…So it’s hard, you know. Especially after being exhausted, getting all these done. And then the very next day, I’m like, okay, what’s next? What kind of fundraising event can I do to, you know, make up this loss?
It’s tough because there are so many areas of the economy that are suffering right now. It’s hard to justify the arts, culture, and history when we’ve got frontline workers that need help. And local small businesses and restaurants that are struggling.
(view clip)
We just went through a whole mission revisioning. And it doesn’t say in our mission we’re here to, you know, to do fundraising events. I mean, obviously, you have to bring money in. But that’s not our core mission, right?
Looking Ahead, Reflecting Back
