MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT! By: Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History Every year, CSPM offers internships to students from UCCS, Colorado College and Pikes Peak Community College in addition to colleges and universities across the country. Interns conduct research, process collections, catalog artifacts, develop educational programs and work on marketing campaigns among other duties. In addition to providing a valuable service to the Museum, the internships offer students the opportunity to explore museum field career options. We are continually impressed with their level of interest and commitment to the Museum and are honored to be a part of their undergraduate and/or graduate studies. This fall, Patrick Lee, former Archives intern and current volunteer, will be heading off to Oxford University to pursue a graduate degree in History. We are extremely proud and asked him to share a bit about himself in the Museum Spotlight. Patrick Lee I started at the Museum in 2016 after finishing a Bachelor’s degree in History. Leah Davis Witherow was my Colorado History class professor, and she was kind enough to offer me a museum internship. The first project I assisted with was the Ascent and Marathon exhibit. I researched, wrote and conducted an oral history interview. Next, I researched Nicola Tesla’s time and experiments for “The Story of Us” exhibit and am currently helping with the Irene Bowman collection by organizing and preserving primary documentation boxes. Every day is rewarding and provides a new discovery. I studied history for four years, but it was not until my internship that I felt I was participating in the history process. I am actively discovering history while aiding in making history available to the public. I have learned about the research process. History is similar to detective work. You must find evidence and follow leads to reconstruct past events in an accurate way. This Fall I move to England to begin a Master of Science in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at Oxford University. The history of science and technology has always interested me, and with those spheres growing larger every day, it is important they are explored and studied. My core research will study a group of women known as the Harvard Computers. They were female astronomers, named after Edward Pickering, who were derogatorily dubbed “Pickering’s Harem.” These women have yet to be fully recognized for their contributions to astronomy. My aim is to begin a career in museum work. I have never visited a museum I did not find fascinating and being paid to go to one every day would be a bonus. I hope my degree leads me to a long career in the museum field. MUSEUM STORE The Museum store now accepts American Express and Discover charge cards! In addition, as a proud member of the Downtown Partnership, the CSPM store is now a participant of the Downtown Partnership’s Gift Card Merchant group! The Downtown Gift Card is accepted at more than 100 Downtown businesses: shops, restaurants, salons and more. Available in any amount from $10 and up, the Downtown Gift Card makes a perfect gift for birthdays and holidays, employee or client appreciation, a thank-you, or “just because.” Purchase you gift card at the Downtown Partnership office or at: https://downtowncs.com/gift-cards/ Support the museum and Colorado Springs’ downtown by spending your card in the store where shopping is cool and hassle-free! MUSELETTER AUGUST 2017 | PG 7
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