We need your help to succeed in our mission to connect people to the town of Amherst, its history and its culture. To accomplish this, we depend on private donations and volunteer efforts to maintain the Simeon Strong House (one of the oldest in Amherst) and grounds, and our extensive collections. We rely on your support for our programs, exhibits and tours. Jim Wald, trustee, perfectly summarized our need for your membership: “Amherst’s past is our collective heritage. Preserving it is our collective responsibility.”
It is our pleasure, with the support of Community Preservation Act funding, to present Emily Dickinson’s dress, returned from the conservator clean and on a new dress form. It now presides over our portrait gallery and delights visitors from Amherst and all over the world.
On the upper floors of the Simeon Strong House, we continue to inventory the collection and create secure storage under the direction of our consulting curator, Marianne Curling. Our plan is to store the collection on the third floor and create exhibits throughout the second floor.
Our programming resumes in February 2017, after the winter hiatus with “History Bites”, our noontime lecture series, every other Friday, in the Museum gallery.
Membership
Benefits include:
- Invitation to the Annual Meeting, receptions, lectures, and special events
- Subscription to the Newsletter mailed two times a year
- Program discounts when fees are charged
- 10% discount at the Museum Gift Shop
- Knowing that your membership will help preserve and celebrate the rich history and culture of Amherst
Joining is easy! Either fill out the form below and join online, or Download a Membership Application in pdf format, include a check for one of the listed membership levels, and mail to The Amherst Historical Society, 67 Amity St, Amherst, MA 01002.
The Amherst History Museum accepts donations of any size at any time of the year. We hold our Annual Appeal in late November and renew all memberships in the Spring. A gift to the Amherst History Museum, whether in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special accomplishment, is always a unique way to help the Amherst Community and recognize an extraordinary individual.
A collection of books are available for purchase at the Museum, and Amherst A to Z 1759 -2009 by Elizabeth M. Sharpe is also available for purchase online.
Please call us (413-256-0678) for more information on ways you can help the Museum, and information about volunteer positions.
These are all entries under the letter “C” in the book Amherst A to Z, written by Elizabeth Sharpe. The book is illustrated with pictures of artifacts from the Amherst History Museum, historic images from the Jones Library’s Special Collections, as well as photographs of our town and the folks who live here.