My name is Amanda Futcher and I am a third-year student at Algonquin College taking the Applied Museum Studies program. I have been working as a library/archives assistant doing a lot of work with organizing and cataloging the map collection, assisting in the digitization of photographic slides, as well as doing different odds and ends with other collections and giving a hand to deliver the virtual reality experience offered at the museum. Read more
As is tradition at MOA, we turn our focus inward to introduce staff profiles. Meet Angela and Andrew, our newest team members. Both have come to the museum on a contract from now until the end of March 2017 and will be focused on enhancing both our volunteer and membership programs. Read more
Editor: We’re releasing the news of our new Executive Director: meet Dr. Rhonda Bathurst.
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Rhonda Bathurst has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. Her position will commence on September 26, 2016.
Rhonda received her PhD in Anthropology from McMaster University in 2005, and has worked in archaeology around the world, including Belize, Iceland, California, the Pacific Northwest Coast and here at home in Ontario. With seven years of experience managing Sustainable Archaeology: Western, just next door, Rhonda is already well acquainted with the Museum, its core values and its staff. Read more
It is with a combined sense of anticipation and regret that I prepare my final blog for the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. I am proud of what the museum has been able to accomplish over the past four years and my decision to leave was difficult. As I write this blog, our Summer Camp program is completely full, the roof and HVAC systems are being replaced, and we are in the process of adding movable shelving in the collection storage room. So much has changed over the past four years that I wanted to take this opportunity to review and celebrate what has been accomplished as the museum prepares to develop exciting new exhibits, increase community partnerships, and improve the management of the Lawson Site. Read more
For the month of June, I spent most of my days out of the office and in the trenches at Thornton Abbey in North Lincolnshire, England. Since this was my first time in England, I wanted to experience as much as I possibly could. To do this, I left a few days early to travel to the cities of York and Leeds to gain an understanding and appreciation of the history I was hoping to unearth. And, being the Harry Potter fan that I am, I just had to venture on a day touring The Shambles, an opportunity that the nerd in me fully appreciated.
My goal in York and Leeds was to gain an understanding of the museums and their presentation of history, since this is something I am passionate about. I spent my days touring museums and historic sites such as York Minister, York Castle Museum, and the Royal Armouries in Leeds just to name a few. It was exciting to see how interactive these museums were with engaging the visitor in history. The museums I visited created immersive experiences by combining both historic objects and modern technology in their displays. One of the most immersive and unsettling experiences happened while exploring the dungeons of York Castle Museum where projections of actors, representing some of the most notorious people hung at the gallows, performed in each cell. Being the active person I am, I also spent a couple hours hiking historic paths including what remains of the Roman Wall in York. Read more
When travelling in Europe at 16, I fell in love with art history and architecture. Consequently, I decided working within art, history and culture was what I wanted to do as a career. However, after receiving some advice, I took a detour towards college for Dental Assisting. After finishing the program I decided being a dental assistant for the rest of my life was not what I wanted. So, I entered university to pursue my dream. After I received my Bachelor of Arts, I saw the need for a post-graduate program. I started at Georgian College for the Museum and Gallery Studies program. The final semester requires an internship, which I am completing at the Museum of Ontario Archaeology (MOA). Read more
Hello! I am Monica Norris, and I began my Collections internship with the MOA in May. I am completing my final semester of the Museum Management and Curatorship post-graduate program at Fleming College. The reason I chose to study at Fleming College is because the program is intensive and very hands-on. A lot of material is covered, not only from an academic approach, but I also had many opportunities to apply concepts in a practical manner. This has given me a more realistic experience than other programs might offer. The skills and tools I acquired through the MMC Fleming program have prepared me for real life situations, and given me the ability to perform a wide variety of tasks that are common practice in medium to small sized museums.
I will be working in collections management this summer, helping to create, maintain and enhance the archaeological records in the database PastPerfect. This has involved cataloguing artifacts that have not been entered into the system yet, as well as providing condition reports. Along the way I have been repacking artifacts into archival bags. I will also conduct research to help gather information to be used in the collections records and in museum blogs. Read more
How long have I been with MOA? I started my internship July 2015.
How did I begin? I am a Masters student at Western, and as part of our program we a
re required to do an internship. I decided that I would split my time over the summer between Eldon House, a historic home in downtown London, and the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. MOA really interested me because I was involved with archaeology during my undergrad, and in my masters program we learned about museum policies. Read more
An interview with our Summer 2015 Curatorial Interns, Erin Fawcett & Mary Simonds.
We’ve worked at MOA since May 2015 as curatorial interns. Both our duties involve collections, curatorial work, and research. We have been doing an inventory of the ethnographic collections and helping set up incoming exhibits. We’re working on reboxing and rehousing artifacts and re-configuring the storage room in order to better preserve the numerous items held here. (Erin:) I am currently working on the inventory of the ethnographic collection and I am starting the plans for re-configuring the storage room collections. (Mary): I am concentrating on finding the best way to catalogue and digitize the archaeological artifacts and all of the associated material. Read more
Name: Ilinca Olariu
How long have you worked at MOA? I’ve worked at MOA since October 2014.
What is your job title and what do you do? I am an education assistant. I am responsible for giving tours – usually to primary school groups, but occasionally to afterschool programs such as scouts, brownies or non-school tours. Read more