My Summer at James A. Garfield National Historic Site (JAGA) in Mentor, Ohio, was extremely worthwhile. The hands-on experience I gained in three short months will help kickstart my future as a museum professional. From the Park Rangers to Volunteers, it is evident that they all have a passion for sharing the history of our 20th President and the legacy that he and his family have both nationally and locally. Being a Lake County resident also allowed me to engage in the history of an area that I regularly traversed, and made me feel connected to the story of the Garfield family more than I ever expected.
JAGA was very flexible in allowing me and other interns to determine what exactly we wanted to work on. Coming from the MA program in history with a focus on museum studies, I wanted to work alongside the Park Curator to learn the proper collection care standards for maintaining artifacts in a historic house museum. I had learned how to properly handle, care for, and clean paintings, vases, textiles, books, and other artifacts. Another significant aspect of collections care is the housekeeping of a historic home. So, I was able to utilize a special vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean the home itself, and learned that to dust particular objects, you needed special cloths and brushes in order not to harm the material. I also monitored the house for pests such as mice and insects that could potentially damage the collection.
Additionally, I was able to engage in research that was not directly related to Garfield or his family, but instead focused on someone within the Garfield circle. This research was on Miss Augusta Mittleberger and her School for young girls, where Mollie Garfield attended in her adolescence in Cleveland, Ohio. This project enabled me to remain within the Garfield orbit while also exploring my interest in the history of Cleveland-related locations and figures. Ultimately, my research was featured in the monthly August 2025 edition of the Garfield Telegraph. This research was also expanded upon for a location-based narrative on Cleveland Historical.
Another important aspect of this internship was working at the front desk in the Visitor Center. As someone who has worked public-facing jobs, this was nothing new for me. However, since JAGA is part of the National Park Service, I was constantly meeting people from all over the country, as well as some from around the world, who were on road trips to visit all the National Parks and historic sites. I found this fascinating, especially when I had the opportunity to chat with visitors of all ages and backgrounds about their experiences in the house and Ohio as a whole. My experience at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site this summer helped me gain valuable knowledge that will prepare me for a career in Public History. I am grateful for the fantastic group of Rangers and VIPS (Volunteers in Parks) who were eager to share their knowledge and expertise with me during my time here. I will remember this Summer as I join the workforce for a long career as a museum professional.
