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PRESS RELEASES:
Museum Re-accreditation
Making Every Stitch Count
The First Texans
Texas Tots Story Time
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 16, 2010
Contact: Anne McGaugh
Phone: (936) 878-2461 x 237
Fax: (936) 878-2462
E-mail: amcgaugh@blinn.edu
Star of the Republic Museum Receives
Highest National Recognition: Awarded Re-Accreditation
from the American Association of Museums
WASHINGTON, TX
(2/16/10) – Star of the Republic Museum has again achieved
accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the
highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums.
Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to
governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going
public. Star of the Republic Museum was initially accredited in
1972. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least
every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
AAM Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for
its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional
standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and
sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM’s museum
accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for
quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability.
It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that
enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources
wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable - all
in order to provide the best possible service to the public.
Of the nation’s estimated 17,500
museums, just over 4% are currently accredited. Star of the Republic
Museum is one of only 40 accredited museums in Texas.
“This is an accomplishment of which
you can be very proud,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas.
“The Star of the Republic Museum plays a vital role in the
cultural and intellectual advancement of Texans. Your efforts
continue to serve as an example for the State of Texas, and I
encourage you to continue to pursue excellence in the years to
come.”
Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process
that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn
accreditation a museum first must conduct a year of self-study,
then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s
Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of
museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee
report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.
While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally
takes as much as three years.
“Accreditation is emblematic of an institution’s commitment
to public service and to overall excellence,” said Ford
W. Bell, AAM president. “Attaining accreditation involves
taking a hard look at yourself, allowing your peers in the field
to do the same, and being judged to be superior in all areas.
The local community can take great pride in the fact that their
institution is one of America’s premier museums.”
Daily museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Star of the Republic
Museum, administered by Blinn College, is located in Washington-on-the-Brazos
State Historic Site, off Highway 105 on F. M. 1155 between Brenham
and Navasota. For more information, call (936) 878-2461 or go
to the website: www.starmuseum.org
The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums
together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices,
gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues
of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000
individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM
is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the
American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements
of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information,
visit www.aam-us.org.
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 20, 2010
Contact: Al Meyer
Barrington Living History Farm:
936-878-2214 ext. 246 or
email: almeyers@centurytel.net
“Making Every
Stitch Count”
On January 30-31, 2010, from 10:00-4:00, Washington-on the-Brazos
State Historic Park will be hosting an event entitled “Making
Every Stitch Count.” Men and women of the early frontier were,
by necessity, required to have knowledge of many skills that today
we take for granted. Today, we can go to the store and buy ready-made
clothing, linens and decorations for our home. We have no concept
of the hours that go into these items, especially if they are homemade.
Throughout the park, artisans will be demonstrating the various
textile skills early Texans used for survival to make clothing and
bedding and for decoration to make their house a “home.”
In order to develop a better appreciation of these skills, visitors
can observe as well as learn these skills through hands-on activities.
In conjunction with the demonstrations (quilting, spinning, weaving,
rug hooking, and fancywork), the Brenham Friendship Quilters Guild
will be hosting a Quilt Show in the Conference Center, artisans
will be demonstrating in the Education Center, The Star of the Republic
Museum will have displays and information on the extensive selection
of textiles located throughout the museum, Barrington Living History
Farm will be interpreting 1850s textile skills, and the Visitor
Center will have various displays plus retail items for sale.
Regular admission fees will apply at each site or the Brazos Pass
($9.00 per adult, $6.00 per student) can be purchased for ALL the
day’s activities.
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 15, 2009
Contact: Anne McGaugh
Phone: (936) 878-2461 x 237
Fax: (936) 878-2462
E-mail: amcgaugh@blinn.edu
“The First Texans: Living Green”
Opening at Star of the Republic Museum
The Star of the Republic Museum will open a new exhibit entitled
“The First Texans: Living Green” in celebration of Texas
Independence Day 2010. Included in the exhibit will be archeological
artifacts from the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at The
University of Texas at Austin and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science
and History. Pottery and stone, bone and shell tools of the indigenous
people who lived in Texas at the time of European contact will be
on display. Also included in the exhibit will be woven netting,
matting, basketry and sandals that were preserved in the dry rock
shelters of West Texas.
The exhibit focuses on the subsistence strategies and use of natural
resources by these early Texans. See the tools that they used to
hunt, farm and fish.
“The First Texans: Living Green” will be on exhibit
from February 27 – August 31, 2010.
Daily museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Star
of the Republic Museum, administered by Blinn College, is located
in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, off Highway 105
on F. M. 1155 between Brenham and Navasota. For more information,
call (936) 878-2461 or go to the website: www.starmuseum.org
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 15, 2009
Contact: Jodi Jungman
Phone: (936) 878-2461 x 236
Fax: (936) 878-2462
E-mail: jodi.jungman@blinn.edu
“Texas Tots” Preschool Story
Time at Star of the Republic Museum
The Star of the Republic Museum is holding a monthly story time,
“Texas Tots,” for preschool children age 3-5 on the
3rd Tuesday of each month. During “Texas Tots,” a craft
or activity will be offered which follows the story theme. Themes
center around Texas history and cultures, and will include topics
such as Native American Heritage, Texas Wildflowers, and Tall Tales.
The cost for the program will be $3 per participating child, to
help cover the expense of craft supplies. Adults will pay the public
admission fee of $5, or may choose to purchase a $9 three-site Brazos
Pass, good for admission to the Star of the Republic Museum, Barrington
Living History Farm, and/or Independence Hall. There is no admission
fee for children under 6 at Barrington Farm and Independence Hall.
“Texas Tots” will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Advance reservations are required, as seating is limited. Payment
is due at the time of reservation. Families must register individually.
The first “Texas Tots” session is coming up on Tuesday,
October 20. The theme of the session will be German Heritage. The
story will be "Max & Martha: The Twins of Fredericksburg"
by Marjorie Von Rosenberg. Children will create their own edelweiss
hats in celebration of Oktoberfest.
Daily museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Star of the Republic
Museum, administered by Blinn College, is located in Washington-on-the-Brazos
State Historic Site, off Highway 105 on F. M. 1155 between Brenham
and Navasota. For more information, call (936) 878-2461 or go to
the website: www.starmuseum.org.
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