Photo submitted to Times Observer From left are Pat Ross, Warren American Legion Chief Cornplanter Post 135 Administrator; Bob Duffy, Warren County Historical Society Treasurer; and Greg Cross, Warren County Historical Society Intern.

Since 1999, the Warren County Historical Society has sponsored an internship program and, during that time, more than 40 college students have participated.

According to Warren County Historical Society Managing Director Michelle Gray, “The intern program is an excellent opportunity for students to gain work experience while learning about Warren County history. The Warren County Historical Society pursues funding for the internship program three-fold. First, through the Community Foundation of Warren County’s Warren Gives online fundraiser, second, the Kopf Family’s Smithfield Trust Fund established in 2007 to supplement the historical society’s internship program, and third, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency summer work-study program which allows for a 50% reimbursement of wages for all qualifying students. This past summer the historical society employed three college students in an effort to actively preserve Warren County artifacts, images, textiles, and documents; aid in the completion of several Wilder Museum of Warren County History’s projects; and conduct a successful Warren County History Camp. As the summer progressed, I became attuned to the fact that Intern Greg Cross was available during the fall term and expressed interest in continuing his internship.”

Warren County Historical Society Treasurer Bob Duffy determined that the budget created for the internship program had been exhausted during the 13-week summer program, and, so decidedly, set forth to solicit the additional funding necessary for the intern program extension. Treasurer Duffy made contact with Pat Ross, American Legion Administrator, as to the Legion’s requirements for a charitable donation, and, soon after, the American Legion Post 135 issued a check to fund Greg Cross’s internship extension.

Both Ross and Duffy welcomed Greg Cross to the Warren American Legion Chief Cornplanter Post 135 as Greg shared with the two men that he had been accepted into the historical society internship program in May and, due to his Master’s Program scheduling, was available to continue in the internship program until the end of the year. Cross is a recent summa cum laude graduate of Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Greg has been working with Director Gray processing several of the larger incoming artifact donations, creating and growing an Instagram following with an emphasis on Warren women in history, and researching and writing articles for local media venues and the Warren County Historical Society’s Stepping Stones publication.

The Warren American Legion Chief Cornplanter Post 135 is a United States wartime veteran’s organization purposed to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America while promoting peace and goodwill to the community, the state, and the nation. Warren’s American Legion generously supports many community projects and the Warren County Historical Society is sincerely grateful for the funding.

For more information, visit www.warrenlegion135.com and www.warrenhistory.org.

Follow the Warren County Historical Society on Instagram at warrencohistsocpa.