Photo submitted to the Times Observer Four interns moved many initiatives forward at the Warren County Historical Society this summer. That included, front, from left, Anne Schwanke and Amanda Gray and, back, Karlie Blodien and Damon Navaroli.

Preserving Warren County’s history requires more hands than the Warren County Historical Society can employ.

Enter the Historical Society’s interns – Anne Schwanke, Amanda Gray, Karlie Blodien and Damon Navaroli

“This season’s interns have brought many projects to fruition,” said Michelle Gray, society managing director. “The historical society is a continuous revolving door of activity and each and every intern spent time greeting the public and answering questions with professionalism and enthusiasm.”

Schwanke, a senior at Pace University in Manhattan studying art history with a concentration in museum development, worked with a series of collections over the summer after a period studying Renaissance architecture in Florence, Italy.

Gray said that includes the John Lewis photograph collection, digitizing and indexing military textiles, processing the C.W. Stone collection and helping to relocate 19th and 20th century framed images.

Gray, a junior at Bloomsburg University studying business management and economics, worked this summer to digitize the Society’s photo album collection and created a video for the Society’s YouTube page on one of the county’s most unique characters – Fred Windsor.

“Amanda completed the accession number assignments to the C. W. Stone Collection and collaborated with fellow intern Damon Navaroli to create, initiate, and implement the latest Wilder Museum preservation fundraiser,” Gray explained.

Blodien, a senior at Buffalo State University pursuing a degree in history, also wants to work in the museum field.

Gray said she “revamped the textile collection” this summer, both making space for additional items but also updating the collection’s index.

Navaroli, also a history major, is a senior at PennWest Clarion and intends on pursuing an advanced degree in public history.

This summer marked his third year with the Society and he “continued keeping the organization’s publication, Stepping Stones, index up-to-date, processed the C. W. Stone Collection, collaborated on the Wilder Museum’s preservation fundraiser, and participated in Underground Railroad research and field study with Forest Service Archaeologists through the Enterprise Program intended to map the UGRR trail through the Allegheny National Forest,” Gray explained.

The intern program is supported financially in several different ways.

“The Warren County Historical Society board of directors, staff, and volunteers would like to thank the many donors who make the internship program possible,” Gray said. “Funding is provided through the Community Foundation of Warren County’s Warrengives online fundraiser, the Jane Walker Kopf trust, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency for qualifying students, and many more very generous donors.”