This summer at the Allen County Museum , in conjunction with the opening of the new Children’s Discovery Center , new and exciting children’s programs that help teach children about our local history and culture will be offered. 

One of the programs, “Pieces of Our Past” will focus on quilting and it’s history as an art and life skill.  In this hands-on workshop, geared towards children entering 4^th grade in the fall, children will make a paper quilt of their own personal history.  This program will be offered on Tuesday, July 24^th at 6pm and Saturday August 11^th at 10am.  The program will run approximately 1 hr. 15 min.  The cost of participation is $5 per child.

The other program, “Building a Community,” geared towards children entering 2^nd grade this fall, will have children reading old maps of our area, manipulating large puzzle maps and creating their own community maps.  This program will be held Saturday, July 28^th at 10am and Wednesday, August 8^th at 6pm.  The program will run approximately 1hr 15 min.  The cost of the program is $5 per child

Both programs meet state academic standards and engage children in hands-on and interactive learning through creative, fun activities.  Space is limited, so register early.  Pick up an application at the front desk of the Allen County Museum , or call Sarah Rish at the Museum (419.222.9426).  These grant supported programs were developed by Brittany Collier-Gibson and Sarah Rish. 

The Allen County Historical Society received a “History Outreach Excellence Award” at the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums annual conference in Columbus , October 7-8, 2005.  The award was given for the Society’s biannual, local history journal, The Reporter.  The awarded issue, entitled “John and Edna,” detailed the relationship between John VanDyke and Edna Burton VanDyke, (operatic performer “Edna de Lima.”)  The story, which took place in the early twentieth century, began in Allen County, Ohio, and recounts the romance between the oil magnate sent to Lima by John D. Rockefeller, and the aspiring opera star, who was the daughter of a Lima physician.  Set in the context of the Standard Oil break up, and World War I, the story relays the triumphs and disappointments of a relationship that ultimately failed.  The award of excellence, presented to the Allen County Historical Society, is the second such award granted to the organization in the past two years.  It was accepted by Society President, Bill Timmermeister, and Board member, Sue Clover.

Patricia Smith, Director of the Allen County Museum , was elected to the position of President of the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, at their annual conference in Columbus , October 7 – 8, 2005.  Smith, formerly director of the Wood County Historical Museum and Center, Bowling Green , Ohio , has been on the board of OAHSM since 1995.  A BGSU graduate, with a B.S. in Education, and an M.A. in Geography, Smith has been the Director of the Allen County Museum since January of 2000.  A graduate of the Seminar for Historical Administration, Colonial Williamsburg, Smith has also served on the board of the Ohio Museums Association, and currently serves on the board of the Lima/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau.  As President of OAHSM, she will be an ex-officio member of the board of directors for the Ohio Historical Society. 

Historical Society Receives History Outreach Excellence Award

The Allen County Historical Society received a "History Outreach Excellence Award" at the Building Connections History Conference, November 6-8, 2003 held at the Columbus Athenaeum. The Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums presented the award, which was received by board trustee VaLaire Orchard, for the recently produced "Sarber-Dillinger Story" video. The video, which was funded in part by the Ohio Humanities Council, details the events of John Dillinger's 1933 incarceration and escape from the Allen County Jail - an event that resulted in the murder of Allen County Sheriff Jesse Sarber. The video was created as an enhancement to the existing Sarber-Dillinger Exhibit housed on the lower level of the Allen County Museum.

Also receiving an award of excellence was WBGU-PBS TV for their 13-minute video on the Allen County Museum. The film was produced for the station's "Sixty Plus" series, which airs weekly. The video was created to familiarize northwest and west central viewers with the Museum as a destination point for tourism, as well as encouraging volunteerism and recognizing the critical role that volunteers play in their local communities. Denise Kisabeth, WGBU-TV, produced the Allen County Museum/Sixty Plus segment and student production editor, Andy Nwoye, accepted the award.