A note from intern Weronika
by Weronika Grajdura, Summer Intern
Weronika studying an archives box.
Hello! My name is Weronika Grajdura, and I am currently completing my MA in History at Villanova University. I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago, and I completed my undergraduate degrees in History and Anthropology at Saint Louis University. I have held a special place in my heart for museum work since my time in undergrad, and this summer, I had the privilege of pursuing this passion as an intern at the Rosenbach Museum & Library.
It has been an incredible opportunity to join the Rosenbach staff and see the inner workings of the Museum. From partaking in my first Bloomsday to completing inventories of the collection, this opportunity has expanded my skill set and understanding around what it takes for a museum to function.
With the 250th anniversary of America’s independence approaching, my task as an intern was to explore items from the Rosenbach’s collection from the period of the American Revolutionary War. In this process, I was struck by how international the stories from the Revolution truly are. Be it Hessian German soldiers who were hired out to fight for the British, to the letters and pamphlets that traveled across the ocean discussing principles of freedom and liberty, the scope of the Revolution expanded from being a war between the colonies and the British to being an affair influenced by ideas and people abroad. I wanted to highlight these stories in my project, resulting in a collections guide and Behind the Bookcase tour titled “Contributions to the American Revolution from Abroad.”
A selection from Weronika’s Behind the Bookcase tour research.
Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815), Indentures for servants, 1792 Sept. 15 and 1800 Sept. 29. RUSH II:15:21 03
In addition to these projects, I had a fun time experiencing the daily happenings at the Rosenbach. I took part in collection stewardship activities with Manager of Collections Stewardship & Engagement David Rhys Owen, Librarian Elizabeth Fuller, and Associate Librarian Nancy Loi, ranging from inventory checks and shelf-reading, to providing input on the most recent object rotation in the Treasures gallery. I also took part in public programming put together by the Rosenbach staff, including partaking in a teacher workshop organized in collaboration with the Brandywine Workshop & Archives and the Clay Studio.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Rosenbach. As I return for my final year of my MA program, I look forward to applying what I learned to my future work. Thank you to the Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University for helping facilitate this internship, and thank you to the Rosenbach staff for your kindness and encouragement! Special thank you to Emilie Parker, Hirsig Director of Education and Community Engagement, who guided me this summer and who made the experience worthwhile!