HBMS Internship: Mugshots Press Release

From June 2017 to August 2017, I served as the Collections & Exhibitions intern at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS). I worked on a unique, community-driven, and interactive exhibition called Mugshots: Oral Histories of Musikfest and Musikfest Memorabilia. The exhibit focused on preserving stories and memories of Musikfest goers, capturing the essence of Musikfest through portrait photography, and integrating a souvenir pop-up exhibition that allows visitors to revisit Musikfests' past.  Although the main focus for this internship was launching and executing an exhibit, I also used my Technical Writing and communication skills to market and publicize Mugshots. Below, is the press release that I wrote for the exhibit. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

LoriAnn Wukitsch, Managing Director

Work: 610-882-0450 ext. 16

Mobile: 484-695-1040

lwukitsch@historicbethlehem.org

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Presents:

Mugshots: Oral Histories & Musikfest Memorabilia Exhibitions

Preserving, Sharing, and Remembering Musikfest

BETHLEHEM, PA, July 2017 - Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is proud to present Mugshots: Oral Histories & the Musikfest Memorabilia Exhibitions, an oral history and photography exhibit. The exhibit will take place at the 1810 Goundie House, located on 501 Main St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. The Mugshots exhibit begins August 4^th and runs through the 13^th from 11:00am until 6:00pm each day for oral history interviews. For the remainder of Musikfest, the building closes at 7:00pm. Share your Musikfest memories, listen to accounts before the Musikfest become the largest free, non-gated festival in the nation, and have your recollections forever saved in the Library of Congress. Bethlehem’s rich and storied past comes to life with this exhibition—see personal experiences highlighted via photography, text quotes, and audio files.

Oral history collects and preserves memories, historical information, past events, or interviews of narrators and witnesses by using sound or video recording. Mugshots combines oral history with photography, as HBMS staff, interns, and volunteers interview Musikfest goers and members of the Lehigh Valley Community.

Musikfest transforms Bethlehem’s landscape—the festival has impacted the community and individuals since it first began in August of 1984. Share and preserve your memories of Musikfest—they can be embarrassing, fond, joyful, or even sad!

Have your voice be remembered in the Bethlehem community and bond over how Musikfest has transformed over the years. Each personal account is recorded and uploaded to the StoryCorps website—a nonprofit oral history organization that is dedicated in collecting and sharing memories worldwide—where it will be forever preserved in the Library of Congress. This oral history organization hopes to create connections, teach society in the value of listening, strengthen communities around the world, and to remind humanity that everyone’s story matters. Visitors can listen to their own oral histories, and others, after the Mugshots exhibition by registering on the StoryCorps.me website, and follow HistoricBethlehem.  

Mugshots gives visitors a chance to contribute to Bethlehem’s growing history. History is about remembering the past—Mugshots will allow visitors to be remembered, and for future Musikfest attendees and visitors to hear your story in your voice. History, as a whole, is always evolving and we would like visitors to be a part of Bethlehem’s past, present and future. Let’s preserve, share, and remember Musikfest!

Not only can you memorialize your Musikfest experiences through StoryCorps’ website, your black and white portrait will be on display on the first floor of the 1810 Goundie House until September 1, 2017. The portraits are formatted with a key quote from your oral history interview.

The Goundie House symbolizes a time of Moravian culture, unity, and community engagement. This historic site is located in the heart of Bethlehem, which provides visitors a chance to revisit a part of Bethlehem’s own past. The Goundie House reflects a time when Bethlehem was once a small Moravian community and it contributes greatly in preserving the area’s rich culture. Before the Goundie House was built, the lot was used by Church Elders to “consult” everyday matters, such as financial transactions, marriage arrangements, and much more. Most importantly, it was believed to represent the voice of God.  The land that the house resides on, played an imperative role in uniting the Moravian community together, and still plays an important role in bringing people together during Musikfest.  

The oral history interviews take approximately 10 minutes to record. If you do not want to participate in this oral history project, there are other ways to be involved:

·       Stop by our photo booth for a picture with your family and friends.

·       Take a picture with “Mr. Goundie”, the original house owner, in his office.

·       Be a part of Bethlehem’s history by pinning up your pictures in the Goundie House and writing down a small quote with your picture.

·       Use our hashtag #FestMemories on social media as you post pictures of the event.

Continue your trip down memory lane with the Musikfest memorabilia pop-up exhibition that will display an array of irreplaceable Musikfest souvenirs. See posters, programs, pins, t-shirts, and mugs from Musikfests’ past, dating back 1984 - 2003. Some of the creators of Musikfests’ mementos are also a part of the Mugshots exhibit, as they share their stories and reflect on Musikfest.

Children, teens and adults are all encouraged to participate and are welcomed to stop by at the 1810 Goundie House to share their story. 

Admission to the 1810 Goundie is free. For more information, call 1.800.360.TOUR or visit HistoricBethlehem.org.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is a not-for-profit institution that brings to life three centuries of American history.  Historic Bethlehem tells the story of a small town of great influence, home to some of our nation’s early settlers, to the first pumped municipal water system in the American colonies, and to one of the world’s greatest industrial companies.  Historic Bethlehem is located in eastern Pennsylvania, only an hour drive north from Philadelphia and 2 hours west of New York City.  Historic Bethlehem is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and part of a National Historic Landmark District - a designated site on the US Tentative List.

###