Do you love delving into history? Building layouts and running model trains? Helping kids learn about Colonial life? Enjoy working in a shop? Assisting with museum collections? Are you a weaver, woodworker, hearth cooker, or gardener with time and skills to share?
Volunteers play a vital role in fulfilling the Society’s efforts to recreate and preserve the past for visitors. Our volunteers fill many positions, from costumed helpers with the 1st Grade and 3rd Grade school programs, to assisting with historic documents and records in the Society’s archives in the History Room at the Wilton Library. The very popular Great Trains Holiday Exhibit, which attracts thousands of visitors every year, depends on a cadre of dedicated “train men” who can indulge their love of model trains while bringing magic to children and their families during the holidays. Volunteers are also needed to assist with the Society’s permanent collections, at the Betts Store (the Society’s museum shop), and with the many special events and programs that are presented at the museum.
Volunteers contribute actively to our organization and assist in multiple phases of operation. Help when you can or participate on an ongoing basis.
- Assist at exhibition openings and school programs such as the 1st Grade and the 3rd Grade programs
- Lead tours as a docent
- Become part of the team of “Trainmen” who build and staff the Great Trains Holiday Exhibit
- Distribute publicity materials
- Join our garden brigade and help care for our 1750 Colonial Herb Garden
- Assist with mailings for fundraisers, and special events
- Help with research inquiries at the History Room in the Wilton Library, which houses the paper archives of the Society
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Kim Mellin by email (info@wiltonhistorical.org), or call at 203-762-7257. Kindly indicate type of opportunity that interests you.
High School and Junior Volunteers
High School Student Historians
Area high school students are encouraged to join the Society’s group of budding historians. Students in grades 9-12 with an interest in history are urged to follow their passion and get some real experience! Led by our museum educator and executive director, students initiate and carry through with original research and hands-on projects. The group generally meets monthly. The student historians also help the Society as volunteers at activities, such as Barn, Blacksmith & BBQ, a family history day.
Internships
We participate in the Wilton High School spring internship program for graduating seniors and offer internships for college students throughout the year. Responsibilities vary, but may entail doing research, assisting with archives and exhibition projects, administrative support and assisting with marketing and communications efforts.
To inquire about an internship, please contact Kim Mellin by email (info@wiltonhistorical.org), or call at 203-762-7257.
Current Volunteer Openings
Archival Research Associate (Volunteer)
Do you have a passion for local history? Would you enjoy learning how to use the archival collections at the Wilton Historical Society to answer questions about Town history, locations, houses and genealogy? There are exciting volunteer opportunities available for those interested in making an extended commitment to this important and ongoing work. We are interested in those who can commit about three to four hours a week. You will work closely with the Town Historian to become familiar with the archival collections and other available information resources. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the long history of the Town of Wilton using primary and secondary sources while assisting researchers of all ages and interests. You will also be providing a great service by assisting the Historical Society in its efforts to make its collections more useful and accessible to the local community and beyond.
Candidates should enjoy working with the public, have the patience, desire and natural curiosity necessary to do research, and have good writing skills.
We expect it will take four to six months for archival research associates to acquire the necessary familiarity with the collections to begin fielding research questions on a semiautonomous basis. For this reason, we are interested in candidates who are interested in and able to volunteer in this role for more than a year.
If you’re interested in applying for this opportunity, please send a letter of interest and resume to Carol Russell, Wilton Town Historian and Emeritus Trustee of the Wilton Historical Society.