By Maureen Moran
June 26, 2014
When he speaks of his experience in learning to transform the setting and rearrange the 18th Century portion of the permanent exhibit at the Old Academy, his eyes flash and James can scarcely contain his pride and his enthusiasm. Clearly, James King, this summer’s Tom Desilets Memorial Internship recipient, is in awe of each step of the museum exhibition process. James displayed his penchant for working with local history as an intern at the FHC last spring. Entering his senior year at Framingham State University, James hails originally from Peabody where he credits his AP History teacher, Mr. Smith, as the one who inspired in him a love of history. As James puts it: “He changed my whole perception of history… his methods required me to think, to analyze… to love discovering the rootsof current facts, ideas and why things are so connected.”
James’ enthusiasm is unmistakable as he enumerates the importance of careful white-glove handling of each artifact; the proper way to hold and lift and place each artifact, each farmer’s tool, the woman’s loom, the hand-carved chairs and the oxen’s yoke.. His concern that each item be carefully spaced and displayed in ways to engage the youngest third grader and the most seasoned museum patron is especially engaging. James is quick to express gratitude to those who guided him in this unique learning experience, particularly FHC Curator, Dana Ricciardi.
Currently, supported by the tutelage of Annie Murphy and volunteer Nancy Prince, James is involved in the formidable task of examining, analyzing, and archiving, the vast Dennison Collection. According to James, he loves ”…being right in the thick of it, learning to select what is most representative of the company’s history.” It certainly appears that the FHC has once again hired a remarkable young scholar for its Desilets Internship –chosen wisely and very well indeed.