As you may know, I do not have a museum-related background.

The last couple of years have actually been like the School of Hard Knocks for me as I have learned to navigate methods for preserving, storing, and interpreting the history of the home and the Hormel family. I have attended as many seminars and conferences as my schedule has allowed, but there is more to learn.

At several of these sessions the term “collections” has been a central theme, how to archive them, deaccessing them, care for them, teach about them, and so on. Some historic homes are filled with the original artifacts that belonged to the family. Some have elaborate art collections or in-depth research libraries. When it comes to the Hormel Historic Home I have struggled to figure out what our collections include.

When George and Lillian Hormel donated their home to the YWCA, they left the house fully furnished. Over many years of use by the ladies of the YWCA, furnishings were replaced as was necessary. Though the wishes of the Hormels were carried out in the purpose of the YWCA, I do wish we could show off more of their belongings as part of our collections.

As for art, we do have a few pieces that have significance to Austin. We are proud of area artists Louise Kelly and Anna Leach whose pieces we have on display. The oil portraits of George and Lillian in the library are beautiful and personalize whose home this was.

I have folders full of documents relating to the past, but not enough that I would consider us a research resource like the Mower County Historical Society is becoming

So, of what do our collections consist of?  I stumbled across an article in the summer 2014 “History News” magazine, the publication of the American Association for State and Local History, which may have answered that question for me.

Authors Katherine Malone-France and Thompson M. Mayes state, “One of the strengths of historic sites and house museums is that visitors have the opportunity to experience a place, which has the potential to convey history and story more powerfully than documents or other artifacts alone can do. The place is not one element, but is a combination of landscape, buildings and objects woven together.”

The HHH may not be filled with precious art or furnishings previously owned by the Hormels, but it is definitely a place filled with stories that have impacted our community and those who have walked through the doors. The school of museum hard knocks will continue to serve me well as I work to preserve our collection.

History Happy Hour

5:30 p.m., Feb. 9

John Haymond will present on the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. Free to members of the HHH, the Mower County Historical Society and Friends of the Library. $5 for non-members. Light hors d’oevres and cash bar available.

 Valentine’s Day Concert: Hot Blues and Sweet Desserts

Feb. 14

Acoustic Duo Sena Ehrhardt and Cole Allen will perform with guest artist, Ken Valdez. Dessert bar included. Tickets are $25 each. Doors open at 7:30.

 Social Concerns:

The Value of a Musical Education

10 a.m., Feb. 17

Presented by Brad Mariska, Austin High School band director. This is a free event, refreshments served. Please call to reserve a seat.