EDUCATION

Education

The Washington County Historical Society strives to make history fun for everyone by utilizing interactive educational programming which engages visitors on a personal level.

Student groups are welcome in the Miller House Museum. Our museum staff ensures a rewarding educational experience for all age groups by working personally with public, private, and home school educators to tailor the experience to each visiting tour group. For more information on scheduling a group school tour, please contact the museum.

Internship Program

The Historical Society is invested in training and inspiring the next generation of young museum and archival professionals through our internship program. Previously we have partnered with Hagerstown Community College for students to earn class credit towards their degrees. Interns work one on one with our Curator to develop and hone skills relating to collections management, archival processing, artifact preservation, genealogy research, and more.

Read a testimonial from our Summer 2023 Intern, Joel Martirano, below!

“This internship has allowed me to grow in so many ways and has helped me to understand how nonprofit organizations such as the Historical Society protect and preserve the history of Washington County. Ever since I was little, I have had a love and passion for history. Living in the heart of Western Maryland, history is all around us. This experience has proven to me that I want to be a part of this work moving forward. After graduation next spring, I plan to continue my education in the public history field, pursuing a master’s degree.”

Internships are open for undergraduates pursuing studies in history, public history, data management, or related fields. Contact our Curator, Abigail Koontz, at curator@washcohistory.org to learn more.

Educational Resources

We partner with public, private, and home schools to teach the community about the history of Washington County. Below are a list of resources and documents that we use.

  • » Family History Files (click here for a full listing)
  • » Published Family Histories and Genealogical Manuscripts
  • » Family Bibles
  • » Hagerstown Newspaper Archives
  • » Hagerstown City Directories
  • » Hagerstown and Washington County History files
  • » Washington County and Frederick County Census Records
  • » Washington County and Frederick County Church and Cemetery Records
  • » Washington County Revolutionary and Civil War Records
  • » Records from Neighboring Counties and States
  • » Historic Photographs
  • » Historic Maps
  • » Rare Books and Special Collections
  • » Oral History
  • » Historic Films
  • » Manumission Papers

kinship also offers onsite access to several digital resources!

Donate

Make a fully tax-deductible contribution to Washington County Historical Society and help us bring the past to life. Our mission to connect people to the those who have gone before us has never been more relevant—donate today and extend the experience for all. WCHS is a 501(c)3 not for profit institution. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.