Saratoga Historical Museum Volunteer Opportunities

We are an organization of enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to preserving and educating the public in the unique history of our Saratoga area. We welcome anyone with similar interests to join us in any of our volunteer activities. Volunteer opportunities are designed to fit your interests and schedules or academic requirements. You can volunteer as a docent on the weekend, or design a project that will help the Museum and also meet your individual needs.

Interested? Please phone the Museum at (408) 867.4311 and leave your name, phone number, and area of volunteer interest, or email: info@saratogahistory.com.

· Docents ·

If you have an interest in the unique history of the Saratoga area and like working with the public, this might be the right position for you! You will open and close the Museum and greet our guests, answer questions, and talk about the exhibits which present various aspects of Saratoga history.

Even if you are not familiar with local history, you will have access to information available at the Museum, come to our educational programs, and talk to any of our local historians. A primary source for information is “Saratoga’s First Hundred Years”, a book by Florence R. Cunningham, available at the Museum. Our Museum hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. You may choose any of these days, once a month or more often, depending upon your schedule.

· Oral Histories ·

There are many people in Saratoga who have made important contributions to our local community and far beyond. Saratoga residents include engineers, inventors, teachers, and historians. Many other gifted and talented people have interesting stories which need to be documented. You may interview and collect their historical stories on audio tape or video recorders, which will then be added to our collection on our computer database. You can suggest a candidate for an interview, or let us suggest someone that matches your interests.

· Restaurant Research Project ·

Saratoga restaurants pioneered the concept of fine dining in Santa Clara County more than forty years ago! We are beginning to collect information about our fine Saratoga Restaurants to add to our growing database. Research participants will collect menus from each of the Saratoga restaurants, interview the current owner and make a photographic record of the establishment. This is a new project that is under development, and an opportunity for you to get involved.

· Our Historic Village ·

This is another new project that should involve more than one person. You will make a photographic record of every building, old and new, in the Historic Saratoga Village. The Village includes all of the businesses and structures on Big Basin Way, Oak Street, and the connecting streets. A brief notation about each building should be included, listing the address, name of current owner, type of business, and the proprietor’s name. This could be a fun project, suitable for a couple or team of classmates, or friends with similar interests, and with digital photo equipment and skills.

· Museum Operations ·

There are many opportunities to get involved “behind the scenes”. File historical information; clip and sort newspaper stories and columns; organize scrapbooks; and other administrative tasks. If you have computer skills you may want to help by scanning and archiving our library of pictures and textual information. This is another opportunity to become very familiar with the history of Saratoga.

· Exhibits ·

We have both permanent exhibits and exhibits that change from time to time. Our Exhibits Committee is looking for ideas and help with the design, assembly or construction of new Museum exhibits that would be of interest to the people of Saratoga and also educate the public in the unique history of the area.

· We currently need these volunteers ·

Education docents to work with small groups of elementary school children who visit the McWilliams House, starting Fall 2007. Docents will be asked to dress in period clothing styles: long dress, apron, bonnet for women; old fashioned shirt and cap for men.

Sewing volunteers to make period clothing for docents who do not sew and for visiting school children to wear during their visit to the McWilliams House. Sewing patterns and materials will be provided by SHF. Donations of calico and gingham fabrics gratefully accepted.

For more information on these or other volunteer activities, please phone the Museum at (408) 867.4311 and leave your name, phone number, and area of volunteer interest, or email: info@saratogahistory.com.