Mount St. Mary's College will offer a new course in archives management and museum studies during the spring semester of 2004. The course is open to the public and will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., beginning the week of January 19, 2004.

The course is aimed at students interested in conducting original research into historical materials, or who may be thinking of exploring careers in education or non-traditional history-related fields such as museums or archives. It's also perfect for those who just want a behind-the-scenes look at museum and archival work.

Mount archivist, Rebecca Fitzgerald, will teach the first half of the course: an introduction into the theory and practice of archives management and its role in preserving and providing access to historical records. Students will learn about research-related topics such as copyright, privacy, fair use, and ethical standards.

Heidi Campbell-Shoaf, curator of the Historical Society of Frederick County, will lead the second half of the course, introducing students to the field of museum work. Students will study the history, philosophy and ethics involved; review the different disciplines practiced within the museum community; and explore the basic skills and techniques used by museum professionals.

Field trips are planned to complement the coursework. Possible site visits include the Historical Society and Taney House in Frederick County, as well as a tour of the Mount Archives.

Rebecca Fitzgerald, CA, obtained an MLS degree, with a concentration in archives management, from the University of Maryland at College Park. Before joining the Mount, she worked for History Associates, Inc., as a consultant on several archives and records management projects. She was appointed archivist and director of special collections at the Mount in 2000, and is a certified archivist. Heidi Campbell-Shoaf holds an M.A. in American history, with a graduate minor in public history from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She worked for the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio and at the National Headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C., before coming to the Historical Society of Frederick County.

For more information on the course, or to register, please contact the Registrar's Office at Mount St. Mary's College at 301-447-5215. Prospective students not registered at the Mount will need to fill out a short application and registration form, and pay the audit fee of $65 per credit hour.