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During my internship at the Mather Homestead, I developed an educational activity book for children focused on the life of Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Parks Service. I designed interactive content, including word searches, mazes, and "spot the difference" games, to help young audiences engage with local history in a fun, approachable way. I also contributed to the Homestead's digitization efforts by scanning original letters and documents sent to Mather during his life; these documents will be made publicly available in 2026.
In collaboration with a co-worker, I conducted research on colonial homes in town in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the United States. We drew from a range of sources, including the Homestead's archive, the Museum of Darien's library, and scholarly articles discussing the colonial architecture movement during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This movement later inspired colonial preservation efforts in the 1960s, which gained momentum in Darien, led by Stephen Mather's only daughter, Bertha.
I gained hands-on experience in planning and executing events such as donor receptions, board meetings, and family outreach days, which are essential to the success of a nonprofit. My responsibilities included coordinating with external partners, assisting with the event breakdown and setup, and preparing event materials.
Overall, this experience has strengthened my interest in making history more accessible and understanding how a nonprofit organization works. I came away from this experience more confident in my abilities to communicate and research, and I am eager to apply these skills to my studies and future career.