Welcome to the final Maddie Monday. For those who do not know, my name is Maddie Durham, and I am about to begin my junior year at Miami University. I was this summer’s Warren County Records Center and Archives intern, and I gained a plethora of skills and insight through this internship. This was my first experience working in county government, but I quickly learned a lot about archival work. Despite my struggles with reading eighteenth-century handwriting and inexperience in county government, I feel that I am leaving with better research skills and a love for public history!
As I have written in my weekly blog posts, my main project this summer was the Auditor’s Exhibit. I assisted with the research, and I initially had a slow start. I struggled to find a story in the Auditor’s Office’s history, but I luckily worked with a great team and had past Records Center exhibits for reference. After deciding on the theme “Property, Proficiency, and Protecting You: Priorities of the Warren County Auditor”, I was tasked with researching all twenty-nine Warren County Auditors and the duties of their office. I used Commissioners’ Journals, the Western Star newspaper, and Ohio Secretary of State Annual Reports for the bulk of this research. Additionally, the Genealogical Society compiled obituaries of past Auditors, and their work was a great help in my research process. Using these resources, I created an updated list of County Auditors with citations, short biographies for the exhibit, and write-ups about the overall history of the Warren County Auditor’s Office. I also had the opportunity to assist in the design of the exhibit by searching for templates and taking photos of antique weights and measures kits. Overall, the process of creating the exhibit made me a savvier historical researcher and writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with the Records Center team.
In addition to the Auditor’s Office exhibit, I manually processed probate dockets. This was a great opportunity to learn about physical preservation and the process of organizing records. I was also tasked with double-checking an online Commissioners’ Journal log which taught me the importance of patience and accuracy. I also caught glimpses of the everyday tasks of my supervisor, Tori Otten, and my other co-workers. Whether I was watching Tori assist researchers or Jen speak with other Warren County government departments, it was beneficial to see the in-and-outs of work in archives and public history.
As I begin my junior year at Miami University, I am beginning to plan for graduate school and life after college. My internship at the Warren County Records Center and Archives has given me valuable skills for my future career and has solidified my love of history and archival work. I loved getting to speak with patrons every day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with such fun and talented staff. While I am sad to leave the Warren County Records Center & Archives, I look forward to exploring the world of archives further, and I am grateful for the Warren County Records Center team for a great summer!
Warren County Records Center & Archives 