Stefanie O’Connor is turning back the hands of time in Geauga County while also promoting a bright future for the Geauga Historical Society & Century Village Museum in Burton.
Stefanie O’Connor is turning back the hands of time in Geauga County while also promoting a bright future for the Geauga Historical Society & Century Village Museum in Burton.
As the society and museum’s new curator, archivist and grant writer, O’Connor has introduced a host of successful events aimed at preserving and educating.
“Century Village is going in a good direction in teaching new cultures and history to the people in our community,” O’Connor said. “In order to be able to know our history today, we must look at the past to teach our future generations. There are so many things to see here on the grounds of the Geauga County Historical Society & Century Village Museum. With 25 historical buildings and over 250,000 artifacts, Century Village is a premiere destination for people to visit and learn about history.”
O’Connor’s passion is evident during a recent weekday morning walk-through on the sprawling grounds, as she shared how all of the buildings were used during the end of last month’s Civil War Encampment, which attracted many visitors.
“I have a passion for history and believe the Geauga County Historical Society & Century Village Museum is an amazing place for people of any age to learn about how the pioneers lived and worked from the 18th century until the early 20th century — there is so much history going on during these time periods,” O’Connor said.
Her own fascination with history stems from a deep curiosity about how people lived in the past — their daily routines, attire, sustenance and occupations.
“I firmly believe that understanding our history enriches our present lives by providing a perspective on our ancestors’ experiences,” O’Connor said. “This knowledge, I think, equips us to make better choices for our future.”
Growing up in Alliance, her grandfather, Donald O’Connor, played a considerable role in shaping how she respects history today.
“He always told me stories of how he grew up, what his family did, the people he met and their education,” O’Connor said.
She lives in Mineral City, a two-hour commute each way to her job in Burton.
She graduated with honors from Kent State University – Stark campus in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history and geology.
In 2016, O’Connor interned at the Massillon Museum, working with their Native American collection and accessing over 10,000 artifacts.
“I was part of the outreach program for Massillon Museum, bringing education to children, as well as a contracted collections assistant working with the Nobles Pond Native American Collection, performing various duties that include photography, labeling, loan agreements, research, computer software programs and customer service,” she said.
Last year, she received her Master of Arts degree in history with a concentration in public history.
“My professional interests focus on grant writing, research, archival/artifact preservation, archival/artifact conservation, exhibits/exhibitions and event planning,” she said.
Her current projects include publishing an educational research paper titled, “The Importance of Teaching Native American History to Non-Native Students in Secondary Schools.”
In addition, she serves as a historian/archivist for the Bolivar Area Historical Society, a member/volunteer of the Pike Township and Magnolia historical societies, a volunteer for Warren Township Community Center making wreaths and grave markers for veterans in the community and volunteer for the American Legion Post 519 cleaning and decorating their veteran’s memorial.
Her vision as curator for GCHSCV starts with three words — preservation, research and communication.
Preservation encompasses advocating for the collections entrusted to the historical society and museum and ensuring these family artifacts are adequately kept for future generations to enjoy.
Research focuses on investigating, interpreting, collecting and arranging information and objects necessary to support the educational and public service responsibilities of the GCHSCV through exhibitions or targeted educational programs, such as an “Underground Railroad and Abolitionist Movement” in Geauga County or the untold stories of the men and women who served in the military with the use of clothing from the Revolutionary War to present.
Communication aims to build rapport with the community and surrounding communities through social and cultural engagement.
“Preservation and restoration of the collections at Century Village Museum are costly,” O’Connor said. “To ensure that the collections are appropriately kept in the future, we will hold more fundraisers and send out more letters to obtain donors and sponsors so that future generations can experience this amazing place of historical treasure.”
They need volunteers and are accepting donations from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
“There are many ways to get involved with Century Village Museum, such as becoming a docent, helping with cleaning, helping with artifacts, working at the ticket booth during events, helping set up events, etc.,” O’Connor said.
“A Step into History” speakers series starts at Century Village Auburn Church on June 23 from 2-4 p.m. For more information, call 440-834-1492 or visit info@geaugahistorical.org.
