Friends of the Germantown Colony Museum

As mentioned in previous blog posts, the Germantown Colony Museum has become part of the Secretary of State’s museum system. This is an exciting development as it provides a chance for the museum to finally have an adequate source of funding for its operations, something that has been lacking for the 35 years the museum has been in existence. In fact, the first project planned for the site by the Secretary of State’s office will involve an expenditure of funds greater than the combined operating budget of the museum for its entire 35 years of life. I’ve also mentioned that perhaps there might be some instability in the future of this funding, as Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, who created the museum system and along with Representative Jean Doerge orchestrated the state takeover of Germantown, is running for Lieutenant Governor. The prospect of Dardenne moving over to the Lt. Gov’s office could leave Germantown and the other museums in his system (including the Eddie Robinson Museum in Grambling, the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, the Mansfield Female College Museum in Mansfield, among others) as orphans. However, since the Lieutenant Governor also runs his own museum system, the Louisiana State Museum system, I trust that none of the museum will suffer if Dardenne’s is successful in gaining the Lieutenant Governor’s seat. The real threat to these museums is the ongoing budget crisis in the State of Louisiana (one that has many of us “antsy” about our own job futures), so all the skies aren’t blue, but even with the problems, Germantown has the brightest future it has seen since its founding as a settlement, back in 1835.


The reason for my blog post is to make folks aware of a significant meeting tomorrow. Anyone who has worked with a museum knows that the real key to success is gaining support from the public. For private museums, such as the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, the key is getting capable management and then getting as many members as possible to make the community feel it is “their” museum. At Dorcheat we have been fortunate with leadership from Thad Andress and the wonderful job Schelley Brown has done as Director. In the case of Germantown, the management and the basic funding is not a local task – it comes from the state government; however, it is equally important if not more so, for there to be an outreach arm for the museum. Tomorrow, Cliff Deal, the Director of Museums for the Secretary of State’s office will be in Minden to help set the stage for creating such an arm. He will be present for an organizational meeting of what has been tentatively called the Friends of the Germantown Colony Museum. This will be the group that spread the word in the community and beyond about the museum and provides the volunteer base so necessary for success. Cliff is supposed to bringing the plans for the new visitor center that will be constructed at the Colony. To me, that’s a very important step as physical progress and investment makes it clear that the state is committed to the project.

So, if you have the time and have any inclination toward helping make our underappreciated treasure, the Germantown Colony Museum, a booming success, please consider coming to the meeting. It will be held at 3 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, June 3 at the Minden Chamber of Commerce Offices in Minden. I hope to see you there.