About Us

ALHFAM is incorporated in the State of Maryland as a non-profit tax-exempt (501[c][3])
organization, and is governed by a member-elected Board in accordance with member-approved bylaws.

ALHFAM draws its membership from a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations involved in the collection, preservation or interpretation of material culture, traditional skills and historical processes. Members include volunteers, reenactors, institutional staff and vendors of goods or services. ALHFAM’s original focus on farming and agriculture has expanded to embrace disciplines from architecture to zymurgy and many in between. ALHFAM maintains, and seeks to expand relationships with other museum, historical and interpretive organizations with related interests.

Services provided to members include publications, conferences, specialized instructional programs, electronic media, including a website and listserv, and support for regional affiliates. ALHFAM services assist members in fulfilling their professional responsibilities and improving the quality of their public offerings.

The Mission of ALHFAM

The Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) shares practical knowledge and skills among those who make history relevant to contemporary lives. We draw strength from our diverse network of members, sharing experience, research and passion for participatory learning.

ALHFAM Values and Guiding Principles

Values

Preservation and sharing of skills and knowledge

ALHFAM values and encourages the preservation and interpretation of historical skills and knowledge. This knowledge and these skills have not only been useful in the past but can be relevant to our lives today and in the future.

ALHFAM supports the growth and professionalization of members and member sites and supports this through conferences, publications, SkillClips, virtual workshops, etc.

Relevance

ALHFAM believes that the stories of our collective past still resonate in our lives today, informing and influencing the decisions of today and tomorrow.

Inclusive History

ALHFAM values the telling of everyone's history, reflecting the stories of the communities we serve. ALHFAM values the necessity of a diverse membership, of all backgrounds, identities, and regions, in achieving this objective of telling inclusive and accurate history.

Collaboration

ALHFAM values the power of collaboration, leveraging the knowledge and experiences within our own organization and other organizations and with our community partners.

Sustainability

We promote sustainable practices in the operation of ALHFAM events and support the membership with knowledge of sustainable practices for their operation.

Guiding Principles

  • Everyone's history has equal value and, at ALHFAM events, should be shared with participants with the same respect and attention to detail.
  • While some language and terms may be historically accurate, we will avoid language that may do more to divide rather than educate and inspire.
  • Skills should always be presented in context of their space and time, in order to give a fuller understanding of not only the process but how that skill was important to the people of the time and place where it was practiced.
  • ALHFAM values the interpretive technique of living history as a way to bring the stories and processes of the past to people of today.
  • ALHFAM’s main reason for being is to support our members, both individuals and institutions, in the important work of sharing history in a way that helps our guests understand the past, see its relevance to the present and imagine their own impact on the future.


ALHFAM

P.O. Box 308, Arlington, VT. 05250

 - info@alhfam.org

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