Fall 2026 Newsletter Announc METC G ing ala
In this
Issue
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From the Director
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Education & Curatorial Updates and Intern Spotlight
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Upcoming Events and Exhibits
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Thank you
REVOLUTIONARY REVELRY
Join us on October 15 for “Revolutionary Revelry”
METC will host its annual Gala dinner to raise funds to support all educational programming in New Jersey on Thursday, October 15 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park. This exceptional edition of our annual gala commemorates America’s 250th with music, food, and special guest performances of Revolutionary vignettes by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. The event will also feature emcee Jim Conroy and music by Simple Gifts. The evening will include many opportunities to fund educational scholarship programs through our Silent Auction, Wine Pull, and Paddle Raise, where guests can choose a level of support for schools, senior adult facilities, and organizations that serve people living with disabilities. Early bird tickets are $250 and prices increase to $275 after October 1. Tickets for our event are available online at metc.org/gala The Board of Trustees of METC is grateful to our early event sponsors and thank them for supporting our upcoming benefit dinner. Our generous lead sponsors include: Edward Jones, Gary & Liz Fisch / Gary’s Wine and Marketplace, Benjamin F. Edwards, Janet & James Foster, Madison Area YMCA, Patricia & Mark Morgan, Deborah Farrar Starker & Dr. Isaac Starker, Senator Anthony Bucco, Jeff & JoJo Gertler, Madison Honda, Dr. Dennis Lowenthal & Dr. Sharon Selinger, Irene Maroney & Claudio Bergamasco, Tyler Merson Home Consulting, Nisivoccia LLP, Stacy & Toni Russo, Becky Moody, Provident Bank, and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
We hope you will join us in support of our ongoing commemoration of our nation’s 250th as we continue our efforts to strengthen civic literacy for all people. Through our many educational programs, we have woven together a variety of voices and sources to tell the stories of our enduring democratic ideals. Page 1
From the Director: They Made a Movie in Our Museum This August, after months of emails, calls, and site visits with Netflix, our little museum was turned into a movie set. It sounds glamorous and fun; and for the most part it was. I was in awe of the production crew who descended upon us at 7am on a rainy Monday like an army and proceeded to turn our space into something only previously imagined in the set designer’s eye. I initially had reservations about letting a major film studio into our space; but after some very friendly negotiations we felt comfortable with their vision and their assurances about the care they would take with our 1899 building and the historic objects that reside within. The premise was that our museum would grace the big screen transformed into a small French textile and quilt museum; not such a stretch, I initially thought. After all, we had intricately stenciled walls, Gothic arches, and elegant ironwork throughout. As the production crew brought in stunning French Provincial chairs, tapestries, distressed furniture, desks, and carpeting, they slowly altered the entire feel of the place. The result was a lovely fantasized version of a museum. While we would never have deep plush carpeting, chairs with fabric casually draped over them, or fine china holding antique lace bobbins —the vibe was gorgeous. This is, after all, the magic of making movies that involves artistic license to create not just a visual image but also an atmosphere that helps the actors transport themselves to a different place entirely. The level of detail and the days of demanding work by the production crew that go into transforming a small space for a 4minute scene is truly remarkable. As the set designer and her team were completing the magical metamorphosis, the tech crew arrived with miles of cables, lighting rigs I had never seen before, and monster sized sound boards and monitors. Using every nook and cranny of our small historic building, these professionals managed to have the museum ready for its closeup in only a few days. The day of filming was long. I mean very, very long. The crew arrived at 5am to add last minute touches, adjust the set, change some scenery, add more lights, secure space for the talent, and scurry around like a hive of bees ready to do the queen’s bidding. And outside the museum there was a spectacle in itself. A 50’ crane outfitted with powerful lights that could turn midnight into a sunny day was stationed on the street and tents were erected to house more lighting, sound, and other equipment all overseen by an army of techs. More lights placed on the other side of the building and a system of generator powered ducts that blew icy cold air into the museum (lest the actors show a bit of sweat on their brow) completed the set up. And amid all this organized chaos, there was Adam Sandler who stars in the film and is also one of the producers. This means he had a lot of input on scenes, locations, and the overall production. Adam is as funny, genuine, and nice as you would imagine, and he remained on site throughout the entire day. He was graciously chatting with me and my staff (the house), making several forays into the hot August weather to greet hundreds of fans who had lined the streets for hours, but remained focused on the work of producing a film. One minute he was talking quietly to an actor about a scene and the next he was singing and telling jokes.
As the last pieces of “the set” were removed, and our small museum returned to normal, there was both a sense of regret in saying goodbye to the crew, the actors, and the excitement of being even a small part of this film, but also a relief to get back to work we do as an educational history museum. I was impressed with the collaboration, organization, and commitment each person brought to this project. It made me realize that running a museum is a little bit like directing a film, albeit on a much smaller scale. We too have a crew of professionals that transform an idea into a visual exhibition which can only be realized with a story, a vision, and strong teamwork. We hope the publicity results in more visitors, a few generous donors, or just increased interest in the role that museums play in the cultural community, but we definitely had an experience that will last a lifetime. Page 2
2025 BY THE NUMBERS 272
4,063
185,853
24,000
Members and Donors
Social Media Followers
Post Impressions
Website Visitors
610
5,248
961
135
Attendees for Adult Programs
Students served in Field Trips & School Outreaches
Attendees in Children’s Programs
Attendees for Boy and Girl Scout Programs
Movie Magic vs. the Main Gallery
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Education Updates The educators, volunteers, and interns in the Education Department have stayed busy this summer with our weekly Workspace Wednesdays and a record-high number of adult outreach programs. We piloted a new American Revolution outreach lecture and are please to annouce it is now a regular program! It focuses on how civilians and the average New Jerseyan was affected by the conflict and disruption of the American Revolution. The Education Department is excited for the 2026-27 school year and have already booked multiple field trips for this fall and spring.
Curatorial Updates
In late spring, the Curatorial Department installed several exhibits related to REV250 and worked on numerous collectionrelated projects such as: updating the Education Collection, cleaning and rehousing textiles, mapping Viewable Storage space, and prepping for the 2027 exhibit cycle. The curatorial team accomplished much work with the assistance of three interns during these projects.
Farewell to Our Summer Volunteers & Interns
Jonah Feldman is a senior at American University who will graduate with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in History. Working at the METC has provided him with invaluable information and lots of experience on how to educate people on the topics that he is passionate about. Aside from his love of geography and history, he spends his free time playing and designing board and card games! Nikola Cooperman is graduating this year and hopes to pursue her Masters in Library and Information Sciences with a concentration in archives or academic libraries. Knowing the history of objects makes her feel emotionally connected across time. Objects like ours that remind her that so much of our modern-day archival and collections materials exist today because someone, somewhere, decided it was worth keeping.
Michaela Day is a second year graduate student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, graduating with a master's degree in Fashion and Textiles Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice this May. Her focus is on fiber arts, crafts, and dress throughout New Jersey history, so METC was the perfect fit. She spent most of her internship caring for the textiles collection which included researching and rehousing objects. Alina George is a student at Madison High School and has always enjoyed finding creative ways to connect with her community. At METC, she supported both education and marketing by developing ideas for hands-on activities and creating social media to introduce more people to the museum. Outside of the museum, she is involved in music, dance, student leadership, and community service.
Lucas Librizzi is a rising sophomore at the Delbarton school where he is a student ambassador and is on both the winter and spring track teams. He enjoys playing and watching football, as well as spending time with family and friends. Kaia Killian, a senior at Parsippany High School, interned with the Curatorial Department in May and June and worked on various collections and exhibit related projects. (not pictured)
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Calendar of Events
For more information or to register please visit metc.org/events
Commemoration Events for the 250th continue all year long!
Bottle Hill Day on October 3 is one for the history books! Join us for a special edition of Bottle Hill Day where METC is transformed into 18th century New Jersey. Visit with George and Martha Washington, watch the 3rd New Jersey Blues, and immerse yourself in a variety of daily life activities and crafts including Basket Weaving, Cooking, Spinning, Native American Interpretation, and more! Fall Lectures:
September 17: General Robert Erskine: Mapmaker and Minemaster for the American Revolution
Join Billy Neumann, as he delves into the life of mapmaker and minemaster Robert Erskine. Erskine aided the revolution by creating obstructions to British transit up the Hudson River. Known as as the “forgotten general”, he created military maps for the Continental Army at the behest of General George Washington. October 21: Haunted History of New Jersey
Join historian Greg Caggiano for a look at the "other side" of history. As a seasoned paranormal investigator, Greg has always been interested in things that go bump in the night at historic sites in New Jersey. November 12: The Lenape & Revolutionary New Jersey
The Revolution didn't just set Patriot against Loyalist; it was a brutal civil war that also divided America's Indigenous nations. Join historian Henry Crouse, as he discusses the Lenape, New Jersey's Indigenous inhabitants, and their role in the complicated cataclysmic conflict that birthed the United States.
Fall Workshops:
September 26: Afternoon with an Artist: Reverse Glass Painting with Mickey Waring
In this workshop, participants will learn the unique logic of working in reverse—applying fine highlights and foreground details first, then layering mid-tones and backgrounds to create a luminous, protected finished work. November 14: Afternoon with an Artist: Kids Edition Puppet Workshop with Mickey Waring
Turn ordinary materials into extraordinary characters! Explore creativity through hands on art and storytelling. Fall Pop Up Exhibits in the Vault:
Now on Display: A Visit to Elizabethtown, Circa 1776
Elizabethtown was at the forefront of the Revolutionary War and home to Alexander Hamilton, Elias Boudinot, and Shepard Kollak among other notable revolutionaries. View rare objects and artifacts related to these early patriots, on display August through November. Coming in November: In the Ranks
Experience the life of a Revolutionary patriot soldier through a unique collection of reenactment props, generously loaned from the Second New Jersey Regiment. On display until January 2027.
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Thank You For Your Support New & Renewing Members and Donors to our Annual Appeal* Dennis & Denise Bone Suzanne G. Bowles David & Judy Casey Friends of E. Louise Childs Memorial Library Gregory Clare Friends of the Clark Library Jeanne Eisele Gary & Liz Fisch / Gary’s Wine and Marketplace Claudia Flores James & Janet Foster Franklin Township Public Library Stephen Gray & Kathleen Ulrich Scott & Nancy Guempel Marcia & Bob Halgren Andrew Hickman & Samantha Pozner Nina Hoban John & Pamela Hogan Kristen Jankowski Catherine Keim Jefferson & Karen Kirby Krista Klein Frank & Pauline Lang Alan Levitan Jesse Lipson Dennis Lowenthal & Sharon Selinger David & Sylvia Luber Madison Public Library Millburn Free Public Library Bonnie Monte Rebecca Moody Northern New Jersey Community Foundation Rahway Public Library Saddle Brook Free Public Library Kathryn J. Sena Andrea Shenocca Springfield Free Public Library Summit Free Public Library William & Sandi Sweeney Margie & Samuel Ticknor Marie Toto Kathleen & Brian Underwood Union Free Public Library Wanaque Public Library William Jeanes Memorial Library Ruth Zowader *4-13-2026 through 8-26-2026
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts founded by Edgar & Agnes Land in 1969 with their original collection of over 8,000 artifacts. Our Vision Sharing the past, imagining the future. Our Mission To inspire a connection with New Jersey’s history, culture, trades, and crafts. Acknowledgements METC gratefully acknowledges generous funding from: The Fred W. Bruehne Trust • Borough of Madison • The Charles L. Read Foundation • Children's Foundation of the Oranges • Hyde & Watson Foundation • Madison Rotary • Madison Downtown Development Commission • Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation • Morris County Historic Preservation Trust • National Endowment for the Humanities • New Jersey Council for the Humanities • The Park Avenue Foundation • Provident Bank • New Jersey Historic Trust • Morris Arts
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts receives an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. METC Board of Trustees Patricia C. Morgan, Chair Tyler Merson, Secretary Irene Maroney, Treasurer Martin Barbato Andrew B. Boles Jeff Gertler Valerie Librizzi Shea Richardson Gary Ruckelshaus Michael Schloff Silvina Traba Virginia Wilson Ex-Officio The Honorable Bob Conley, Mayor of Madison METC Staff Deborah Farrar Starker Jefferson W. Kirby Executive Director Elizabeth Quay Deputy Director Claudette Stecher-Lopez Curator of Collections Robyn Ives Finance Manager Amy Reed Communications Manager Isabella Sangaline Museum Educator Brooke Figueiredo Museum Educator Stanley Ramirez Museum Assistant Katie Riso Curatorial Assistant Priscilla Perlatti Curatorial Assistant Patron Services Josh Sloan Emma Young Part-Time Educators Kathleen Brennan Barrett River Alleyne Margaux Braun
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