Museum of Early Trades & Crafts
Spring Newsletter 2026
NJ REV 250
It’s been a busy winter at METC as we kicked off our commemoration of NJ REV 250. Booked 20: Formations is on display in the Main Gallery. The pieces on display remind us that everything takes form or is formed, and even the most abstract thoughts, memories, and movements can be explored and made tangible by art. The Book Arts Roundtable collaborative project, E Pluribus Unum, the making of one out of many, is on display in The Vault. The last day to see this exhibit is April 18.
The NJ Revolutionary Sites prints of Lucille Hobbie that commemorated the 1976 bicentennial were on display in the windows of the Education Annex Window this past winter. The mobile tour (which was also available on our website) gave more information on the sites and how they look today.
Our 3-part Revolutionary War Series with Joel Farkas was a huge success, and our Education Department is busy putting the finishing touches on a Revolutionary War adult program for outreaches to libraries and adult centers. See page 6 for more information.
All the News That’s Fit to Print
Museum Magazine
The spring edition of AAM’s Magazine “Museum” includes an article entitled “Historic Walls, Modern Vision: Building a Roadmap for Restoration, Expansion, and Community Impact” written by our very own Deborah Farrar Starker! This article explores how vision, strategic planning, collaboration, and respect for heritage can enable small or mid museums to undertake major building projects. Check it out on our the website or on our facebook page.
News 12 New Jersey: Road Trip Close to Home
What are some of our favorite local road trip spots? METC, of course! The episode that featured METC will air later this month. You can catch the recap on their website or on our facebook page once it’s live.
NARM Magazine Spring Edition
Flip to the back page of this newsletter to see who is featured on the cover of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association Magazine Spring Edition.
From the Director
The generational appeal of museums is one of our greatest strengths. Over the years, museums have responded to societal changes, educational needs, current events, funding challenges, and historical perspectives and they continue to fulfill their missions and create environments that resonate with new audiences. Even when faced with multiple challenges, museums are nothing if not resilient arbiters of the times.
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts continues its focus on history education, research, public access, and community partnerships. Our collaborations with donors such as you help support the innovative and impactful programs which we deliver every day. This includes adopting new technologies for visitor experiences and collection management, developing educational field trip programs that align with New Jersey school curricula, and the on-going preservation and conservation of our historic building.
There is a direct link between your donation and the impact we have on our community, which includes increased participation by schools that require outside funding to benefit from educational field trips. Today, we are seeing more schools struggling with budget constraints, forcing them to cut programs that address the arts and humanities but your support directly addresses this. And for older adults living in senior communities, assisted living, or nursing homes, access to lifelong learning opportunities at METC keeps seniors engaged and informed, and your support also benefits them directly.
2025 Accomplishments:
• METC’s education programs reached nearly 7,000 individuals from ten counties throughout New Jersey
• We completed the upgrade and repair of The James Building’s historic 1899 Seth Thomas Clock
• Created a Scholarship Program for every student in Madison’s 3rd grade for field trips to METC
• Our exhibit “In the Kitchen” included rarely seen objects from our collection, now accessible through our Viewable Storage Facility
• We were awarded a grant from the NJ Historic Trust to begin investigative work on the conservation and repair of the Museum’s front entryway
• We became a community partner of North Jersey National Heritage Area Project
As you can see, we have experienced a great deal of growth over the past years as we extend our reach to make more relevant connections with people of all ages. This growth requires adaptability, integrating digital technology for interactive experiences while balancing physical, contemplative spaces and preserving our historic building for future generations.
We know your support for METC is driven by our shared values, specifically representation, diversity, and community impact; and it is our intention to continue to strengthen our bond with each donor, providing the experience that is both meaningful to y and fulfills our mission.
We are extremely grateful for your partnership, and I would gladly welcome a conversation about ways we can serve our public more fully. In the meantime, I hope you will consider a generous donation to METC this year that will help in sustaining operations, preserving artifacts for public accessibility and, of course, funding educational programming. Each donation is a direct investment in the preservation of our community heritage and a way to support the continued education of the public.
You can donate online at metc.org/donate or mail your check to METC at 9 Main Street, Madison NJ 07940.
Withgratitude,
Deborah
Farrar Starker, METC Executive Director
2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
For more information or to register please visit www.metc.org/events
April
28
—After Hours with the Daughters of the American Revolution
Join us after hours to hear Carrie Efinger, First Vice Regent of the Morristown Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Learn all about the founding of the DAR, the local Morristown chapter, and its ties to the American Revolution. Doors open at 6:30PM to view "The American Experience" exhibit and lecture begins at 7PM.
May 2—Makerspace SUPERHERO Edition
May 2nd is Superhero Day in Madison! Join us for a SUPER edition of Makerspace with superhero crafts, as well as our regular Makerspace activities including our 3D printer, build with Legos, make jewelry, experiment with our marble run and coding robots, and more!
Please note: Our last Makerspace of the 2025-2026 school year is June 6.
June 11 Luke Miller: Forging History
To compliment our Pop Up “Miller’s Station” (see page 5), s oldest and most beloved historical home, the Luke Miller House. Luke Miller, whose portrait hangs in the lower level of METC, was a major in the Continental Army. The Miller House was hospital weary officers, and General George Washington Luke
Note about the Downtown Concert Series:
For 2026, it was decided by the Downtown Development Commission, who sponsors the concerts on METC’s lawn, to relocate to The Madison Community Arts Center on Kings Road. This decision was made in conjunction with the Madison Police Department due to the logistics of closing off Green Village Road for safety reasons, and also to mitigate cancellations due to thunderstorms and extreme heat. The Arts Center has the capacity to hold both outdoor and indoor concerts. Trust us when we say we are as disappointed as you!
For updated information about this summer's concert schedule, visit the Arts Center: rosenet.org/1432/Arts-Center-Events
Give a warm METC welcome to our new staff
Finance Manager
Robyn is a CPA who graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Accounting. her career in public accounting, working in both the healthcare and nonprofit sectors. After leaving public accounting, Robyn focused on small businesses and nonprofit organizations for 20 years. In her free time, Robyn enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, running, reading, and cooking.
Margaux is a graduate of Hofstra University, holding a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Creative Arts Therapy. She also has a Teacher Certificate as an Art Teacher from William Paterson University. She has worked as an art teacher in public schools and special education schools in both New Jersey and Maryland. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees for the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum in Rahway. She currently attends Harvard University Extension School, pursuing her certification in Museum Studies. When she is not working, she is with her family doing whatever her children have scheduled. During her free time, she enjoys gardening or working on her artwork. If schedules align, she plays Dungeons & Dragons with friends.
River Alleyne—Museum Educator
River Alleyne is one of the new per diem educators at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. He graduated with his bachelor’s in history in 2025 and has have spent most of his career in outof-school education, so he’s very excited to be here! He has always loved museums and history, and is very excited to have an opportunity to share our resources and knowledge with the community, especially having grown up in the area.
Priscilla Perlatti Curatorial Assistant
Upcoming Exhibits
"The American Revolution Experience" in the Exhibit dates: April
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts and the Morristown Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution are proud to host The American Revolution Experience. Developed in collaboration with the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution, this innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
METC would like to thank the Morristown NSDAR chapter for its sponsorship of the exhibit.
“We the People” in the METC Education Annex Windows
April 18 June 5
The Revolutionary War brought together many different people for one common cause– freedom. Not everyone was on the same side, and not everyone agreed. In celebration of REV250, the art students of Morris County Vocational School imagine how individuals and groups reconcile these issues through their artwork, and what it truly means to be free.
“So You Say You Want a Revolution” in the Main Gallery
Opening May 30
In 1776, thirteen colonies broke away from British rule with the American Revolution. What began as a protest against taxation and absolute power became an experiment in democracy. The outcome reshaped the immediate lives of those living in the colonies, and the entire world in the centuries that followed. As a geographic crossroads, New Jersey was pushed and pulled by both British and Patriot forces, supplying sustenance, labor and support (or not) at different times during the conflict. So You Say You Want a Revolution invites you to explore these hardships and complexities as we trace the impact upon the everyday lives of New Jerseyans, as well as the path the revolution forged towards ideals of true equality.
Pop Ups in the Vault!
April 21 Miller’s Station
September 12 Life of a Soldier
November 11 Leddell Forge
Updates from our Education Annex
Spring is hopping with field trips as well as scout and adult outreach programs! This February, March, and April saw a significant increase in all our programing. To help us keep up with the programs, we have brought on 2 new per diem educators, River and Margaux, to the team.
The success of our “Book 4, get the 5th Free,” program special for our Adult Outreaches demonstrates how much people love a good deal. From Fort Lee to Edison, the educators are driving all over New Jersey to connect with communities and share knowledge about our state’s history.
School Programs
Field trips have been filling the museum most mornings. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, there has been an uptick in requests for our American Revolution and our Immigration programs. Both programs uniquely offer hands-on activities for students to learn about real people who lived in New Jersey in the late 1700s and early 1800s. By discussing and thinking about the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of other people, the students are able to understand those with different lived experiences.
Scout Programs
Nearly every week there has been a girl or boy scout troop visiting the Education Annex to earn their respective badges. Many Junior Girl Scouts have earned their Detective Badges by practicing their observation and problem-solving skills to help us find the missing METC artifact. Additionally, we are piloting a “sleep under” with a Boy Scout Troop! For this program, the scouts will participate in one program then camp out in the annex until 9pm.
Adult Programs
From 2025 to 2026, the total number of booked adult outreach programs has nearly doubled. For the 250th, we are also adding a new adult outreach program on the American Revolution. It will be available in May and focus on civilian experiences and perspectives during the war and discuss specific people from New Jersey who were impacted by the war.
Summer is coming and …WORKSPACE WEDNESDAY IS BACK!
Back by popular demand, Workspace Wednesday will keep your summer doldrums (and summer slide) away! With expanded programming, Workspace is available every Wednesday from June 25 until August 27.
Morning Sessions will run from 10AM-12PM for caregivers and children under 6. Afternoon Drop Off Sessions will run 2-4PM for children ages 7-11. Join us in our collaborative workspace in the METC Education Annex to build, create, and explore!
Camp Field Trips
This summer, METC Educators will go to camp! We are thrilled to announce that we will host camp field trips and offer outreaches to camp. Camp field trips include:
• Engaging and fun with hands-on crafts and activities.
• Learning opportunities with authentic materials and objects.
• Programs for all ages to discover a lifelong love of learning.
Learn more at metc.org/camp-programs
Are you a camp that would be interested in coming to METC for a field trip? Email education@metc.org to find out more!
Thank You for Your Support*
New & Renewing Members and Donors to our Annual Appeal*
Muhammed Meraj Ahmed
Axelrod Family
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In the News
