01/ 18, 2008	Contact:	Patricia Cosgrove, Museum Director
For Immediate Release		(253) 288-7437

A WHITE RIVER VALLEY MUSEUM RECEIVES TWO GRANTS FOR AUDIO TOURS, WOMEN’S HISTORY

Auburn’s Historical Museum Nets Almost $12,000 in Funding for Education and Improvements

AUBURN, Wash. – January 7, 2008 - The White River Valley Museum is the proud recipient of two grants from 4Culture and the Women’s History Consortium. The funds will be applied toward museum improvements and educational programs. Two grants totaling $11,910 will allow the museum to expand its award-winning programs and exhibits.

Generous funds totaling $7,745 from 4Culture’s Heritage Special Projects program will be used to produce museum audio tours. By combining sound effects, snippets of oral histories and brief scholarly introductions, audio wands will provide visitors with key facts about the museum’s award-winning permanent exhibits. Tour commentary will feature local voice talent and stories, including:

* Mae Yamada, Japanese-American elder and retired truck farmer will speak about farming, Japanese-American family life and internment during World War II.

* Rodger Campbell, Burlington Northern retiree who was literally the last employee at the Northern Pacific Railroad Yard in Auburn will talk about the huge number of trains that rattled through the valley and how everyone in Auburn was in some way connected to the railroad.

* Miss Edith Peterson, retired Auburn School District teacher will discuss teaching in one-room schools, family support of schools and why teachers often remained single.

Funds in the amount of $4,165 from the Washington Women’s Consortium will be put toward producing the educational women’s history program “Suffer for Beauty: Revealing Washington Women’s History through the Study of Undergarments.”

Inspired by one of the museum’s most popular exhibits, “Suffer for Beauty” will trace women’s history as seen through the undergarments they wore from 1890 to 1950. The customizable PowerPoint presentation will be designed to reflect historic women from different communities and geographic areas. As a result, different organizations will be able to easily produce and share a quality, highly entertaining women’s history program.

The audio tours are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008 and “Suffer for Beauty” will be available by June 2009. For more information about White River Valley Museum exhibits and programs or to make a donation, call 253-288-7433.


The White River Valley Museum is located in the Auburn Community Campus at Les Gove Park, at 918 H Street SE. Hours are 12 Noon, to 4 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays, and by appointment for group tours and research. The Museum will be closed for the holidays from December 20 to January 2. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children and seniors. Wednesdays are free for everyone. For more information call (253) 288-7433 or look us up on the web at www.wrvmuseum.org.