May 2026 Gazette

May 28
4 min read

Dear Friends and Members of the Museum,

The “merry month of May” is very merry indeed at the South County Museum! While we’re not yet open to the general public, our calendar is filling up with special events to kick off our season—and with classes, lectures, and exciting celebrations come June. Have your planner handy …

Remembering Jim Transue

Many of you will remember Jim Transue, an incredibly dedicated SCM volunteer. Jim gave his time and skills to everything from writing this newsletter to painstakingly revising our collections nomenclature in order to bring our records into the twenty-first century. We will be hosting a celebration of his life in our Metz Exhibition Hall on Saturday, May 16 from 1 PM - 3 PM. If you’re one of the many people whose lives Jim touched during his time at the Museum, we welcome you to join us to celebrate his service and generosity.

Call for Volunteers!

Are you a current volunteer? Have you ever thought of volunteering for the Museum? Either way, please join us for one of two Volunteer Information Sessions! One will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 6 PM. The other will be on Saturday, May 23, at 10:30 AM. Newcomers will learn about what volunteering for us entails, and returning volunteers will get important updates about changes and plans for the 2026 season. Both events will be held in our Metz Exhibition Hall (the big yellow building). Bring a friend, enjoy light refreshments, and learn about what we do! For any questions and to RSVP, please contact our volunteer coordinator at erin@southcountymuseum.org.

Opening Day: Celebration of American Craft

We hope you’re ready to join us for our Opening Day on May 30th from 10 AM - 4 PM! We’ll be showing off all the best our museum has to offer: exhibits, craft demonstrations, beautiful walking trails. And yes, the Yard Sale is back by popular demand! Early birds can come at 9 AM to kick off this major fundraiser. The sale will wrap up by 2 PM. Browse antiques and treasures donated from across RI, and support the Museum when you take something home with you. Discounted admission with any purchase!

Wednesday Evening Lectures

The start of our season means the return of Wednesday evening lectures! On June 3rd at 6 PM, curator Erin Shaw presents “‘Hand, Will, and Mind Together’: Home Economics, ‘Handwork,’ and the Role of Craft in American Life.” The phrase “home economics” may conjure images of bored schoolgirls and frumpy aprons, but at the turn of the twentieth century it was a lively movement with a surprisingly radical vision for American life. Come learn why home economists believed craft education was essential for Americans’ intellectual and moral development—and consider whether their ideas have anything to offer the twenty-first century.

And save the dates for more 6:00 lectures and learning opportunities on June 17, July 8, and July 15. Museum staff and visiting fellows will have plenty to share about historical spinning, shoemaking, and textile printing as we celebrate American craft this Semiquincentennial year. Admission to Wednesday lectures is $10 for the general public and free to museum members.

Saturday Morning Craft Classes

We hope you’re ready to spend your Saturdays at the South County Museum! Our School of Craft will be offering at least one class at 10:30 every Saturday, with discounted admission to members. The fun begins on June 6th with a class on a timeless skill: mending. Bring a garment or two in need of some TLC and learn how to “Make Do and Mend”!

Join us again on June 13th for our first Historical Hand Sewing class. Learn to sew an eighteenth-century pocket, a separate accessory women wore tied around their waists. (No such thing as skirts without pockets when you add your own!) On June 27, you can choose your own adventure: a learn-to-sew needlebook project from the 1910s, or beginner blacksmithing in an Open Forge class. And stay tuned for more Saturday classes to come!

Spin for Liberty: A Semiquincentennial Spinning Bee

As for Saturday June 20th, we hope you’ll mark your calendars to join us for our Semiquincentennial Spinning Bee from 10 AM to 4 PM! Men may have taken up arms to fight against British rule, but women went to their spinning wheels, making homespun cloth to boycott British goods. Their “spinning bees” were lively competitions to see who could spin the most in a day. Join us for this event for all ages, featuring the talents of the Rhode Island Spinners’ guild. Watch fiber arts demonstrations, attend short talks, and try

your hand at spinning yourself. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a trip to the eighteenth century on our beautiful grounds!

We hope you’re as excited for the start of our season as we are! In our digital age, we’re increasingly realizing the value of a place where people can gather in person, create with their hands, and engage their minds in community with others. Come unplug at the South County Museum. We can’t wait to see you!