Real Lives. Real Stories. Real Worcester.
Volunteers are an important part of Worcester Historical Museum's staff. In addition to leading tours and programs, docents have a unique opportunity to help interpret Worcester's past to visitors from all over the world.
No special background is needed to be a docent. Interested applicants should be enthusiastic about history, willing to learn, at ease with public speaking, and comfortable with groups of all ages. To become a docent you must complete a seven-week training course, give a two-year commitment to volunteer ten hours a month, and be available 1:00-4:00 PM, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday or for specially scheduled tours, and occasional evening and weekend programming. Docent training is free and open to the public. To apply for a docent position please e-mail volunteer@worcesterhistory.net.
Please find the required docent training curriculum and course schedule below. All classes are held on Wednesdays at Salisbury Mansion from 1:00-3:00 PM.
April 18 Orientation & getting to know you
• William D. Wallace, Executive Director, will give an orientation to Worcester Historical Museum and Salisbury Mansion, including a tour of the mansion.
• Docents will introduce themselves and highlight points of interest, curiosity, or confusion following the tour.
• Course outline and expectations presented.
April 25 Architecture/Salisbury to 1829
• Holly V. Izard, Curator and Historian, will outline architectural style from the colonial to Greek Revival period and compare Salisbury Mansion to typical houses of the time.
• Holly V. Izard will present the Salisbury family through Stephen’s death in 1829.
May 2 Reshaping of everyday life/Salisbury 1829-1851
• Jack Larkin, Research Fellow, American Antiquarian Society, Affiliate Professor of History, Clark University, and Chief Historian Emeritus, Old Sturbridge Village, will present an overview of everyday life, culture, and society mid-8th-mid 19th centuries.
• Thomas S. Michie, Senior Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will present on decorative arts in Salisbury Mansion.
May 9 It didn’t always look like this! / Decorative Arts
• Marylou Davis, Marylou Davis, Inc., will discuss the ins and outs of restoration from the perspective of a participant in the process.
• Holly V. Izard will present family through Mrs. Salisbury’s death.
May 16 Investing in Community/Touring in the 21st century
• William D. Wallace will discuss Stephen Salisbury II and III and how they shaped and contributed to community.
• Educator will present on the nuts and bolts of giving guided tours.
May 23 Hands-on / wrap-up
• Mary Garniewicz, retired engineer, current educator and SM docent, will give a guided tour for children/school-groups.
• Marsha Ballantyne, retired nurse and current SM docent, will give a guided tour for the general visitor.
• Group discussion about what participants have learned, topics they feel need more coverage, areas that seem unclear.
May 30 Time to try it
• Participants come prepared to collectively give a tour or tours, each presenting on one or two of the spaces to the group.
• Group discussion, create “to do” list to fill in any information gaps, technique needs etc.
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