Lover of old things finds a niche with Waterbury’s historical society
November 22, 2024 | By Cheryl Casey | Correspondent
Stacey Askew is the Waterbury Historical Society's new collections manager. Photo by Cheryl Casey
A self-described lover of old things, Randolph resident Stacey Askew has found a new calling surrounded by Waterbury’s historical treasures.
The new part-time collections manager for the Waterbury Historical Society, Askew is settling into her new role with enthusiasm, overseeing the many artifacts, documents, and photos in the society’s care.
“I have a fascination for local history and I love old things,” she confessed.
Describing historical societies as “the attic for local communities,” Askew said discovering what has been tucked away in the attic is one of her favorite parts of the job. “The first thing you always do is look at all the stuff—what it is, where it is,” she said. To her expert eye, Waterbury Historical Society “has been doing a great job collecting family stuff.”
Askew’s behind-the-scenes role is key to the organization’s mission. She will handle the cataloging and storage of all current and new items in the society’s collection and document items newly gifted to the society. The other significant part of her job will be to assist community members and researchers in navigating the collection archives and respond to their inquiries about Waterbury history.
With a master’s degree in library science from the University of Buffalo and a certificate in digital archives and records management from San Jose State University, Askew brings expertise and experience to the role. She has previously worked for the New York Public Library, Baker & Taylor—a private company that partners with libraries to support collections and services development—and the New Jersey State Archives. While living in New Jersey, Askew also volunteered at the Hunterdon County Historical Society.
Since she’s started in the new position, Askew is splitting her work week between Waterbury and Montpelier, where she has been the corporate archivist at National Life Group for the last year and a half. It was at National Life where “a Waterbury resident clued me in there was an opening” at the historical society, Askew explained.
So far, Askew acknowledges that her biggest challenge is time. “I work a full day, but only two days a week. I could definitely be here five days a week doing this,” she admitted.
The society has over 12,000 items in its possession, with much of it still needing to be inventoried and digitally organized. Askew’s job is funded for up to 20 hours per week through hisptorical society fundraising.
When not cataloging and caring for local history, Askew likes to spend time making art, with collage being her medium of choice. “I’m probably inspired by a lot of the materials that I see,” she said, adding “There’s so many really cool print items out there.”
Following her passion for history, Askew is also working on family genealogy, admitting that “Some of my relatives were really cool and historical people.”
Until recently, Askew’s big project in her spare time was sorting through some 15,000 books that came with the house she and her husband, a nonprofit finance director, purchased in Randolph nearly five years ago.
“The gentleman that bought the house before us set up a used bookstore in his barn,” she explained, sharing a fateful twist. “We discovered we had powderpost beetles and so it had to be treated, and we had to empty out the barn,” Askew lamented, explaining how many of the books weren’t worth salvaging. Those that were saved now occupy shelves in their house.
“Now I have a big empty barn which I want to turn into a roller rink,” Askew declared.
Reach Askew with questions about the Waterbury Historical Society collection with an email to waterburycollectionsmanager@gmail.com or at the Waterbury History Center, 28 N. Main St., Mondays and Fridays whenever the Waterbury town offices are open (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or otherwise posted.
Cheryl Casey is president of the Waterbury Historical Society.