Featured Volunteer Positions

These are the programs with the greatest need for volunteers currently.

Education Programs

One of PMH’s most entertaining and rewarding programs gives the opportunity to support schoolchildren on a well respected educational fieldtrips.  No experience is necessary – just enthusiasm for working with children.

• Junior Docents – The Junior Docent program gives 7th- and 8th-grade students the chance to give an interactive tour for 4th-graders.  Junior Docents learn leadership and public speaking skills while exploring the history of Pasadena and its culture at the turn of the century.   Adult volunteers play an important supervisory and support role for the Junior Docents.  Tours are on Wednesday and Friday mornings, between 9:00 am and noon.  Photo at right shows a Junior Docent leading a tour of the Fenyes Mansion.

• My Masterpieces – Students experience a special field trip to PMH, focusing on the art collection of Eva Scott Fenyes.  They also learn about the process of making a silent movie and create their own sketches in the garden.  PUSD’s My Masterpieces program won a 2010 Golden Bell Award for its quality arts education and model of school-community collaboration.  Tours are on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, between 9:30 and 11:30 am.

Gallery Hosts

These are the smiling faces in the History Center Galleries.  They welcome visitors and help them understand the layout and content of our exhibitions.  Gallery Hosts receive training on each show, and often answer questions for visitors.   No advance training is necessary; this is a good introductory volunteer position.

Volunteer Positions at Pasadena Museum of History

Docents
Museum docents guide tours of the Fenyes Mansion, History Center Galleries, Finnish Folk Art Museum, and grounds.  Their extensive knowledge adds depth and breadth to visitors’ experience of the museum.  With their in-depth training, docents learn to personalize their tours for a wide range of visitors.  Docent positions are recommended for volunteers with a strong interest in history and the ability to make a regular time commitment to educating the public.

Special Events
Many volunteers take an active role in PMH’s unique educational and cultural events.  Specific positions vary according to the event, but they often include registration, distributing food and drink, assisting with tours, and clean-up.

Outreach & Volunteer Ambassadors

Earn credit for volunteer hours by distributing information about Museum programs, either at booths of cultural events or simply by networking with community organizations and providing information on upcoming programs of interest to them.

Digital PR

We invite anyone interested to serve on a committee to make recommendations for PMH’s website and online presence.  This is also an opportunity to earn volunteer hours by doing research at home.

Research Library & Archives
Volunteers in our extensive archives collection assist Reading Room visitors and work to catalogue and preserve artifacts.

Museum Store Assistants
Volunteers in the Store play a vital role by greeting visitors as they enter the museum, facilitating customers’ purchases, and organizing merchandise.  Store Assistants are often on their feet for two hours or more.

Garden & Grounds
Enjoy healthy outdoor work by participating in the upkeep of the Fenyes Estate Garden.

Office Assistants
A dedicated group of volunteers offers all types of behind-the-scenes assistance, including data entry, clerical assistance with bulk projects, and phone support.

For additional details, fill out the volunteer information request form.

**********Click here to view the 2010 PMH Volunteer Video**********