As 2010 draws to a close, we look back at the progress and improvements at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace, some of the most notable have been the Conservation Assessment Program, Manuscript Appraisal and Strategic Planning Sessions.

The Conservation Assessment Program provided us with two museum assessors that evaluated the structure and collections of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace. We can now take the information they provided and develop a plan to correct and improve some areas for increased visitor satisfaction.

Earlier this fall the Birthplace engaged a renowned literary appraiser to evaluate the Pearl S. Buck Manuscript Collection that is currently housed at West Virginia Wesleyan College. This appraisal will be the first step in creating a Special Collections Center on the grounds of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum.

Another notable achievement this year was a group of planning sessions that were conducted by the Board of Directors of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation. With a relatively new board it was decided that some strategic planning was needed to ensure the Birthplace would serve as a cultural destination for individuals for years to come. Many positive ideas came from these sessions and will be developed into the programming of the Birthplace in 2011 and beyond.

As we look forward with excitement to 2011, I would like to remind everyone that becoming a member of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace is extremely easy. Memberships start at only $10, and we have revised our Lifetime Membership so it now costs only $500. If you are interested in becoming a member please call the Birthplace at 304-653-4430 or email us at info@pearlsbuckbirthplace.com.

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November has been a very busy month for the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation. The visitor season has officially ended and we have been working on some special projects that will make the 2011 season even better. Please check our monthly column throughout the winter for additional updates on these projects .

At a recent meeting of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation new officers were elected for the coming year. They are President, Gail Ratliff; Vice President, Jolie Lewis; Secretary, Mary Moore McLaughlin; and Treasurer, Sue Groves.

The foundation has reduced the cost of lifetime memberships from $1,000 to $500. Anyone interested in becoming a lifetime member of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum or would like more information about other levels of membership may contact us.

Looking forward to the Christmas Season, the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum will host a Christmas Open House Saturday, December 4, from 1- 4 p.m.

Come see the Museum trimmed with period Christmas decorations and enjoy light refreshments. The gift shop will be open and will feature Pearl S. Buck memorabilia and gifts along with Premier Design Jewelry. All of these items would make perfect Christmas gifts for friends or family members. This event is free to the public.

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As the season for tours at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum comes to a close, it does not signal an end to the activities at the Birthplace. Throughout the coming months many exciting events will take place.

The board is working with the West Virginia Division of Culture and History to correct a structural issue with the house. Once this minor issue is corrected the house will be ready to greet guest for years to come.

In addition to minor repairs we will be redesigning parts of the tour as well the gift shop. All of these changes will make the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum stand out as a tourist destination in the Little Levels.

We will be hosting a Christmas Open House in December. This event will be open to the public and will also support the Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" toy drive. Plans are still being finalized so please watch for upcoming information. Other events and activities will take place as the winter progresses and information will be made available.

Attendance and support of the various activities at the Pearls S. Buck Birthplace Museum made for a successful season and allows the musuem to continue to promote the life and impact of Pearl S. Buck.

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During this special time of year at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum, we can share with our visitors our beautiful historic home cloaked in fall splendor. If you have not had a chance to stop by the museum this summer I encourage you to do so.ﾠ Whether you are an avid Pearl Buck Scholar or are just interested in historic homes, we have stories to tell.

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If you are not in the mood for a formal tour then make plans to stop by our Mid-Autumn Chinese Moon Festival on October 3. The events will get underway around 2 p.m. with the play ﾓLittle One Inchﾔ performed by the Tears of Joy Puppet Theater. After the show there will be workshops for individuals to learn about a Japanese Tea Ceremony, Origami and Japanese clothing. But the afternoon doesnﾒt end there. Beginning at 4 p.m., the museum will be open for tours and there will be a cider pressing demonstration on the lawn. We will have a plethora of oriental foods available for sale. These foods will allow you to experience fine foreign cuisine without ever leaving town.

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Capping off the dayﾒs festivities will be live music featuring Richard Hefner and the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys. More information is available by calling the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation at 304-653-4430 or visiting our website at www.pearlsbuckbirthplace.com

The summer of 2010 has been very exciting at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum. We have had visitors from far and wide come to the Museum to learn about the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning Author and her legacy here in the county. While the summer rush of visitors has slowed it is not too late to visit the museum to learn about Pearl Buckﾒsﾠlegacy in the area.

Also, this summer we have re-designed our driveway. The new design allows all visitors to the birthplace an easier entrance and exit. The new driveway was made possible in part by the Snowshoe Foundation. Our next major project will be the repair and maintenance of the back of the Stulting Home that has deteriorated due to the harsh elements. This project was made possible by a State Development Grant funded through the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

In October we will host the Tears of Joy Theater as they present their Japanese puppet show," Little One Inch," during our Chinese/Mid Autumn Moon Festival with music and various activities through the day.

More information will be available in the future.
As we turn toward the fall season, if your travels bring you by the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum, feel free to stop by and visit.

June brings added excitement to the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum. Not only does the Little Levels Heritage Fair take place at the end of the month, but it also marks the birth of Pearl S. Buck, who was born at the on June 26, 1892, while her parents were home on furlough from their missionary work in China. To commemorate the authorﾒs birth we are planning a Birthday Celebration on Saturday, June 26. The events will start at 4 p.m. and include student writer awards, live music, a keynote address from Dr. Peter Conn and, of course, birthday cake.

In other Pearl S. Buck Birthplace news, this month we successfully planted a small herb/kitchen garden behind the Stulting Home. In addition to the garden we planted a field of flax that will educate tourists about one of the crops that was grown on the farm. Also, we have a new driveway to accommodate large buses and increase visibility for all our guests.

In addition to our special events the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace is always open Monday ﾖSaturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for tours of the historic Sydenstricker and Stulting Homes, as well as a self-guided tour of the grounds. For more information please call 304-653-4430.

Many exciting events have taken place at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum during May. As events and tours got underway this spring, some changes took place in regard to the design of our tours. To accommodate larger groups and provide more information, we have created a visitorsﾒ center. The visitorsﾒ center is located in the large room of the Sydenstricker House and contains various memorabilia from the home. Tours now start in the Sydenstricker House, providing more background of the paternal side of Pearl S. Buckﾒs heritage.

In addition to the visitorsﾒ center, we have also kicked off our special events for the summer of 2010. On Motherﾒs Day we held an afternoon of fun and enjoyment for mothers and guests alike. Early in the afternoon guests were entertained by historic reenactor Karen Vuranch as Pearl S. Buck. At the conclusion of the performance guests were treated to complimentary tours of the birthplace. Later in the afternoon a High Tea fundraiser took place for a limited number of guests. The fundraiser was a great success and all in attendance were impressed with the wide and delicious variety of foods and drink.

Also, in the month of May we welcomed Emily Lassiter our VISTA for the 2010 year. Lassiter joins us from North Carolina, bringing the benefit of her experience with various museums and history projects to the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace. We are excited to have her assisting us this year as we continue to re-energize the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum.

The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation is excited about the 2010 season and the special events planned.ﾠ Our opening day will be Saturday May 1. This will be the perfect time to experience the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace for the first time, or re-experience the beauty and history this landmark represents.

On Sunday, May 9, we will hold a Motherﾒs Day Event. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with a special presentation by Karen Vuranch.

Vuranch is an actress and storyteller who portrays Pearl S. Buck. After her short presentation the House and grounds will be open for tours. This event will be free to the public. Also, on Motherﾒs Day at 4 p.m. we will hold a High Tea fundraiser. This event will be the perfect way to honor your mother on her special day. Tickets for this event are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation.

In addition to our special events we are working on an heirloom flower garden and Flax field. Both of these new additions will focus on different aspects of the history of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace during the 1890s.

We hope your travel plans bring you through Hillsboro this summer and that you will stop by and see what is happening at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum. For more information on any of our upcoming events please feel free to contact us at 304-653-4430 or visit our website at www.pearlsbuckbirthplace.com we look forward to seeing you this summer.

The Pearl S. Buck Board of Directors held its monthly membership meeting on Sunday, February 14. Several topics were discussed including the upcoming Writer�s Workshop which will be held in conjunction with the Pearl S. Buck Birthday Celebration and the Little Levels Heritage Fair in June. The Writer�s Workshop will allow individuals interested in developing their writing skills to take part in a three day workshop that will feature many literary experts from our region.�

The board also discussed the fundraising event that was held January 29 at the Pretty Penny Caf�. The event surpassed everyone�s expectations and was a great success! The board appreciates Blair Campbell and her staff for their hard work and effort in helping us with this event. In addition, the board discussed the possibility of holding a similar fundraiser in the near future.

In other news, the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation has been accepted into the Conservation Assessment Program sponsored by Heritage Preservation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Through this program assessors are retained to develop a report of the conditions of the museum collections and architecture. The report will offer advice on how the museum can care for its collections in the future.

The board currently has one volunteer for the museum this summer. If you are interested in assisting with the activities and events of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation please call 304-653-4430 or email info@pearlsbuckbirthplace.com for more information.

The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation held its monthly meeting Sunday January 10. The main theme of the meeting dealt with planning for the New Year at the Birthplace.

One of the items discussed was the new membership program. A list of new membership levels has been developed for individuals interested in becoming part of the Pearl S. Buck Family. If you would like more information about becoming a member, or would like to join please contact one of the board members or the executive director for details.

Another item that was discussed was fundraising for the organization. The organization is selling tickets for the Snowshoe Foundation Raffle. If you are interested in participating, please contact a board member or the executive director for more details. Also, the Birthplace Foundation is working with local restaurants to plan fundraising days. Watch the for additional information in the near future.

The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum will hold a Motherﾒs Day event featuring Karen Vuranch a noted Pearl Buck historian, watch for details about this event in the March and April Manuscripts. Also, professor and author Peter Conn will come to Hillsboro this June as part of the Writerﾒs Workshop and Pearl S. Buck Birthday Celebration.

In addition to reading The Manuscript, you can also find information about the museumﾒs events and fundraising efforts on Facebook. If you would like to know more about any of the events or fundraising efforts, contact us at 304-653-4430.