Like most non-profit organizations, the Smith County Historical Society operates with the assistance of our wonderful volunteers! We employ two part time employees and are assisted by a core group of volunteers. This core group helps us with everything from answering phones, recycling, and researching the inquiries brought in by visitors!
The Society maintains multiple ways to volunteer and dedicate your time, and we truly have opportunities for anyone looking to volunteer! Whether you are interested in a one-time, one-day event or something more consistent like scheduled hours, our Society is always happy to accommodate. Please take a look at the images and video below to see some of the spectacular changes we were able to accomplish in 2017 with the help of our volunteers!
If you are interested in learning more, or becoming a volunteer, please email volunteer@smithcountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information!
Volunteer FAQ
Do you have to be a member of the Smith County Historical Society to volunteer? No. We are happy to be assisted by anyone interested in volunteering with us!
What type of experience is required to volunteer? This, of course, depends on the type of volunteering you’re looking to do. If it is a single day event that we are hosting the experience necessary might vary. If you are looking to consistently volunteer we recommend being able to read cursive and to have a working knowledge of basic computer skills.
Can I volunteer outside of operating hours? Typically, no. There are some occasions that volunteers might be able to work outside of our hours; however, the majority of volunteer work is done in our archives which is only open Tuesday through Friday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Are there only volunteer opportunities in the archives? No, we have a variety of volunteer opportunities outside of our archives. There are several single day volunteer opportunities, like Park Day or Day of Caring, and we also have small daily operation projects that we could use help on too. We appreciate all our volunteers and want to make sure you are enjoying your work with us!
Can children volunteer? It depends. We have had children and young adults from ages 8-18 volunteer with us. Typically, younger children participate on single day events and are always supervised by a parent or responsible adult.If you are interested in a consistent scheduled volunteer time for your child, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator to learn more.
How much time do volunteers usually spend during a visit? This varies on a case by case basis. We typically recommend volunteers spend at least an hour and a half when they come to volunteer (this includes the time it takes to pull your project out and clean it up). Of course, this is completely dependent on potential volunteers and their schedules.
How can I find out about new volunteer opportunities? The Smith County Historical Society maintains several different ways for potential volunteers to stay up to date on projects! Click on the links below for more information:
Volunteers in Action
This wonderful video was completed for a Congressional Award Project by one of our long time volunteers, Cullen Malone. This video documents his service and hours towards the completion of the major changes made to our exhibit gallery in 2017 which, without his help, never would have been completed.