If you want to learn how to properly clean or preserve headstones, join us at our August meeting for some tips and ideas.

 Abby Lizee has an archaeology degree and been working in museums for the past 10 years.  Most recently at the Maple Ridge Museum, she coordinates Museum-led sessions, and also private sessions for groups.  She has been cleaning headstones since 2022, which started as a summer programme, and now has a headstone cleaning club.  In 2025 she was a finalist for Maple Ridge Citizen of the Year for her work cleaning headstones. 

Presentation Outline

Guiding Principles of the Agassiz-Harrison Museum

o Vision
o Mission
o Purpose

How do archives fit in?

o Our Holdings
o Research Requests
o Volunteering in Archives
o Archives for Community

What’s Behind our Archive Door?

o Photographs
o Documents / Correspondence
o Diaries / Journals
o Newspapers / Other Printed Media
o Multimedia

Getting Behind the Door

o Online Access
o Physical Access
o Facilitating Research
o Working Towards Greater Accessibility

Discussion and Questions

o How do you use community archives?
o Are they often difficult to access?
o Do you feel the general public know about community archives?