Matthew A. Mickletz Email & Phone Number

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States

Online

After many years of making historic reproductions for friends and family, I thought I would offer up the fruit of my talents to everyone via Etsy. Currently, it is an "In-Stock Only" store, offering a variety of goods primarily made out of wood or fabric. I attempt to reproduce items as accurately as I can, researching originals when I am able. This is completely a "side-job" in a simple attempt to have a little extra income. Nothing ventured,nothing gained!

Winterthur, Delaware

At Winterthur Museum, Preventive Conservation has, for many years, been a prevalent factor in the daily activities of museum staff working with the large collection. I am currently the manager of a staff made up of 4 individuals of varying backgrounds and skill levels, who serve many purposes. Their work centers primarily around Collections Maintenance; preserving the aesthetics and condition of every object via non-invasive, conservation approved methods such as dusting with micro-fiber dust cloths, vacuuming with HEPA filtered vacuums and buffing hundreds of square feet of wood floors. I insure tasks are assigned and expected daily activities carried out efficiently and effectively. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at Winterthur falls under my purview, placing me in the unique situation of also the identification of pest, most of which are insects. I've come to know them so well, in fact, that I'm asked if I'm an entomologist! More recently, I've an active member of the IPM Working Group, which bring s together professionals from multiple museums, private practices and other institutions to gather, maintain and disseminate IPM resources via the website MuseumPests.net.

Winterthur, Delaware

As an Art Handling Specialist at the Winterthur Museum, I was tasked with many unique responsibilities. Broadly defined, my "handling art" for the museum pertained to the safe transportation, installation and packing, of object composed a multitude of organic and inorganic materials in many shapes and sizes placed in many differing spaces; from packing George Washington's plate (one piece, ceramic) for loan to go on exhibition at another museum, to dismantling a tall-case clock (composed of many movable parts, mostly wood and metal) to transport it to a photo studio at Winterthur.I became familiar with the many different materials used to pack museum objects and determining what material to use in any given job as well as with the materials the object is composed of. The postion involved problem solving and critical thinking in most all situations. It could be both pyshically and mentally demanding.

Winterthur, Delaware

As a Collections Maintenance Aide, I spent the majority of my time each day in the Museum and Gallery Buildings. My primary responsibilities revolved around cleaning: dusting hundreds of objects of various materials using microfiber dust clothes, soft-bristled hake brushes and variable-speed, HEPA filtered vacuums. The object of all of this cleaning was two-fold: aesthetic and preventive. Dust is unsightly as it builds up on objects in addition to it acting as a fine abrasive on the surface of objects. No one likes to see dead bugs lying about; additionally, these dead bugs can harbor more harmful pests, such as the carpet beetle, who like to now only feast on them, but, more importantly, on proteinaceous materials that comprise many objects (e.g. wool in carets and rugs). I also helped to monitor Temperature and Relative Humidity using a traceable hygrometer, collecting real-time data from various, predetermined locations.Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was was practiced by simply reporting any suspicious pest or possible pest activity to my supervisor.

Douglassville, Pennsylvania

While there isn't much else to say about what the responsibilities of a waiter were, I will note that I came away with some valuable skills in my time at the restaurant, where everyday interaction with people was job #1. In working with customers, attentiveness to not only their needs and wants but what they might need or want was one key to success and simply making the time go quickly and smoothly. A "badge of honor" was to have regular customers who wanted you as their waiter. I'm happy to say I had my share of them. Waiting tables also demanded juggling multiple tasks at once while prioritizing them.

Ashland, Kentucky

I was simply a cook. If I took anything away from this job it was more people skills. The atmosphere in any restaurant can be high-stress, low-paying, greasy and tiring. The joy I was able to glean from it was in pleasing people with my ability to cook. Empty plate = satisfied customers and hopefully a better tip for the wait staff.

Fort Delaware State Park

Much of my duties and responsibilities during my time as an AmeriCorps member with "State Park Partners" were very much the same as my past role as a Seasonal Interpreter at Fort Delaware. I was fortunate enough to first be accepted into the AmeriCorps program via an interview process with Delaware State Parks and their head of AmeriCorps. This afforded me several other opportunities in the off-season (the time period when the Fort is not open to the public, November through March) that I would not be able to do so as a seasonal employee.I partook in many trainings, including: Training as a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) through the National Association of Interpretation (NAI); CPR and First Aide; training and team building as an AmeriCorps member. Continued research, particularly regarding union soldiers at the Fort: obtained copies of the letters of Bishop Crumrine located at Washington Jefferson College and began transcribing them.

Fort Delaware State Park

During my time as a Historical Educator at Fort Delware State Park, I found myself involved in a variety of activities and responsibilities. My primary role was costumed first person interpretation; in my case this meant the portrayal of a Union artillery private. In order to compitently, and comfortably, carry out first person, research was a must in several catagories: life at the Fort and in America in 1863, artillery drill, infantry drill, guard mount, care and cleaning of rifles, muskets, guns and cannon. This was accomplished almost exclusively through the study of original and reprinted texts (diaries, letters, manuals, popular books and newspapers) and photographs. I also lead tours of the fort and provided orientation to general visitors as well as school groups. This was conducted in first person, costumed interpretation as well as a docent. In addition to the "everyday duties", I also helped to setup special tours and programming such as: ghost tours, School of the Musician, Garrision Days (visiting reenactor groups) and Halloween tours

Fort Delaware State Park

During my time as a Historical Educator at Fort Delware State Park, I found myself involved in a variety of activities and responsibilities. My primary role was costumed first person interpretation; in my case this meant the portrayal of a Union artillery private. In order to compitently, and comfortably, carry out first person, research was a must in several catagories: life at the Fort and in America in 1863, artillery drill, infantry drill, guard mount, care and cleaning of rifles, muskets, guns and cannon. This was accomplished almost exclusively through the study of original and reprinted texts (diaries, letters, manuals, popular books and newspapers) and photographs. I also lead tours of the fort and provided orientation to general visitors as well as school groups. This was conducted in first person, costumed interpretation as well as a docent. In addition to the "everyday duties", I also helped to setup special tours and programming such as: ghost tours, School of the Musician, Garrision Days (visiting reenactor groups) and Halloween tours