Historic Account Book Indexer

Calling all history lovers, researchers, and meticulous-minded mortals!

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American iron-making community and its effect on the nation’s industrial history. The historic village includes the charcoal-fueled furnace, Ironmaster’s mansion, tenant houses, and a blacksmith shop. We are one of the few parks that have an active farm program, showcasing animals that would have historically called the furnace home. Programs and events vary throughout the year; these events include sheep shearing, charcoal making, Fourth of July celebration, living history demonstrations, apple picking in the historic orchard, and other seasonally-themed events.

Hopewell Furnace is a small park, protecting 848-acres of America’s industrial heritage. In addition to visitors exploring the historic village, we receive a number of visitors enjoying the resources at neighboring French Creek State Park, including hikers, campers, and daily recreational users.

Historic Account Book Indexers work with Cultural Resources Staff to gain first-hand knowledge about the people who lived and worked at Hopewell Furnace in the 19th century. These books document furnace information including wages and payments, store purchases, payments, and dealers, and furnace occupations. After the initial on-site training, volunteer work will be completed offsite/home. If interested in volunteering at the Furnace, please see additional volunteer offerings.

Duties of this position include:

• Transcribe names from 19th century furnace record books to help update our historical database
• Cross-reference names with complete list
• Add historic names to the database, including new names and spellings
• Record any additional information about the individual listed on the record, such as occupation or ethnicity
• Gain first-hand knowledge of who lived and worked at Hopewell Furnace
• This position allows you to volunteer from home

Skills & Qualifications Required:

• Must be willing to learn about Hopewell Furnace and its history, and the resources that lie within and surrounding the park
• Must be able to attend on-site training (continuous training and assistance available)
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Willingness to decipher 19th century scripted handwriting on various page conditions
• Minimum age 16, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian
• Must have access to a computer and Microsoft Office
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a plus

Volunteers are requested to work a minimum of eight (8) hours a month, sometimes on a weekend day. More hours may be available if requested by volunteer and schedules are flexible. Volunteers may be asked to help with special events, as their schedules allow.

If you have any questions, you may contact the park’s Volunteer Coordinator, Amanda Sherry, at (610) 582-8773 or by email at [email protected]. Mailing address: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520.