2020 Events and Projects

Special Events and Projects completed in 2020
  • secured multiple foundation and corporate grants to support the Heinz History Center’s travelling WWII Exhibit.
  • received a new BOSE audio sound system from the Acai Family from Raleigh, NC to be used for Smog Museum and roadshow historical presentations (January).
  • hosted the Heinz History Center’s travelling WWII Exhibit f at the Donora Public Library (February thru August - interrupted by virus).
  • hosted a special Opening Night reception with the WWII Exhibit that included keynote speaker and Heinz History Center CEO Andy Masich, live music and “Taste of Donora” from eight Donora food service providers (February).
  • hosted five different Saturday historical and living history presentations as part of the WWII Exhibit (February thru March).
  • hosted 250 Ringgold Middle School students/teachers to the WWII Exhibit (February).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Dr. Liz Naess of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Analysis Group of Research Triangle Park, NC (February).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to San Francisco conceptual artist Amy Balkin (February).
  • sponsored a Ringgold Middle School assembly for 500 students and teachers with Holocaust survivor Judah Samet as part of the WWII Exhibit (March).
  • hosted a WWII Fashion Tea luncheon and presentation as part of the WWII Exhibit (March).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Director and Executive Producer Maggie Burnette Stogner and Producer Elizabeth Joy Herzfeldt-Kamprathfor for an educational film titled “Unbreathable - the Fight for Healthy Air”, for the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at American University in Washington, DC (April).
  • recorded interviews with San Francisco Artist in Residence at UPenn Amy Balkin for her Penn Program in Environmental Humanities (PPEH) low-carbon, virtual conference titled "Climate Sensing and Data Storytelling” (April).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to Chicago artist and visiting University of Pittsburgh professor Lindsey French (July).
  • reopened the Smog Museum by appointment following CDC guidelines (August).
  • distributed $2,800 in donations raised during the WWII Exhibit to four Donora veterans’ groups, Donora Public Library and Donora Fire Department (August).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images and info to San Francisco writer Cynthia Gorney for the National Geographic’s online magazine for an article in October (September).
  • participated in online classes with San Francisco Artist in Residence at UPenn Amy Balkin for her Penn Program in Environmental Humanities (PPEH) Speculative Archiving and Situated Memorialization class (October).
  • provided “1948 Smog” and Smog Museum information to National Geographic photographer Annie O’Neil (October).
  • provided information and photos to authors for research on the “1948 Smog”, and general Donora history for future books, podcasts, blogs and websites.
  • participated in the Washington County Community Foundation – Day of Giving (September).
  • provided “1948 Smog” and Mary Amdur information to an award-winning screenwriter and director from Texas (October).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of Harrisburg, PA for an Environmental Education display (October).
  • restored the Donora-Webster Bridge plaques with Regal Industries of Donora. The Donora plaque is on display at the Smog Museum (November).
  • provided “1948 Smog” images to the National Women’s History Museum of Alexandria, VA (December).
  • provided research information on the “1948 Smog” for professors and students from various universities such as: University of Pennsylvania, North Carolina State, Georgia, University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Washington & Jefferson, Cal U of PA.
  • helped school groups and teachers from various middle and high schools, both local and out of state on “1948 Smog” research.
  • provided information and interviews to news channels and newspapers such as KDKA, New York Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune-Review, Mon Valley Independent, Herald-Standard, Observer Reporter (thru the year).
  • submitted and completed a Washington County Community Foundation – Hart Fund grant for archival quality boxes, sleeves and frames (September).
  • as the keynote speaker, presented the “1948 Smog” to the Pennsylvania DEP - Mid Atlantic Regional Air Management Association’s (MARAMA’s) annual air monitoring meeting – 50-year anniversary of the US EPA (December).
  • submitted and received a Rivers of Steel grant for panoramic photos, Dreisbach glass plate negative development and 35mm slide transfer (December).