• Reading Public Museum
    Open 11a-5p Daily Admission
  • Neag Planetarium
    Show Schedule Admission
  • Arboretum
    Open everyday from sunrise to sunset

More than 100 years of learning and culture

 

Learn by Doing! For more than a century, the Reading Public Museum has been at the forefront of hands-on learning. RPM’s enthusiasm for providing rich, tactile experiences sparks curiosity and learning for visitors of all ages in the areas of science, art, history, and more!

A Classroom Collection

Dr. Levi W. Mengel, founder and first director of the Reading Public Museum, wholeheartedly believed in the value of a “sensory education.” As a teacher at Boys' High School in the Reading School District, Dr. Mengel used his personal collection of antiquities in his teaching to help bring history alive for his students in the early 1900s. He recognized that young minds hunger for active participation and personal experience, and he continued collecting scientific and anthropological materials to use as teaching aids.

Thanks to donations from Dr. Mengel and nearly 2,000 pieces acquired at the St. Louis World’s Fair, Reading students could see, touch, and learn about objects from around the globe. In 1907, the third floor of the Reading School District administration building was converted into a museum to provide students with exciting hands-on learning experiences.

An Extraordinary Gift

Giving a child a chance to see and handle the things about which they study is not only the greatest timesaver, but the most effective way of giving an absolutely correct impression.

Dr. Levi W. Mengel
Reading Public Museum's founder and first director

With the addition of several paintings to the fledgling museum’s collection, Dr. Mengel’s creation was renamed the Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery in 1913 and opened to the public. As The Museum’s collection continued to expand, it became clear that it would eventually outgrow its home. The Museum’s present location, which welcomed its first visitors in 1929, was a generous donation to the Reading School District from local industrialists Ferdinand Thun and Irvin F. Impink.

A World of Curiosities

In the decades that followed, The Museum developed a world-class collection of more than 300,000 objects, including art, antiquities, and scientific and cultural artifacts from around the globe. Thanks to RPM’s sponsors and generous community support, the collection continues to grow and diversify.

Have you ever wanted to be face-to-face with an ancient Egyptian mummy or among dinosaur bones from millions of years ago? Maybe you’re more interested in original works by artists including Degas, Rodin, and Warhol. Perhaps you’d like to investigate mysterious Mayan treasures, American Indian artifacts, or one of the traveling exhibits The Museum hosts each year? There’s something for everyone to enjoy at RPM!

Echoes of the Past, Visions of the Future

Dr. Mengel’s dedication to sensory education was ahead of its time, and the work he began continues today. RPM’s cutting-edge interactive exhibits offer visitors inspiring, hands-on learning opportunities that are unique to The Museum, and there’s always something new to see and do.

Our Mission

The mission of the Reading Public Museum, a dynamic center of lifelong learning and discovery, is to educate, enlighten and engage current and future generations through the collection, preservation and interpretation of objects of art, science and civilization.

Appraisals and Certifications

The Museum cannot offer valuations, appraisals, or authentications of artwork. If you have an object you would like to have valued or authenticated, The Museum recommends the following resources:

American Society of Appraisers (800) 272-8258
Appraisers Association of America (212) 889-5404
Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America
Art-Collecting.com

For questions about object conservation, the American Institute for Conservation has available a national referral system. Please call (202) 452-9545.

Financial Information

2022 Form 990 Tax Form
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RPM HAPPENINGS

Exhibits, events, & extras

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Our People

Our Board

Officers


Chair

Dr. Anna Weitz

1st Chair & Treasurer

Laurie Peer

Secretary

Seth Rosenzweig M.D.

Assistant Secretary

Jerry Marcus, M.D.

Executive Director and CEO

Geoffrey K. Fleming

Board of Directors

Frances Aitken

Dr. Kristen Angstadt

English Bradley

Eric Burkey

Javar Colon 

Mark Detterline

Daniel Egusquiza

Violet Emory

Jonathan Heintzman

Ted Lavender

Daniel B. Laws, Jr.

Dave Myers

Christopher Miller

Frederick Nice, Esq.

Nick Philippides

Ron Pook

Michael Rhoads

Bill Sands

Jonathan E. Tinoco

Our Staff

Administrative

Geoffrey K. Fleming
Executive Director and CEO
x222 Email

Diane Ruth
Controller and HR Manager
x233 Email

Collections & Curatorial

Scott Schweigert
Curator of Art & Civilization
x229 Email

Ashley Houston
Director of Collections
& Exhibitions
x232 Email

Hannah Wagner
Curatorial Research Assistant & Registrar
x253 Email

Education

Wendy Koller
Director of Education
x223 Email

Mary Johnson
Manager of STEM
and Family Education
x227 Email

Rebeka Birch
Summer Camp & Scout Programs Coordinator
x258 Email

Becky Ruth
Educational Events and Education Outreach Coordinator
x255 Email

General inquiries of
educational programming
x256

Volunteering


Museum
x230 Email

Arboretum
x239 Email

 

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External Event & Wedding Rentals

Kara Seawell
Manager of External
Events and Weddings
x234 Email

Braden Stone
Wedding Coordinator
x230 Email

Finance & Grants

Diane Ruth
Controller & HR Manager
x233 Email

Victoria Purcell
Accountant
x248 Email

Membership

For Membership information
please phone x228
Email

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Museum & Planetarium 


Jeffery Fick
Customer Service &
Gift Shop Coordinator
x238 Email

Mark Mazurkiewicz
Planetarium Director
x244 Email

Public Relations & Marketing

Kevin Montalvo
Manager of Marketing and Digital Design
x231 Email

Sydney Ernst
Manager of Community Development and Social Media
x256 Email

Security & Facilities

Security
x242

Employment & Volunteering

Part-Time Museum Educator

Job Summary

The purpose of this position is to facilitate the growing number of educational programs at The Museum. The Museum Educator will report to the Director of Education and will be primarily responsible for implementation of educational programming as well as visitor services. This includes but is not limited to student tours, Summer camp programs, Birthday parties, Planetarium facilitation, visitor service operations, outreach programs, and assisting at other Museum events  as additional staff as needed

 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • The primary responsibility of a Museum Educator is to lead school tours of The Museum.  Day time availability during the week is a must.
  • Facilitate educational programming at The Museum and Planetarium.
  • Museum Educators also facilitate scout workshops and sleepovers, birthday parties, public programs, summer camp classes, and adult education programs.  These typically occur during weekend and evening hours.
  • Using excellent customer service skills, establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, volunteers, and all members of the general public.
  • Assist with keeping exhibits and public areas safe and presentable to the public.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in art, education, science, history, museum studies or related field.
  • Required Experience: Working with children.
  • Preferred Experience: Facilitating and promoting informal educational programs for people of all ages in a museum, school or similar setting.  
  • Required Skills: Excellent public speaking skills and ability to lead and engage large groups of children and adults in a variety of subject areas, including art, science, and history. Ability to work well as part of a team, follow through with assigned tasks, and think on your feet.
  • Preferred Skills: Knowledge of museum practices and museum education standards.  Bilingual is a plus.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use manual dexterity.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and color vision.
  • The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
  • The employee is required to stand, walk, talk, and hear for long periods of time.

 

Work Environment

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not normally exposed to weather conditions.
  • The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate. For a PDF file of this job listing, CLICK HERE.

To apply for this position please send your cover letter, resume, and three references (pdf files preferred) to: Wendy Koller, Manager of Education, wendy.koller@readingpublicmuseum.org.

Additional Education Roles

The Museum has serval positions on the educational team available. Note below the various positions now accepting applications -

Educational Seasonal Summer Camp Assistant - Temporary Full-Time
Job Description

 

Education Program & Event Facilitator - Part-Time
Job Description

RPM Ambassadors

Anbassadors are an essential part of the Reading Public Museum family and their valued efforts enhance the capabilities of RPM’s small, dedicated staff. Our Ambassadors make every visit to The Museum even friendlier. Art, history, science, the Arboretum … wherever your interests lie, RPM has a variety of Ambassador opportunities that offer unique, personally rewarding experiences. We will be glad to work with you to discover how your talents can support The Museum! 

 

RPM Ambassador Opportunities Include:

Gallery Ambassador

Program Ambassador

Event Ambassador

Visitor Experience Ambassador

Arboretum Assistant

 

Please see the RPM Ambassador Opportunities Packet for a complete and detailed list of options.

Internships at The Museum

Join us at RPM for an exciting semester where you will get hands-on Museum experience!  The Museum offers numerous opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of disciplines. Previous intern majors have included Art Education, Arts Administration, Business Administration & Management, Communications & Marketing, Elementary Education, History, Hospitality Management, Recreation Services Management, Secondary Education, and Sports Management. Former interns have gone on to work at EnerSys, plan events at Vault 634, Bellangelo Winery, and the Abraham Lincoln; teach full time, and even return to The Museum for a part-time or full-time position.    

 

Click here for more information.

 

Contact wendy.koller@readingpublicmuseum.org for more information.

 

 

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