Newsroom Archive 2013

November 22, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MAJESTIC TIME: THOMAS TOMPION EXHIBIT

 COLUMBIA, PA: Join us for Majestic Time, a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of the largest collection ever assembled of Thomas Tompion’s clocks, watches, and sundials, just in time to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his death (1639-1713). Tompion made precision clocks for the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, ornate clocks and repeating pocket watches for seventeenth-century aristocrats, and tower clocks.

Thomas Tompion is known as the founder of English clockmaking; every timepiece he signed shouts quality. Though little is known about the clockmaker’s personal history, Tompion first traveled to London at age 32 in 1671, where he would eventually become a highly successful watch and clockmaker, making 700 clocks and ten times as many watches. Although a much smaller percentage of his watches have endured, many examples of his magnificent clocks have survived. Tompion also produced precision sundials to ensure that customers who commissioned one of his clocks could always set the clock accurately according to correct solar time.

In 1671 Tompion joined the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers as a “Great Clockmaker.” In 1674 he bought his full freedom and began enrolling apprentices of his own, becoming a master in 1703. In 1713 Tompion was the first clockmaker granted the honor of burial in London’s Westminster Abbey.

Majestic Time, at the National Watch and Clock Museum, is a truly unparalleled collection: never before have so many Tompion creations been on public display in one place—a singular occurrence that may never be repeated again in North America.

The collection’s owner, an eminent British gentleman and avid collector, was determined that the 300th anniversary of Tompion’s death merited a special exhibition. After considering several European options, he decided to bring his collection overseas for a brief appearance at the 2013 NAWCC “Time For Everyone” Ward Francillon Time Symposium in Pasadena, CA. That exhibition has now been transplanted to the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, for a limited two-month engagement.

“I felt strongly that this collection be seen not only by those who attended the Symposium, but while in America be accessible to everyone. What better place, more fitting could there be for this special exhibition than the National Watch and Clock Museum!” shared the collection’s owner.

“The National Watch & Clock Museum is honored to be able to host a collection of this significance. Thomas Tompion was one of, if not the, foremost clockmakers of his era and to be able to display so many examples of his work at one time is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” stated Museum Director Noel Poirier.

Majestic Time will be on display for a limited time, from November 22 through January 19, 2014.  

November 21, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NAWCC SEEKING ENTRIES FOR THE PRITCHARD PRIZE

COLUMBIA, PA: The NAWCC is seeking entries for the Pritchard Prize awarded annually for excellence in watch repair and restoration. The Pritchard Prize was developed by the late Kathleen Pritchard and is funded through the estate of her late husband Wilbur L. Pritchard. Mr. Pritchard’s interests in gears and machinery led him to watches, which he collected and repaired.

Amateurs and professionals from any country are encouraged to apply and NAWCC membership is not required.

Registration for the 2014 Pritchard Prize is due by January 31. Applicants must submit written notice of their interest in participating, including a description of the project. Then the completed projects, including photographs, documentation, and the insured completed timepiece, must be submitted before April 1. The timepiece will be returned by insured mail after the review.

Entries should be submitted to the Pritchard Prize, c/o NAWCC, Executive Director J. Steven Humphrey, 514 Poplar St., Columbia, PA 17512-2122, USA. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 717-684-8261, ext. 209, with your questions and for complete rules.

The NAWCC oversees the administration of the Pritchard Prize and reserves the right to defer the Prize until a minimum of three participants submit applications. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, received applications will be returned and the contest will be suspended until 2015. If selected, the 2014 Pritchard Prize recipient will be announced at the NAWCC National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, on June 17 -21. The recipient will receive a certificate and a $1,000 cash reward.  

November 4, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HOLIDAY TEA PARTY WITH MRS. CLAUS

COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum is hosting a “Tea Party with Mrs. Claus” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 14.

Celebrate the holiday season by enjoying a special tea and Christmas story reading with Mrs. Claus. Following this special time with Mrs. Claus, all the younger guests will have time to make a special clock to take home and at noon spend time visiting with Santa in the Museum’s spacious marble rotunda.

All the tea’s guests are encouraged to dress in their fancy and finest attire for this special occasion and bring along their own cameras to capture all the special moments – including the visit with Santa.

The tea includes assorted sweets, scones with jam, and tea or hot chocolate. Children age four and up are invited to attend the tea accompanied by an adult. Cost for the tea is $18 per child and $12 for each adult. Included are making the clock, the story reading, a visit with Santa, and admission to the Museum.

Please call 717-684-8261 ext. 234 for reservations. Seating is limited.

October 10, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IT’S A MATTER OF TIME

COLUMBIA, PA: A Matter of Time, the National Watch & Clock Museum’s newest special exhibit, opens Saturday, October 19. The works of 24 artists from around the globe show the theme of time in their pieces, through media ranging from acrylic to tapestry to even HD video!

The concept for the exhibit came from discussions with another artist, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) member, and former NAWCC School of Horology student Randall Cleaver whose work was featured in the 2011 exhibit, Found Time. A call for artists was put out several months ago and the exhibit team received and judged over 90 entries to select the best 30 pieces for the exhibit.

The artists include four students from the York Arts Institute who were chosen for their unique and creative talents. Carrisa DeLosSanotos, maker of Time Flies, shares that students who are returning to school at the Institute have actually found a “second career – but a first love.” Student and contributing artist of Repurpose, Renew Mary Andres praises Jodie Landry, owner of Pieces, for the ongoing inspiration she has provided her and other students as they search for just the right piece for their creations. Landry shares, “I make over vintage and antique pieces of furniture so they can return to the stage and get their deserved recognition.”

“The Museum staff was really excited to put together this exhibit. It is the first time the Museum has done an exhibit focused on individual artists’ interpretation of time by sending out a call for artists around the world. We are eager to see visitors’ reactions to these artistic pieces and how they view time,” shares Director of Education Katie Knaub.

A Matter of Time will be on exhibit through May 2014.

September 24, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

September 16, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A SPECIAL INVITATION TO HOMESCHOOLERS

COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum has declared Tuesday, November 12, Homeschool Day. Families who homeschool are especially invited to spend time at the Museum and participate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the following crafts and activities:

• Make a clock to take home
 
• Go on a scavenger hunt through the Museum exhibits
 
• See a demonstration of reverse painting on glass used as clock decoration
 
• Learn about how the sun can be used to tell time.
 
• Play time-related games.
 
• Make an ancient timekeeping device 

Registration for the Homeschool Day is required; cost per student is $10 with no charge for one accompanying adult. For each additional adult attending there is a $6 charge with no charge for children under 5 years of age (unless they want to make a clock for $6). Please contact the Education Department at 717-684-8261, ext. 237 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to register or for more information.

“Along with other events and workshops, the Museum enjoys planning a Homeschool Day each year because it’s another opportunity for  families to see that the Museum is not only educational, but a whole lot of fun too – for all ages,” stated Director of Education Katie Knaub. 

September 10, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

COLUMBIA, PA:  What happens after the National Watch and Clock Museum locks its doors each night?  Does the mouse run up the clock, does the grandfather clock begin to talk, or does time really fly?
It’s easy to take the watches and clocks in your home or office for granted.  With a quick glance, there’s the time telling you whether it’s time to head to work, get lunch, pick up the kids, or go to bed.

The Museum, located in Columbia, is truly the center of time and is home to close to 12,000 watches and clocks. Why not bring your family and go on an exploration of time?! After a stroll through the Museum’s time tunnel, you will find yourself transported to the time of Stonehenge and water clocks, where timekeeping first got its start. From there, you begin your journey through time where thousands of years later (or an hour and a half in museum time) your family will stand speechless before the Mars Clock wondering, “Where did the time go?”

The Family Overnight is a unique opportunity for children ages 6 to 12 to spend the night at the Museum and enjoy activities including decorating a clock to take home, munching on a snack, and exploring the many Museum’s exhibits. October 25, 2013 is the next sleepover. Cost is $20 for children and $12 for adults, with payment due prior to the sleepover.  The adult chaperone must be at least 21 years old and is required for every five children participating.

Admission includes:

• Scavenger hunt activity through the Museum
 
• Museum explorationMake-a-clock program for children
 
• Snack and light breakfast
 
• Souvenir patch for children

Register by October 18 for the Family Overnight by calling 717-684-8261, ext. 237 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve a space and receive an information packet.  Space in this program is limited to 80 participants. 

September 4, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FREE ADMISSION AT CLOCK MUSEUM WITH MUSEUM DAY PASS

COLUMBIA, PA:  The National Watch & Clock Museum will open its doors free of charge to ticketholders on Saturday September 28, 2013, as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s ninth annual Museum Day Live!
Inclusive by design, this nationwide event represents Smithsonian’s commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone and emulate the admission policy of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC. Last year’s event drew more than 400,000 participants, and this year’s event expects record-high participation.

“The National Watch & Clock Museum thought it was important for us to take part in the Museum Day event to ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to explore and discover the Museum’s extensive nationally significant collection,” states Museum Director Noel Poirier.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available to download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Free entrance for two at participating venues is available for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2013 and a list of participating museums and cultural institutions, please visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.

Wake Up!, an eye-opening exhibit highlighting some of the most interesting and innovative alarm clocks ever created opened at the National Watch & Clock Museum in April and will remain on display through the end of the year. This special exhibit explores the important (and sometimes annoying) role that alarm clocks play in our daily lives. From their earliest versions to the most modern rolling or talking types found on your nightstand today, the purpose of the alarm clock has not changed. How would you like to be awakened by a pull on your toe or the flame of a match?! Come have a look at these and other unbelievable ways to Wake Up! 

August 8, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM RECEIVES WILLIAM BARCLAY STEPHENS COLLECTION AND HARRIS FISHBON COLLECTION

COLUMBIA, PA:  The National Watch & Clock Museum has for nearly 15 years been exhibiting many timepieces on loan from the California Academy of Sciences. The loan from two separate collections - The William Barclay Stephens Collection and The Harris Fishbon Collection - includes pocket watches by Abraham Louis Breguet, Thomas Tompion and Daniel Quare; clocks produced by Chauncy Jerome, Birge and Fuller, and Joseph Ives, to name a few. Early European timepieces in the collections filled a void in the Museum’s collection.

The accreditation process for the American Alliance of Museums required that Museum staff examine its current loans to determine if any could be converted to gifts. In 2007 the Museum began discussions with the California Academy of Sciences about converting the loan and initial responses from the Academy were positive and conversion continued.

The National Watch & Clock Museum was informed in January 2013, after almost six years of work, that the California Academy of Sciences had decided to transfer both collections to the National Watch & Clock Museum. The more than 550 timepieces in these two collections significantly improve the quality of the Museum’s collection, fill gaps in the Museum’s long-range collection needs, and strengthen the National Watch & Clock Museum’s position as the nation’s premier repository for horological material. 

The National Watch & Clock Museum thanks the staff, Board of Directors and NAWCC members who nearly 15 years ago arranged for the loan of these objects. The current Museum staff is grateful to see the fruition of this cooperation. The National Watch & Clock Museum and the NAWCC also thank Russell Hartman and the Board Trustees of the California Academy of Sciences for their generosity and patience in agreeing to transfer these important collections to the National Watch & Clock Museum. 

July 22, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WATCH ENTHUSIAST RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

COLUMBIA, PA:  The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) announced the winner of the 2013 Pritchard Prize for Excellence in Watch Repair and Restoration at its July national convention in Dayton, OH. Ken Rockwell of Tallahassee, FL, won the prize for his work on a 300-year-old English silver, pair case, fusee watch that had extensive damage to its inner case. 

Rockwell, an amateur horologist and trained goldsmith, exhibited skill in both the repair of the case and the servicing of the watch movement.  With a B.S., M.S., and a Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University, he first worked on watches when he was just ten years old!

NAWCC Executive Director, Mr. Steve Humphrey, selected the judges: Jim Zimmerman of Zimmerman Jewelers, York, PA; Herman Mayer from the Lititz Watch Technicum; and Al Dodson, an NAWCC instructor. Judging took place on June 18 at the Association’s headquarters in Columbia PA.

The annual competition is funded by The Pritchard Fund, a bequest of the late Kathleen Pritchard through the estate of her husband Wilbur L. Pritchard. In addition to a certificate stating the winner’s achievement, the prize also carries a $1,000 cash award. Competition for the prize is open to any horologist-hobbyist or professional. The submitter does not need to be a member of the NAWCC or any other horological association, but competition is limited to one entry per contestant.

Registration for the 2014 Pritchard Prize occurs in January 2014; applicants must submit written notice of their interest in participating, including a description of their project. 

July 22, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FINAL SALUTE TO ENLISTING TIME

COLUMBIA, PA:  With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and fourth of July fanfare behind us, The National Watch and Clock Museum announces that time is running out to visit its Enlisting Time exhibit. Take some time in the next two weeks to pay a final salute to the exhibit that honors the men and women who have served our country!

The Museum recognizes the significant sacrifice of our soldiers who have given their time, their courage, and in some cases the ultimate gift – their lives.  To honor their service, the Enlisting Time exhibit explores the relationship between armed service personnel and time and timekeeping through their personal timepieces, mementos, and personal timepieces. 

Timekeeping on the battlefield has changed dramatically in the last 250 years, but reliance on timepieces has not changed. Museum visitors can see the technological development of these timepieces and the significance they had for the wearer.

While watches of well-known individuals, including the pocket watch of George Washington and the wristwatch of spy and author Ian Fleming are part of the exhibit, timepieces belonging to “everyday” veterans also are highlighted.

Among those timepieces is the watch of Mt. Joy, PA, U.S. Navy veteran, Warren Greenawalt, who served in World War II after attending the Navy Mechanics School in California.   He followed the family tradition of his father who served in the navy in World War I.  Greenawalt served on the small island of Tinian, which grew to be the largest and busiest airbase in the world.  His watch was given to him by very grateful carrier officers in Guam for his delivery of a crate of tomatoes. Greenawalt wore that watch for the remainder of his service.  “We believe this Enlisting Time has been a great chance to tell two important stories,” says Museum Director Noel Poirier. “One is the development of the timekeeping device as used by military personnel and the second are the stories of those service personnel themselves.  By combining the two, and especially with the loans we’ve received from the community, the Museum presents a compelling exhibit on both fronts.”

Enlisting Time will be on display through August 16. 

July 19, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TIME FOR EVERYONE

COLUMBIA, PA: “Time for Everyone,” the 2013 Ward Francillon Time Symposium will be held November 7-9 at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.  Sponsored in conjunction with the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, organizers expect as many as 600 international attendees with common interests in time and its measurement.   

Twenty years ago at Harvard University, the Longitude Symposium brought together 500 collectors, restorers, dealers, academics, curators, and people from 17 countries interested in the history of time measurement.  The proceedings led to the publication of Dava Sobel’s well-known book, Longitude, which told the story of John Harrison’s eighteenth century quest to develop a timepiece accurate enough to determine a ship’s east-west position, or longitude. 

Titled “Time for Everyone: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Public Time,” the program opens with a presentation, “The Time of Our Lives” by William J.H. Andrewes, creator and driving force behind the Longitude Symposium.  The weekend features renowned speakers from various disciplines -- physics, astrobiology, neuroscience, history and horology -- culminating in Saturday evening’s banquet keynote address by Bill Phillips, 1997 Nobel Laureate, on “Time, Einstein, and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe.”

Speakers specifically on clock and watch history include writer Dava Sobel on “The Bell and the Clock: The Need for Public Time”; Jonathan Betts, curator at Royal Greenwich Observatory; Chris Bailey, former curator of the American Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut; Chris McKay on “The Great Age of the Tower Clock”; and Thomas O’Brien of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, on “Atomic Clock: Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?”. Speakers on broader concepts include Sean Carroll of Caltech on “The Origin of the Universe and the Arrow of Time”; Edwin Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory, on “Advent and Evolution of the Calendar”; and David Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine, on “Time and the Brain.” 

Program details and registration information are available online at www.timeforeveryone.org or from a printed brochure that can be requested by calling Bob Frishman at 978-475-5001. 

 July 8, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

VELDE HONORED FOR HER TIME AT THE WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM

COLUMBIA, PA:  Volunteers are the lifeblood of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors’ (NAWCC) Watch and Clock Museum and the Library & Research Center. More than 50 hardworking volunteers gave over 6000 documented hours – a huge savings for the Association. 

The NAWCC named Susquehanna Valley resident Marge Veld Volunteer of the Year. An award was presented to her for her generous contribution of time – 403 hours in 2012. Velde began volunteering in the NAWCC Library & Research Center in October of 2010.  Although the Library is where she gives most of her time, she also assists with special events and even lent a hand this spring in the membership department when a staff member was out for several weeks.  

“Marge is here two afternoons every week and is always willing to help out wherever we may need her.  She will help with anything we ask her to, cheerfully and without complaint.  There are days when she walks in the door and is immediately approached with the tasks and projects that have been set aside for her to work on.  She is a huge asset to the Library staff and we are extremely glad to see her honored for her efforts!” shares Library & Archives Supervisor Sara Dockery.

Volunteers are integral to the National Watch & Clock Museum. These dedicated individuals provide much of the manpower needed for daily operations, programs, special projects, and events.  From event planning to education aides to exhibit construction, to archival research, volunteers get involved at various levels that fit the individuals’ time and commitment availability. If you have extra time on your hands and are interested in volunteering, please call the volunteer coordinator at (717) 684-8261, ext. 237 to request an application. The application is also available on the Museum’s website atwww.museumoftime.org. 

 July 8, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TIMELY TOPICS

COLUMBIA, PA: The Hamilton Watch Company’s Timely Topics newsletter is now available online – good news for former Hamilton employees, their families, and collectors.

Hamilton’s Timely Topics newsletter began in 1943 to keep Hamilton employees in Lancaster and overseas up-to-date on news from the various departments, wedding and birth announcements, stats from the various company sports leagues, articles about the importance of Hamilton to the war effort, news from employees serving overseas, and tips for making the most of one’s victory garden. After the war Timely Topics continued to report news and stories about the company and its employees’ activities. Publication ceased around 1970. It was revived in 1979 and ran for several years before stopping again and being revived yet again in 1997 as the company’s newsletter.

Timely Topics is an amazing resource for local residents who may find themselves or their friends and relatives in the newsletters, or for genealogists and scholars who may use them for research. The articles and features (e.g., “What Do You Think?”) give a peek into the daily lives, interests, and values of former Hamilton employees. The introductory editorial in May of 1943 says, “You are a slice of the real America our boys are fighting for. You—your families—your homes—your jobs—your fun—your plans—your dreams—yes, altogether you are a genuine sample of our wartime home front, ready to make any sacrifice to speed the safe and victorious return of your loved ones and neighbors out there fighting.”

All the issues currently housed in the National Watch & Clock Museum’s Library & Research Center have been scanned and can be found at http://nawcc.org/index.php/digital-resources-members-only/hamilton/timely-topics. If you have other issues or know where to obtain other issues, and would be willing to let us scan them, please contact the Library. The Library will make copies or scans of individual pages or issues for a small fee. Contact the Library & Research Center at (717) 684-8261, ext. 230 for more details.

June 5, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RECYCLED TIME!

COLUMBIA, PA:  Ever try to tell time with a flip-flop?  Or a recycled CD?  With just a few creative additions both these items can be turned into clocks! “At the National Watch and Clock Museum you don’t have to just visit time. You can take time home with you!” explains Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Kim Craven.

Make-and-Take Workshops will be held at the Museum on Mondays through August 26 between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participants can choose the clock they want to make for themselves or for a gift. There is a small fee of $6 and large groups should make reservations by calling 717-684-8261, ext. 237.

“A workshop like this one is another opportunity to encourage families to visit and see that our Museum is not only educational, but a whole lot of fun, too – for all ages,” states Director of Education Katie Knaub. 

May 30, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CLOCK MUSEUM AWARDED CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade honors hospitality excellence in establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.
To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of 4 or more - out of 5 by travelers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. The volume of reviews received within the last 12 months is also considered.

The National Watch and Clock Museum was officially opened to the public in 1977 with fewer than 1,000 items. Since that time, the collection has increased to over 12,000 items, and the Museum has undergone several expansions. Today, the Museum is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive horological collection in North America. 
Through its 36-year history, the Museum has strived to continue its outreach to over 14,000 visitors a year through workshops, lectures, special exhibits, and a wide variety of events promoting the history and study of timekeeping.

“The National Watch and Clock Museum is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Noel Poirier, Museum Director. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, vice -president of marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.” 

May 15, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO MILITARY 

COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum launches Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America. Free admission for active-duty military members (ID required) and their families (up to five) runs from Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, through Labor Day, September 2, 2013. Active-duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active-duty National Guard, and active-duty Reserve members.

Enlisting Time, an exhibit of personal timepieces and stories of soldiers who have served their country over the last 250 years will be on display through August. Watches in the exhibit include George Washington's pocket watch, spy and author Ian Fleming's Rolex wristwatch used when he served in the Cold War, and many more.

Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect, and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable through partnerships like Books on Bases, Operation Honor Corp, Blue Star Careers, and Blue Star Museums. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, state and federal government to focus on military family issues. Membership includes military spouses, children, and parents, as well as service members, veterans, and civilians who strongly support them.
“Blue Star Museums is collaboration between the arts and military communities," said NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa. “Our work with Blue Star Families and with more than 1,800 museums ensures that we can reach out to military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice.” 

“Blue Star Museums is something that service members and their families look forward to every year and we are thrilled with the continued growth of the program,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Through this distinctive collaboration between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,800 museums across the United States, service members and their families can connect with our national treasures with this unparalleled opportunity to visit some of the country’s finest museums for free.”

This year, more than 1,800 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative, including more than 450 new museums this year. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find the museums that are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.  The site also includes a map to help with visit planning. 

May 8, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THAT OLD CLOCK OR WATCH?

COLUMBIA, PA:  Are you curious about the origins of your old watch or clock? The National Watch & Clock Museum’s Library & Research Center is holding a Clock and Watch Evaluation Day on Saturday, June 1, from noon to 4 p.m.

Four watch and clock experts from the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors will be on hand to identify and give some background on up to two of your watches or clocks for a $10 fee, including admission to the Museum. A $5 fee for each additional piece will be applied. As much history as possible will be shared, but no estimate can be given on value.

The Library would also like to open the event to people who cannot attend that day or live outside the area. Between May 20 and 31 a discount will be offered on its usual research fees. Instead of $20, for a $10 donation one of our experts will identify your timepiece and give you some history on its background.

For more information, visit the Library’s website or contact the Library & Research Center at (717) 684-8261 x224 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

April 23, 2013

Contact Name: Markus Harris - Director of Communications
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2013 NAWCC ELECTION RESULTS

These are the results of the 2013 NAWCC Election for four Directors, one Nominating and Election Committee member and the Bylaws Amendments as certified by auditors Ross, Buehler Falk & Company, LLP, in letter dated April 2, 2013.

All acceptable official ballots that were received no later than midnight April 1, 2013 were counted.

* There were 2,176 ballots counted.* There were 279 ballots that were not counted due to not meeting the ballot requirements.

The results of the election are as follows:

DIRECTOR:

Ruth Overton (MO) – 1272

Tim Orr (TN) – 1271

Gene Volk (NC) – 1167

Chester Ekstrand (WA) – 934

Richard Newman (IL) – 900

Jonathan Weber (NH) – 768

Ken Hogwood (FL) – 743

Gary Landis (AL) – 674

The top four were elected to the NAWCC Board of Directors to serve term 2013 – 2017.

NOMINATING AND ELECTION COMMITTEE:

Fred Ingram (MS) – 1117

C. David Collard (TX) – 880

Fred Ingram was elected to serve on the NEC for term 2013-2017.

BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

Approve – 1898

Do not approve – 111

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

According to Bylaws Article IV Section 7 (c), the NEC presented a nominee list for appointed Directors positions to the outgoing Board within fifteen days after the close of the election.  A special electronic meeting was opened to confirm the successful nominees on an individual basis, which required a majority vote of the full Board by secret ballot.

Approved to serve on the NAWCC Board of Directors for term of 2013 – 2017 are:

Jerry Thornsberry (MO) – approved by unanimous vote of full Board 

George Goolsby (TX) – approved by unanimous vote of full Board 

--Ruth Overton, NAWCC Board Chair 

April 11, 2013

Contact Name: Noel Poirier - Museum Director
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL WATCH & CLOCK MUSEUM RECEIVES HIGHEST NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch & Clock Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. AAM Accreditation is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability and earns national recognition for a museum for its commitment to excellence in all that it does: governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM’s Museum Accreditation program strengthens the profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and provide the best possible service to the public. 

“American Alliance of Museums accreditation has been a goal of the NAWCC and the National Watch & Clock Museum for a very long time,” states Museum Director Noel Poirier. “The achievement of this goal is the result of years of determination by Museum stakeholders and staff. Through their combined efforts, the National Watch & Clock Museum has become the only accredited horological museum in the Western Hemisphere, and we are committed to continuing to meet the museum field’s highest standards across the board.”

Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, 1,005 are currently accredited.  The National Watch & Clock Museum is one of only 35 museums accredited in Pennsylvania and joins two others in Lancaster County, the Ephrata Cloister and the North Museum.  

“Accreditation assures the people of Columbia and Lancaster County that their museum is among the finest in the nation,” said Ford W. Bell, president of the Alliance. “As a result, the citizens can take considerable pride in their homegrown institution, for its commitment to excellence and for the value it brings to the community.”

Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations.  To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers.  AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, reviews and evaluates the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.  While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes three years.

The National Watch and Clock Museum is operated by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. (NAWCC), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) association with close to 16,000 members, representing 52 countries. With members having contributed a large portion of the museum’s more than 12,000 items, the NAWCC is committed to excellence in the preservation of our horological heritage. The NAWCC also provides extensive educational opportunities to members and the public. 

January 1, 2013

Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NAWCC SEEKING ENTRIES FOR THE PRITCHARD PRIZE

COLUMBIA, PA: The NAWCC is seeking entries for the Pritchard Prize awarded annually for excellence in watch repair and restoration. The Pritchard Prize was developed by the late Kathleen Pritchard and is funded through the estate of her late husband Wilbur L. Pritchard. Mr. Pritchard’s interests in gears and machinery led him to watches, which he collected and repaired.

Amateurs and professionals from any country are encouraged to apply and NAWCC membership is not required.

Registration for the 2013 Pritchard Prize is due before January 31. Applicants must submit written notice of their interest in participating, including a description of the project. Then the completed projects, including photographs, documentation, and the insured completed timepiece, must be submitted before April 1. The timepiece will be returned by insured mail after the review.

Entries should be submitted to the Pritchard Prize, c/o NAWCC, Executive Director J. Steven Humphrey, 514 Poplar St., Columbia, PA 17512-2122, USA. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 717-684-8261, ext. 209, with your questions and for complete rules.

The NAWCC oversees the administration of the Pritchard Prize and reserves the right to defer the Prize until a minimum of three participants submit applications. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, received applications will be returned and the contest will be suspended until 2014. If selected, the 2013 Pritchard Prize recipient will be announced at the NAWCC National Convention in Dayton, OH, on July 3-6. The recipient will receive a certificate and a $1,000 cash reward.