Shirley J. Ray

Ray is the new executive director of Monroe County Historical Association, which has a long-standing tradition of preserving the heritage of the area since its beginnings in 1921 as Monroe County Historical Society.

Ray, who was director of Newark Valley Historical Society in Newark Valley, N.Y., for the past year, settled into her job on Sept. 1.She lives in Marshalls Creek.

Ray grew up in the historically rich Midwestern community of Vincennes, Ind., the first capital of the Indiana territory that is also home to the George Rogers Clark Memorial.

"Being from those parts, you're in a historical frame of mind," said Ray, who was a student of medieval studies in college.She was encouraged by her mother to pursue a career in museums.

"History helps any community better understand where they came from.Here in the genealogical library, people can find about what a family did, how involved they were in the community, how the community grew," Ray said.

This understanding is important to newcomers and natives alike.Ray knows that most people don't live and breathe history like she does, usually preferring to observing days such as the Fourth of July and giving history a brief nod.

She hopes to change that by making the organization more visible in the community and bringing together the resources of the area and beyond.

"Geographically, here we are at the crossroads of so many wonderful opportunities, with Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

In the Midwest, it's landlocked.To get somewhere, you have to drive for a day.The different geography here will help to pull resources.We can bring in speakers from other areas," Ray said.

Meet Shirley Ray

Name: Shirley J. Ray
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If you're not a historian, you may not have the appreciation of history and stories," Ray said.

By fostering this appreciation through educational outreach, Ray will strive to reach another goal.

"This leads to preservation," she said.
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"I couldn't be in the Middle Ages or the Victorian era, but here's an object that was there," said Ray, who often wonders who owned the object and about its history.

"It's fun to go into a museum, see an object, try to figure out what it is and know that it hasn't been used for 200 years," she said.

"I like the creativity of it.You read about oil lamps and Betty lamps.Then you find them in a collection.I like to be able to identify the artifact and share the stories with other people," she concluded.