Erie Yesterday (EY) is a consortium of historically related organizations. The organization was created with the purpose to promote an awareness of the history, historic sites and museums of Erie County, provide a unified voice for the heritage community and provide a cooperative public relations program. Visit Our Members to view a current listing of organizations involved with EY.
The organization fulfills its purpose through a number of activities and projects. The DiscovERIE Passport project, which was supported in part by The Erie Community Foundation and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, History Quest summer camp, and the Erie Yesterday brochure are examples of the organization’s collaborative efforts.
What else has EY done? With a $4,500 grant from the Nonprofit Partnership EY hosted two capacity-building workshops in 2009, “Volunteer Recruitment and Training for Small Non-Profits” and “Marketing Your Small Museum.” In June 2010, EY, in partnership with the Erie Maritime Museum, brought The Pennsylvania State Archives workshop “Archives Without Tears” to northwestern Pennsylvania. The two-day workshop provided basic information about archives, record management, disaster planning for historical and vital records, and photographs and special media care.
Most recently, EY received funding from ArtsErie in the amount of $1,500 to be used to complete a strategic plan. As a result of the process, which concluded in May 2011, EY will be better equipped to fulfill its purpose.
Why does EY do what it does? Erie Yesterday’s member organizations encourage the public to study local history. They collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts, documents, photographs and oral histories, which they hold in trust for the community; and are ideal learning environments, whether it is formal or informal learning, active hands-on participation or passive observation. And, in studying the community’s story the public gains access to and an understanding of the forces that affect their lives, and emerges with an enhanced capacity for informed citizenship, critical thinking and simple awareness. The end result is a healthy respect for oneself and the community.