The Miller Red Barn Association
Mission: The mission of the Miller Red Barn Association, working with the City of Gilroy and other civic groups supportive of historic preservation, shall be to fund, oversee, and coordinate the restoration of the historic Miller Red Barn in Christmas Hill Park.The vision of The Miller Red Barn Association is to restore the Miller Red Barn to serve as a symbol and repository of Gilroy’s agricultural history as well as a living monument to the life and significant contributions made by Henry Miller to the City of Gilroy and to the State of California. The Miller Red Barn is Gilroy’s link to California’s cattle industry and its rich agricultural history. The Barn, built 1891 by Henry Miller, is now a State and Federal Historical Land Mark. The purpose of the committee is to structurally save the building and to turn it into a place that honors all of the diverse people who made Gilroy and Santa Clara County agricultural power-houses.
Activities: Refurbish barn building, fundraise for organization’s activities and building, provide insight into local agricultural and cattle industry history and related topics, educate the public about the importance of contributions by various groups to Southern Santa Clara county.
Needs this semester:
California history: Students will be asked to research ethnic groups who in Santa Clara county history, and what each contributed in terms of agriculture and livestock, as well as culture. End goal: Students will produce video and/or Powerpoints on topics related to agriculture and animal husbandry involving the following groups—Amah Mutsen; Mexicans, Californianos, American settlers, Gold Rush populations, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Scandinavian, other groups.
Women’s history: students will be asked to research one of the following topics: Amah Mutsen women and child-bearing; Amah Mutsen women and child-rearing; Amah-Mutsen family and kin relationships; Californiano culture related to women before marriageable age; Californiano courtship and marriage; Californiano married and family life for women; early US settlers and the experience of farm women in Santa Clara county before 1900. Students will produce video and/or PowerPoints.
Who should apply: Students interested in doing quality original research on local topics with minimal supervision.
Orientation mandatory! Students should meet for orientation at the Gilroy Library on Tuesday Sept.26, OR Wed. Sept. 27 at 6:00p.m. at the the front lobby. Look for Sarah Kelly.
Who should not apply: students who cannot work independently will have difficulty completing these projects.
Additional information: Please see the website for this agency, where all student-generated materials may be posted. https://themillerredbarn.org Employees at this non-profit are very busy providing valuable services. Please respect their time by making appointments, coming on time, keeping your business brief, and calling ahead if you have an emergency that prevents you from coming on time.
Orientation required: Come to Gilroy Library first floor lobby (near entrances in atrium) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 26 , bring Service Learning plan and Agreement form.
Address: Christmas Hill Park, 7049 Miller Avenue, xx from park.
Contact: Sara Kelley
408-847-4804
email; skelly@garlic.com
Updated 8/17