Deidra Turner, a Neumann University senior majoring in political science, turned her love of history into college credit through an internship at the Brinton 1704 House.

“I love history – like a lot,” Turner said. “I was fortunate enough to intern at a museum.”

And this museum is nothing short of history. In fact, the building itself is historic.

The Brinton 1704 House is a museum located in Delaware County near West Chester, PA. It was built in 1704 by William Brinton, Jr., the son of Quakers who moved to the colony of Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution in England.

It is unique because it is one of the oldest and best restored houses in the United States. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.

During her internship, Turner was responsible for researching the Brinton Family genealogy, giving tours of the museum, and creating the new exhibit, “Not Just A House, A Home,” that features the Brinton family as well as the house. Her work contributed details about the family – William Brinton, Jr., wife Jane, their six children, and their lifestyle.

Gathering information for the exhibit required extensive research on the history of the house and surrounding land. The Brinton 1704 House was one of 14 houses standing in the battlefield area of the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777 during the Revolutionary War.

The exhibit has three focuses: who lived in the house, how they lived in the 1700’s, and detailed information about the house itself.

Opening in June and running through the summer, the exhibit will also feature a 3D model of the house and how it looked at different time periods.

This internship has opened a path to a possible career for Turner. “I fell in love with creating exhibits,” she said, “It’s very interesting to me. You get to do research and learn about something so in depth that you didn’t know before.”

After graduation, Turner hopes to find a job in a museum and eventually pursue a master’s degree in museum studies.

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