At the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., we count on people who volunteer their time, energy and enthusiasm to support our mission. Our volunteers love history. They’re dedicated to our city. And they engage people who visit our physical location, the DC History Center.
Gallery guides, like John Olinger, interact with visitors and answer questions about the exhibits we have on view, using our research library and more. Recently, I sat down with John to hear the story of how he became a volunteer for the Historical Society and why.
John Olinger: I started volunteering sometime toward the end of the year after I retired. I retired at the end of 2015 and I started volunteering right probably at the end of 2016 early 2017. So it’s basically this is my third year.
Rose Curry: When did you first find out about the Historical Society and how?
JO: It goes way back. I was an early member and a board member and eventually the President of the Rainbow History Project, which was started in 2000, and our mission was to collect and promote and make available the history of the LGBTQ community in D.C. And we had an advisory board and Gail Redmann who at that time was a librarian for the D.C. Historical Society and Jane Levey who in about working with the Historical Society were on our Advisory Board.
Over the years I’ve just maintained a friendship with Jane. So when I retired, Jane and I had lunch one day, and she asked me what I was doing, and I said, “Well I’m still trying to figure out what I wanted to do.” And she said, “I have something for you to do.” And that was it. And it’s been great. It’s actually a lot of fun. You meet a lot of really great people. There are a lot of really very committed volunteers who are who know this place and enjoy telling people not just about us but about D.C., and that’s cool.
I’m originally from New York. I came here [in] 1981 from New York, and in a lot of ways, I still think of myself as very much a New Yorker. But when it was time to retire, I said, I’m staying here.
RC: Do you see your role with answering questions [in the DC History Center Galleries] as sort of also helping to foster an interest in history?
JO: Yeah, I mean definitely. I’m proud that I live in Washington.
It’s interesting that because we get people that are coming who are new to the city, this is a chance for us to help them to orient themselves to the city. And it’s one of the best things about, I think, volunteering, that as a gallery guide you really get to meet a lot of interesting people. Not just people from D.C., but visitors and people from all over the world.
And I’ve had three instances of people finding themselves in one of the panoramic pictures that you can expand.
RC: What were the three instances when people came in and saw themselves?
JO: They were in the school pictures and all three of them were older women. And their class was up there.
And now, suddenly, you look and it’s there, and you’re part of—you’re a visible part of D.C. history and that’s—it’s exciting for them, but it’s exciting for me as somebody who originally trained as a historian and who taught at a University level, it’s exciting to see people discover their stories.
RC: What would you say to someone if they told you they were thinking about becoming a volunteer?
JO: I would encourage them to do it. First of all, it’s fun. Since I retired, this is the activity [that] basically has become the most regular thing I do, and the thing I most look forward to doing.
It’s a chance to talk about something you presumably are interested in, and a chance to meet a lot of interesting people and, you know, have a sense that you’re doing something that’s important. Because I do think this is important.
To learn how to volunteer at the DC History Center, please visit dchistory.org.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.