WORCESTER — In 1970 an item appeared in The Evening Gazette that caught quite a few interested eyes.
The Worcester Art Museum was launching “a new program to train a corps of volunteer gallery instructors,” under the direction of Richard C. Mühlberger, then the curator of museum education. A class of “approximately 30 women” would meet weekly on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. starting Sept. 28. through the second week of May. Another class would meet Fridays if the training was over-subscribed. “The principal prerequisites for the program are an interest in art, a desire to communicate and an affection for the Worcester Art Museum,” the announcement said.
“I saw the article and I said, ‘Oh my gosh that’s right up my alley.’ I didn’t take long to apply to the position,” recalled Carole Harmon. However, “There were so many applicants,” she said.
There were 82 female participants rising to the challenge, and the first docent-led tours were offered to college instructors and…
