The Greene County Questers chapter will share conversation and coffee with anyone interested in history, antiques and historical artifacts Saturday, Jan. 11, at 10 am at the Greene County Historical Museum, 219 E. Lincolnway in Jefferson.
Founded in 1992, the local Questers chapter name is Greene Gallup, a combination of Greene County and George Gallup, a Jefferson native who created the Gallup Poll, which conducts pulic opinion polling worldwide, in 1935.
“Questers is about history,” says Jefferson member Mikki Swartzkopf, “not just collections. At our meetings, members provide information about all kinds of things—from geodes (Iowa’s state ‘rock’) to humorous epitaphs, and, to collections, of course. Our mission is to keep history alive by supporting preservation, restoration and education.”
Schwartzkopf once gave a program about a plate she found at a garage sale. The china commemorated the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) which was founded in 1874 with a mission to reduce alcohol consumption and prohibit liquor sales. With her find in hand, Schwartzkopf told her fellow Questers about the WCTU’s history and influence, noting that the organization is still in existence.
Questers meet monthly in members’ homes and take occasional field trips to historical sites. Persons who would like to learn more about the group…and about research possibilities at the museum, are invited for coffee on the 11th.
