Trying to pull together the history of Germans in Elberta, Czechs in the Robertsdale area, Greeks in Malbis, Scandanavians in Silverhill, Yugoslavs in Perdido, Italians in Daphne-Belforest and Creoles in the Weeks Bay area is no small task, not to mention the French (Fairhope and Elsanor), Mennonites (Bay Minette), Negroes (Lillian), Poles (Summerdale) and Quakers (Fairhope).

Yet, that is the task the Baldwin County Heritage Museum Association Inc. has set for itself. Actually, the task is one of education and was set forth over 25 years ago in the museum's mission statement. Saving the story and teaching children about the history of the diverse legacies and elements that made up Baldwin County is what museum leaders are gearing up to do in a big way, but they also have an affinity with the late Rodney Dangerfield.

It's not so much respect they're not getting but recognition county-wide that could move Baldwin County Heritage Museum to the next level. The foremost needs at present are memberships and money.

"We need a whole parking lot and by pulling on the grass that's not going to count," said June Taylor of Elberta, who chairs the Museum Association.

A current membership drive has stalled the way some of the old tractors on display at BCHM might do. Ten dollar individual memberships ($15 family) could help with operating money and bring in much needed volunteers as well, Taylor said.

Ralph Veller of Foley, vice-chairman of the Museum Association, said BCHM would welcome the support of businesses who might contribute on any number of annual giving levels, from Friend ($50), Sustaining ($100), Supporting ($500), Patron ($1,000) and Benefactor ($5,000).

Taylor said an endowment for BCHM might seem far-fetched but with it the museum could use the interest to help meet its expansion efforts.

It's all about making room for what Becky Holliday calls the "bits and pieces" that make the museum what it is.

Take the "Feedsack Fashions" exhibit.

"This is where young people learn what it was like to live on a farm in Baldwin County in the late '20's and '30's," said Holliday, who lives in Foley and serves as the museum's education director and corresponding secretary.

But the styles of yore that BCHM are interested in aren't all farming. The museum wants costumes and traditional dress of all the groups and nationalities that settled in Baldwin County.

"You don't want to lose that as we evolve into a modern society and each one of our communities share the same kind of drug store and grocery store. You don't want to lose what made you different," Holliday said.

"I don't have anything from the Italians, and they were an enormous impact on Baldwin County. The only thing I have Greek is this fantastic spinning wheel," she said, pointing to what is, indeed, a fantastic spinning wheel in the Main Exhibit Room.

"Incredibly light" is the way Holliday describes the costumes and dress on display for most of the nationalities who settled in Baldwin County with the exception of the Germans.

"We are an unusual museum in that we will accept loans. You don't have to part with a family heirloom to allow us to teach about it and exhibit it," Holliday said.

THE "CARPATHIA"

Gustav R. Thin of Gulf Shores has loaned BCHM a suit and dress and other articles of clothing short-term that belonged to him and his late wife. These articles of clothing are in the German heritage and include a box of buttons that the museum's textile curator, Colletta Bailey, is going to display in a quilted frame.

Not far from the Thin exhibit is a dress and shawl that belonged to a woman who came to America on the "Carpathia," a ship that made a detour on its way to the U.S. It stopped to pick up survivors from the "Titanic."

"If we accept something, we take responsibility for curating it for up to 100 years," said Holliday, who was quick to point out the museum will not accept items that are in bad condition. Items of clothing like the Thin's and "Carpathia" dress and shawl are insured by the museum, cleaned and protected and "rested" from time to time. They are exhibited without pins or wires used, Holliday said.

"These people came to this country, worked hard and contributed to what this country is today," said Veller of the nationalities and groups on display in the Main Exhibit Room. All the more reason the museum needs cases to protect the garments and costumes on display.

"Things don't have to be an elaborate antiquity to have an incredible value," said Holliday, who wants books in original languages, postcards and the like to be exhibited with the fashions from the past.

BCHM has agreed to accept all fourth grade classes in the county for visits to the museum for educational reasons.

"That's a lot of responsibility," said Holliday, who gave voice to yet another needful thing at BCHM, namely, volunteer teachers.

"This is the people's museum; they built it. Ten dollars gives you a vote and it stays with the people," she said.