Matthew Sedutto working on the Scouting Exhibit at the Wright Museum
Matthew Sedutto, an Eagle Scout who has volunteered for five years at the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum and Max I. Silber Scouting Library, has spent the summer as an intern at the Wright Museum of World War II. His connections to both museums helped forge a partnership that brought the new exhibit to life.
The internship was designed around Sedutto’s interests. After learning about his longtime volunteer work at the Scouting Museum, Wright Museum staff encouraged him to create a project that combined his passions for scouting and history.
What began as plans to refresh a single display case quickly expanded into a permanent exhibit featuring multiple display cases, a mannequin in uniform, and artifacts documenting scouting’s wartime service.
“When I talked to them, I mentioned I worked at the Scouting Museum and how passionate I am about scouting,” Sedutto said. “We concluded the best idea was updating their scouting case. We replaced one case and then the collection of items and stories kept growing. It doubled into a whole exhibit.”
Nearly 90 percent of the artifacts came from the Scouting Museum or the personal collection of Executive Director Dick Zeloski. The exhibit also features a hand-routed wooden sign crafted from a former Scouting Museum sign, creating a subtle tribute to the museum whose volunteers helped make the project possible.
“It was really a collaboration,” Sedutto said. “I’d work at the Wright Museum, then go to the Scouting Museum and ask what they thought we should add. They came up with ideas and gathered items for the cases.”
The exhibit explores a chapter of World War II history that Sedutto believes deserves greater attention. “This whole story of scouting during the war is kind of a blank spot in the historical conversation,” he said.
Visitors will discover how scouts sold war bonds, collected scrap metal, and helped grow Victory Gardens. The exhibit also highlights New Hampshire’s little-known civilian messenger test, during which scouts carried messages by hand between Concord and Laconia.
According to Scouting Museum Executive Director Dick Zeloski, the exhibit reflects Sedutto’s dedication to preserving history while showcasing the value of museum partnerships. “When it comes to history, especially WWII, Matt is all in and works both knowledgeably and tirelessly,” he said.
Peggy Hennelly-Maniates, Executive Director of the Wright Museum, said the project demonstrates their commitment to mentoring future museum professionals.
“Helping to educate, mentor, and inspire the next generation of museum professionals is an important part of our mission,” she said. “We are proud to provide opportunities for talented young people like Matt to develop their skills while sharing their knowledge with our visitors.”
The public is invited to celebrate the exhibit on Friday, August 7, at 2:00 p.m., when Sedutto will present a lecture on scouting during World War II. He will share the stories behind the artifacts and discuss his research into scouting’s wartime contributions.
Part of the lecture will examine the experiences of Japanese American scouts who continued participating in scouting while confined in wartime relocation camps. “Things like the messenger test and aspects of local history would be lost to time if not for the Scouting Museum,” Sedutto said. “The artifacts matter, but so do the stories.”
“I’m excited that scouts of all ages will be there,” he added. “One thing that inspired me as a scout was realizing I was part of something bigger than myself. I hope this exhibit does the same for the next generation.”
The exhibit will remain a permanent addition to the Wright Museum, continuing the partnership between the two New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail members.
In addition to the Wright Museum of World War II and the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum, the NH Heritage Museum Trail features nearly two-dozen members in the Seacoast, Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.