final program sma 2014

Small Museum Association

30th Anniversary1984 - 2014

“Small Museums: Past, Present & The Future”SMA Annual Conference

February 16 - 18, 2014 * Ocean City, MDwww.smallmuseum.org

www.smallmuseum.org www.facebook.com/smallmuseumassociation

GREETINGS FROM THE 2014 CONFERENCE CHAIR: ROD COFIELDWhenever I talk with people about the Small Museum Association and the fact that 2014 is the 30th year for its annual conference, everyone is amazed to learn that the entire organization is volunteer-run. To continually offer 30 years of quality sessions, presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities is a great accomplishment.

This year’s conference pays homage to 30 years of small museum work. Our keynote presentation by Robert Kiihne and Sheryl Hack looks forward by discussing their work with teenagers and museums (the next generation of museum visitors and staff/volunteers). Our plenary speaker, Mary Alexander, provides a retrospective look at all of the good work accomplished by small museums and their role in the world. And a look at the other offerings for this year’s conference will show you that the ideas, knowledge, and skills presented in 2014 are integral to helping keep small museums around for another 30 years.

GREETINGS FROM THE 2014 PRESIDENT: JOHN PENTANGELOHappy Thirtieth Anniversary to the Small Museum Association!

Part of the reason I volunteered with this organization was because of the rich history of the annual “Winter” conference. On my first visit in 2007 it was obvious that the members, committee volunteers, presenters, and attendees shared a common bond. We are colleagues who have formed close, lasting friendships over the years. Indeed, the conference always feels like a homecoming or a family reunion. This dynamic is what has helped SMA thrive. By extension our sites have thrived these last thirty years with the ideas, programs, and practices introduced each year in Ocean City. As we reflect on the many great memories, we also will continue to look to the future, learn from this year’s sessions, and strive for excellence in educational outreach, collections stewardship, and exhibits.

SMA is also looking ahead as well: Our new e-newsletter which provides news, resources, and best practices three times a year will debuted on January 15. We are also recording select conference sessions this year. These sessions will be available online to members and attendees. Lastly, you will find an exclusive SMA member window decal in your packet. We hope you display it proudly on your vehicle or at your site in the coming years to help spread the word!

This year two of our board members will be leaving us after fulfilling their two terms of service. Amanda Apple, the SMA Treasurer, worked closely with the annual conference committee and also assisted the organization in tax filing and financial reporting. At-large board member Mike Henry served on a number of committees, helped revise SMA’s by-laws, and mentored other members of the board such as myself. Thank you for your service to small museums!

I also want to congratulate our new President Jason Illari who will take the helm at the close of the conference.Lastly, and on behalf of the current SMA Board, I want to thank you for attending this year’s conference. Your attendance and participation over the last thirty years is a reflection of how far small museums have come and how strong they will continue to grow!

ABOUT THE SMALL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

The Small Museum Association is an all volunteer organization serving small museums in the Mid–Atlantic region & beyond. SMA’s mission is to develop and maintain a peer network among people who work for small museums, giving them opportunities to learn, share knowledge and support one another, so that they, in turn, can better serve their institutions, communities & profession.

John Pentangelo, Board President

Rod Cofield, Conference Chair

Conference Rooms (Upstairs) Salon (Downstairs) Crystal Ballroom - Upper Level

Rooms 4-6 - Upper Level

Conference Center, 2nd Floor Lobby

1 2 3 A B

Sunday, February 16, 201412 - 5:45pm Registration12:30 - 4pm Workshops

Museum Volunteer Programs

Museum Administration

4:30 - 5:30pm State Meetings

Maryland Delaware Pennsylvania + New Jersey

New York Virginia

5:45 - 6:45pm Wine and Cheese Reception in Resource Hall6:45pm Meet for

Eat and Engage!

Monday, February 17, 20147:15 - 9:15am Breakfast Registration8:15 - 9:15am Keynote9:30 - 10:30am Sessions

Evaluation Using the System

Overnights Red Dragon

Risk Mgmt.

Resource Hall

10:30 - 11:00am

Coffee/Tea Break in Resource Hall

11:00 - 12:30pm Sessions

New Audiences Storage Wars Collections Care

Assess. Programs

Member. Programs

12:30 - 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30 - 3:00pm Sessions

Archival Collections

New Audiences MD Humanities Council

Create Content

Wikipedia

3:00 - 3:30pm Ice Cream Social in Resource Hall3:45 - 4:45pm Roundtables

Emeritus Comm.

Careers Partnerships Religion Volunteer

6:30 - 10:00pm

Banquet Silent Auction ends 9:30

Tuesday, February 18, 20147:15 - 9:15am Breakfast Registration8:15 - 9:15am Plenary9:30 - 10:30am Sessions

Educating from Scratch

IMLS Volunteer Wkshp Follow Up

Museum Improv

DIY Disaster Planning

10:45 - 11:45am Sessions

Digital Collections

Travelling Exhibits

Development School/Group Trips

Sustaining Places

SMA 2014 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE


SPECIAL NOTICES FOR THE 2014 SMA CONFERENCEVideotaping Sessions: The SMA is excited to announce a new partnership with the University of Delaware’s Museum Studies Program to record up to five conference sessions on video this year and host them at our website, www.smallmuseum.org. Now all members nationwide will be able to access our rewarding and engaging conference sessions year-round. These sessions will only be available to current members via password so be sure to keep your membership active (membership is automatic with conference registration each year). You’ll see our photographers and videographers at sessions and events throughout the conference. As a participant in the conference you may be photographed as part of the normal process of documenting the sessions and events. Before taking a close-up photograph however, our photographers/videographers will ask for your permission. If you do not wish to be photographed directly please let them know. We hope you enjoy the conference – and don’t forget to smile! Videotaped sessions are indicated with a

Twitter Feed: Tweet about what’s happening at the conference by using the hashtag: #sma_14

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

12:00 - 5:30 p.m. Registration - Conference Center Second Floor Lobby

12:30 - 4:00 p.m. - WorkshopsAll Hands on Deck: Evaluating your Volunteer Program and Planning for the Future. B/I. Katherine C. Grier & Susan J. Ellis. This workshop will introduce you to trends in volunteering in non-profit organizations and discuss where museums fit into these changes. Participants will learn about best practices in volunteer management and will fill out a self-evaluation form. The results of this self-evaluation will be discussed in the Tuesday follow-up session. This workshop is part of the Sustaining Places project, a partnership between the Museum Studies Program, University of Delaware and the Tri-State Coalition of Historic Places, funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Room One

Museum Administration: What Would You Do? B/I/E. Rod Cofield, Sarah Brophy, Mark Thompson, Jason Illari, & Karen Daly. Using real-life scenarios they’ve experienced on the job, several small museum administrators will explore the policies, procedures, and best practices that museums should have in place to run smoothly and meet legal and ethical requirements. Room Two

4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Museum Resource Hall - Rooms 4 - 6 (Upper Level)

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. State Meetings: Maryland, Delaware, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania/New Jersey, See Schedule-At-A-Glance for room assignments.

5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception, Resource Hall, Rooms 4 - 6 (Upper Level)

6:45 - 8:30 p.m. Eat and Engage! Eat and Engage provides an opportunity for SMA attendees to meet up for dinner and chat about a variety of topics. There will be an Eat and Engage at the Dough Roller and in the Clarion’s restaurant. The price of dinner is not included with registration. Reservations were required in advance to attend the Eat and Engage dinner program. Please meet at the registration desk at 6:45pm if attending.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

7:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration, Conference Center Second Floor Lobby

7:15 - 9:15 a.m. Breakfast, Crystal Ballroom

8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Monday Keynote Address: Robert Kiihne & Sheryl Hack What would make a diverse group of teenagers actually want to visit an early colonial house museum? Come and see what Connecticut Landmarks (CTL) learned from teens in museums, kids interpret a historic house, a student production about ghosts, blogging museum goers, and the community leaders.

CTL, with the help of an IMLS grant hired Reach Advisors, RKExhbits and Writers Block to work with students over the summer to find out what interests them about the Hempsted House and its historic occupants. Hopefully the resulting interpretive planning process will help chart a path to a new kind of interpretation for all 9 of their properties. Crystal Ballroom

SESSION DESCRIPTIONSB - Beginner, I - Intermediate, & E - Expert level session.

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.Taking the Mystery Out of Evaluation: How Museums Can Gather and Use Visitor Feedback Efficiently and Effectively. B. Kirsten Buchner. This session will be an introduction to ways museum staff can begin to conduct their own evaluations and audience research projects to help them better understand, improve and make decisions about how you serve your visitors. Using examples drawn from evaluations Insight Evaluation Services has conducted for small local area museums, we will discuss how and when visitor feedback can be solicited at different stages of project development for the purpose of informing next steps and reporting progress to stakeholders. Room One

Using the System for Pleasure and Non-Profit. I. Aaron Marcavitch. Learn how to work your networks and your systems in unique and creative ways to build collaborations, find partners that pay you (or at least don’t charge), and land a few more grants – all while making new friends. We will discuss the 10,000 foot level and then zoom in on a few projects that worked out well enough that it seemed ok to talk about them. We will walk through some of the “arts and sciences” of grants, budgets, fee-for-service models and how partners can make that all happen a little bit easier. We will especially point to larger regional scale programs – like the National and Maryland Heritage Areas programs – but we will make sure we look at all the connections you can use to for pleasure and non-profit. Room Two

Creating and Administering Quality Overnight Programs. B/I. Brian Auer. This session will highlight several approaches to creating activities and strategies for implementation that will ensure the best possible experience for participants for the long timeslot of an overnight program. Also discussed will be effective administration strategies for organizing overnight programs in the most efficient way possible. Case studies and example programs from Historic Ships in Baltimore’s overnight program will be shown. Room Three

The Red Dragon: A Model for Engaging the Community in Exhibits and Programming. B/I/E. Sharon Stowers, Ruth Ann Robinson, Jeanne Colopietro, & Jamie Colopietro. This workshop will address how small museums can better collaborate with community organizations and community members to develop dynamic and relevant community-based exhibits and programming. Our presentation will draw on our experience at the Hays-Heighe House at Harford Community College of developing the Welsh Heritage Project and the accompanying exhibits, The Red Dragon: Celebrating Welsh Hertiage in Harford County, in the Spring of 2013. This project was funded by a Maryland Traditions Grant from the Maryland States Arts Council. We will teach workshop participants how to conduct basic ethnographic research of their


communities, how to develop a dynamic exhibit from community information and local artifacts, and how to use new media/social networking not only to involve to the local community in the project but to reach out and involve a national and international audience. Salon A

Protecting Your Collection: How Risk Management Principles Can Help Small Museums Sustain Their Mission. B. Molly Slattery & Deborah Peak A round table session about common insurance/risk management questions, concerns or issues facing small museums. Salon B

10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Mid-Morning Coffee Break - Resource Hall, Rooms 4 - 6 (Upper Level)

11:00 - 12:30 p.m.What the Kids Said: New Audiences for Historic House Museums. B/I/E. Robert Kiihne & Sheryl Hack. The presenters will discuss the efforts of Connecticut Landmarks to re-examine the historic house museum experience and its relevance to increasingly diverse American audiences, which recently involved a project that allowed teenagers to reinterpret the Joshua Hempsted House in New London, Connecticut. Room One

Museum Storage Wars: Creative Storage Solutions for Small Museums on a Budget. B. Nicole Belolan & Jodi Frederiksen. Struggling with your collections storage and don’t know where to start? As a participant in this interactive storage workshop, you will learn about best practices for collections storage and learn how to “diagnose” common storage conundrums and challenges small museums face. You will walk away with a worksheet you can use at your institution for assessing and redesigning collections storage with a limited budget, a manual featuring practical, cost-effective collections storage solutions, and practice and instructions for making your own collections storage box. Room Two

To Preserve and Protect (Low-Cost Collections Care Strategies for Small Museums). B/I. Jessica Bitely. Preservation is central to effective stewardship of cultural heritage collections, but with competing demands on time and resources, achieving “best practices” can be daunting. This session presents low-cost approaches and simple steps for improving storage, handling, and exhibition to help you move toward good practice for protecting collections, even in less-than-ideal situations. Room Three

Help is on the Way! Assessment Programs for Your Museum. B/I. Lauren Silberman & Melanie Zucker. Learn about the Museum Assessment Program, Conservation Assessment Program, Standards and Excellence Program and other free-to-low-cost assistance programs for your museum. Salon A

100 Tips for Revolutionizing Your Membership Development Program. I. Sheldon Wolf & Dana Hines. Good membership and development programs provide more than just funds. This program highlights basic assumptions and then provides steps to implementation. We will examine the Development Cycle, and how to engage our Board, our staff, and our CEO in programs that serve long-term needs. Salon B

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch in the Crystal Ballroom. Special lunchtime session:The Flash Sessions – Enlightening and Faster than Lightning: Working on an interesting project? Have an interesting idea? Want to share information about an upcoming program? Join us for the “flash sessions.” Each speaker will get 3 (timed) minutes to tell us about something at lightning speed and then we’re on to the next interesting tidbit. Come prepared to share! Sign up on Monday morning at Registration.

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.Advice for Small Museums with Archival Collections. B/I. Jack McCarthy & Celia Caust-Ellenbogen. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Hidden Collection Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) is a 3-year project to make better known and more accessible the often “hidden” archival collections held by the Philadelphia region’s many local historical societies, historic sites, and small museums. This session will share findings from the project, provide information on archival theory and best practices for museums, offer guidance on describing and cataloging archival collections, and discuss strategies for managing and preserving archival materials with an emphasis on easy, low-cost approaches. Room One


Creative Innovation: 30 Ways to Attract New Audiences and Engage the Public. B/I. Allison Weiss, Rob Forloney, & Lindsey Baker. Staff from three very different organizations share what has worked and what hasn’t for their instiutions in attempting to engage new audiences. Room Two

Looking for Money? The Inside Scoop on the Maryland Humanities Council’s Grant Program. B/I. Lauren Ayers & Marilyn Benaderet. Staff from the Maryland Humanities Council and Preservation Maryland will present the ins and outs of how to apply for funding for humanities based public programs or for the protection of historical and cultural resources at your museum. This overview session will focus on how small museums and cultural institutions in Maryland can develop competitive grant proposals. We will note some recent successful applications and how these grant funded projects enhanced small museums in regions throughout the state. Come with questions, and leave with answers. Room Three

Create Content That Hooks Your Audience (and Keeps You Sane). B. Julia Rocchi. Know who your target audience is? Ready to get them in the door? Learn how you can become a soup-to-nuts content generator, even with limited staff and tight financial resources. Salon A

Using Wikipedia for GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums). B/I. Mary Ockerbloom & Tracy Jentzsch. Wikipedia can help cultural institutions share their resources with the world, through collaborative projects with Wikipedia editors, and training of GLAM staff and volunteers. Learn the basics of Wikipedia, set up your own Wikipedia account, and get started editing. Learn the basics of Wikipedia, set up your own Wikipedia account, and get started editing. Salon B

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social - Resource Hall, Rooms 4 - 6 (Upper Level)

3:45 - 4:45 p.m. RoundtablesThe Past, Present, & Future of Small Museums. Mike DiPaolo & others. The members of the Emeritus Committee of the Small Museum Association will facilitate a discussion on how the small museum field has changed over time, and where it seems to be going. Come add your insights! Room One

Career Roundtable: YOUR Past, Present, & Future. Allison Titman & Samantha Dorsey. As we ponder the evolution of small museums, let’s take time to discuss how changes in the field impact us as museum professionals. Bring your thoughts about job hunting, skill development, and multitasking in the 21st century to share with your peers. Room Two

Being a Part of the Community: Partnerships that Work. Lindsey Baker. Join in a conversation about how to approach partnerships in a way that not only reaches new audiences, but brings in new revenue streams, and meets your mission. Room Three

Volunteer Roundtable: Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting. B/I. Kate Livie. Join your fellow colleagues as we collaborate our way to a corps of happy, productive volunteers! Bring your questions, comments, and quandaries to share, find solutions to your volunteering challenges, and help guide other organizations with your successful volunteer strategies. Salon A

Religion in the Museum. B/I. Rebecca Lawrence & Nick Siegert. Using the Historic Ephrata Cloister, a former utopian religious community, as a case study, join in a dialogue of how the Cloister and other institutions address the needs of visitors coming from diverse religious backgrounds and interpretation challenges in its tours, school programs, and exhibition interpretation. Salon B

6:30 - 10:00 p.m. ANNUAL BANQUET: 1980s! The Monday night banquet is a favorite of many SMA attendees! While dressing up in costume is optional, it is encouraged. Let your imagination run wild! Activities include dinner, dancing, awards, half and half raffle, and silent auction announcements. Crystal Ballroom


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

7:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration, Conference Center Second Floor Lobby

7:15 - 9:15 a.m. Breakfast, Crystal Ballroom

8:15 - 9:15 a.m.Tuesday Plenary Address: What Would Lesley Do? Mary Alexander Mary will highlight 30 years of small museum history and achievements while challenging attendees to think about the next 30 years of needs and challenges. Crystal Ballroom

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.Educating from Scratch: Deciding Where to Start. B. Jesse Gagnon. This session will explore different strategies for starting an educational program. We’ll cover topics such as program development, marketing, volunteers, use of collections, standards, all on a limited budget. Room One

Grant Opportunities from the Institute of Museum and Library Service. I. Chris Reich. Learn about grant funding opportunities from IMLS, with special emphasis on programs that serve small museums. This session will include guidance for preparing more competitive applications and time for dialogue to share and learn from experiences. Room Two.

Follow-Up Session: All Hands on Deck: Evaluating your Volunteer Program and Planning for the Future. B/I. Katherine C. Grier & Susan J. Ellis. This is the follow-up session to the Sunday workshop. Please review the workshop description for full information. Room Three

Museum Improv. B/I/E. Mary Alexander & Rod Cofield. Join us in an interactive session exploring some of the more interesting aspects of museum work. From dealing with frustrating visitors to staff (or volunteers) you want to throttle, this session allows you to ‘act out’ your feelings while discussing ways to cope with your friends and colleagues. Salon A

DIY Disaster Planning. B. Frances Harrell. Many institutions understand the critical need for emergency preparedness, but the disaster planning process can feel overwhelming. This session will walk you through the parts of a basic disaster plan, focusing on achievable goals for even the smallest organizations. Salon B

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.Digital Collections: A Future for Small Museums. I. Amanda Shepp. A workshop which deals with digital collections and a few ways to create them. The process of digital museum creation will be outlined, and ideas for small museum digital possibilities well be discussed. Bring your questions and ideas and get ready for the future! Room One

On the Road Again: Adapting Travelling Exhibits to Fit Your Small Museum. I. Anne Morgan & Jessica Brody. The key to making a generic traveling exhibit truly exceptional is the ability of the museum’s staff to customize it to resonate with their community. This session will describe how the staff of one small museum took a travelling exhibit and used it as the platform to develop a popular interactive attraction that tapped into their community’s interests. It will focus on generating ideas for overwhelmed staff of small museums interested in developing powerful exhibits- without breaking the budget. Room Two

From First Encounter to Future Funder. B/I. Lesley Barker. Each segment of the “audience” community engages with a museum in a predictable series of steps. We will consider outreach tools and tips that a small museum can use to promote on-going, repeated future involvement by each group. Room Three


Growing Museum Revenue by Attracting School and Group Trips. I. Laura Wallendal & Christina Inge. Based on case studies and real-world experience, this session will look at ways to make your museum more attractive to groups, especially school and community groups, which make up the majority of visitors to many small museums. We’ll learn how to package basic tours that appeal to different age groups, create content that fits with teaching standards, and market your venue in cost-effective ways. An interactive workshop component will allow participants to apply what they’ve learned to their own settings, and come away with actionable insights to build new audiences. Salon A

Sustaining Places: A Resource for Small Museum Professionals. B. Stephanie Lampkin & Kelsey Ransick. A cooperative project between the University of Delaware Museum Studies program and the Tri-State Coalition of Historic Places, Sustaining Places shares models of best practices for small museum professionals in the form of downloadable PDFs, videos, informative PowerPoints, professional development workshops, and an equipment lending library. This informational session will show you how you and your organization can take advantage of all that Sustaining Places has to offer! Salon B


ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Brian Auer is the Interpretation Coordinator at Historic Ships in Baltimore. He oversees training and administration of a museum staff of 26 educators and contributes to program creation, development, and administration for 5 individual museum sites.

Lauren Ayers is a Program Assistant with the Maryland Humanities Council working on the Council’s grants, Museum on Main Street, and Literature and Medicine programs. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Public History with a concentration in Museum Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Lindsey Baker is the Executive Director of the Laurel Historical Society. She likes to pilot creative, innovative programs that sometimes flop and sometimes are homeruns. Most importantly, she lives in Laurel with her two dogs Zinn and Stella.

Leslie Barker has a background in grant writing and strategic planning for small non-profits and education before becoming the Director of the Bolduc House Museum. She is leading its transition to tell an expanded French colonial story while studying in the doctoral program of the University of Leicester’s Department of Museum Studies.

Nicole Belolan is a Ph.D. candidate in the History of American Civilization Program at the University of Delaware and a graduate assistant for the IMLS-funded UD Museum Studies Sustaining Places initiative. She has cared for and interpreted collections at several museums and cultural heritage institutions including the Winterthur Museum, the Newport Historical Society in Rhode Island, and the Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation.

Marilyn Benaderet serves as Preservation Services Director of Preservation Maryland, where she is responsible for providing funding, advocacy and technical assistance to local preservation organizations throughout the state. She administers the Heritage Fund, a joint program of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, and is also responsible for management of the easement program. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Historic Preservation from Delaware State University.

As a Preservation Specialist at NEDCC, Jessica Bitely provides guidance on preservation practices to institutions throughout the US and abroad. She earned her MLIS with an Archives Concentration from Simmons GSLIS and has worked with institutions including the City of Boston Archives and the National Park Service. Jessica is particularly interested in the preservation of audiovisual materials, and in collections security issues.

With over twelve years in the field of visitor studies, Kirsten Buchner has worked with a variety of informal learning organizations to coordinate and conduct front-end, formative, summative and remedial evaluations, as well as audience research projects. Clients include The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Accokeek Foundation, Maryland Historic Trust, Historic London Town and Gardens, Montgomery County Historical Society, Tourism Council of Frederick County, and the National Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Celia Caust-Ellenbogen holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives, Preservation, and Records Management from the University of Pittsburgh. She has worked on the HCI-PSAR project since its launch in fall of 2011, currently serving as Senior Project Surveyor.

Jamie Colopietro is currently a student of Anthropology at Harford Community College and is pursuing a specialty in archaeology. She is adept at the use of technology, and she is interested in how museum’s display and conserve artifacts.

Jeanne Colopietro is currently a student of Anthropology at Harford Community College. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and she is especially interested in pursuing a degree in Museum Studies.

Samantha Dorsey is the Curator for the City of Bowie Museums in Bowie, Maryland. Samantha has over twelve years’ progressive experience including museum education, interpretation, research, exhibition development and curation.


Susan J. Ellis is President of Energize, Inc., a training, consulting, and publishing firm that specializes in volunteerism. She founded the Philadelphia-based company in 1977 and since that time has assisted clients throughout North America (48 states and 6 provinces), Europe (11 countries), Asia (4 countries), Latin America (2 countries), Australasia (2 countries), and Israel to create or strengthen their volunteer corps.

Robert Forloney the Director of the Center of Chesapeake Studies at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime. Whether working at an art institution or a history museum, Robert attempts to make objects and images accessible to audiences through facilitating conversations as well as utilizing experiential learning techniques.

Jodi Frederiksen is an M.A. candidate in the Department of History at the University of Delaware. Prior to attending UD, she spent seven years as a Curatorial Assistant at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a private, non-profit that owns and operates Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where she was chiefly responsible for daily care of the collection.

Jesse Gagnon is the Director of Education for the Marshall Steam Museum + Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve. She graduated with an MA in History from the University of Delaware and Museum Studies Certificate.

Katherine C. Grier is director of the Museum Studies Program at the University of Delaware. She is the principal investigator for the Sustaining Places project and the creator of the Museum Studies Program’s Collections SWAT Team program, which just completed its fifth annual volunteer collections management project.

Frances Harreell is a Preservation Specialist for the Northeast Document Conservation Center. She sits on the Executive Committee for COSTEP MA- Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness Massachusetts.

Dana Hines is the CEO of Membership Consultants in St. Louis. She is co-author of the essential text, “Membership Development,” and the recently published “Pulse of Membership 2012.” She has been a presenter at numerous regional and national conferences.

Christina Inge is a marketing and museum professional with 15 years’ experience. The former head of marketing for the New England Quilt Museum and currently for EdTrips, she works with museums of all sizes to attract audiences and build revenue.

Tracy H. Jentzsch serves in dual position of Assistant to the Director of the Museum Studies Program, and Media Specialist in the History Media Center at the University of Delaware. She brings a varied background to her current role as an “Alt Ac” in Digital Humanities.

Rebecca Lawrence is currently the Museum Program & Volunteer Facilitator at the Historic Ephrata Cloister, where she develops family and youth programming. Rebecca serves on the board of PA Museums and SMA.

Stephanie Lampkin is a doctoral candidate in History at the University of Delaware and received the museum studies certificate in 2010. This is her second year serving as a Graduate Assistant for the Museum Studies Program.

Kate Livie is currently the Director of Education at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where she shares the stories of the Bay’s history, culture, and environment with visitors of all Kate currently manages over 80 education docents in CBMM’s successful volunteer program.

Aaron Marcavitch, Executive Director of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc. has 10 year of experience in non-profit operations, community development, affordable housing, and historic preservation in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. He has a B.S. in Historic Preservation from Roger William University and a M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University.

Mary Mark Ockerbloom is currently the Wikipedian-In-Residence for the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, PA, where she is helping to contribute images of collections items to Wikimedia Commons and improve information on Wikipedia about the history of science.


Jack McCarthy is a certified archivist and longtime Philadelphia area archival/historical consultant who has held leadership positions at several historical organizations and directed a number of archives and history projects. He is currently serving as Project Director for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories.

Anne Morgan is a new archivist who graduated from Simmons College Library and Information School in May of 2012. She is enjoying establishing the Imperial Valley Desert Museum’s archive and preserving the stories of the archaeologists who built the museum as well as the Native Americans who make the Yuha Desert their home.

Deborah Peak has over 30 years’ experience as fine art insurance broker, account handler, claims manager and currently is the underwriter for Huntington T. Block’s small museums and conservators fine art insurance programs. She also manages, trains, and acts as a resource for HTB employees.

Kelsey Ransick is the Curator at the Arden Craft Shop Museum in Arden, DE and the Woodfin Fellow at Newlin Grist Mill in Glen Mills, PA. She has a BA in history from University of San Francisco and an MA in history and certificate in museum studies from University of Delaware, where she served as the Sustaining Places Webmaster for two years.

Chris Reich is the Senior Advisor in the Office of Museum Services of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, working on a broad range of organizational, managerial and technical issues related to grants management and agency operations. He previously held curatorial and director positions in museums in Connecticut, Alabama, and Iowa.

Ruth Ann Robinson is the founder and director of the old Line Museum in Delta, PA and spearheaded the restoration of the historic Welsh Cottage in Coulsonton, PA.

Julia Rocchi is the Associate Director for Digital Content at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where she manages the PreservationNation blog, curates and connects content, and edits/writes/films any story she can get her grubby little mitts on. She is all about combining accessible communication, marketing science, and goal-oriented project management for social good. Julia is currently pursuing her MA in Writing at Johns Hopkins University with the goal of becoming a starving artist.

Amanda Shepp is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia and the University at Buffalo (graduate work). She helps out the Center For Inquiry frequently, and is always up for a challenge. Amanda resides in Buffalo, NY with her husband Chris and their cat, Ebi.

Nick Siegert was an interpreter at the Landis Valley Farm Museum and K-12 educator before becoming the Custodial Supervisor at Historic Ephrata Cloister, where he supervises the tour program, assists in school programs, and provides administrative support.

Lauren Silberman is the program officer for the Museum Assessment Program with the American Alliance of Museums.

Molly Slattery has 14 years’ experience as a fine art insurance broker with Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, Inc. She specializes in placement of affordable Fine Art Insurance for Small Museums, Art Centers, Non-Profit Organizations, and Historical Societies.

Sharon Stowers Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Harford Community College. She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA and a Masters in Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Masters in Nutrition from Framingham State College in Massachusetts. She has taught for over 20 years in a variety of institutions of higher learning, including UMass, Amherst and Towson University. She has extensive experience researching and writing about immigrant communities in the United States, especially Salvadoran and Haitian populations. Most recently, she served as Project Coordinator overseeing the development of the on-campus historic Hays-Heighe House into a living classroom and exhibit space. She is especially interested in the anthropology of museums and how small museums can better engage the communities they serve.

Allison Titman is the Assistant Director/Curator at the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, MD and a member of the SMA Conference Organizing Committee. She completed the Museum Studies program at George Washington University in 2008, and since then has built boxes, researched women in the military, worn 18th century clothing, and puzzled over how to keep small museums and historic houses relevant in the 21st century.

Laura Wallendal is a travel professional with over 5 years’ experience in the student group travel industry. As co-founder of EdTrips, the online platform to organize and manage school trips, she works schools and museums to build and organize effective group learning programs.

Allison Weiss has been in the museum field for 15 years, primarily at small history-focused institutions that need new life breathed into them. Her main interest is in creating ways for the community to become heavily invested in the museum, by allowing individuals and organizations to “co-create” programs and take ownership of the museum.

Sheldon Wolf has worked in the museum field for more than 25 years. For two years he served as chairman of AAM’s Development and Membership Committee, and he served on AAM’s national Program Committee. He has been a frequent presenter at conferences, including AAM, NEMA, SEMC, MAAM, PA Federation of Museums, and others. Presently, he is a consultant based in Philadelphia.

Melanie Zucker is the program assistant for the Conservation Assessment Program with Heritage Preservation.

ABOUT THE SMALL MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

2013-2014 SMA Board MembersPresident: John Pentangelo, Newport, RITreasurer: Amanda Apple, Preservation Officer, Maryland Historical Trust, MDSecretary: Karen Daly, Director, Dumbarton House, DCAnnual Conference Chair: Rod Cofield, Executive Director, Historic Londontown and Gardens, MDMembers-At-Large:• Mike Connolly, Executive Director, New Castle Historical Society, DE• Mike Henry, Site Administrator, Fairfax County Park Authority, Colvin Run Mill Historic Site, VA• Jason Illari, Director, Cumberland County Historical Society, PA• Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Program & Volunteer Facilitator, Historic Ephrata Cloister, PA• Lauren Silberman, Coordinator, Museum Assessment Program, American Alliance of Museums, DC • John Verrill, Principal, Practical Matters for Small Museums, Executive Director, Early American Industries

Association, MDImmediate Past-President: Michael DiPaolo, Director, Lewes Historical Society, DELegal Advisor (ex-officio): Hurst Hessey, Hessey & Hessey, P.A., MD

2013-2014 SMA Conference Committee MembersConference Committee Chair: Rod Cofield, Executive Director, Historic Londontown & Gardens, MDSpeakers Coordinators: Lindsey Baker, Executive Director, Laurel Historical Society, MD and Allison Titman, Assistant Director/Curator, Hammond-Harwood House, MDExhibit Hall Coordinator: John Orr, Executive Assistant to the President, Chemical Heritage Foundation, PAMembers and Registration Coordinator: Jesse Gagnon, Director of Education, Marshall Steam Museum & Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve, & Dayna Aldridge, Historic Ships in Baltimore, MD Hotel and Banquet/Silent Auction Coordinators: Helen Wirka, Historic Site Specialist/Curator, Carlyle House Historic Park, VA, & Doris Pullman, Queen Anne’s County Historical Society, MDScholarships and Awards Coordinator: Rob Forloney; Director of the Breene M. Kerr Center for Chesapeake Studies, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, MDGraphic Design: Lauren Silberman, Museum Assessment Program Officer, American Alliance of Museums, DCPublicity: Rebecca Lawrence, Museum Program & Volunteer Facilitator, Ephrata Cloister, PA


SCHOLARSHIP WINNERSThe Small Museum Association is pleased to award Lesley Van der Lee Scholarships to the individuals listed below. In addition, for this year’s Conference, SMA was pleased to partner with the Historic House Museum Consortium of Washington, DC, Maryland Association of History Museums, and United States Federation of Friends of Museums to offer additional scholarships. We congratulate all of the winners.

Lesley Van der Lee Scholarships from the Small Museum AssociationAllison Schell, Milton Historical Society; Geralyn Bleau, Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum; Ciera Fisher, Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House; Kelsey Ransick, Aden Craft Shop Museum; Katherine Somerville, The Octagon; Dennis Liana, The Delaware River Mill Society; Linda Rogers, Monroe County Historical Association;Cara Seitchek, Meridian International Center; Jenean Neilsen Todd, North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum.

Historic House Museum Consortium of Washington, DC ScholarshipJacob Goldstein, Dumbarton House

Maryland Association of History Museums ScholarshipsLaura McKee, Johns Hopkins University; Ryan Szimanski, Historic Ships in Baltimore

Prince George’s County Historic Sites CoalitionAllison Hartley, Greenbelt Museum

US Federation of Friends of Museums ScholarshipAnnie Malone, Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc.

POTENTIAL SMA BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIESThe following people have been nominated for the SMA board. During the conference, attendees will have the option to vote orally for their inclusion on Monday.

Dayna Aldridge is Registrar and Membership Coordinator at Historic Ships in Baltimore. Dayna’s love of museums, which developed while completing her BA in History at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, solidified into as a career path during her year-long studies at the University of North London, UK. Following her undergraduate work, Dayna traveled to the west coast to complete her MA in History from the University of California, Riverside’s Program in Historic Resources management. Dayna has been involved in the Small Museum Association since receiving a Lesley van der Lee Scholarships in 2008. Like many who have attended a conference, she was drawn to the community of museum professionals who make up SMA. The following year Dayna joined the conference committee, serving first as Assistant Speaker Coordinator before a four year term as Conference Registrar and Membership Coordinator. Dayna looks forward to continuing her involvement with SMA, and to many years of supporting and learning from her Small Museum colleagues.

Kathryn M. Blackwell is Historian at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site in Great Falls, Virginia, where she oversees the site’s museum collections, assists with site interpretation, museum sales and coordinates the volunteer and school programs. Kathryn has an MLS (Archives, Rare Books & Special Collections concentration) from Catholic University, and a masters’ certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care from George Washington University. She is especially interested in emergency preparedness, collections management, and preventative conservation tools and strategies for small museums.

Allison Titman is the Assistant Director/Curator at the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Maryland, as well as the Vice President of the Friends of Greenbelt Museum and a member of the Small Museum Association’s Conference Planning Committee. She credits her love of museums to childhood visits to the exhibit on the First Ladies at the National Museum of American History and her mother, who allowed herself to be dragged through it frequently. This early love of one particular museum experience blossomed into a desire to work in museums when Allison attended Barnard College at Columbia University, where she took her first Museum Studies course and interned at the Museum of Television & Radio. After receiving an MA in Museum Studies from the George Washington University in 2008, Allison worked at a memorial for women in the military and then at historic house museums within the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission before settling into her current position. She enjoys the diversity of experiences working at a small museum allows her, from teaching workshops on collections care to investigating best practices in social media, and is passionate about the power of small museums to act as educators, innovators, and community partners.


MUSEUM RESOURCE HALL VENDORS

Located in Rooms 4 - 6 (Upper Level), the Museum Resource Hall is the place for you! Looking for an exhibit designer or for ideas for your gift shop? Want to find out more about available cultural resources? Can’t find the right archival or storage supplies for your organization? Stop by the Museum Resource Hall and talk to our exhibitors - they’re there to help you!

Lauren SilbermanAmerican Alliance of Museums1575 Eye Street NW, Suite 400Washington, DC [email protected]

Myra GnadtDorfman Museum Figures, Inc.6224 Holabird Ave.Baltimore, MD 21224800-634-4873 410-284-3248410-284-3249 [email protected]

Teresa MartinezMelanie ZuckerHeritage Preservation1012 14th Street NW, Suite 1200Washington, DC 20005202.233.0831www.heritagepreservation.org

Abby Shaw Hollinger Metal Edge9401 Northeast DriveFredericksburg, VA 22408215.625.4588www.hollingermetaledge.com

Jennifer WhitfieldSara Van De CarPastPerfect Software, Inc.300 North Pottstown Pike, Suite 200Exton , PA 19341800.562.6080www.museumsoftware.com

Tanja DucharmeResourceMate by Jaywil SoftwareP.O. Box 25005Geulph Ontario NIG4T4CANADA519.837.8370www.resourcemate.com

Georgeanna WindleyStrategic Planning and Business Development Services725 Bicentennial Blvd.Dover, De 19904302-242-9283 [email protected]

University of the Arts – Museum Studies program320 South Broad StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19102215.717.6489http://museumstudies.uarts.edu/

University of Delaware – Museum Studies Program77 East Main StreetNewark, DE 19711302.831.1251http://www.udel.edu/museumstudies/

Virginia Field Trips MagazineP.O. Box 845Abingdon, VA [email protected]

final program sma 2014

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