Sustainability, Relevance, and the Future of Historic House Museums - Virtual Summit
- Registration Closed
Event Description
In 2002, AASLH, the American Alliance of Museums, the American Architectural Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, held their first joint summit to talk about the future of historic sites. In 2007, the group gathered again to discuss the sustainability of the historic house field. The second meeting resulted in articles, a technical leaflet entitled How Sustainable is Your Historic House Museum, a special issue of NTHP’s Forum Journal, and numerous sessions at conferences. Now in 2023, it is time to ask the question again, how sustainable is the historic house museum field?. The virtual summit will build on the work done in 2007 to answer the question of what makes a historic site not only sustainable but relevant in 2023 and beyond.
Details
DATE: July 11 & 12, 2023
TIME: 12:00 - 5:30 pm EASTERN on Day 1; 12:00-5:00 EASTERN on Day 2 (remember to adjust for your time zone)
COST: $85 for members/$99 for non-members
ACCESS: You will be provided with instructions on how to access the live event upon registration.
Recording and Captioning
This event will be recorded. Registrants of this event receive complimentary access to the recording in their Dashboard. Captioning will be provided for the live event.
How to Register
Click here for instructions on how to register yourself or another user for this event.
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July 12: 4:30 - 5pm EST - The co-chairs of AASLH’s Historic House Affinity Committee and AAM’s former Historic House Professional Network will reflect on the discussion of the past two days and look toward the future of the historic house museum field.
The co-chairs of AASLH’s Historic House Affinity Committee and AAM’s former Historic House Professional Network will reflect on the discussion of the past two days and look toward the future of the historic house museum field.
Rena Lawrence
Historic Site Supervisor, Log Cabin Village, Fort Worth, TX
Julie Bly DeVere
Faculty Lecturer and Independent Museum Consultant, Mountain View, CA
Cara Seitchek
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Lisa Worley
Director of Material Culture, Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 12: 3 - 4:30pm EST - Since 2007, much of the historic house museum field has embraced broader interpretation of their sites. Curators and interpreters are digging deep in their archives and site histories to include the stories of the enslaved, paid domestic workers, and people whose stories were repressed or ignored because it involved something controversial such as mental illness or LGBTQ+ relationships. This session will highlight sites that have changed their interpretation to be more inclusive and how it has impacted their organization’s ability to connect to audiences in and out of their local community.
Since 2007, much of the historic house museum field has embraced broader interpretation of their sites. Curators and interpreters are digging deep in their archives and site histories to include the stories of the enslaved, paid domestic workers, and people whose stories were repressed or ignored because it involved something controversial such as mental illness or LGBTQ+ relationships. This session will highlight sites that have changed their interpretation to be more inclusive and how it has impacted their organization’s ability to connect to audiences in and out of their local community.
Brigette Jones
Director of Equitable Partnerships Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery, Nashville, TN
Brigette Jones is currently the Curator of Social History for the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. Tennessee. Her work includes the preservation and interpretation of the vast social histories of the many diverse cultures that inhabit the state of Tennessee, including but not limited to, African American history, Latino history, and Middle Eastern history. Ms. Jones is a Memphis native and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the historically Black, Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2019, she gained certification through the National Association of Interpretation and the Smithsonian Institute: National Museum of African American History and Culture to become an official interpreter of the African American experience. Most recently, she served as Director of African American Studies for the Belle Meade Plantation Museum in Nashville, where her academic focus was primarily on the lasting legacy of American chattel enslavement on Tennesseans and surrounding areas.
As of 2019, Ms. Jones has established Bridge Builders Historical Consulting, LLC, where she provides genealogical research and interpretive design for museum sectors, as well as conducting public speaking engagements and serving as keynote speaker on the history and legacy of Southern race relations. The final component of her work is in the realm of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion where she offers training for various companies such as Tennessee Department of Transportation, Reebok Inc. and Tommy Hilfiger Inc. to improve cultural competency and social awareness within the workplace. Her trainings focus on addressing implicit and unconscious bias from a historical perspective in efforts of allowing trainee(s) to understand the root of community bias and how it has been fostered, with specific focus on the American South.
Her work has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institute, NPR, The Tennessean, Nashville Scene, The Commercial Appeal, and Garden and Gun Magazine where she was named one of the 2019 “30 Southern Heroes”. To follow Ms. Jones and learn more about her work, her LinkedIn profile can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigette-janea-jones-2a139490/ .
Ahmad Ward (Moderator)
Executive Director, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head, SC
Cassandra Andrews
South District Visitor Services Supervisor, George Washington Memorial Parkway, McLean, VA
Zunny Matema-Miller
Brahnam Family Descendant
Arlington House, Arlington, VA
Brooke Steinhauser
Program Director
Emily Dickinson House, Amherst, MA
Cecelia Torres
Gray Family Descendant, Arlington House, Arlington, VA
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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Historic buildings and landscapes are, by nature, irreplaceable artifacts. While we may have carefully designed emergency plans to protect these unique resources, how do we ensure that we are best stewarding these assets when modern, commercially available solutions may not be appropriate? As life—and our climate—becomes increasingly unpredictable, it’s important to remain agile, responsive, and calm. While you cannot plan for EVERYTHING, you can be prepared to deal with almost anything. Join our panel to discuss how they approach unanticipated threats to historic buildings and landscapes and offer ways to be prepared when a “plan” doesn’t exist.
Historic buildings and landscapes are, by nature, irreplaceable artifacts. While we may have carefully designed emergency plans to protect these unique resources, how do we ensure that we are best stewarding these assets when modern, commercially available solutions may not be appropriate? As life—and our climate—becomes increasingly unpredictable, it’s important to remain agile, responsive, and calm. While you cannot plan for EVERYTHING, you can be prepared to deal with almost anything. Join our panel to discuss how they approach unanticipated threats to historic buildings and landscapes and offer ways to be prepared when a “plan” doesn’t exist.
Mark Heppner
President and CEO, The Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
Hal Simon-Hassell
Chief Interpretive Specialist
Historic Sites Division, Texas Historical Commission, Austin, TX
Tricia Canaday
State Historic Preservation Office Administrator/Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Idaho State Historical Society
Julie Weisgerber
OEHP Policy Specialist, Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 12: 12 - 1:30pm EST - Representatives from historic sites in Massachusetts, Louisiana, and England will share creative ways they have tried to engage with visitors on different levels than a typical tour. Be prepared to be inspired by their creativity and steal some ideas!
Representatives from historic sites in Massachusetts, Louisiana, and England will share creative ways they have tried to engage with visitors on different levels than a typical tour. Be prepared to be inspired by their creativity and steal some ideas!
Ken Turino (Moderator)
Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development, Historic New England
Ken Turino is Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development at Historic New England and on the faculty of Tufts University in the Museum Studies Department where he teaches courses on Exhibition Planning and Historic House Museums. Ken is a curator, educator, director, producer, and author. His films were shown on PBS including the prize winning, “Back to School: Lessons from Norwich's (VT) One-Room Schoolhouses.” Ken numerous public history articles include many with a focus on interpreting historic sites and on LGBTQ+ history. Ken’s most recent publication’s include “Creating Artist-in-Residence Programs at Historic Sites” AASLH Technical Leaflet #299 with Rebecca Beit-Aharon published in 2022 and with Max van Balgooy, Reinventing the Historic House Museum, New Approaches and Proven Solutions, editors, for Rowman & Littlefield in 2019. With Max van Balgooy he is currently working on a book on Interpreting Christmas and winter holidays at historic sites and museums.
For AASLH, Ken and Max van Balgooy teach a workshop “Reinventing the Historic House Museum.” Ken frequently consults on interpretive planning and community engagement projects at historic sites. These include Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, Virginia, and Trent House in Trenton, New Jersey. Ken holds an MAT from George Washington University. He was awarded an Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from Salem State University in 2008. Currently, Ken is President of the House of Seven Gables Settlement Association in Salem, Massachusetts.
Chris Danemayer
Principal, Proun Exhibit Design, Sommerville, MA
David Hopes
Head of Leeds Museums and Galleries Leeds City Council, University of Birmingham, Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Karen Leathem
Museum Historian, Louisiana State Museum, Madame John’s House, New Orleans, LA
Barbara Silberman
Director, Special Projects, The Forbes House, Milton, MA
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 11: 4:45 - 5:30pm EST - Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for some fun games and networking as we end Day 1 of the summit.
Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for some fun games and networking as we end Day 1 of the summit.
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 11: 3:15 - 4:30 pm EST - The Measurement of Museum Social Impact Study (MOMSI), addresses the critical need to establish best practices for measuring the social impact museums have on visitors and developing a tool for museums to better understand their social impact on individuals and communities. Learn about MOMSI and how evaluation can be scaled and implemented for historic house museums and why numbers can’t be our only measure of success.
The Measurement of Museum Social Impact Study (MOMSI), addresses the critical need to establish best practices for measuring the social impact museums have on visitors and developing a tool for museums to better understand their social impact on individuals and communities. Learn about MOMSI and how evaluation can be scaled and implemented for historic house museums and why numbers can’t be our only measure of success.
Andrea Malcomb
Museum Director, Molly Brown House Museum, Denver, CO
Emily Johnson
Museums Field Services Manager, Utah Division of Arts and Museums, Salt Lake City, UT
Jen Kindick
Museum Education Specialist, Brown House Museum, Denver, CO
Tammi Flynn
Director of Marketing
Florence Griswold House, Old Lyme, CT
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 11: 2 - 3pm EST - This session delves into the evolution of mission statements, highlighting their increasing relevance in today's world. Panelists will explore innovative strategies for expanding their museums' roles, engaging diverse audiences, and fostering community connections based on a reimagined mission. Discover how embracing contemporary issues, integrating technology, and promoting inclusivity can transform house museums into more dynamic, educational, and inspirational spaces.
This session delves into the evolution of mission statements, highlighting their increasing relevance in today's world. Panelists will explore innovative strategies for expanding their museums' roles, engaging diverse audiences, and fostering community connections based on a reimagined mission. Discover how embracing contemporary issues, integrating technology, and promoting inclusivity can transform house museums into more dynamic, educational, and inspirational spaces.
Max A. van Balgooy (Moderator)
President
Engaging Places LLC
Max A. van Balgooy is co-editor of Reimagining Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions, a new anthology of two dozen essays by leaders in the field, and director of the History Leadership Institute, which provides professional development for mid-career and advanced professionals working in history organizations. These experiences provide a rich source of ideas for Engaging Places LLC, where he blogs occasionally about the opportunities and challenges facing historic sites and house museums.
Dakota Russell
Executive Director, The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA
Shawn Halifax
Executive Director
Woodlawn Plantation, Alexandria, VA
Alexandra Rasic
Executive Director
Gamble House Conservancy
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
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July 11: 12 - 1:30 pm EST - Attendees from the 2007 Kykuit Forum will discuss the findings from that summit and how local, state, national, and global changes to our world have impacted our field.
Attendees from the 2007 Kykuit Forum will discuss the findings from that summit and how local, state, national, and global changes to our world have impacted our field. They will discuss what does the historic house museum field look like in 2023 and what can it look like in the future.
Bethany Hawkins (Moderator)
AASLH Chief of Operations
Bethany Hawkins was named Chief of Operations for AASLH in April 2016. She joined AASLH in 2005 in the role of Program Manager working primarily with the association’s continuing education programs, annual meeting, awards program, and affinity groups. Before joining AASLH, she worked as Director of Marketing for the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville and was Executive Director of the Sam Davis Home and Museum in Smyrna, TN. A life-long Tennessee resident, Bethany has both a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University.David Janssen
CEO
Brucemore
Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Ph.D.
Director, Distinguished Service Professor
Cooperstown Graduate Program
Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Ph.D. holds a BA degree from Rutgers University in American Studies, an MA in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, and a PhD from Albany University in history. Dr. Sorin has more than thirty years of experience as a museum consultant working for more than 250 museums. She has served as an exhibition guest curator for many exhibitions including the nationally acclaimed traveling exhibition, Bridges and Boundaries: African Americans and American Jews for the Jewish Museum in New York and Wilderness Cure: Tuberculosis and the Adirondacks for the Adirondack Museum. Dr. Sorin writes and lectures frequently on African American history and museum practice. Her books include Touring Historic Harlem, Four Walks in Northern Manhattan with architectural historian Andrew Dolkart, In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Through the Eyes of Others: African Americans and Identity in American Art and Case Studies in Cultural Entrepreneurship: How to Create Relevant and Sustainable Institutions.
Katherine Malone-France
Chief Preservation Officer
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
Support
If you have technical questions about the online platform, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
