The Powerful Resilience of Small Museums - Virtual Summit
- Registration Closed
OVERVIEW
Small history organizations across the United States share history with local audiences in ways that are creative, educational, and engaging. Small museums are diverse – rural and urban, full-time staff and all volunteer led, well supported financially and operating on a shoestring. But, most of all, they are resilient. Despite the challenges of the last few years, they still serve vital roles in their communities leading the charge on the preservation and interpretation of local history. This summit will celebrate the creativity and resourcefulness of small museums through the lens of resiliency. What have we learned about small museums responding to global change that can inspire the field? How can the challenges of operating a small museum also make it easier to be nimble when faced with obstacles? This virtual summit, developed by small museums for small museums, will provide practical information as well as inspirational stories to prepare participants for the future, in particular, the 250th Anniversary of the United States in 2026.
DETAILS
December 5-6, 2023
· Target Audience
Small museum staff including paid and volunteer
· Learning Objectives
Attendees at the virtual summit will . . .
· Feel the possibilities being a small museum offers.
· Be inspired to think creatively about fulfilling their mission.
· Be able to implement at least one concrete idea from the summit at their museum.
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 through the Zoom client. If further accommodations are required, please reach out to arthur@aaslh.org
How to Register
Click here for instructions on how to register yourself or another user for this event.
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Recorded On: 12/07/2023
Small Is Our Superpower! What makes small museums more resilient and creative than many of their larger peers? Why is being small an advantage for many museums? The summit will kick off with a brief overview of small museums data from AASLH’s Census of History Organizations to show the scope of small museums. Then a group of small museum directors will discuss what they see as the unfair advantage of small museums and why their size is often their superpower.
What makes small museums more resilient and creative than many of their larger peers? Why is being small an advantage for many museums? The summit will kick off with a brief overview of small museums data from AASLH’s Census of History Organizations to show the scope of small museums. Then a group of small museum directors will discuss what they see as the unfair advantage of small museums and why their size is often their superpower.
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.
Allison Campbell
Heritage Outreach Manager
Washington State Historical Society, Tacoma, WA
Jenn Landry
Director of Museums
City of Irving, Irving, TX
Cynthia Walker
Executive Director
Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk, ME
Cynthia Walker joined the Brick Store Museum staff in 2010 as Museum Specialist, and was promoted to Associate Director in 2012 and Executive Director in 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Public History at Northeastern University, and a master’s degree in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in 2010. Her previous experience includes the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston and Willowbrook Museum Village in Newfield.
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. -
Mission statements are a central part of museum governance. The thinking and reflection that go into creating them can keep museums focused, dedicated to community service, and operating within ethical guidelines. Revisiting them, on their own or as part of a planning process, can help museums adapt and stay relevant. In this panel, participants will hear from leaders of two organizations that have gone through extensive revisions of their missions and strategic plans. They will discuss when and how to adapt your mission to refocus the organization and keep it on a sustainable path forward.
Mission statements are a central part of museum governance. The thinking and reflection that go into creating them can keep museums focused, dedicated to community service, and operating within ethical guidelines. Revisiting them, on their own or as part of a planning process, can help museums adapt and stay relevant. In this panel, participants will hear from leaders of two organizations that have gone through extensive revisions of their missions and strategic plans. They will discuss when and how to adapt your mission to refocus the organization and keep it on a sustainable path forward.
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.
Ann Bennett
Executive Director
Laurel Historical Society, Laurel, MD
Ann Bennett has more than 20 years’ experience working in museums, education and archaeology. Before coming to LHS, she served as the curator of the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, as coordinator of the Hays-Heighe House at Harford Community College, and worked at PastPerfect Museum Software. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, with an MA in historical archaeology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She is very active in local and regional historical and cultural organizations, and is the past-president of the Archaeological Society of the Northern Chesapeake.
Rachael Mullins
Marieke Van Damme
Executive Director
History Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
Marieke Van Damme has worked in non-profits for over fifteen years, starting as an Americorps VISTA volunteer in Alaska right out of undergrad. She worked in collections management for the National Park Service in Sitka, Alaska, and in Salem, Massachusetts; managed an 18th-century historic site in Peabody, Massachusetts; and served as Deputy Director at the Bostonian Society/Old State House. She is currently the executive director for the Cambridge Historical Society in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2014, Marieke launched Joyful Museums, a project studying workplace culture in museums, and in 2017 was a co-founder of GEMM (Gender Equity in Museum Movement). She proudly serves as a member of the New England Museum Association’s board.
Sean Blinn (Moderator)
Chair
AASLH Small Museums Committee, Bedminster, NJ
Sean Blinn is an independent museum professional based in New Jersey, with a practice focused on government relations, evaluation, and communication (including social media). His primary background is with historic house museums, where he uses stories of the past to help visitors understand the present. He enjoys showing how life has changed over time, including the social effects of technological change. He works to ensure that voices historically left out of narratives are represented in museums’ narratives and builds partnerships with libraries and other cultural institutions. He has served as a member of local government historic preservation, cultural, and zoning commissions. Prior to joining the museum field, he worked in the corporate sector, working on projects from writing and editing to leading software testing projects.
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Small museums are intrinsically connected to their communities, constantly conducting audience outreach for engagement and as new projects are developed. Audiences are also continually changing habits, interest, and involvement with museums, perhaps never more so than in 2023. Join these panelists to discuss audience development, outreach to stakeholders near and far, and how museums are growing and maintaining audiences.
Small museums are intrinsically connected to their communities, constantly conducting audience outreach for engagement and as new projects are developed. Audiences are also continually changing habits, interest, and involvement with museums, perhaps never more so than in 2023. Join these panelists to discuss audience development, outreach to stakeholders near and far, and how museums are growing and maintaining audiences.
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.
Lynne Calamia
Executive Director
Roebling Museum, NJ
Lynne Calamia is a public history professional with over a decade of professional experience in the field of preservation and public history. She has led museums, preserved historic sites, conserved cultural landscapes, protected industrial history, and raised money as a tireless advocate for historic preservation every step of the way. Currently, as executive director of Roebling Museum in Burlington County, Calamia manages a museum that tells the story of a 1905 company town with a majority immigrant/migrant workforce. Calamia has also involved been involved for the last seven years with an important historic preservation project in Camden, the oldest extant religious building in Camden which is a small Quaker meetinghouse.
Ross Jordan
Curatorial Manager
Jane Addams Hull House Museum, Chicago, IL
Ross Jordan is a curator, public program manager and hands on educator. He creates dialogues between history, policy and politics via artist collaboration, visual culture, community engagement, and exhibitions. His curatorial and exhibitions team management combines research, theory and practice that have facilitated professional development opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, dynamic curriculum based exhibitions, and projects and exhibition that leverage historical context to illuminate contemporary issues. He brings valuable research and learning experience from MoMA and several non-profit arts organizations.
Phillip Thompson
Executive Director
Idaho Black History Museum, Boise, ID
Erik London (Moderator)
Museum Services Curator
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL
Erik N. H. London is the Museum Services Curator for the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH). In this role, he consults with local historical organizations across the state, promoting national best practices and connecting local staff and volunteers with expertise at the ADAH and beyond. He received his M.A. and Public History Certification from Auburn University. He serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, has been designated a MAP Peer Reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums, and recently qualified to serve as a National Heritage Responder. He is currently chair of the American Association for State and Local History’s Small Museum Scholarship Subcommittee.
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This session explores the nuanced narratives of challenging histories at three distinct museums. Learn about the Dr Pepper Museum's 2021 exhibit, "Sit Down to Take a Stand," and how it redefined perceptions of Civil Rights Lunch Counter sit-ins by listening and incorporating oral histories and advisory committees. Maine MILL rebranded its inaugural exhibit, "Who We Are / Who Are We?" delving into immigration, identity, and diverse narratives beyond Lewiston-Auburn, featuring oral histories and interactive elements. The Beaver Area Heritage Foundation re-examined a powerful but enigmatic public figure in its community by inviting public scrutiny through the 2022 exhibit and documentary, “Saint or Sinner? The Complicated Legacy of Senator Matthew Stanley Quay” gaining invaluable insights into navigating sensitive subjects in museum storytelling.
This session explores the nuanced narratives of challenging histories at three distinct museums. Learn about the Dr Pepper Museum's 2021 exhibit, "Sit Down to Take a Stand," and how it redefined perceptions of Civil Rights Lunch Counter sit-ins by listening and incorporating oral histories and advisory committees. Maine MILL rebranded its inaugural exhibit, "Who We Are / Who Are We?" delving into immigration, identity, and diverse narratives beyond Lewiston-Auburn, featuring oral histories and interactive elements. The Beaver Area Heritage Foundation re-examined a powerful but enigmatic public figure in its community by inviting public scrutiny through the 2022 exhibit and documentary, “Saint or Sinner? The Complicated Legacy of Senator Matthew Stanley Quay” gaining invaluable insights into navigating sensitive subjects in museum storytelling.
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.
Rachel Ferrante
Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor (MILL), Lewiston, ME
Rachel Ferrante has been executive director of the Maine Museum since September 2021. Prior to this role, she spent eleven years at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York rising from an assistant in the director’s office, to the marketing manager, and finally launching and overseeing the touring exhibition program as an exhibition project manager. Rachel is a graduate of Bates College with a B.A. in art and visual culture and minor in rhetoric. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Mark Miner
Co-Curator
Beaver Area Heritage, Foundation, PA
Joy Summar-Smith
Associate Director
Dr Pepper Museum, Waco, TX
Laura Casey (Moderator)
Museum Services Coordinator
Texas Historical Commission, Austin, TX
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When COVID hit, some small museums were able to adjust to closures, loss of field trips, remote staff, and more by getting creative. Hear about the programs started to survive the pandemic and were so successful they kept them. Be inspired with these great ideas and think about what you can do in your museum.
When COVID hit, some small museums were able to adjust to closures, loss of field trips, remote staff, and more by getting creative. Hear about the programs started to survive the pandemic and were so successful they kept them. Be inspired with these great ideas and think about what you can do in your museum.
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.
James Turk
Trustee
Harrison Township Historical Society, Mullica Hill, NJ
James Turk serves as a Trustee for the Harrison Township Historical Society, an all-volunteer organization that received AASLH's 2023 Albert B. Corey Award. He is also the co-author of a 2018 book on Mullica Hill and Old Harrison Township.
Sarah Piccini
Assistant Director
Lackawanna Historical Society, Scranton, PA
Sarah Piccini joined the Lackawanna Historical Society in 2013 as the Assistant Director. She has been on the board of the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum since 2009, and has served as Vice President. Sarah holds a master's degree in history and is the author of Framing Faith: A Pictorial History of Communities of Faith.
Catherine Zipf
Executive Director
Bristol Historical and Preservation Society, Bristol, RI
Catherine Zipf serves as Executive Director of the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society in Rhode Island and is an award-winning architectural historian. With an interest in race and gender, Zipf reconstructs lost or overlooked histories, providing a new, often surprising, viewpoint on the traditional narrative. Her published works include Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater: American Architecture in the Depression Era and Professional Pursuits: Women and the American Arts and Crafts Movement.
Aja Bain (Moderator)
Senior Manager of Professional Development and Publications
AASLH
Aja Bain is the Senior Manager of Professional Development and Publications at AASLH, where she oversees all of our professional development offerings and publications. She has been with AASLH since 2014 and holds a BA in American history and anthropology from Vanderbilt University and an MA in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Locally, Aja serves on the boards of the Inter-Museum Council of Nashville and Historic Nashville, Inc. Previous affiliations include the Kentucky Historical Society and Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
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Over the years, many small museums have been saddled with “wholesale” donations including hundreds of items not relevant to the mission of the organization. These items take up valuable storage and/or program space, drain resources, and prevent the museum from collecting more relevant objects. Maintaining and caring for collections that do not meet our mission is not sustainable, and the outcomes of a well-thought-out deaccessioning process can significantly contribute to the environmental and financial resilience of your organization and strengthen your relevance to your community. In this session, we will explore some tools to make deaccession do-able for small museums and consider how deaccessioning “best practices” in the wider museum field do or do not serve small museums. the project, as it was slowed down significantly by COVID.
Over the years, many small museums have been saddled with “wholesale” donations including hundreds of items not relevant to the mission of the organization. These items take up valuable storage and/or program space, drain resources, and prevent the museum from collecting more relevant objects. Maintaining and caring for collections that do not meet our mission is not sustainable, and the outcomes of a well-thought-out deaccessioning process can significantly contribute to the environmental and financial resilience of your organization and strengthen your relevance to your community. In this session, we will explore some tools to make deaccession do-able for small museums and consider how deaccessioning “best practices” in the wider museum field do or do not serve small museum
the project, as it was slowed down significantly by COVID.
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.
Elizabeth Beaudoin
Museum Curator
City and County of Broomfield, Broomfield, CO
Elizabeth Beaudoin has been museum curator for the City and County of Broomfield since 2020, where she directs a 7,000+ object collection and archive (on-site and virtual) to preserve and share Broomfield’s history for current and future generations. Prior work includes the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum, Maine Maritime Museum, Historic New England, and Fort Ticonderoga.
Anna Tucker
Executive Director
Framingham History Center, Framingham, MA
Anna Tucker came to the Framingham History Center in 2022 after working as the founding curator and lead project coordinator for the establishment of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. A $5.5 million project in a renovated historic building in New Orleans, it was the winner of the 2021-2022 Museum Exhibition of the Year Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Anna has experience leading successful donor and development initiatives, managing non-profit budgets, and engaging new and often marginalized audiences through the establishment of three new museums while strengthening existing partnerships.
Julia Gray (Moderator)
Executive Director
Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
Julia Gray has worked in museums for more than 20 years, becoming the Wilson Museum’s executive director in September 2021. Her background in archaeology and anthropology drew her initially into roles in collections and exhibits at the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and the Abbe Museum. After leaving the Abbe Museum in 2017, she ran her own consulting business working with museums, land trusts, and other organizations across Maine. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Arkansas.
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Resources have always been limited in the museum field, arguably more so for small museums. Small museums have developed systems that are flexible and for better or worse, allow a lot to get done with limited staff and funding. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the value of small museum tools to be nimble and efficient. As we approach a changed world with a mind towards more sustainable organizations, join our speakers to hear about mergers and organizational partnership systems to share staff and resources that make small museum work more effective and efficient.
Resources have always been limited in the museum field, arguably more so for small museums. Small museums have developed systems that are flexible and for better or worse, allow a lot to get done with limited staff and funding. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the value of small museum tools to be nimble and efficient. As we approach a changed world with a mind towards more sustainable organizations, join our speakers to hear about mergers and organizational partnership systems to share staff and resources that make small museum work more effective and efficient.
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.
Kaitlin Bundy
Manager
Somerset County (NJ) Cultural and Heritage Commission, South Plainfield, NJ
Rachel Lange
Curator
Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire, WI
Once the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Logging Museum, Rachel Lange joined the Chippewa Valley Museum when they merged with the logging museum at the end of 2022. She has an MA in Public History with a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining the Wisconsin Logging Museum, Rachel worked at the Pabst Mansion and Guardian Fine Arts Services in Milwaukee. In her spare time, she coaches the UWEC Women’s Rugby team, giving back to the university where she earned her BA.
Tonya Staggs
Executive Director
Historic Castilian Springs, Castilian Springs, TN
Tonya Staggs is the executive director of Historic Castalian Springs, a new organization in a rural outside of Nashville. Historic Castalian Springs includes three Tennessee state historic sites and historic homes. Prior to becoming director of HCS, Tonya spent nearly 18 years at Historic Travellers Rest, an eighteenth-century home in Nashville.
Sara Phalen (Moderator)
Director/Curator
West Chicago City Museum/Warrenville Historical Society, West Chicago, IL
Sara Phalen joined the West Chicago Museum staff in 2006 as a summer intern and continued with the museum in the roles of education coordinator and registrar. In 2013, Sara became the director/curator. She is also an active West Chicago community member, serving on the boards of the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage, People Made Visible/Gallery 200, and the West Chicago Historical Society. Additionally, she is a core team member of Healthy West Chicago and a Commissioner on the Cultural Arts Commission.
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Join members of AASLH’s Small Museums Committee as they wrap up the summit with reflections about what we learned and how we can apply it to our museums.
Join members of AASLH’s Small Museums Committee as they wrap up the summit with reflections about what we learned and how we can apply it to our museums.
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.
Sean Blinn
Chair
AASLH Small Museums Committee, Bedminster, NJ
Sean Blinn is an independent museum professional based in New Jersey, with a practice focused on government relations, evaluation, and communication (including social media). His primary background is with historic house museums, where he uses stories of the past to help visitors understand the present. He enjoys showing how life has changed over time, including the social effects of technological change. He works to ensure that voices historically left out of narratives are represented in museums’ narratives and builds partnerships with libraries and other cultural institutions. He has served as a member of local government historic preservation, cultural, and zoning commissions. Prior to joining the museum field, he worked in the corporate sector, working on projects from writing and editing to leading software testing projects.
Laura Casey
Museum Services Coordinator
Texas Historical Commission, Austin, TX
Julia Gray
Executive Director
Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
Julia Gray has worked in museums for more than 20 years, becoming the Wilson Museum’s executive director in September 2021. Her background in archaeology and anthropology drew her initially into roles in collections and exhibits at the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and the Abbe Museum. After leaving the Abbe Museum in 2017, she ran her own consulting business working with museums, land trusts, and other organizations across Maine. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Arkansas.
Erik London
Museum Services Curator
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL
Erik N. H. London is the Museum Services Curator for the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH). In this role, he consults with local historical organizations across the state, promoting national best practices and connecting local staff and volunteers with expertise at the ADAH and beyond. He received his M.A. and Public History Certification from Auburn University. He serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, has been designated a MAP Peer Reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums, and recently qualified to serve as a National Heritage Responder. He is currently chair of the American Association for State and Local History’s Small Museum Scholarship Subcommittee.
Sara Phalen
Director/Curator
West Chicago City Museum/Warrenville Historical Society, West Chicago, IL
Sara Phalen joined the West Chicago Museum staff in 2006 as a summer intern and continued with the museum in the roles of education coordinator and registrar. In 2013, Sara became the director/curator. She is also an active West Chicago community member, serving on the boards of the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage, People Made Visible/Gallery 200, and the West Chicago Historical Society. Additionally, she is a core team member of Healthy West Chicago and a Commissioner on the Cultural Arts Commission.
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.
