National Council on Public History

Susan Hall, Museum Director, Brea Museum and Heritage Center

Proposal Type: Panel

Abstract: Panelists will present first-hand experiences regarding the challenges and rewards of working for small non-profit museums or historic sites that function on the fringe of for-profit entities, cities, and institutions of higher education. As sites of uncertainty, employees will reflect upon their struggle to effectively achieve their institution’s missions while simultaneously maintaining an ethical professionalism as public historians. Questions and concerns regarding financial stability, education and historical interpretation, and outreach will be explored. As public historians surviving on the edge, how can we work with others in our community to reverse the misunderstood, mislabeled, and misjudged identities of our small non-profit organizations?

Seeking: Emily McEwen (PhD this June, former Curator of History, Mission Inn Foundation) and Susan Hall (PhD, Museum Director, Brea Museum & Heritage Center) are looking to put together a panel for the 2015 NCPH conference entitled “Small History Museums and Historic Sites: Surviving on the Edge.” The Brea Museum & Heritage Center in Brea, California, is part of the Brea Historical Society—a non-profit entity that, despite its name, is not city-run or funded. The Mission Inn Foundation is a non-profit organization that oversees the history, education, and collections management of the National Historic Landmark Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside, California, which operates as a privately-owned luxury hotel. We are looking for one to two more panelists and a chair that work (or have worked) at small non-profit museums or historic sites. Please read below for more information on our proposal.

Small non-profits are often sites of uncertainty where employees struggle to effectively achieve their institution’s missions while simultaneously maintaining their ethical professionalism as public historians. As sites on the fringe of for-profit entities, cities, and institutions of higher education, these historical organizations are often misunderstood, mislabeled, and misjudged by other professionals and the communities they call home. It is the goal of this panel to bring to light the challenges, rewards, and significance of surviving on the edge in the public history profession. Panelists may, among other things, discuss their financial, educational, and outreach successes or challenges related (but not limited) to the reliance upon volunteers, community historians, and amateurs; the double-edged sword of public/private and non-profit/for-profit partnerships especially as it concerns fundraising and historic interpretation; and forging a relationship with the commun ity through unique and unconventional means.

Though no two museums are alike, we are sure that the challenges and rewards of working for a small site can be shared among many NCPH members! If you are interested in becoming a part of our panel, please send a paragraph on your paper/presentation proposal, contact information, and a short CV or biographical paragraph to Susan Hall. Thank you!

Related Topics: Museums, Civic Engagement, Historic Sites

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Susan Hall, breamuseum[at]gmail.com

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.

Discussion