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Education Background:
Geneva High School (Geneva, NY), 1997; B.A., American Studies, Wells College, 2001; M.A., American History, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006
What was your professional background before your current position?
I was an archivist for the Commonwealth of Virginia for 11 years. Before that, I worked for Colonial Williamsburg, the Richmond (Va) History Center, the Seneca Falls Historical Society, and many other historic sites and museums.
What do you like best about your work?
I love exploring our collection, and being able to choose objects, photographs, documents and ephemera for our exhibits and see them enjoyed by our visitors. I also love turning stories that come out of these documents and objects into articles.
What has been your biggest professional challenge?
The shutdown for COVID was a necessary challenge, but we were able to stay engaged with the public through modern technology.
How are you seeing issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility play a more prominent role in your work environment?
In one of our exhibits, we changed the signage to accurately reflect the gender identity of the Public Universal Friend (a local religious founder), for both historical accuracy and to foster inclusion. We also have a team of volunteers who have scanned all local newspapers (over 200,000!) and lots of other important documents to nyshistoricnewspapers.com and nyheritage.org, where they are accessible to the public for free.
What other organizations are you involved with?
We have done events with the Penn Yan Public Library, and are members of AASLH and MANY. Last year, for our county's bicentennial, I was on the committee for planning celebratory events with people from many other local organizations and government agencies.
What advice would you give to someone new to the field?
I would suggest that during their college or grad school years, they intern or volunteer as much as possible. I was required to intern at both Wells and VCU, and was able to try out lots of different aspects of museum work. That helped me determine what kind of work I liked best and was best suited to.
Are there any tips you would like to share that help you get things done?
I have to prioritize. Since I am both director and curator, I have two lists going, and I have to rank things by importance and deadlines.
Favorite blog or website:
New York State Historic Newspapers
What software/web tools do you use regularly?
PastPerfect and Ancestry (both for my own family history and researching Yates County people for exhibits and articles).
What are you most proud of?
My children
What is one thing you would you like to learn?
How to speak a foreign language fluently. Also how to knit. I have taught myself to crochet and embroider (poorly), but have never learned knitting.
What are you most looking forward to doing this winter?
Spending some time with my family, and doing a lot of reading.
Thank you Tricia!
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