The JIMI Jabberwocky 2017

JABBERWOCKY newsletter of semc’s jekyll island management institute jimi | fall 2017

on the cover: Pam Miester at Lucullus Culinary Antiques, Art & Objects, New Orleans, during SEMC’s 2017 Legacy Reception.

JIMI GRADUATES 2017

JIMI 2017 Class: first row, l-r: Carla Thomas McGinnis, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC; Katherine Steiner, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC; Amanda Vtipilson, U.S. Army Women’s Museum, Fort Lee, VA; Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, Hampton University Museum, Hampton, VA; Kyle M. Stetz,

James Madison’s Montpelier, Orange, VA. second row, l-r: Rae Mathis Guess, Oren Dunn City Museum, Tupelo, MS; Lovella Singer, Dora Nelson African American Art & History Museum, Perris, CA; Gloria Sanders, Calico Rock Museum, Calico Rock, AR; Jennifer Rebuck Ghabrial; The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA; Shelby D. Henderson, Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum, Seneca, SC; Megan Cook, Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History, Jackson, MS; Gemma R. Birnbaum, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA. third row, l-r: Alexander V. Benitez, Moundville Archaeological Park, University of Alabama, Moundville, AL; Judy Costello, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale, AR; Holly Akkerman, Telfair Museums, Savannah, GA; Anne Pratt, Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, Vincennes, IN. fourth row, l-r: Jeffrey L. Bowdoin, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, DC; Brent BjÜrkman, Kentucky Museum/Western KY University, Bowling Green, KY; Michael E. Moore, House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site, Sanford, NC; Robert Byer, Washington, DC..

CONGRATULATIONS to the JIMI Class of 2017, consisting of participants from Alabama (1), Arkansas (2), California (1), Georgia (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (2), Mississippi (2), North Carolina (2), South Carolina (1), Virginia (3), and Washington, DC (3).

This year marks the first of a renewed 3-year partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Association of African American Museums, and SEMC to sponsor two scholarships and travel stipends for AAAM members. The two John Kinard scholarship awardees were Carla Thomas McGinnis, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC and Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, Hampton University Museum, Hampton, VA. Scholarships and/or travel stipends were provided by the state associations of Arkansas (Gloria Sanders, Calico Rock Museum, Calico Rock), Mississippi (Carol Messer, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi), North Carolina (Michael E. Moore, House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site, Sanford), and South Carolina (Shelby D. Henderson, Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum, Seneca). The Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship was awarded to Judy Costello, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale, AR. Gaylord Archival provided one scholarship which was awarded to Amanda Vtipilson, U.S. Army Women’s Museum, Fort Lee, VA. John and Cynthia Lancaster provided a full scholarship to Megan Cook, Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History, Jackson, MS. A fundraising campaign conducted by Joshua E. White (JIMI Class of 2012) garnered four additional scholarships that were awarded to Holly Akkerman, Telfair Museums, Savannah, GA (JIMI

Alumni); Anne Pratt, Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, Vincennes, IN (Lisa Chastain Memorial)*; Lovella Singer, Executive Director, Dora Nelson African American Art & History Museum, Perris CA (JIMI Class of 2016); and Katherine Steiner, Mint Museum, Charlotte (NC JIMI Alumni) *Lisa Chastain (JIMI Class of 2014) died unexpectedly; classmates and friends donated to provide funds for a scholarship in her name.

Other major JIMI partners include Satilla Computer Solutions, St. Marys, GA (pizza lunch, plus travel stipend to Amanda Vtipilson); Re:discovery Software, Inc., Charlottesville, VA (collections management session), Malone Design/Fabrication, Decatur, GA (binders), Aaron Berger (JIMI 2017 Merriment Sponsor), and Goosepen Studio & Press, Hickory, NC (production of the JIMI alumni newsletter).

Major sponsors are the Jekyll Island Museum and Historic Properties, LaPaglia Companies, Durham, NC, North Carolina State Historic Sites, Raleigh, NC, and the Southeastern Museums Conference, Atlanta, GA. An activity that has proved to be very popular is drawing for t-shirts, hats, mugs, tote bags, and other assorted “bling” provided by JIMI alumni, affectionately known as “JIMI-kins.” Donations this year were provided by: Timothy A. Barber (JIMI Class of 2016) The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. Miami, FL Stephen Charla (JIMI Class of 2006) The National Archives of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

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Christian J. Cotz (JIMI Class of 2016) James Madison’s Montpelier Orange, VA

Keith F. Post (JIMI Class of 2013) St. Marys Submarine Museum St. Marys, GA

Schelly Corry (JIMI Class of 2015) Cook’s Natural History Museum, Decatur, AL

Tania Said Schuler (JIMI Class of 2004) David Owsley Museum of Art Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Jamie Credle (JIMI Class of 2004) Isaiah Davenport House Savannah, GA

Michael Simons (JIMI Class of 2012)

CPT Sean Daily (JIMI Class of 2015)

Alice Donahue (JIMI Class of 2012) National Electronics Museum Linthicum, MD 21090

SGT Gary C. Spencer (JIMI Class of 2016) North Carolina National Guard Museum & Learning Center of Excellence JFHQ-NC Raleigh, NC]

Stacey Thompson (JIMI Class of 2015) The Morris Museum of Art Augusta, GA

Matthew J. Edwards (JIMI Class of 2013) Mount Airy Museum of Regional History Mount Airy, NC

Karen R. Utz (JIMI Class of 2012) Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Birmingham, AL

Ken Gaddy (JIMI Class of 2003) Paul “Bear” Bryant Museum University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL

We opened the awards banquet to all JIMI alumni, and three people paid to attend and support the new graduates — Dr. Deborah Mack, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (JIMI Class of 2011), Keith Post, CEO of Satilla Computer Solutions (JIMI Class of 2013), and Joshua E. White (JIMI Class of 2012). In addition to Darcie MacMahon, SEMC President, Susan Perry, SEMC Executive Director, also participated, giving a warm congratulatory speech to the class and reminding them of upcoming SEMC activities.

Susan then joined JIMI Administrator Martha Battle Jackson and JIMI Facilitator John Lancaster in handing out awards, JIMI pins, and certificates.

Toni L. Hiley (JIMI Class of 2004) CIA Museum, Washington, DC Erika Katayama (JIMI Class of 2013) San Diego Museum of Man San Diego, CA Ashley Mann (JIMI Class of 2016) Minnetrista, Muncie, IN Melissa Parris (JIMI Class of 2016) Muscarelle Museum of Art College of William & Mary Williamsburg, VA

Afterwards, the newly minted “JIMI-kins” regrouped at the hotel hot tub and enjoyed adult beverages and snacks purchased with funds provided by JIMI alumni. A couple of brave souls braved the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean to keep the JIMI Polar Bear Club alive!

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JIMI LaPaglia Scholarship Recipient Judy Costello shares her JIMI Experience The 2017 Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) was a very good experience for me. I was honored to be selected to attend JIMI and to be the first Arkansan to receive the Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI scholarship. Basically JIMI is a crash course in Museum Studies — very intense and no nonsense. I would recommend the program for anyone fairly new to the museum profession for sure, and any others (as in everyone) who need a refresher on what everyone else at their museum is involved in. It is a good experience for putting one’s job in perspective.

I arrived in the museum field by a circuitous route which did not include any formal museum training. Though I felt competent at my job, JIMI gave me many more tools to work with so I left the island with more energy and confidence. My greatest takeaway from JIMI was the emphasis on museums as Public Trusts. I think I could find that theme in every session. I now more consciously think of all that I do in light of how it affects the public’s trust in my museums (I am paid staff at one and volunteer at another).

During the ten days spent at JIMI my mind was constantly thinking of ways to implement what I was learning. One

of the first things I did after JIMI was to start a new education program for our teenage volunteers to give them experience in varied aspects of museum careers. I am constantly drawing on best practices and information which was taught at JIMI to share directly with these volunteers as they work to inventory a collection and set up an exhibit. The end of February, I shared opportunities associated with JIMI with museum professionals who had never heard of the program at the Arkansas Living History Association (ALHA) annual conference. In March, I oversaw a panel discussion on fundraising at the Arkansas Museums Association (AMA) annual conference. Another former JIMI attendee shared a nugget of information she had learned at JIMI several years ago — not only did she remember it, but it was still quite relevant, which seems par for much of the information taught at JIMI — relevant and memorable. As a JIMI graduate, I feel more confident to contribute to Museum Board discussions, committee meetings, and conferences.

I admit I spent every bit of my spare time on the beach or in the historic district. Basically that spare time was from sunup (7:20 range) to first session start time (average 8:30 am). All other free time was meal time or social gathering time when we were expected to network with other participants and I am happy that was the case. There were great people there with lots of museum stories and knowledge. Jekyll Island offers great Southern hospitality, relaxation, and historical interest to add to the wealth of information shared at JIMI.

Satilla Computer Solutions PO Box 5669 St. Marys, GA 31558 t: 912.467.4794 e: keithfpost@tds.net Keith F. Post, CEO (Jimi Class of 2013)

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Come on Home to Jekyll Island:

JIMI HOMECOMING 2018

The JIMI Committee is pleased to announce the Sixth Annual JIMI Homecoming for JIMI alumni.

The awards banquet for the JIMI Class of 2018 is a chance to meet and congratulate the new JIMI class and to mingle with fellow alumni.

The awards banquet in the historic Jekyll Island Clubhouse takes place on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The cost of the dinner is $55.

There will be a bartender, and all alumni are responsible for their own tab and tips.

If you wish to attend, please contact Martha Battle Jackson before Friday, January 6, 2017: martha.jackson@ncdcr.gov or 919.733.7862, ext. 236.

Space is limited, so reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Jimikins in New Orleans, September 11, 2017, at the SEMC annual meeting’s JIMI Luncheon.

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JIMI

Faculty News

We remember fondly Ed Able, a president and CEO of AAM, who loved coming to JIMI and connecting with future leaders. His obituary in the Washington Post, January 18, 2017, follows: A B L E E D WA R D H A R R I S O N A B L E , J R . Edward was born June 24, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, and he passed away December 23, 2016. He earned his BS in Biochemistry from Emory University and his MBA at George Washington University. He began his professional career on Capitol Hill working for Senators Richard Russell and Mike Mansfield.

He served three years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1971 with the rank of Captain. He found his professional passion in the non-profit world. He began at the Smithsonian Associates Program followed by becoming the

Exec-utive Director at the American Society of Landscape Architects.

In 1986, Ed became President and CEO of the American Association of Museums, where he spent the next two decades of his career. The NonProfit Times named him as one of the Top 50 most powerful and influential leaders nine years in a row. He served on the boards of The National Center for Non-Profit Boards, the American Society of Association Executives, the National Humanities Alliance, and the National Cultural Alliance and Independent Sector. He was a Fellow of ASAE, and was awarded the Society’s highest award, the Key Award, for his performance and contribution to the field of association management.

He was awarded The Chairman’s Medal from the National Endowment for the Arts and was appointed by the Secretary of State to serve as a member of the US Commission on the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Ed was preceded in death by parents, Beatrice and Edward Able, brothers, Robert and Jonathan, and brother-in-law, William Brantley. He is survived by his sister, Linda Brantley, as well as his nieces and nephews, Regan Brantley, Janet and Jay Svenson, Kimberly and Scott Kindig, Derek and Jennifer Able, Chrissy

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and Brock Diamond, Mary and Alex Delgado, Jonathan Able, Seth and Laura Kindig, Nate Drew and Mary Beth Kindig, Luke and Levi Able. A Memorial Service will be held February 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Avenue, Washington, DC. Brian D. Stevens of Los Angeles, California, will host a luncheon reception at All Souls following the service. In lieu of flowers,contributions are suggested to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Attn: Joe Sangirardi, 1133 15th St. NW, Suite 350, Washinton, DC 20005, to the ASAE Foundation, 1575 I. St. NW, Washington, DC 20005, or to All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008. Additional information may be found at www.edablejr.com.

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JIMI

Alumni News

Laura Caldwell Anderson (2005) is now Director of Operations for the Alabama Humanities Foundation, in Birmingham.

We continue to mourn the loss of Lisa Marie Chastain (2014), aged 30 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., who passed away Friday, November 18, 2016, at her home. Lisa was born on September 26, 1986, in Marietta, Ga., a daughter of Diane Mary Mrus. Lisa grew up in Hilton Head, SC, and enjoyed horseback riding and the beach when she was younger. She graduated from Bluffton High School in Bluffton, SC, and later graduated with a b.a. in Anthropology and Sociology from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. While in college she studied a semester in Florence, Italy, and loved learning about their culture and art. A resident of Jefferson City for the past two years, Lisa was employed with the Missouri State Museum in the Capitol and enjoyed sharing her passion of history with others. She actively sought partnerships within the community in an effort to increase local visibility and helped develop a new system for the traveling exhibition component of the museum. Lisa had been employed as a curator with McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens, TN, and later with the Museum at 5ive Points in Cleveland, TN. She was recently elected to the board of the Missouri Association of Museum and Archives. She served on the board of the Jefferson City Downtown Association and Missouri State Park Employee Association. Lisa loved being around people and was an avid reader. She was an extremely creative person and enjoyed making the exhibits look interesting at any of the museums she worked with the past few years. She recently started to get into gardening. Survivors include: her mother, Diane Gayle (husband Calvin) of Ellijay, Georgia; her father, Michael Chastain (wife Laurie) of Georgia; maternal grandparents, Joe and Mary Mrus of Marietta, Georgia; paternal

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grandmother, Martha Chastain of Dallas, Georgia; three aunts, Theresa Patrick (husband Chip), Euglenia Davis of Georgia, Elise Chastain (husband Jayman Racing) of Georgia; five uncles, Dick Mrus, Joe Mrus (wife Sally), Thomas Mrus (wife Stephanie), Robert Mrus and Paul Mrus (wife Nanette); and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Gene Chastain. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held at 12:00 noon Saturday, December 17, 2016, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 3401 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, Georgia 30068. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Missouri Association of Museums and Archives, P.O. Box 996, Columbia, Mo. 65205 or the Friends of the Missouri State Museum, P.O. Box 1532, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.

Christian Cotz (2016), Director of Education and Visitor Engagement at James Madison’s Montpelier, opened the exhibition The Mere Distinction of Colour: “In this provocative, multi-media exhibition, visitors will hear the stories of those enslaved at Montpelier told by their living descendants, and explore how the legacy of slavery impacts today’s conversations about race, identity, and human rights. Visitors will also see Montpelier’s connection to the national story of slavery — and discover the economic, ideological, and political factors that cemented it in the newly-created American nation and Constitution.

Drawing on historic letters and documents, the exhibition utilizes both artwork and artifacts to evoke the experiences of the enslaved. The messy and bipolar power of place is not lost in this emotional exhibition that confronts visitors with a historic site that is simultaneously a place where ideas of Liberty were conceived and, depending on ‘a mere distinction of colour,’ a place where the same ideas were systematically denied.”

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JIMI

Alumni News

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Charlotte Fitz Daniels (2010), formerly the Greenville Museum of Art Executive Director and Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, accepted a position in August 2016 at JY Joyner Library, East Carolina University. She works in Joyner’s Special Projects division as Curator of the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery and as the Programs and Events Coordinator. She writes that “After nine years at the Greenville Museum of Art, it was bittersweet to leave. The GMA is such a special place but I love being at Joyner Library. I am so excited about working in an institution that is passionate about documenting the regional history and culture.”

& Whistles, on vintage technology. “Also,” she writes to us, “I now am the proud mama of Wilbur, my mini-pig. I am quite certain the seller exaggerated on ‘mini’ since he has already doubled his size in one month!”

Cindy Gardner (2002) has left the collections field to become 2 Mississippi Museums administrator and project manager, in Jackson. She supervises all staff that care for the operations of 2MM, as well as the directors of both museums — the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. 2MM will have its grand opening on December 9, 2017. This will be the last of the bicentennial celebrations for the state. She notes that “Jackson is excited to host SEMC in 2018, and we are looking forward to showing off our building.”

Claire E. Gwaltney (2016) has recently joined the Kentucky Historical Society, in Frankfort, as their Teacher Programs Manager and reports that she is excited to join such an enthusiastic and established learning team. She can be reached at clairegwaltney@yahoo.com.

Jennifer Ghabrial (Class of 2017) was promoted to Head Registrar at The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA. Charlie Grow (2012), Benjamin Kristy (2013), Stefan Rohal (2013), and Alexis Rager (2015), at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, opened the museum’s new Combat Art Gallery this summer. The inaugural exhibition, Honor, Courage, and Commitment, features 100 work from 22 artists, all of whom serve or have served as Marines.

Rae Mathis Guess (2017), curator at the Oren Dunn City Museum, in Tupelo, MS, mounted the exhibition Bells

Will Guzmán (2014) was appointed Director of the Hagan Africana Center at New Jersey City University in January of 2017. He recently edited the monograph Florida’s Black Power Movement for the University Press of Florida. The book is scheduled for release this fall. This year he as also appointed to the editorial board of the International Journal of Africana Studies.

Richard Harker (2016), after an incredible six years, left the Museum of History and Holocaust Education for a new position as Director of Programming and Volunteers at Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta (where Sue and he were married!) His last day was Friday, September 1.

Mary Hauser (2012) is thrilled to report that the Gregg Museum of Art & Design will have its grand reopening on August 26. The museum has been without exhibition space with its offices and collections in temporary housing for four years. The new space is an addition to the historic chancellor’s residence on NC State University’s campus and is a blend of old and new construction. The staff is excited to be in a new location with more visibility and flexibility that ever before. Work will continue after the opening as the staff moves the permanent collection to the new facility to complete the transition.

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JIMI

Alumni News

Allison Hiblong (2016), Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Director of Operations, sends us joyful professional and personal news: “The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum was a part of the Arkansas Remembers Pearl Harbor Committee that organized a weeklong event in Central Arkansas commemorating the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum has the last surviving Navy vessel from the attack on Pearl Harbor, a tug boat, Hoga (YT 146).

We hosted the commemoration ceremony on December 7 with two Arkansas Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance as well as Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as the key note speaker. The ceremony had around 1,200 people in attendance. The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Exhibition for our Pearl Harbor exhibit. This exhibit is centered around a diorama of Pearl Harbor. I was also recognized as the Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year.

Both of these awards were from the Arkansas Museum Association. January 12, 2017, my first child, Ruth, was born!” Allison is now taking some time off from museums to work in another field, so she can spend more time with her baby daughter.

Joe Houle (2004) notes that the first phase of the Museum of the Marine is now done.

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and I will be following him. I have so appreciated the opportunity to attend JIMI as it helped me tremendously not only here at the museum by in many areas of my life.

I am fortunate that I will be close to Mobile, AL, and plan on keeping my ears open at any opportunities that may arise at any of their museums. In the meantime, Heather Rumpfelt has taken the position as assistant director here at the Ohr. I feel she will be a great fit and an attribute to the museum. Again, thank you very much for your support!”

Miah Michaelson (2003) is now Deputy Director of the Indiana Arts Commission, in Indianapolis.

Nathan Moehlmann (2006), of Goosepen Studio & Press, designed three larger books this year: Bob Timberlake’s Letter to Home, which celebrates the eightieth birthday of this noted North Carolina artist; Hector Halhead “Steam” Stewart: The History of Stanley Steam Cars in New Zealand and More, for the Virtual Steam Car Museum; and From Tavern to Town: An Architectural History of Hickory, North Carolina, for the Hickory Landmarks Society. He is currently working on a catalogue for the Flagler Museum’s upcoming exhibtion on Ignaz Marcel Gaugengigl and a catalogue of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art’s silver collection.

Julie Kowalsky (2014) is now Supervisory Museum Specialist at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Resource Center. It is a supervisory position working with the collections processing team. She writes to us, “I think this will be a good career move — it’s just taking that step out of my comfort zone!”

Rebecca Rose (2013) was promoted to the Director of Museum Collections and Registration at the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.

Carol Messr (2015) recently needed to resign from her position as Assisant Director of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, in Biloxi, MS: “My husband has moved to Alabama

John Sherrer (2012), Director of Cultural Resources at Historic Columbia, in South Carolina, let us know that Historic Columbia received the National Council on Public

Debbie Shaw (2013) recently returned to the Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, as Curator of Archaeology.

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John Sherrer with Alexandra Lord, president of NCPH, at the awards ceremony in Indianapolis, April 2017. Image courtesy of Jess Holler.

History’s Outstanding Public History Award for its MannSimons Interpretive Enhancements project, which was one of the major initiatives Historic Columbia undertook over the past two years. The result was the transformation of the property through the installation of a totally new format inside the remaining building (including archaeological findings, video, audio, intact historic artifacts and a host of historic images) and new wayside signage complementing the site’s steel ghost structures that represent former buildings erected by the same African American family that lived here from at least 1843 until 1970.

Ashley Stevens (2016) has moved to Houston and is now the mother of Felicity Helen Stevens, born July 31, 2017.

We lost another JIMI-kin this year, Col. Elwell “Buddy” Sturgis (2010). Buddy was a character and was a very strong proponent of JIMI. His successor as the Director of the South Carolina Military Museum that he founded is Steven Jeffcoat (2013), who has been instrumental in founding a scholarship in Buddy’s name, beginning with the Class of 2018. Buddy’s obituary follows: Ewell Gilbert “Buddy” Sturgis Jr. HOPKINS — Ewell Gilbert Sturgis, Jr. 69, of Hopkins, SC, husband of Judy Toler Sturgis, died Thursday, May 18, 2017. His funeral service will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017, in the J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends Saturday, May 20, 2017 in the Mount Pleasant Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Buddy was born in

Rock Hill, SC, on September 9, 1947. He was the son of the late Ewell Gilbert Sturgis, Sr. and Louise Clinton Sturgis. He was a 1965 graduate of Rock Hill High. He attended Garner Webb College and the Baptist College at Charleston.

Buddy was owner and operator of Mt. Pleasant Seafood Co. Wholesale in Mt Pleasant for fourteen years. After closing the seafood business he was employed at Patriots Point Development Authority. There he began his career in museums. Buddy designed and built the first Vietnam Support Base exhibit at Patriots Point, completing it in 1987. He also contributed to the building and development of Naval Shipyard museum, and the Coast Guard Cutter Ingham WHEC35 and destroyer, the USS Laffey DD724 exhibits. He assisted in the movement and relocation of the Congressional Medal of Honor headquarters from the USS Intrepid in New York and the establishment of the first phase of the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point.

Buddy began his military career in 1967 with the U.S. Navy.

He volunteered and served with Navy’s elite River Patrol Force special warfare group, where he earned his “Black Beret” and two Purple Heart medals. When he returned home he joined the South Carolina Army National Guard.

He attended the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1972. He served in the National Guard until 1977 reaching the rank of captain and returned to civilian life for ten years. He reenlisted in the Guard in 1987 and embarked on another commissioning process of becoming a warrant officer. He retired from the National Guard as a chief warrant officer (CW2) in 2000 with 25 years of honorable service. He joined the South Carolina Defense Force and reached the rank of colonel before he retired in September 2015. In 1997 Buddy proposed to the Adjutant General, Maj. General Stanhope S. Spears to build a museum to capture the history and service of the men and women in the S.C. National Guard, both Air and Army. Gen. Spears agreed and Buddy began work with BG John Shuler, deputy adjutant general, in establishing the South Carolina Military Museum. The first phase was completed and dedicated February 2007. The second phase was completed in June 2014 and the final phase is under construction. This gave credit to the S.C. National Guard as being the second oldest, the fourth largest in the

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National Guard System and the largest land-based military museum in South Carolina. Buddy’s quote on completion “I haven’t accomplished this but We did it together”. One week before his passing, Governor McMaster presented him with the Order of the Palmetto on May 11, for his lifelong service to South Carolina. Buddy was married to his best friend, Judith Toler whom he shared a life together for 49 years and eight months. They have one son, Ewell Gilbert “Chip” Sturgis, III, and his wife Karena, and two grandsons, Chatham and Walker Sturgis, all of Charleston, SC. Memorials may be made in Buddy’s memory to the South Carolina Military History Foundation, 1 National Guard Road, Columbia, SC 29201.

Will Ticknor (2002), after thirty-nine and a half years in the museum field, will retire on November 28. Until then he remains Director of Museum Resources at the Udall Center for Museum Resources, in Sante Fe, NM. He writes to us, “I’m hoping to get into a good band, and that’s a little like a job, sort of. I gave up my music career to work in museums (quite wisely, it turns out).”

Stacy Thompson (2015) welcomed a new addition to her family, Thomas Britton Pace, born November 4, 2016.

Stacy continues to serve as registrar at the Morris Museum of Art, in Augusta, GA. Sam Cooper-Wall (2013) was at the CIA Museum during his JIMI course. He left his museum to complete a degree and then returned, before receving a job offer he couldn’t refuse: “I’ve joined the staff of Congresswoman Annie Kuster (New Hampshire) as an outreach coordinator. I cover issues like agriculture, energy, housing, and immigration — but also have gotten to cover some of the politics around historical preservation, which has been super interesting.”

Ahmad Ward (2002), after moving up through the ranks at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, is now the Executive Director of Mitchelville Preservation Project in Mitchelville, SC. Ahmad has served on the JIMI Committee for three years, helping with the selection process.

Jared Wright (2009), in June, noted that “a grant that I wrote for the Tubman Museum in Macon was selected as a winner of the Knight Cities Challenge recently. We’ll receive about $92,000 to open a drive-in movie theater behind the museum. Winners were just announced on Monday. It’s one of 33 funded projects nationwide from an original pool of over 4,500 applicants. He added that he’s now in the property management business: “I was laid off as part of downsizing at the Big House Museum in Macon a few years ago (they decided there was no need for any collections or exhibits related staff...), and I started doing freelance museum-type work (copy writing, exhibit planning, archival processing, panel/label design, mount-making, etc.) while trying to find something else full time and permanent. Long story short, there wasn’t any success in that endeavor. When freelance jobs were scarce, I was picking up work remodeling houses for a friend who recently started a property management business. Eventually, the company started doing well enough that he needed someone to manage that end of the business, and he offered me a job. I’m still doing a bit of grant writing and design work here and there, but I’ve made a career change. The steady paycheck is nice, and it’s a lot less stress. I’d still like to revisit the idea of a career in the museum world, but for now, I’m curating residents for personal home exhibits.” In September, Jared shared some additional wonderful news: “Mercer University has brought me on for the first phase of a project that they’re calling Mercer Music at Capricorn. The plan is to renovate the former recording studios of Capricorn Records (Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, etc.) into a multi-use facility that includes incubator space for musicians and artists, offices and co-working space, classrooms, studios and an interpretive area. I’m heading up the development of the interpretive plan in the next few months.”

Heather Marie Wells (2010) was promoted to Digital Media Project Manager at Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR, and is also now the Vice President of the Arkansas Museums Association.

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JIMI

I

For Pete’s Sake

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The Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund

n the early 1980s, Pam Meister, then executive direc-

expand Jumpstart!, and thus was born the Jekyll Island Man-

tor of both the Southeastern Museums Conference

agement Institute (JIMI).

(SEMC) and the Louisiana Association of Museums

Pete was the heart and soul of JIMI; in fact, he became

(LAM) approached Peter S. LaPaglia with a workshop

known as “Mr. JIMI.” He not only poured his time and energy

idea called Jumpstart! She had written a successful

into it, he supported it financially and found other partners

grant to develop a workshop aimed at “small, new, emerg-

willing to fund it. These funds allowed the JIMI Committee

ing, and transitioning museums” in Louisiana. In addition

to fund tuition scholarships for museum professionals who

to formal training sessions, Jumpstart! brought together

otherwise would not have been able to attend.

workshop participants with seasoned museum profession-

Today, JIMI is a nationally recognized program with gradu-

als who volunteered to share their expertise and experience.

ates from twenty-five states plus the District of Columbia.

Each Jumpstart! participant was matched with a mentor

The museum world lost a valued friend when Pete passed

who guided them for twelve months following the workshop.

away. Because he was so committed to JIMI, SEMC has

Pam enticed Pete to facilitate Jumpstart! with the lure of

established the Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund to

wonderful Cajun food, but unfortunately, it turned out to be

endow one annual scholarship in his memory.

spring break week and all the restaurants on the road to the

The scholarship will be open to all museum professionals

workshop site were closed. Pete never let Pam forget that she

in the United States having no less than five and no more

nearly starved him to death.

than ten years experience in the museum profession. The

After the success of Jumpstart!, Pam contacted Martha

applicant must demonstrate involvement with a museum

Battle Jackson, then chair of the SEMC Professional Devel-

professional organization at some level (state, regional, or

opment Committee and said, “Have I got a deal for you!”

national). The scholarship recipient must be a member of a

Working with Pete and Pam and an infusion of money from

regional museum association. We need $20,000 to make this

another successful grant written by Pam, the committee

scholarship possible.

expanded Jumpstart! to three and a half days and held the

For Pete’s Sake . . . please help by sending a check of any

workshop in four locations in the Southeast. Enthusiastic

amount to the Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund, c/o

participants wanted more, so the committee decided to

SEMC, P. O. Box 9003, Atlanta, GA, 31106-1003.

T

The Peter S. LaPaglia Fund Policy he Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship funds will be

the museum profession. The applicant must demonstrate

restricted to using only the interest for one annual

involvement with a museum professional organization (state,

tuition scholarship. The scholarship will be open

regional, or national). The amount of the scholarship will be

to all museum professionals in the United States having

funded at the SEMC member level. The scholarship recipient

no less than five and no more than ten years experience in

must be a member of a regional museum association.

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