Meet the Local History Services Team
Jeff (left)
Director, Local History Services
How I ended up in this field
I started volunteering in museums when I was 15 years old or so. I was employed in other fields over the years and had an “A-ha!” moment one day – realizing I should be doing local history. I worked on changing careers, and in a little over a year I was running a small history organization with two museums and a research library. I love the challenges of working with local history – it seems like there’s never enough money or manpower or time to do what you want to do, but you find a way to do something great for the community nonetheless.
Favorite place to stop when on the road in Indiana
Any place with great mashed potatoes.
Favorite non-Indiana historical organization
Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. His genius is evident throughout the place.
Favorite quotation
“Pass the mashed potatoes.” – Jeff Harris
Why I am passionate about working in Local History Services
I love history; especially local history. Personal history and local history is what makes us and our communities special. I love the idea of each person, locale and community group being special in their own way. Who doesn’t want to be special? What community doesn’t want to be special? That’s part of the power of local history.
Something you should know about me
I REALLY love mashed potatoes.
Stacy (center)
Assistant Director, Local History Services
How I ended up in this field
While tagging along with my husband on a research trip, we spent a few hours with the museum director of the Oneida Community Mansion House in New York. She shared that her days were spent on creating a partnership with the symphony for concerts, learning about book conservation, writing about the history of women in the Oneida community and sharing the Oneida story with people like us. This sounded like a job where I would never get bored! So I started volunteering at a local small museum and eventually got hired as an assistant director. I was the director of the Putnam County Museum for three years before I joined the Local History Services team in August of 2007.
Favorite place to stop when on the road in Indiana
Fair Oaks Farms for cookies’n’cream ice cream!
Favorite non-Indiana historical organization
Mesa Verde National Park – Cliff Dwellings. I had the best “historic house” tour there which compared life in the dwellings to Europe in the Middle Ages and to today.
Favorite quotation
"Humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat." – Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man
Why I am passionate about working in Local History Services
I want people to love to learn. Local history organizations can be wonderful learning environments, where visitors connect with history in a very personal way. In my work, I get to help local history leaders get excited about learning how to better run their organizations, which in turn creates better learning spaces all around the state.
Something you should know about me
My nickname in the small museum community is Spreadsheet Girl. I’m very organized!
Jeannette (right, always right)
Coordinator, Local History Services
How I ended up in this field
I came to it in a round-about way. My background is in Art History which I am passionate about for its visual representation of history (sometimes literal and often idealized). An internship with the National Archives exhibits department allowed me to study Civil War documents first-hand and fueled my interest in history exhibits and their development. Before starting at IHS, I worked on a field survey of historic bridges in Indiana which allowed me to travel the state (which is one of my favorite things to do) and to learn a new aspect of history that I hadn’t experienced before. In this line of work, it is wonderful to be able to learn new things all the time.
Favorite place to stop when on the road in Indiana
Indiana Dunes – great views!
Favorite non-Indiana historical organization
The National Archives in Washington D.C. – I have been there many times, but I still get goosebumps when I see the original Declaration of Independence.
Favorite quotation
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” – Mark Twain
Why I am passionate about working in Local History Services
In working with historians and historical organizations around the state, we get to meet people who are incredibly dedicated to preserving the past and sharing it with others. I love that we can provide services to help them on this journey. As an ardent history buff myself, it is great to be able to learn about the diverse and fascinating histories of communities and individuals as we travel throughout the state.
Something you should know about me
I love to travel, and my favorite place in the world (so far) is Hadrian’s Wall in the U.K.
