Current Position: Curator/Public Historian
How long have you been with Wyoming State Parks and in what capacity?
Three years as the Curator of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.
How did you become involved in working as a Curator/Public Historian?
From a very young age I loved history but hated the idea of teaching in a classroom. Every summer, when we took family vacations, I?d beg my parents to stop at all the historic site between point A and B.
After I finished my undergraduate degree in history, my professors encouraged me to continue on. Again, I didn?t want a traditional history degree but the idea of working in a museum intrigued me. After receiving my Master?s Degree in Public History, I flew to Wyoming, interviewed for my position (never having been in the state before) and was offered the job. Before that, my work consisted of volunteering at a local state park and an internship in a historic house museum.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
During the winter, when visitation is slow, I spend a lot of time in the archives, researching material for new exhibits or flushing out the history of an artifact. During the school year I give tours, recruit volunteers and develop educational programming. During the height of visitation in the summer, I work in the visitor?s center. Throughout the year I?m constantly working with the collections, supervising interns and writing grants.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the variety and enthusiasm from visitors. I love that I?m not stuck in one position or one historical topic. I have a lot of room for growth, exploration and experimentation.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
There are never enough hours in the day or trained staff/volunteers to help. Anyone in the Public History field knows we wear MANY hats. It?s not unrealistic to be painting the interior of a historic building one-day and administering a grant for educational programs the next.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
I have a Master?s Degree in Public History with a concentration in Museum Studies. Most positions in my field require a four-year degree in history (or education) and recommend a Master?s Degree.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site with a lot of buildings and restoration projects, I wish I had taken a few classes on historic preservation. Otherwise, no. I got my degree from the State University of West Georgia and I felt very prepared to enter my field.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I recently finished a project with our local middle school, funded by a Save Our History grant from the History Channel. This was my first successful grant application. As part of the project, we created a documentary which followed students as they excavated a structure on the historic site. The project involved a lot of archeology, which was a new component of research I?d never experienced before. Next, I?m gearing up for a new exhibit entitled, "The Reel, Not Real Butch Cassidy".
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, take an internship, work part time and or shadow someone already doing what you are interested in. Network! Join your local historical society, get involved in the museum community, and attend annual meetings of the American Association of State and Local History or the American Association of Museums. Also, I believe an advanced degree is VERY important. The field is relatively young, 1970s, so there is still a lot to learn. You will learn a lot on the job, but best practices and ethics come from a good advanced program.
<< Search by state -- Search by job title>>Interview with a Curator/Public Historian Name: Teresa Sherwood
Current Position: Curator/Public Historian
How long have you been with Wyoming State Parks and in what capacity?
Three years as the Curator of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.
How did you become involved in working as a Curator/Public Historian?
From a very young age I loved history but hated the idea of teaching in a classroom. Every summer, when we took family vacations, I?d beg my parents to stop at all the historic site between point A and B. After I finished my undergraduate degree in history, my professors encouraged me to continue on. Again, I didn?t want a traditional history degree but the idea of working in a museum intrigued me. After receiving my Master?s Degree in Public History, I flew to Wyoming, interviewed for my position (never having been in the state before) and was offered the job. Before that, my work consisted of volunteering at a local state park and an internship in a historic house museum.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
During the winter, when visitation is slow, I spend a lot of time in the archives, researching material for new exhibits or flushing out the history of an artifact. During the school year I give tours, recruit volunteers and develop educational programming. During the height of visitation in the summer, I work in the visitor?s center. Throughout the year I?m constantly working with the collections, supervising interns and writing grants.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
40+
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the variety and enthusiasm from visitors. I love that I?m not stuck in one position or one historical topic. I have a lot of room for growth, exploration and experimentation.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
There are never enough hours in the day or trained staff/volunteers to help. Anyone in the Public History field knows we wear MANY hats. It?s not unrealistic to be painting the interior of a historic building one-day and administering a grant for educational programs the next.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
I have a Master?s Degree in Public History with a concentration in Museum Studies. Most positions in my field require a four-year degree in history (or education) and recommend a Master?s Degree.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Being at a historic site with a lot of buildings and restoration projects, I wish I had taken a few classes on historic preservation. Otherwise, no. I got my degree from the State University of West Georgia and I felt very prepared to enter my field.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I recently finished a project with our local middle school, funded by a Save Our History grant from the History Channel. This was my first successful grant application. As part of the project, we created a documentary which followed students as they excavated a structure on the historic site. The project involved a lot of archeology, which was a new component of research I?d never experienced before. Next, I?m gearing up for a new exhibit entitled, "The Reel, Not Real Butch Cassidy".
If someone were interested in working in your position, what advice could you give them?
Volunteer, take an internship, work part time and or shadow someone already doing what you are interested in. Network! Join your local historical society, get involved in the museum community, and attend annual meetings of the American Association of State and Local History or the American Association of Museums. Also, I believe an advanced degree is VERY important. The field is relatively young, 1970s, so there is still a lot to learn. You will learn a lot on the job, but best practices and ethics come from a good advanced program.
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