The Museum Files Podcast

In this edition of The Museum Files, the team chats with Chantry Banks from the Oklahoma Historical Society. Chantry is the Director of Museums and Historic Sites, overseeing various cultural properties in the Sooner State. Listen in as we learn more about his work, background, and love for the museum world. For more information about The Oklahoma Historical Society visit - https://www.okhistory.o...

Museums draw their strength when working together. Rusty Baker is our guest on this episode of the Museum Files. Rusty is the executive director of PA Museums, the Keystone State's museum association. Listen in as we chat with Rusty about his work PA Museums, the role of state museum associations, and his love for the museum world. For more information about PA Museums - https://pamuseums.org...

Museums are more than curators and directors. Exhibitions require skilled preparators to make the magic happen. Johnny Antonelli from Oklahoma Contemporary is on hand for this edition of the Museum Files to share his experiences as an exhibit preparator. We chat about his path into the museum world, his experiences installing world-class exhibitions, training the next generation of preparators, an...

American Alliance of Museum accreditation is one of the highest accolades in the museum world. It marks institutions with a demonstrated commitment to industry standards and best practices. The process of accreditation and reaccreditation can be very stressful for museum administrators and staff. Allison Maluchnik from the Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center is our guest on this edition o...

We're rounding out season 4 of The M Files with a recent interview with Jackie Chapman-Grey from the University of Oxford's Natural History Museum. This special season finale was recorded "on location" during a recent trip across the pond for Val, Patty, and John. Our interview explores Jackie's museum background, which includes work both in the UK and Australia. We also l...

On this edition, we take a trip to the Platte Valley in Nebraska to chat with our colleague and MPMA compatriot Dr. Will Stoutamire. Will is an associate professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. A past museum director and active public historian, Will shares his insights about working with the past both in and outside of museums. For more information about the History Program at...

In this edition of The M Files, we chat with Dr. James Hagadorn from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Dr. Hagadorn is the Tim & Kathryn Ryan Curator of Geology but likes to describe himself as "a detective in deep time." Join us as chat about his work at DMNS and how he shares geology with visitors. For more information about the Denver Museum of Nature and Science - https://...

On this edition of the M Files we're heading to the capital of the Sooner State to speak with Leigh Dudley. Leigh is the director of the  Judicial Learning Center & Museum based at the Federal Court House in Oklahoma City. Join us as we learn about this interesting non-profit/public partnership that explores the role of the Federal Judiciary through the lens of the cases and history of th...

This edition of the M Files takes us to Osage County, Oklahoma, to speak with Tara Damron from the White Hair Memorial. A member of the Osage Nation, Tara has been a museum professional for over twenty years working with the history of her people and the State of Oklahoma. Join us as she shares more about the history and mission of the White Hair Memorial along with its connection to the events ch...

Welcome back to episode 45 of the M Files. On this edition, we are chatting with Levi Saulnier. Levi is a recent graduate of the museum studies program at Casper College (WY) and a senior at Plymouth State University (NH). He is an emerging museum professional who is working as an inventory curator at the Canterbury Shakers Village in Canterbury, NH. Listen in as we chat with Levi about his experi...

Welcome back to season 4 of The M Files! We are kicking the season off with an interview with Andrew Dunehoo. Andrew was our guest several years ago. On this edition, we check in and see about his work as the new president of the Mountain-Plains Museum Association. Besides talking about MPMA's recent conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, we chat about the association and its role in continuing...

Hey, museum it's the final episode of season 3! In this edition we're chatting with museum professional and consultant John Simmons. John is a consultant with Museologica. Our conversation explores his background and training with natural history collections before launching into his perspectives on the museum world from a consultant's point of view. **Please note we had some techni...

For this edition of The M Files we're chatting with Laura Barry from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg. Laura talks about the museum's history and connection to one of the most recognizable historic campuses in the United States. Besides the museum, we also chat about working and living at Colonial Williamsburg. For more information about our guest's i...

On this edition we're heading to the Volunteer State to chat with Katy Malone at the McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Katy is the Curator of Academic Programs. Listen in as Katy talks about how the McClung serves as a resource to academic audiences. For more information about our guest's institutions: McClung Museum of Natural Hist...

On this episode of The M Files we're heading to the eastern United States to chat with Jonathan Nichols at the Woodman Museum in Dover, New Hampshire. The Woodman Museum is a fascinating local museum that exhibits the history, arts, and science-related collections through a campus of historic homes and buildings. For more information about our guest's institutions: Woodman Museum - https...

All Aboard!! On this episode of The M Files, we're heading to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to chat with Patricia LaBounty at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. The "UP" has been a part of American life, especially in the Western United States, for over 150 years. Listen in as Patricia talks about how her museum explores that vast history through a unique collection... including the skull c...

Welcome back to The M Files! This week, we are chatting with Andrea Miskewicz at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, George. Andrea is the Director of Education for KSU's Museum of History and Holocaust Education. The MHHE explores the events surrounding one of the twentieth century's greatest tragedies. Listen in as Andrea discusses her museum journey and how she and her educational...

Happy New Year from the M File Team! We are chatting with Jim Moran, the Master Printer & Collections Officer from the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. From printing presses to individual wood printing blocks, the museum has over 1.5 million pieces in its collection. It preserves the rich history and art of woodblock printing, practicing "preservation thr...

Happy Holidays from the M Files Team! James Taub from the National World War I Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, joins us for our final episode of 2022. James is the History & Engagement Special for the institution. He has had an interesting career preserving and sharing military history in the United States, especially concerning the First World War. Listen in as we chat with Ja...

Although the snow and cold of winter has arrived, the M Files crew is sitting down with Rebecca Englehardt from the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Rebecca is the collections and exhibitions manager at the MoG. Join the conversation as learn more about Rebecca's cross country museum journey and all the interesting things happening at her museum. For more information about our guest&apo...

Masks have been symbols for many cultures across the globe. Museums, as cultural venues, interact with masks in a variety of ways and means. Some museums hold masks in their collections, while others use them for fundraising. Through the global COVID pandemic, a different kind of mask became a symbol of the era. On this episode, we've invited three museum professions to share their insights a...

On this episode we welcome Heidi Vaughn back to the program. Heidi, in her role at the University of Central Oklahoma, is at the forefront in preparing the next generation of museum professionals. As the Director of the Laboratory of History Museum and part of UCO's Museum Studies program she trains undergraduate and graduate students in museum theory and practice. Listen in as Heidi shares h...

College sports hold a special place in the hearts of many people. On this episode we're joined by Ken Hickman the director of the Penn State University's All-Sports Museum . The All-Sports Museum is dedicated to all varsity sports (men's and women's) at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Listen in to our conversation as he describes his museum, some of the ch...

Halloween is just around the corner and the M Files is heading to Sleepy Hollow. On this episode we're joined by Betsy Bradley, the Vice President of Programs and Engagement for Historic Hudson Valley . HHV manages and provides programming for five historic properties in Westchester County, New York including the home of Washington Irving, Sunnyside . Listen in as Patti and John talk to Betsy...

On this episode, Val, Patti, and John venture (virtually) into upstate New York to chat with Lindsay Doyle. Lindsay is the director of the Fort William Henry Museum on the banks of Lake George, New York. Besides learning about some the spooky stuff associated with a French and Indian War era site, we learn more about Ft. William Henry and her journey to becoming its director. Facebook https://www....