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For over 30 years, Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding has created custom bindings and undertaken book conservation and restoration in its bindery that is named for a local stream called Cat Tail Run. Services include creating clamshell boxes and other styles of protective book housings. Cat Tail Run has had the pleasure to serve individuals, institutions, and government agencies Cat Tail Run also operates a bookbinding teaching facility, The School for Bookbinding Arts. Upcoming workshops include courses in the repair of library materials. Learn more and register TODAY!
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A Message from Bob Beatty
Interim Executive Director
June 2022
As I visited Virginia this month, I recalled the multiple, rich connections I have with the Commonwealth throughout my lifetime. This extends beyond museums and historic sites, though they are at the core of my experiences; the connections are also personal.
I never got into genealogy (a rabbit hole from which I know I’d never emerge), but my mother and my paternal grandmother both were, and at some point they realized the two sides of my family were on the same church vestry in the Old Dominion during the colonial era. The connections continued throughout the generations: Mom’s grandfather grew up in Emporia in the late 19th century; Dad’s mom spent some youth in Farmville
in the early 20th.
I have been visiting Virginia since the early 1980s, when on a family trip I asked to visit the Virginia Historical Society. I’m not sure if Charlie Bryan had even arrived yet. I’ve seen the organization make several monumental transformations under three directors, two of whom I am proud to call friends and one, Charlie, who was a mentor of mine.
As an avid Civil War buff, I visited battlefields throughout Northern Virginia, marveling at, and appreciating the reverence for the past Virginians seemed to have. In 1986, I toured Mount Vernon on my 8th grade field trip and heard nothing about slavery (that changed over the years), and I visited Colonial Williamsburg for the first time during the 1986 Boy Scout Jamboree (where I also saw the Beach Boys).
My daughters, too, have experienced the rich cultural heritage of Virginia. They have visited the Shenandoah Valley more than once and had a special behind-the-scenes tour of Monticello, courtesy of my pal Linnea Grim (we also visited Miller’s, where the Dave Matthews Band formed). And in 2013 when I took my family to Williamsburg, my pops joined us on a wonderful visit which Conny Graft helped arrange that my family talks about to this day.
Each of these places is important in their own ways, but when I think about Virginia and its museums, I think about people. Not only the people and the stories your institutions honor, but the long tail of engagement passed on from one generation of Virginia museum professionals to another. Williamsburg, the site of a memorable last visit with my dad, is where Christy Coleman began her career, where she once supervised Richard Josey. Both of them are close colleagues who worked with Denny O’Toole, whom I know from his work as director of the Seminar for Historical Administration (now
HLI), which was founded in Virginia.
I know each of them through our connections through professional associations. It is why I am so passionate about our work. VAM is a constant: a place where the Commonwealth’s museum professionals gather to discuss new ideas, offer encouragement, and, most importantly, to make connections to each other. VAM is where we connect with each other.
The association’s success is a vital component of more than just a thriving museum community, but to thriving communities across the Commonwealth. As I wind down my tenure as your interim director, I want you to know how grateful I am to have been able to serve in a state that has given me so much over the years.
Finally, please join me in wishing a fond farewell to Rebecca Guest, who has taken a new job at the Mariner’s Museum. We know she’ll continue to be an asset to the Virginia museum community and an advocate for VAM. On behalf of all of us, thank you for all of your hard work, Rebecca!
I am excited about VAM’s future. I hope you are too.
Sincerely,
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VAM is revitalizing Peer Group Chats and we want to hear from you! Please complete this short survey and help us offer better experiences with a new series of virtual programs. We value your ideas and input, and we appreciate your help in shaping VAM and the Virginia museum community. The survey closes July 11th.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F7TLR5Q
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You're Invited!
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture invites VAM members to a free reception on July 12th at 5:30 pm at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. This reception will announce and celebrate the winners of VMHC's Commonwealth History Fund, a new funding initiative awarding over $400,000 annually to Virginia's museums, tribes, and non-profits. This is a great opportunity for VAM members to network with colleagues AND learn about this exciting new funding program. For more information, visit VirginiaHistory.org.
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Joan Brock makes $34M gift to Chrysler Museum
The Chrysler Museum of Art, in Norfolk, announced that Hampton Roads philanthropist Joan Brock has donated $34 million, including 40 works of art and two position endowments. The gift will also support the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio. Read more.
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James Madison's Montpelier Rehires Staff
Within days of accepting the job, Montpelier's interim president Dr. Elizabeth Chew reinstated the professional staff members fired by the historic site’s former leadership, the home of the fourth U.S. president recently revealed. Read more.
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Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums announces Native Arts and Culture Councils Cohorts
The Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) has selected six Native Communities to develop cultural plans and establish community-based Native Arts and Culture Councils (NACC). The Pamunkey Indian Museum & Cultural Center in King William, VA, was selected as one of the six cohorts. Read more.
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Robert Russa Moton Museum designated as National Park Service Affiliated Area
President Joe Biden recently signed into law the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act, which designates the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville as a National Historic Site for its role in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case. Read more.
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Jamestown, North America's First Permanent English Colony, Could Soon be Underwater
The first successful English colony in North America—is under threat. Thanks to sea level rise and climate change, much of the colony’s rich and varied history is now being subsumed by the swamp on which it was built. Flooding risk has landed the site on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of most endangered places. Read more.
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Lionesses Make their Debut at the Virginia Zoo
The Virginia Zoo’s pride is growing with the addition of two female lions, Asha and Kali. The sisters were born at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 14, 2017, and came to Virginia on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Read more.
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Congratulations to Christy Coleman, Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. She was recently recognized during the 10th annual “Strong Men & Strong Women in Virginia History” awards presented by Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia. Ms. Coleman was honored for her work as a Public Historian across the Commonwealth.
Cheers to Virginia Humanities Research Fellow, Dr. Arlisha Norwood. She joins the Library of Virginia this summer to explore its manuscript resources on the topic "Times Too Hard: Single African American Women in Post-Civil War Virginia."
Cheers to Rebecca Guest, VAM's outgoing Membership and Development Manager. Rebecca is moving to the Mariners' Museum and Park as Philanthropy Coordinator. Also joining the Mariners' Museum and Park is MaryAnn Steinmiller, who serves as the new Group Experience Coordinator. She recently received an MA in Public History from West Virginia University.
Farewell to Andrea Tracey. She was previously the Site Director at Carlyle House Historic Park in Alexandria. She accepted a non-museum opportunity. Congrats, Andrea!
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We are sad to learn of the passing of Dr. Samella Sanders Lewis. She is a graduate of Hampton Institute's historic art department and helped the Hampton University Museum collect artists for its 200 years of African American Art exhibition. She also established the publication Black Art: an International Quarterly (now The International Review of African American Art),which is published by Hampton University. VAM sends sincere condolences to Dr. Lewis' family and colleagues.
Longtime Gloucester Museum of History volunteer Ann Dyal passed away last month. She loved sharing local history and stories with families and children every Saturday at the museum. Ann volunteered her time and talents at many nonprofits across Gloucester and surrounding communities. We send our thoughts to Ann's friends and family.
We also mourn the loss of Carolyn Jett. She was the past Board President of the Lancaster Virginia Historical Society. Over the years at the organization, she served as Library Chairman, researcher, author, genealogist, teacher, and grant project director. We send our condolences to Carolyn's family and friends.
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The Collections Assessment for Preservation
The Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program is now accepting applications for its next program cycle. The CAP program provides small and mid-size museums with support for a general conservation assessment. The assessment is a study of all the institution's collections, buildings, and building systems, as well as its policies and procedures relating to collections care. The recommendations for collections care can help institutions decide where to invest limited resources. It may also serve as a valuable tool in engaging a board, leadership, and other community partners. Applications close July 31, 2022. Learn more.
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Preservation and Access Education and Training
The Preservation and Access Education and Training program supports the development of knowledge and skills among professionals responsible for preserving and establishing access to humanities collections. NEH makes Preservation and Access Education and Training awards to organizations that offer national, regional, or statewide education and training programs across the pedagogical landscape. For more information click here.
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VAM Virtual Learning Opportunities
If 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it is that museums can move quickly to sharing their knowledge through virtual programs and services. VAM, too, turned to online learning for our members and the museum community, and will continue to include virtual training as a part of our educational programs.
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Museum Learning Hub Webinars
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VAM Members Group
Have you joined our Facebook Group Page for members only? Members are sharing articles, asking operational questions, advertising upcoming events, and sharing COVID protocols at their museums. Come join us and add to the conversation!
Don't Forget to Pay Your Dues!
Don't forget to pay your VAM membership dues. To see if you have an open invoice, login to your VAM account. If we can be of any assistance, email membership@vamuseums.org. Thank you!
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Member Deals
VAM offers several different opportunities for its members to take advantage of special pricing or services because of your membership with VAM. We are always looking for more ways to offer added benefit to our members, so if there is a service you don't see here that you would like us to explore, let us know.
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Impact100 Greater Peninsula Grant
Impact100 Greater Peninsula awards grants to nonprofits serving Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, James City County Williamsburg, York County, Gloucester, Isle of Wight and Smithfield counties. Focus areas include Arts & Culture, Education, Family, Health & Wellness, and Environment. Applicants may apply for grant funding in a focus area that supports their mission, programs, or services. Awards range from $25K-$50K. Applications are due June 30, 2022, by 11:59 PM ET. Get the full details.
Virginia Humanities: Accessible Grant Opportunities Announced
Earlier this year, Virginia Humanities' regular grants programs were temporarily suspended so that staff could evaluate the organization’s flagship grants program with the goal of making application and evaluation processes more accessible and transparent. Regular Grants will be offered twice a year with awards between $5,000-$20,000. Application deadlines are July 15 and January 31. Rapid Grants will be offered quarterly with awards up to $5,000. Application deadlines are June 30, September 30, December 31, and March 31. Get the full details.
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Reframing History
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) recently launched the Reframing History Toolkit to give historians and museums around the country a new means for discussing difficult history in the current environment. Amid ongoing national controversy, it is more important than ever for the history community to be able to clearly explain what history is, how we come to understand the past, and why it matters to society. Learn more.
Prepare for the Semiquincentennial
AASLH has published Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial. Featuring big-picture ideas and guiding historical themes, this free publication can help museums, historical societies, and history institutions of all types, sizes, and in all regions of the country think about why they should connect to the 250th anniversary commemoration and how they can do it. The guide is free, and can be downloaded here.
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AAM Center for the Future of Museums
AAM has created a new "AAM Strategic Foresight Toolkit" that provides a comprehensive introduction to strategic foresight—a vital skill set that enables individuals and organizations to anticipate change, craft effective plans, and shape the future they want to see. Enhanced with worksheets, slide presentations, and games, the AAM Strategic Foresight Toolkit can help in building your own foresight skills. The toolkit can help organizations train staff in the basic tools of futurism and integrate foresight into planning and operations. Learn more here.
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Search VAM's Career Center for information on the only certificate in museum management offered by a museum association, plus resume review help, job listings, and more.
- Contact Ranger
- Development Assistant
- Director of Public Engagement and Learning
- Executive Director
- Fiscal and Operations Specialist
- Guest Relations Associate
- Marketing and Website Manager
- Museum Docent
- Museum Interpreter
- Objects Conservator
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The Virginia Association of Museums helps our
museum community succeed.
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