Exhibitsmith the Podcast is back! I'm bringing new voices to the podcast, to have engaging discussions about the roles museums, archives, and libraries play in our world. We talk about how and why these institutions matter, and how everyone can do their part to both support them and benefit from them. Please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so you don't miss an exciting new episode.

[This episode originally aired on October 7, 2024. Features mentioned in the episode may no longer be available.]

Fall is in full force and kids are busy making masterpieces at school and home. So what do you do with it all? 🍁

Let's be real here - I'm not an eternal optimist. I'm actually far from it. However, every so often I read something about a censorship campaign that is just so ridiculous that I can't help but roll my eyes, sigh, and be thankful that I've been made aware of it.

In January 2026, the Trump / Vance Administration ordered exhibit panels about enslaved persons to be removed from The President's House, an outdoor historic site located next to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Because this Administration wishes to erase any evidence of white people being less than perfect, they are going to ridiculous lengths to rewrite history.

Thankfully, they approached the situation the same way I'd imagine that the Three Stooges would, and their attempt to whitewash history is backfiring beautifully. Let's keep up the momentum and find the silver lining amid these ridiculous censorship attempts. Please listen to my musings and then let's discuss!

Here is another local news segment about this situation.

The President's House on Wikipedia

Exhibitsmith the Podcast is back! I'm bringing new voices to the podcast, to have engaging discussions about the roles museums, archives, and libraries play in our world. We talk about how and why these institutions matter, and how everyone can do their part to both support them and benefit from them. Please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so you don't miss an exciting new episode.

[This episode originally aired on September 9, 2024. Features mentioned in the episode may no longer be available.]

Here’s the scenario: you’ve been invited to donate a garment that represents you

What would you choose?

You might be surprised by what I’d pick. 

This month’s episode challenges you to think about the different ways in which an item can become “museum-worthy”. (And it may have you rethinking loungewear, too!) 

In this brand new episode, I share a photo digitization "life hack" that might just change everything. With the holidays very quickly approaching, you might be inclined to thumb through your cousin's or uncle's or grandmother's family photo albums and think, "I wish I had copies of these photos".

This month I'm rereleasing one of my favorite family heirloom stories. I hope you enjoy it! Sometimes the objects that are important to you aren't the prettiest. Sometimes they're best left in a box, but that doesn't mean they're unimportant or forgotten. In this episode, hear the heartwarming story about an unfortunate-looking bank and its sweet history, and learn three important questions to ask yourself about the past, present, and future of your possessions, as you decide what to keep and why.

Is your organization prepared to handle an emergency? What about the organizations you frequent as a visitor or a guest? What if a staff member breaks their arm, or a visitor has an allergic reaction? And what about larger emergencies and tragedies? Are we prepared?

My guest, Jim Sturgill, is the perfect person to tackle these tough questions. A paramedic whose career began in the museum field, Jim now helps museums prepare for the events that no one wants to think about.

Jim has worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT), as an EMT-Specialist, and as a paramedic in Michigan while continuing to hold his EMS certification in Ohio. He recently acquired his EMS license as a paramedic in Nevada as well.

With over thirty years in the museum field and twenty years in EMS/public safety, Jim brings a unique perspective to ensure that organizations are well-prepared for various emergencies.

Whether you’re a staff member, volunteer or a visitor to cultural site, I know this episode will open your eyes and help you understand the work ahead of us as well as what is possible.

Check out Jim's business, Sturgill Emergency Prep Consulting (https://www.sturgill-consulting.com/) to contact him and learn more about his services.

Disclaimer:

Paramedic and museum professional Jim Sturgill joins me on the podcast for an amazing conversation about emergency preparedness at museums and cultural sites.

Today’s chat focuses on how we can prepare our museums and similar spaces for human emergencies. Are we prepared to care for the people who work, volunteer, and visit our sites?

With over thirty years in the museum field and twenty years in EMS/public safety, Jim brings a unique perspective to ensure that organizations are well-prepared for various emergencies.

Jim’s new venture, Sturgill Consulting, specializes in emergency preparedness for organizations, and offers a wide range of services that help you feel – and be – better prepared to handle an emergency.

Don't forget to subscribe to Exhibitsmith the podcast wherever you find your podcasts. You won’t want to miss this fantastic conversation.

October is American Archives Month and I'm revisiting this episode from Season One, which is all about scrapbooks. 

Anyone who has an old or aging scrapbook in their life knows what I'm talking about. The tape is brittle, the glue has stained everything. The pages are yellowed, made from acidic paper. If you try to peel off a photo, you’re left with a torn page, and the back of the photos is a mess. Things like newsprint - are a lost cause. They have become one with the album. There is no easy way out. Could it get any worse?!

Or, perhaps we’re just thinking about scrapbooks all wrong. Maybe we need to stop looking at the negative and start seeking out the positive. Despite the fact that they may be crumbling before our eyes, maybe we should be thankful for these old scrapbooks and albums. I’m always excited to see these stacks of old, deteriorating papers. And I’m here to tell you why.

[This episode originally aired on June 1, 2024.]

Exhibitsmith the Podcast is back! I'm bringing new voices to the podcast, to have engaging discussions about the roles museums, archives, and libraries play in our world. We talk about how and why these institutions matter, and how everyone can do their part to both support them and benefit from them. Please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so you don't miss an exciting new episode.

Today I am relaunching the fifth episode. I hope you enjoy it.

Museum Registrar Christina Thompson joined me on the podcast for a fantastic conversation about the years she spent as a costumed historical interpreter in central Iowa. With a professional background in museum collections work and an insatiable love of learning, Christina brought both passion and expertise to the different roles she embodied at sites throughout the fictional historical town of Walnut Hill.

During our chat, she explains how historical interpreters are trained, and the many hats (both symbolic and literal) they may wear throughout a single workday. Historical interpreters are often the only museum staff or volunteers at a particular site, which means they are responsible for everything! Whether it's managing visitor services and safety, leading tours or programming for visitors and school groups, cleaning and site upkeep, collections care, or any additional duties that the site requires (such as farming, making brooms, demonstrating printing presses, or in Christina's case, a lot of cooking), historical interpreters really are the heart and soul of a living history museum. 

I had so much fun talking with Christina and I hope you enjoy the episode, too.

Christina Thompson has a Master of Arts degree in Humanities and Social Thought with an Advanced Certificate in Museum Studies from NYU. She has been an Historical Interpreter and Domestic Coordinator at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, and a Museum Technician at the State Historical Society of Iowa. For the past three years, Christina has been an Anthropology Collections and Registration Assistant at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Please note:

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not reflect the views of their respective employers.

I'm trying something different this month - I'm releasing this short trailer to get everyone excited for my upcoming episode featuring current museum registrar and former historical interpreter Christina Thompson. This episode will drop this Thursday, October 9th.