Costume, Textile and Collections specialist

Master of Arts: Visual Arts Administration: Costume Studies, New York University School of Education. New York, NY, May 2001Bachelor of Arts: History, The George Washington University. Washington, DC., December 1997 Thesis: The Social Impact of Women’s Magazines from 1910 to 1915

National Association for Interpretation, Certified Interpreter Certification, May 2012.

Hertzen Institute, Russian language study, St. Petersburg, Russia: August-December, 1996

Protecting Cultural Collections From Pests and Mold Workshop, October 2004

AASLH Project Management Course, October 2014

Proficiency in ARGUS, TMS, Mimsy, and PastPerfect, Photoshop, and Hanwell software.

Orlando Museum of Art
Preparator                               May 2016 -Present

Contract preparator. Creating and installing labels, installing artwork, packing artwork, painting walls and cases, installing and removing vinyl lettering, wallpaper installation, condition reports and other duties as needed.

Stone Mountain Park and Stone Mountain Memorial Association
Curator of Historic Attractions                                       June 2011 – Present

Completed exhibition research, installation, inventory and improvements. Researched history of collection artifacts and historic buildings. Created new signs and labels; planned for future improvements. Created hands on training and instruction manuals for object handling and security during public operation hours. Converted Access database to PastPerfect 5, resolved conflicts and created new inventory numbers when needed. Completed photography of artifacts, including editing and uploading. Managed the 5 person staff at the Memorial Hall Museum.

Caretaker                              November 2009 – June 2011

Worked as costumed interpreter, assisted guests with questions and presented demonstrations. Compiled information and created Microsoft Access database for collection inventory. Worked with large festival planning and implementation. Instructed staff on proper handling and cleaning of artifacts and antiques.

Universal Studios Archives and Collections
Archivist for Loans and Exhibits                            September 2005 – April 2009

Coordinated all loans of Universal archives assets for promotional and museum displays. Utilized preventive conservation methods through stabilization and careful packing for storage, shipping and transport. Installed objects for exhibitions ranging from temporary one day presentations to large exhibition of props, costumes, models and framed artwork. Completed database records including creating numbering system to organize files dating from 1976. Supervised archive trainee and other trained employees in object handling, packing and photography. Researched and interpreted costumes, images and props for exhibit labels. Planned and created advertising for monthly classic screenings and gave oral introduction for each film.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Collections Management
Collections Management Technician February 2004 – September 2005

Reorganized and developed long term planning of improvements for collections storage facilities and object housings, including collections of paintings, sculpture, prints, and decorative arts. Created budget proposals; purchased supplies and equipment; re-housed variety of objects for conservation; Planned the transformations of spaces into storage and supervised installation of equipment. Organized movement of large artwork. Supervised intern projects involving inventories and object care, including instruction on object handling and preservation.

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Collections Move Team
Museum Technician (federal temporary position)           December 2002 – December 2003

Prepared large variety of objects for move from Bronx Research Branch to Suitland, MD facility. Created permanent storage mounts. Monitored environmental conditions using hydrothermographs and Hanwell systems. Prepared textiles for photography and packed them for safe transport. Worked with team in ongoing projects: maintaining storage and supply areas; digital imaging and editing; exhibition de-installation; object movement; truck loading; packing; and cleaning archaeological objects.

AtlantaHistoryCenter, Costume Department

Curatorial Assistant(temporary stipend position)              April 2002 – June 2002

Assisted Curator in maintenance and organization of costume collection; chose, mounted, researched history and provenance and wrote text panels to interpret objects for rotating quilt display. Mounted and rotated costume and textile pieces into exhibition. Photographed and wrote condition reports of objects for incoming traveling exhibit. Updated digital imaging and object information in ARGUS database.

DeKalb Historical Society

Volunteer Costume Consultant              September 2001-July 2002

Created new costume displays. Removed costume and uniform pieces from exhibition and re-installed important pieces with improved texts and mounts. Inventoried and reorganized costume and textile collection with new boxes and creation of hanging storage area with a very limited budget. Created workshop for members on textile care and storage.

Fairfield Historical Society

Collections Assistant(IMLS Grant Funded position)              June-August 2001

Re-housed collection of costume accessories, wrote catalogue descriptions using Chenhall nomenclature, and created, edited and imported digital images of objects for Filemaker Pro database to improve the organization, catalogue information and permanent storage. Created storage mounts and systems for parasols, reticules and shoes. Assisted conservator and curator in a workshop for volunteers regarding safe handling and storage of costume pieces.

Museum of The Fashion Institute of Technology, Registrar’s Office

Intern                                                       October 2000-January 2001

Entered and created records in ARGUS for new acquisitions and incoming and outgoing loans. Packed and tracked items for large exhibition loan return. Catalogued objects and documented group of non-accessioned ethnographic items in collection.

Phoenix Art Museum, Fashion Design Collection

 Collections Assistant                                               June-July 2000

Prepared costume pieces from 1750-present for digital imaging (including proper handling and dressing of costumes). Photographed and edited digital images for use on storage boxes and permanent storage of images for future use. Assisted with organizing and maintaining collection and storage space and in the procurement of new technologies.

CNN.com/ COLD WAR, Celebrate the Century, and Millennium

Associate Editor                                                        August 1998 – January 2000

Extensive research for historical features and timelines for COLD WAR, Centuryand the Millennium web sites. Gathered, organized and edited images from video, slides, microfilm, and digital sources. Assisted with 20 live Internet chats with historical figures and edited transcripts. Wrote and produced historical web features including 10-part feature on 20^th Century fashion, biographies and music quiz.

Smithsonian Institution, Museum of American History, Costume Division

Research Assistant                                               July 1997-June 1998

Researched primary sources and archives for information related to collection of early 20th century lingerie dresses, copied and organized clothing patterns, traced the history of the use of national flags on apparel.

The United States National Archives

Archives Technician, GS-4                           January 1995-January 1996

Sorted, consolidated, and re-housed documents, repaired and prepared for storage many historical documents including the Versailles Treaty and the entire collection of census records. Created permanent labels for thousands of boxes and books of various age from the War of 1812- World War II.

• Collections Management:
• Artifact Packing
• Storage Planning and Sourcing
• Preventive Conservation
• Storage Mounts
• Database Management
• Courier
• Loan Coordination
• Integrated Pest Management
• Inventory
• Digital Photography
• Digital Environmental Monitoring
• Skill with Pallet Jack and Lifts
• Emergency/Safety Protocol
• Curatorial:
• Historical Research and Writing
• Exhibit Mount Making
• Costume Dressing
• Exhibit Design
• Graphic Design
• Public Speaking
• Outreach
• Certified Interpreter
• Media Relations
• Mannequin Creation
• Exhibit Planning
• Staff Management
• Budget Management

historic costume, installation, Inventory, packing, Research, Textiles, Writing