1999 - 2001

French Legation Museum, Austin, Texas

Served as Director of an historic house museum, the site of a diplomatic mission from France to the Republic of Texas [1839-1841] and home to a prominent doctor and his family [1849-1940]. The site tells both stories in the original 1840 house, the oldest frame structure in Austin, and in reconstructed outbuildings. The Museum, a public/private partnership between the state of Texas [owners] and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Inc. [custodians], has 2 full-time and 4 part-time employees, plus 20-member volunteer French Legation Committee of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Inc.

Director/ Responsibilities:

Operations, Personnel, Fiscal Management, Development, Gift Shop

Planning, Historic Preservation, Public Relations. Grants Management

Visitors Services, Private Events Rentals, Special Event Management, Maintenance.

Director/ Accomplishments:

Upgraded museum operations, grant preparation, collections management.

Expanded education program. Developed related curriculum materials.

Re-interpreted 1840 house and kitchen. Reorganized artifacts to reflect period room usage and to bring focus to the two distinct habitations of the historic buildings.

Established publications program . Developed new site brochure, school program materials, site rentals packet and self guide for on site arboretum.

Re-organized museum archives/collections records utilizing current museum practices.