What
Do I Do?
I didn't know about careers in museums as I was growing up, although I enjoyed our local general museum very much. When I went to college I tried out several majors and ended up with a bachelor's degree in textiles, clothing, and design. I also discovered library careers working as a student in the library. Librarians were much in demand at the time, so I went to graduate school and got a master's degree in library science. My first job was in a museum library where I had the opportunity to learn about museology and curatorial work. Because a graduate degree in American history would help me at my museum job, I went to graduate school part time while I worked full-time as a librarian. When a job as a curator of history opened, I was offered the position. I gladly exchanged working with paper objects for the opportunity to work with a large and varied collection of three-dimensional artifacts. Later, I moved to the Illinois State Museum to become Curator of Decorative Arts
I research, write, interact with the public and the staff, and handle many beautiful objects. What I like most about my job is the variety of tasks that I do. It is also a job that lets me use my creative impulses. I usually design the placement of objects in decorative art exhibits, taking into consideration the story I am telling and the interactions of color, scale, and form. I also enjoy working with all of the interesting people who make a museum work.
Offer your
services as a volunteer in a museumóbut don't expect a lot of glamourous, professional
challenges. As with many jobs, there will always be slow and tiresome tasks,
but even data entry can give you insight into how a museums works. For curatorial
work in decorative
arts, I recommend that you get a graduate degree in history or art
history. Completing a thesis with a specific academic focus will sharpen your
research skills and prove to future employers that you are capable of scholarly
research and writing. I also recommend taking education courses in collegeóeducation
is what museums are all about!
I was first formally introduced to art in junior high and high school, where my teachers opened up the possibility of a career in art. I thought at first I wanted to be an art teacher, but later decided against it. After some college, I took a job as a librarian for the local art association. I worked with the administration and volunteers in the historic house, art gallery, and art school and library. I processed and tracked books and assisted in all aspects of exhibit planning and preparation. I also curated a folk-art exhibit and a toy exhibit. When I returned to school to complete my bachelor's degree, I took a combination of art and management courses. In my next job I conducted a folk art survey in six central Illinois counties. I interviewed folk artists and heard many wonderful stories along the way. It was a great experience. All this preparation was helpful when I applied to the Illinois State Museum, where I began working part time with textiles. Later I became Registrar of Decorative Arts.
Once the Curator of Decorative Arts accepts an object into the Museum's collections, I complete the donor forms, get an accession number for the object, number the object, and complete a cataloging worksheet. Most of the time I must do some research to gather this information. Then I enter it all into a computer database. When the Museum lends objects out for exhibition, I complete loan forms and condition reports. I also frequently work with donors, answer questions from the public, pack objects, work with conservators, do some conservation on objects, and supervise interns. I have often been asked which objects in the decorative arts collections are my favorite. I'm never sure what to answeróusually the pieces I'm working with at that moment.
My favorite part of my job is working with donors and letting them know that the objects or collections they are placing in the Museum's care are as important to us as they are to them. When they tell me stories about the objects, it makes me excited about them too.
If you are interested in working at a museum, consider your interests, skills, and what would make you happy in that positionówhether it be registrar, curator, director, or guard. If you like to work with people, look at the jobs such as educators and guards.
If
you are interested in this job, volunteer for a registrar if possible,
or interview two or three registrars to find out what they do. Try to conduct
interviews with registrars from different-sized museums to see what the
differences are in their jobs.