Interview with a Museum Registrar

Bonus!

Project Title

Informational Interview

Project Description

Meet with a museum professional and discuss their career path, how they have advanced in the field, and aspects of their role.

Methods

My professor, Sara Devine, connected me with the Senior Registrar at the American Museum of Natural History. I met with her at the museum and interviewed her.

My Role

I am the sole creator of this work.

Learning Outcome

Professionalism

Rationale

Although this was a rather small project and so early on in my time at Pratt institute, it has invariably had the largest impact on my life. During my first semester, I took INFO 679 with Professor Sara Devine. She connected me with Stephanie Carson, Senior Registrar at the American Museum of Natural History. In October 2019, I sat down with Stephanie at the museum to interview her on her career path, what it meant to be a registrar, and any advice she had for me as an emerging museum professional. I was fascinated by everything she had to say, and it was one of the first times I knew what function of the museum I felt suited towards. Our conversation was easy-flowing, and Heather Knapp, the Permanent Collections registrar who had been listening in on us, wouldn’t let me leave without trying to think of potential internship opportunities for me. Stephanie and I connected on LinkedIn, and she reached out to me in February of 2020 about an opening for a full-time registrar position. I interviewed, and started the job in March 2020, just a week before the pandemic hit. The past year has been a wild ride of starting my first full-time role, to then being furloughed just months later, to gradually working my way back to full-time and learning everything as I went. Now, a year into my role, I have the absolute best relationship with Stephanie and Heather. I’ve had the opportunity to manage a jewelry exhibit in the newly renovated Hall of Gems and Minerals, and now have started the multi-year project of the Gilder Center addition. Without this one, somewhat miniscule assignment of an interview, I would not have been able to do any of those things. I am eternally grateful to Pratt for the opportunities it has afforded me, and for setting my career as a museum professional up for success from the outset.