Museum Staff Spotlight- March 2024

This month, we sat down with Laura Gilmour Stoner to learn more about her role as the Sallie and William B. Thalhimer III Senior Archivist?at the VMHC.

How long have you been working at the VMHC?

This year will mark twenty-five years that I have been with the museum

What made you want to pursue a career as a Museum Archivist??

While I was in college I majored in history and knew that I wanted to work in museums. When I entered the job market there was an archival technician position available at the VMHC to work on the records of Best Products Co., Inc. and the personal papers of the company’s founders and major art collectors Sydney and Frances Lewis. I had a minor in art history and wanted to pursue an advanced degree in art history, so this project, which was a temporary position, seemed like a perfect place to start my career. I got into the work and realized I liked archival processing and cataloging and that it was a profession I wanted to continue.

Can you share what a typical workday is like for you??

Work days vary depending on the focus of the department. Sometimes I read and sort papers to process a collection; other times I may be accompanying the collections cataloging staff on a visit to a donor’s house to collect a large group of items being donated to the VMHC. The VMHC is also collecting oral histories about the Vietnam War for an upcoming project, and I have been interviewing participants and transcribing interviews.?

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work at the VMHC??

I enjoy helping museum guests use the collections I have processed; it is rewarding to know that something I helped organize and preserve is helpful to a library user.

What advice do you have for anyone interested in pursuing a career as an Archivist??

It is important to do as many internships as possible while in school because it helps you learn about the profession and in what kind of library you want to work. You could work at a historical museum, academic library, or a corporate library as an archivist. Getting to know archivists in your area is also helpful when searching for a job and learning about openings.???

What has been your favorite collection of documents or records that you have worked with??

I love them all, they are like children. The personal papers of Sydney and Frances Lewis are a favorite. They are very interesting people who were friends with and corresponded with many of the most famous contemporary artists of the late 20th century. I also enjoyed the Lane Furniture Company records, especially the advertising series.??

Tell us about your favorite hobbies or interests outside of work.

Outside of work, I love to cook and travel with my family. I also enjoy practicing yoga.???

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