NHPRC Grant Funds Creation
of Museum Archives
Kathryn Oosterhuis joins
The Mint Museum as Archivist
THE MINT MUSEUM, CHARLOTTE,
N.C. –After a national search, The Mint Museum has hired Kathryn Oosterhuis to
fill the new position of Archivist for The Mint Museum. She will be
responsible for developing and managing the archives to keep an accurate,
well-preserved record of the museum’s holdings and activities.
The creation of the Archivist
position is enabled by a Documenting Democracy grant awarded by the
National Historical Records and Publications Commission (NHRPC) to The Mint
Museum for the initiation and development of its museum archives. The NHRPC is
a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) and supports a wide range of activities to preserve,
publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, created in every
medium, relating to the history of the United States.
The museum was awarded more
than $45,000 from the NHPRC last year. The Mint was founded in 1936 as North
Carolina’s first art museum, but its history goes back even further,
reflecting significant historical data on the culture and society of both
Charlotte and the region. The NHPRC’s grant also enables the museum to
establish a physical space for the archives and initiate a museum-wide program
to ensure that its history is preserved and made accessible to the community –
now, and in the future. “This is another huge step forward in establishing the
Mint as a vibrant and relevant cultural leader. Sharing our history with the
community furthers the Mint’s ability to serve as center of excellence in
collections, exhibitions, scholarship, learning, engagement, and service. By
strongly preserving our history, we are better poised to step into the
future,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the
Mint.
“Not only do the funds
received from the grant award enable us to document, preserve, and make
accessible the records of the history of The Mint Museum, but the award of the
grant itself is significant. The Documenting Democracy: Access to
Historical Records Projects awards are given to support projects that
preserve documentary heritage considered essential to understanding American
democracy, history, and culture. The award of this grant is a profound
recognition of the Mint’s role in the history of this city, the region, even
the country,” said Joyce Weaver, the Mint’s librarian.
Oosterhuis was archivist for
the YMCA Minneapolis collection at the Kautz YMCA archives at the University
of Minnesota and Project Archivist at the James K. Hosmer Special Collections
of Hennepin County Library. Her previous involvements also include archival
work with the American Craft Council, a national organization founded to raise
awareness and celebrate the American craft movement; work with the American
Swedish Institute’s library and archive collection; and work with the
Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Oosterhuis received her Master of Information
and Library Science degree from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minn.
“The range of experience
Kathryn brings to the Archivist position will be instrumental in the success
of the grant project and the development of our museum archives. I believe she
will be an invaluable asset to the museum and the community,” said
Weaver.
ABOUT THE MINT
MUSEUM
As the oldest art museum in
North Carolina, with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint
Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through
art from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking
exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. The Mint Museum is a
non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint
Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.
Located in what was the
original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936
in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today,
in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with
the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion,
European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a
reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and
performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the
permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the
internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding
collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado
and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot
facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to
provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences.
Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown
is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that
includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for
African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy
Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities,
including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art
studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, visit mintmuseum.org.
Joyce
Weaver | Librarian | 704.337.2023
Vist
the NEW mintmuseum.org
Mint
Museum Randolph |
2730 Randolph Road | Charlotte, North Carolina | 28207
