Museum Specialist trained in multiple disciplines.

[isis50]

Headline: Museum Specialist trained in multiple disciplines.
Name: Helen M. Krische
Email Address: isis50@sunflower.com
Current Location: Lawrence, KS, USA

Preferred Job Category: Curator

Personal Statement:
I seek a full-time museum professional position that will allow for growth and new challenges in addition to using my administrative and supervisory skills.

Education:
BA Anthropology 1992, University of Kansas; MA with honors Anthropology 1998, University of Kansas; MA Center for Indigenous Nations Museum Studies 2007.

Internships: University of Kansas Museum of Anthopology; Haskell Indian Nations University; Watkins Community Museum of History; Stannard Conservation Laboratory, University of Kansas.

Professional Experience:
2004-Current
Employed full-time as Archivist/Exhibit Coordinator and Curator/Registrar by the Douglas County Historical Society at the Watkins Community Museum of History.
• Reorganized the archival and research areas of the museum to
facilitate access to collections and to promote ongoing
research activities.
• Maintains Museum Registrar records.
• Improved artifact backlog and collection storage facilities.
• Responsible for data entry of archival and 3-D collections
• Ensures that the department complies with state and federal
laws regarding collections including NAGPRA while implementing
security, copyright, and reproduction policies for Archival
collections. This includes coordinating with the museum
registrar to ensure that all transactions and legal documents
are properly executed and maintained.
• Responsible for Archives and Exhibits annual budgets including
operations, purchasing of capital equipment, and departmental
travel.
• Collection management and preservation in accordance with
curatorial standards for over 7,000 historic photographs and
50,000 archival artifacts.
• Interim curator/registrar in 2005 and 2008-2010.
• Instrumental in attaining over $45,000 in grants for the care
and storage of collections
• Implemented conservation treatment program for books and
artifacts in the research collections
• Supervised museum studies student interns, project assistants
and volunteers for grant projects.
• Developed along with staff members, museum’s first semi-
permanent exhibit, Prairie Gold: Early Settlement of Douglas
County, 1820-1861, and other temporary exhibits.
• Coordinated traveling exhibit with guest curators from Taiwan
for Rooster Crowing Auspice, and the Kansas Humanities
Council for Smithsonian exhibit “New Harmonies.”
• Negotiated loan terms with the KU Center for Latin American
Studies for Los Dias De Los Muertos as an annual exhibit.
• Created and presented workshops for the care and
preservation of home archival collections. Implemented
conservation treatment services for private collections.
• Organization of fund-raising events including the first annual
Quantrill’s Raid Fun Run for History that is now in its third year.
• Developed community outreach programs including research
and exhibit for Mexican-American community for their 25th
Anniversary of the St. John’s Fiesta. This project included
Mexican-American oral histories.
• Awarded $25,000 WWII Veterans Oral History grant for 2005-
2007 in collaboration with the Lawrence Public Library.

1998-2004
Employed full time by the University of Kansas library system in the periodicals and microforms department at Watson Research Library. Duties and Responsibilities included:
• Hiring, training, and supervision of 10-20 student assistants
including library emergency procedures
• Care and maintenance of periodicals and microform collections
• Involved in planning of major move and restructuring of the
department
• Served on library’s strategic planning forum, Diversity
Committee, library search committee, and elected
departmental representative for Classified Conference
committee
• Responsible for the maintenance of microform reader/printers
• Interaction with faculty to maintain reserve collections
• Assisting patrons daily with queries, problems and fines
• Instrumental in implementing the library’s first laptop check-out
system
• Preparation of collections for moving to offsite storage facility

1991-1998
Employed by the University of Kansas library system as a student assistant in the periodicals and microforms department at Watson Research Library.

Applicable Skills:
Successful Grantwriter:
2004 Hallmark Grant; 2005 Kansas State Historical Society WWII Oral History Grant; 2005 CAP grant;2005 Kansas Humanities Council Heritage Grant; 2006 Rice Foundation Grant; 2006 Douglas County Community Foundation Grant

PRESENTATIONS:
2008 KMA Conference presentation. Topic: Conducting Oral History
Interviews.
2006 MPMA Conference presentation in Taos,New Mexico.
Topic: The Archival Connection Between Archival and 3-D
Collections.
Historic Register of Homes for Preservation Alliance Conference
in Lawrence, Kansas: How to research your house for the
Historic Register.
2004 MPMA Conference presentation: Native American Cradleboards:
More Than Just A Baby Carrier
Museum Workshops: Preserving Valuable Documents, Preserving
Photographs; Museums 101; Caring For Your Collections; The
Masons: 150 years
2002 Kansas Archaeological Association annual meeting: Native
American Cradleboards.

PUBLICATIONS
Book Review in Indigenous Nations Journal, v. 4, no.1, Spring 2003; Preserving Valuable Documents brochure; Preserving Your Photographs brochure; American Indian Self-Determination and Education Act entry into the pending publication Encyclopedia of Native American Treaties, Dr. Donald L. Fixico, editor.

Research Skills:
Conducting Oral History Interviews, including transcription and indexing.
Conducting research for exhibit storyline scripts.
Research and writing work-related manuals such as Volunteer & Intern training manual.
Research and writing exhibit brochures

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Knowledge of German, Latin, Navajo

COMPUTER SKILLS
Familiar with PCs and Macs, Microsoft Office, Power Point, Excel, Publisher, Photoshop 6,File Maker Pro, Past Perfect Museum Software, and Dreamweaver.

Other:
Board Member, Kansas Museum Association
Board Member, Four Winds Indian Center
House Renovation
Gardening
Sewing
Genealogy