what to learn

While reading Michael Devine’s essay “Administrators: Students of History and Practitioners of the Art of Management” in the Public History book, I started thinking about some of the things my mentor told me before I left.  She told me to learn how to hire construction people, painters, and plumbers.  This sounds odd but it’s really good advice, especially since she ended up doing most of that work herself at the Colleton County Historic and Preservation Society (CCHAPS).  Also at times I really wished that my supervisor, Gary Brightwell, would have done that every time I had to paint something. 

It’s just one more thing, which we as potential directors of a museum, need to learn, along with all of what Devine says in his essay.  Devine says that there are 

“…three essential elements for successful administration.  First, directors must know the nuts and bolts of their agencies and possess basic skills in interpersonal communication, management, and budgeting.  Second, directors must have a sense of vision, and it is, therefore, essential that administrators of history programs know history and know it well.  …only directors communicate regularly with the board, staff, support groups, and various publics on a direct basis.  Only directors are in the position to pull together the information needed to design their institutions’ visions.  Third, directors must serve as tireless, resourceful, effective principal spokespersons or advocates for that vision.  In other words, they must be able and willing to lead.”

Bringing both, Devine’s and my mentor’s, words together we have a lot to learn and figure out if we ever become leaders at the places we go to once we leave here.  We will have many caps to wear, like spokesperson, and handyman.  Also, if someone works for a historical society, you might be called out on weekend because someone has stolen something from one of the properties you look after and you will probably be eaten by something, maybe an ant.  (This happened to my mentor this summer, twice.)  What I’m trying to say is we have a lot to learn and figure out about this field we are going into, and even once we are thrown into we still have a lot to learn and how to deal with it.