Jeanne Hamilton Watson
5th July 1929 – 2nd September 2015

For the past twenty years Jeanne Watson was a well-known personality within the ICOM Community. She started as a member of ICDAD and became a founding Councillor of the Executive Board of DEMHIST in 1998. Sadly she passed away on 2nd September 2015 and ICOM has lost a remarkable personality.
Born in Oalkland, USA, a graduate of Berkeley University, Jeanne Hamilton married Bill Watson and they had three children. In her recent years she has enjoyed her three grandchildren. 
A journalist by early profession, Jeanne Watson entered the museum field in in 1973 when she became a docent and then curator of the Martin Mitchell House Museum in Naperville, Illinois.  In 1975 Jeanne volunteered at the Newark Museum in New Jersey, where she developed the first docent training guide for the newly acquired Ballantine House and served as the president of the Newark Museum Volunteers. Then, in 1980 Jeanne became the first Executive Director of the Morris County Historical Society (MCHS), whose headquarters were at Acorn Hall in Morristown New Jersey. She raised $ 500‘000 and supervised the restoration of Acorn Hall while creating many engaging exhibitions. Nine of her twelve interns later went on to pursue professional careers in the museum field. While at MCHS she organized the Morris County Director’s Council of Museums. She served two terms as the New Jersey State Representative of the American Association of Museums (AAM, today called American Alliance of Museums) and two terms on the Governing Council of the American Association for State and Local History. 
After her retirement Jeanne turned her formidable energy and determination to improving international cooperation and learning between and among historic house museums. From 1996 to 1998 as a member of ICOM and the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Decorative Arts and Design (ICDAD), Jeanne became one of the driving forces in advocating a separate international committee for historic house museums (DEMHIST). She was active in the campaign which led to the recognition of DEMHIST as a full ICOM International Committee.  In 1999, she became a founding Councillor of the Executive Board of DEMHIST. From that time to 2012, Jeanne has been indefatigable in promoting the growth of DEMHIST and the success of its annual conferences.  She capped her extensive service to DEMHIST by serving two terms as the Committee‘s Vice-Chair. 

All DEMHIST members recall with warm feelings Jeanne and her caring husband Bill, who accompanied her to every annual conference of DEMHIST and ICDAD. Jeanne was an authority on historic house museums and volunteer work as well as a wonderful promoter of DEMHIST. Without her contributions, US participation in DEMHIST would be significantly diminished. For her role in establishing this premier forum for international cooperation among historic house museums, and promoting its growth and acceptance in the United States, Jeanne received the ICOM-US International Service Citation in 2012. This award crowned a life long commitment to the museum field and to ICOM.
Her husband has proposed a memorial gift to DEMHIST in Jeanne’s name. With this money DEMHIST will establish the Jeanne Watson scholarship allowing the Committee to support young members attending its activities. DEMHIST warmly thanks Bill Watson for this generous gift.
All who knew Jeanne will deeply miss her. We express our heartfelt sympathy to Bill Watson and the family. Jeanne will remain an unforgettable member of DEMHIST.

Daniela U. Ball (Member of DEMHIST)


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