I thought we'd have more replies on this one.
My own observation is that it would much depend on the personality and
character of the individual. There are many people with an historical or
anthropological background who can and do operate a non-profit organization
in a businesslike way while doing rich and meaningful history. Others,
however skilled they are in academic history, do not do well either in
business like operation or in making history exciting for the visitor.
Conversely, there are people with business backgrounds who understand and
appreciate the value of history and can and will learn local or regional
history to whatever level is needed for the position, and there are others
who will never quite understand what is significant in history and what is
not, or why anyone should even care.
That said, I suspect that which is more favored may depend on the background
of the board members who are doing the hiring, and there are obvious
pitfalls either way. Thus, it may be much more important to understand what
a specific candidate does not have in their resume than what they do have,
and the ramifications of hiring those lacks.
Lucy Sperlin
Butte County Historical Society
Oroville, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Brunner, Lane
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 4:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Museum Directors
Hi Frank-
It would depend on the structure you have in place within the organization.
If you have staff with the requisite professional knowledge, you likely
would be better suited to have a museum manager with a business or
managerial background - provided they allow the professional staff to
exercise their expertise appropriately.
If you have a small staff within the organization where everyone is wearing
mulitple hats, then it is a judgment call as to whether or not you need the
historical background more than business or managerial experience.
Just my opinion...your mileage may vary.
Lane
----------
Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D.
Deputy Executive Director,
Museum, Library and Research Services
American Numismatic Association
818 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Tel: (719) 482-9872
Discover the World of Money at www.money.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list on behalf of Frank Kordalski, Jr.
Sent: Fri 2/2/07 5:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Museum Directors
Just out of curiosity, I was wondering which is found more favorable when an
organization is looking for a director: someone with a historical-based
education, or someone with a business background?
--
Frank J. Kordalski, Jr.
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