NCHS Honored at Georgia Association of Museum Conference

Pictured above NCHS Director Emily Kimbell and Museum Assistant Claire Nix are presented their awards for Best Museum Exhibition under $1,000. Presenters included Award Committee Co-Chair Melissa Swindell (left) and GAM President Ephraim Rotter (right).

From Special Reports

More than 100 museum professionals recently descended upon Thomasville for the annual meeting of the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM).

They arrived from all regions of the state, from Cartersville to Valdosta. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Next Normal.” Attendeesparticipated in a variety of sessions and workshops ranging from developing education programs to designing eye-catching exhibits and visiting with vendors whose products and services target the field.

The highlight of the week was the annual GAM Awards Luncheon.

This year the Newnan-Coweta HIstorical Society was presented with two awards during the ceremony.

Director Emily Kimbell and Museum Assistant Claire Nix were presented with an award for best Museum Exhibition under $1,000 for their installation of “Newnan Girl Away at School ” at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum. “A Newnan Girl Away at School” is a small exhibit — NCHS repurposed a supply closet to create the exhibit space — but within the small space is a glance at a young woman’s collegiate experience in the late 1920s-early 1930s.

Claire Nix, Museum Assistant, curated this exhibit using artifacts that the McRitchie-Hollis Museum received from Margaret Trapnell Glover’s family, which included her college trunk. The trunk contained notes, letters, assignments, drawings, sheet music, editorials, and more from when Margaret Glover (neé Trapnell) attended Georgia State College for Women (now Georgia College and State University) in Milledgeville, GA. The exhibit is inspired by a dorm room— in it, there is a desk, typewriter, bulletin boards with some of Margaret’s papers and effects displayed, and a rug.

In addition, Lucas Hardy, a Fall 2020 intern for NCHS, received an award for best Student Project. As part of his undergraduate studies with the University of West Georgia, Hardy completed a Preservation of HIstoric Weapons project which required him to determine how to properly store and rehouse Civil War era weapons.

The awards were presented by GAM President Ephraim Rotter and Award Committee Co-Chairs Melissa Swindell and Karin Dalton. 

“We are very pleased to present this award to a very deserving recipient,” said GAM President Rotter. “Our members represent a good cross section of the museums and cultural organizations in Georgia’s communities, large and small,” he added. “We are happy to honor institutions, staff members, volunteers, patrons, exhibits, and special projects that have excelled in providing inspiring programs and leadership.”

For more information on the Georgia Association of Museums visit www.gamg.org. For more information about exhibits and collections held by the McRitchie-Hollis Museum, please contact the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society at 770-251-0207.

Lucas Hardy (center) is presented with the Best Student Project award. He’s pictured with Melissa Swindell (left) and GAM President Ephraim Rotter (right).

Newnan Girl Away at School Exhibit.