Alumni Gazzette Interview
by Lorin Koch, ’00 and ’04
How important is the Lewis and Clark expedition
in the history of the U.S? What would be different if the expedition had never
happened?
Good questions. Ones that we try not to answer too directly in the exhibition
because for nearly a century after the expedition, the full journals
were not published and many of the scientific and geographical findings were
rediscovered by others. Lewis’s inability to get the journals published
diminished the impact of the expedition itself. The Louisiana Purchase is
far more important, especially for the dozens of Indian nations for whom this
was a true disaster, the beginning of the end of their occupation of this
vast territory. Lewis and Clark is the bait—everyone is interested in
their journey because it really is a great adventure story and because this
is the moment where what became the western states enter the national narrative.
But the switch is that the most interesting and even spectacular moments in
the journey have to do with encounters with native peoples. We have created
a sense of duality throughout the show, contrasting perspectives on the meaning
of these encounters. I hope people come for Lewis and Clark and leave understanding
that those cultures, while severely circumscribed by later events, are still
vital and important.
Is it hard to get into museum work? How
did you do it?
I got into this through an almost embarrassing lack of planning. It would
be great to be able to say that working in public history was what I always
wanted to do, but frankly I didn’t have a concept of what museums were
about before I started working in one. I’m still learning too. There
are graduate programs in museum studies for those with a clearer sense of
personal mission that I had, but so far my more traditional background has
served me well.
The museum field is experiencing the aftershocks of the reduced economy. It is a desirable field for humanities types, but the building boom of the nineties is gone by the by. Some of the major museums in the Northwest, such as Experience Music Project, the Bellevue Art Museum, and the glass museum in Tacoma have experience the pains of downsizing to one degree or another after a period of great expectations. I wouldn’t want to discourage anyone, though. Nice work if you can get it. You usually need at least a master’s degree, but not always.
What do you do when you’re not working?
My dog, Miles Coltrane the Wonderdog, walks me twice daily. I get into deep
chess and Stratego matches with Graeme, and read him books like Kidnapped
and The Black Arrow. I practice hatha yoga solo and with Becki. It really
helps the nerves and helps keep my priorities in order. I’m also in the
Big Brothers Big Sisters program here. My match is a junior in high school
now, with blows my mind. What time is left is usually devoted to good books
and indie and classic films. Live music, of course. I’ll travel several
hundred miles if necessary to hear Keith Jarrett or Pat Metheny or some other
jazz master. But I’m lucky living here in St. Louis because it really
is a good music town with a rich history.
What experience did you have while you
were at WWC that shaped your life? What are you thankful for?
Glad you asked the gratitude question. I’ve never been the same since
Western Thought I. Every day I use the skills and knowledge I gained at WWC.
It really changed my life and opened up all kinds of possibilities for me.
The friends I made there are still friends, and years can go by with us spread
all over the country and without seeing each other, but we pick up again easily.
I really enjoyed my time there.
Lorne Glaim, Gary Wiss, Terrie Aamodt, Rick Emmerson, Donnie Rigby, Carolyn Shultz, Doug Clark, Dan Lamberton—the list of fantastic professors goes on and on. They changed my life. And new faces come in and continue to change lives. Gary Wiss has a mantra for good writing: elegant simplicity. I try to remember that each time I write. He also turned me on to classic film, a kind of delayed interest I’ve really been into lately. Still love The Third Man, Gary. Basically, I’m an educator, and WWC’s emphasis on service is something I hope will always be a part of whatever I do.
What is the next project you’ll work
on?
I’m senior researcher for a Teaching American History grant project.
The museum is collaborating with area schools to develop traveling exhibitions,
curriculum units, and subject guides for grades 6-12. So I will use our collections
to help develop these teaching tools around the grand themes of American history
such as democracy and suffrage, freedom and equality, social and labor reform,
civil rights. Being a generalist in this case will be an asset.