Lacey Simpson first joined the Museum Department as Program Coordinator in March 2009, then was promoted to Senior Curator of Programs in November 2011. Upon the retirement of long-standing Director Michael Naab, Lacey became the Museum Director in October 2013. Throughout her seven years of service, Lacey never hesitated to roll up her sleeves to do whatever needed to be done, and brought creativity, dedication and insight to every role. Her vision, her enthusiasm and her ability to inspire have enabled her to bring positive changes to the Museums at every step.

Under Lacey’s leadership, Ketchikan Museums has made tremendous strides in connecting to the community through public engagement, serving to transform our role in Ketchikan and beyond. Priority was given to revitalizing the Totem Heritage Center Advisory Committee and Museum Advisory Board as conduits for public voice and guidance. The Museums have also embarked on a capital improvement program for the Tongass Historical Museum that will increase the safety of collections as well as expanding space for exhibits to better share Ketchikan’s history. Lacey led the effort to

reinstate a Curator of Exhibits position, helping to ensure that staff can meet the needs of the expanded Museum into the future.

Lacey has led countless class visits with warmth and infectious enthusiasm, hauled countless 2 x 4s and piles of plywood, written thousands

of exhibit labels with eloquence, picked up piles of litter on museum property, recorded scores of radio announcements with a welcoming voice and fried hundreds of mini corn dogs for reception snacks. In all capacities and no matter the task, Lacey continually strived to enliven and enrich our connection to the community. Lacey has not only

helped shape a brighter future for Ketchikan Museums, her sense of humor and strength of character also made our days brighter, no matter the obstacles and challenges.

Please join us in wishing Lacey our heartfelt thanks for her many contributions to Ketchikan Museums and to the community. We wish her well as her family begins a new chapter in Winthrop, Washington.

KetchiKanMuseuMsnews froM the tongass historical MuseuM and the toteM heritage center

July, august, septeMber 2016

Farewell to Museum Director Lacey Simpson

Centennial Building Capital Improvement UpdatesWelsh Whiteley Architects completed the 100% design documents for the first floor Centennial Building remodel in mid-May, marking an important milestone for Ketchikan Museums. A contractor will be hired this summer with construction beginning as soon as the doors close on the 2016 summer season. In the meantime, staff is busy preparing to relocate hundreds of artifacts and photos that

are currently on display as well as making room on the lower level for the reinstated Curator of Exhibits, exhibit and program supplies and more. The Museum staff would like to thank Tim Whiteley and Amanda Robinson of Welsh Whiteley Architects, the City of Ketchikan Public Works department and the Museum Advisory Board for their tireless efforts to see this project to this exciting stage.

Hello to New Faces

New guides Margaret Cloud and Brandon Castle with the Stone Ribs story pole at the Totem Heritage Center.

Welcome the new Museum Attendant, Lance Bifoss

Meet the 2016 Tour Guide Team

We are very excited to welcome Lance Bifoss to the Ketchikan Museums team as of March 31. Lance is a longtime Ketchikan resident who many may recognize as the former owner of the well-loved Physical Graffiti music store (Lance’s incredible wealth of knowledge of all things recorded music is legendary). He is a talented artist who has had multiple solo gallery shows at the Main Street Gallery and also had a gallery space to sell artwork at the Plaza Mall. Most recently, Lance worked for Ketchikan Public Library before joining the staff of Ketchikan Museums. His mind for historic facts, interest in Ketchikan’s past, attention to detail, knowledge of art, local expertise and delightful character all make him a perfect fit for the Museum Attendant position. Please join us in celebrating Lance’s start at Ketchikan Museums!

Ketchikan Museums is pleased to welcome back several stellar tour guides with invaluable expertise and experience. Returning guides include John Radzilowski, Larry Reed, Evelyn Voorhees-Brown, Steven Villano and Teresa DeWitt. We are lucky to have such welcoming and knowledgeable locals to connect thousands of visitors, as well as residents and their guests, to Ketchikan’s history and Native art traditions.

We are proud to introduce Brandon Castle who joined us this year. Brandon is a sophomore at Fort Lewis College in Durango, majoring in Political Science with a focus in History. Born and raised in Ketchikan, he is intrigued with local history and thoroughly enjoys sharing with visitors how the past shaped contemporary life. In the future, he hopes to find work that focuses on international history and global politics.

We are also pleased to announce the addition of Margaret Cloud, an experienced guide that previously worked for Allen Marine Tours as the on-board naturalist for several seasons. She is passionate about regional flora and fauna as well as Northwest Coast history and culture, and is dedicated to educational opportunities for all ages. She bubbles with local knowledge and enthusiasm, and shows her excitement to engage every visitor.

Moving MoratoriumThe Tongass Historical Museum will be closed to the public during the first floor renovation of the historic Centennial Building this coming fall and winter. As the Museum is welcoming summer visitors, staff is preparing to move hundreds of photos, artifacts, furniture and supplies from the first floor. Due to the demands on staff and the impact on access to the majority of the collection, we are instituting a temporary moratorium on donations, research requests, and photo orders effective June 1 through December 31, 2016. If you are interested in making a donation to the Ketchikan Museums’ collection, we invite you to contact us for a Donor Questionnaire to provide us with information about your offer. Staff will review the form and will contact you after January 2017.

Research requests and photo orders initiated prior to June 1, 2016 will be honored. At this time, we are able to accommodate one appointment per researcher per week.

In limited instances for City of Ketchikan or governmental inquiries, we will respond to the request within 2 weeks.

We regret any inconvenience the moratorium may cause, and appreciate your understanding and support as we move forward. The renovation of the Centennial Building will result in improved access to the Ketchikan Museums’ collection for researchers and the community in the future.

Please direct questions about donation offers, research requests, and photo orders to Sr. Curator of Collections, Hayley Chambers, at (907) 225-5600 or hayleyc@ktn-ak.us. We look forward to sharing the renovated Tongass Historical Museum with you in early summer 2017!

Explore these on-line resources for researchers:• FamilySearch.org: http://archives.alaska.gov/for_researchers/coll_digital.html• Alaska Digital Archives: http://vilda.alaska.edu/ • Alaska Historical Society: http://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/

Native Arts Studies Program 2016

As we enter the summer season and Ketchikan Museums shift focus to sharing Ketchikan history with visitors from around the globe, we want to take a moment to celebrate a wonderful spring of Native Arts Studies Program classes at the Totem Heritage Center. Thank you to Holly Churchill, Tommy Joseph, Reg Davidson, Kelly White, Christian Dalton, Jake Beimler, Joron Whitton, Woody Anderson, Gloria Burns and Debbie McLavey for passing on your knowledge of Northwest Coast art and culture. We also thank all of our students for participating and learning in order to foster these vital practices for the future. Through you, carving, weaving and regalia-making traditions of this area are both perpetuated and strengthened, and this invaluable knowledge is kept alive for generations to come. Please join us in celebrating a very strong season of enrollment, and the creation of incredible Northwest coast art!

The next season of Native Arts Studies Program classes will resume in October and the class schedule will be released in September. We welcome everyone to experience traditional Northwest Coast art!

Want to receive the Class Schedule in your mailbox? Call us at 225-5900 or e-mail StaceyW@ktn-ak.us to be added to our e-mail/mailing list or like us on Facebook!

Images, clockwise from top left: 1. Holly Churchill and student weavers Amanda Bolton and TyAnn Taylor in Intro to Cedar Bark Weaving.2. Christian Dalton hammers a blade in Toolmaking for Carvers.3. Xavier Dalton’s model clanhouse in Spring Break Northwest Coast Design.4. Reg Davidson with Karen Lawton in Intermediate and Advanced Northwest Coast Design.

5. Shaundra Rhodes and Matthew Alguire in Spring Break Cedar Bark Weaving.6. Tommy Joseph and Pat McLavey in Intermediate and Advanced Northwest Coast Carving. 7. Intermediate and Advanced Northwest Coast Carving class with masks.8. Kelly White with Chelsea Weber in Spring Break Northwest Coast Design.Center: Holly Churchill’s Introduction to Cedar Bark Weaving class.

Thank you to our amazing instructors for sharing their knowledge and to all of our students who learn and practice Northwest Coast art!

A look back at Spring Classes

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDKetchikan, Alaska

Permit No. 95

Ketchikan MuseumsTongass Historical MuseumTotem Heritage Center629 Dock StreetKetchikan, Alaska 99901

Totem Heritage Center Tongass Historical Museum

Original, Unrestored 19

th Century totem Poles

On display through September 2016!

Ketchikan Museums Calendar

Then&Now

A community photography exhibit connecting Ketchikan’s past to the

present through the recreation of historic photos.

FREE admission for locals and their visitors!

Tongass Historical Museum629 Dock Street

Ketchikan, Alaska 99901(907) 225-5600

Totem Heritage Center601 Deermount Avenue

Mailing Address: 629 Dock StreetKetchikan, Alaska 99901

(907) 225-5900

Summer HoursMay–September

8:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M. Daily

u u u

City of KetchikanMuseum Department Staff

www.KetchikanMuseums.org

Ketchikan Museums collect, preserve, interpret and creatively share the history and culture of our region to serve, educate, engage and enrich our community.

Museum Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . VacantAdministrative Secretary . . . . . . Tara HofmannSr. Curator of Collections . . . . .Hayley ChambersRegistrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erika Brown Sr. Curator of Programs . . . . . . Anita Maxwell Program Coordinator . . . . . . . . . Ann FroeschleCurator of Exhibits . . . . . . . . . Steven VillanoProgram Assistant. . . . . . . . . . Stacey Williams Museum Attendant . . . . . . . . . . . . Lance Bifoss

Bathing Beauties...

Lacey Simpson...

Totem Heritage Center and Tongass Historical Museum

admission is FREE for locals and their visitors!

Then&Now

It may not look like anything has changed, but a whole lot happend in Lacey’s seven years at the Museum: from Program Coordinator to Museum Director to a fond farewell!

20092016

Experience the rich history ofNorthwest Coast art and culture.

FREE admission for locals and their visitors!

Ketchikan style

Mrs. Giebel and friend sun bathing in the swimwear of the era, likely made of wool.Con Giebel photo, THS 73.3.16.390