10/05/2023
Hi Everyone!
As the new Collection Manager for the Israelite House of David Archives & Collections (I started in June), I wanted to use my first update to tell you about myself! I am a Michigan native, originally from the Allegan area. My undergraduate degree is from Central Michigan University in Public History and Art History. In 2020, I received my Master’s in Art History & Curation from the University of Birmingham, England. My professional experience has consisted of organizing and digitizing collections at several local history museums.
I am passionate about increasing the accessibility of the House of David’s collections. Since starting at the Archives & Collections, I have cataloged over 1,400 photographs from our House of David Collection into our new collections software CatalogIt.
More recently, I have started digitizing color slides from the 1940s and early 1950s taken by HoD member Clarence ‘Chic’ Bell (1895-1964). Chic’s slides show life at the colony and many views of the HoD’s amusement park.
I am very excited to start learning more about the history of the House of David, other communal societies, and the surrounding area!
Olivia
