Historical society welcomes director

The Allen County Historical Society is welcoming its new director, and she is ready to go, full-steam ahead.
Haley Trezise, 28, is the newest addition to the society, and she said experience brings not only education to the table but also the care Allen County’s history deserves.
“I really liked museums as a younger person,” she said. “It’s hard to put into words. It’s about caring for a collection.”
Trezise is a recent graduate from the University of Kansas with a master’s degree in museum studies, with a concentration on anthropology, art and art history. She and her husband, Robert Gandy, are looking for a home in Iola. She now is commuting part time from Lawrence.
An opportunity with a small museum has its draw, she said, and she is looking forward to learning all aspects of the museum — something not offered to people looking to cut their teeth in the business.
“I want to get as much experience as possible, I’ll learn to do everything here,” Trezise said.
There’s a difference between what students learn in school, and what actually happens in the real world, Trezise explained. The museum will be a prime opportunity to learn how a museum really functions on a daily basis.
“You learn how things are supposed to happen in school,” she said.
Some of her studies at KU involved preservation of paper products. She hopes her knowledge on the subject can help the museum. But, for now she is going to settle in and learn the ropes of her new position — not to mention the community.
“I love small towns in Kansas,” she said.
Originally from Hutchinson, but has spent the past several years in Lawrence. She said Iola was a bit more fresh and active than she expected, a pleasant surprise for her and her husband.
“I’m ready to hit the ground running, and I’m most interested in getting to know everybody,” Trezise said.
She said becoming involved in a larger community can be daunting and times, and she hopes a small community will be easier to assimilate into.
 Trezise’s husband is finishing up his degree in sculptural glass blowing at Emporia State University, which takes up a fair amount of his time. When the pair isn’t working, however, they enjoy spending time in the outdoors and Trezise is well-versed in knitting, weaving and sewing.
As for the museum itself, she said board members had been very supportive in her transition and she’s looking forward to starting a full-time schedule soon.