Young director comes with experience

Allen County Historical Society’s most recent addition, Elyssa Jackson, is taking her duties as executive director head-on, less than two weeks after taking the position.
Jackson, a 24-year-old art history graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara, is currently working on her master’s degree with San Francisco State University in museum studies. She said the position with the historical society is a perfect opportunity to make an impact in her field, while still working toward her degree — which she plans to finish in early 2013.
She said career opportunities are limited for someone with an art history degree, and she was excited to hear of an opening with the society while visiting Iola for a family reunion in July. Jackson’s grandmother, Alberta Rock, is a long-time resident of Allen County.
Jackson said she takes her job very seriously, citing the society and the museum’s duty to accurately represent information that is given to them.
“It’s important to be transparent and honest when you’re dealing with a community’s historical background,” Jackson said.
Jackson has her goals for the historical society listed on a white board in her office — and it wasn’t a short list. She said she has already been busy trying to decide how to use the numerous volunteers’ time efficiently. Many of her goals for the program are centered on increasing contact between the society and local schools. She said the Kansas Department of Education has certain standards for historical education, and programs through the county’s historical society can be an important tool to help students receive a well-rounded education.
“I would love to have school programs every single day,” Jackson said. “I realize that goal is ‘pie in the sky,’ but I think it’s a good goal to have.”
She said an additional goal for the society is to increase the reach of the museum’s representation throughout the county. She said as a county historical society, there is a responsibility to give a voice to all of the communities in Allen County, not just Iola. She compared this responsibility to that of a journalist, saying there needs to be fair and accurate coverage of cities such as Humboldt, Moran, Yates Center and all of the cities within the county lines.
Donna Houser, an active volunteer with the society who was carrying many of the responsibilities before Jackson was hired, said she has been impressed with the new director’s ambition in just her first two weeks of employment. She said while Jackson is young, she is a bright and friendly addition to the society that will help take them to the next level.
“The more new things we try as an organization, the more we’ll grow,” Houser said.
Jackson said she has become accustomed to being the youngest person among her colleagues. She began her work toward her master’s degree immediately after completing her undergraduate work. She said she has experienced some skepticism in the past, and people have questioned her authority and experience. However, she said she has experienced a warm welcome since moving to Iola.
Her goal was to move to a smaller community, and she said she is appreciating the difference between her new home and San Francisco.
“It’s (Iola) definitely different than California, and that’s what I love about it,” Jackson said. “I’m still getting used to people saying hello back when you wave at them — which people don’t normally do in San Francisco.”
Jackson said she wants people in the county to be involved with the historical society. She said she welcomes any input from the community and always encourages an “open-door policy.”
Jackson said her ultimate goal is preserve the museum and society for years to come, and it’s her duty to make sure Allen County’s history will live on past her role as executive director.
“Things live here (museum), people don’t,” Jackson said, “so I want to make sure all of this history is around for the next 100 years.”
The Allen County Historical Society will host its annual meeting in the North Community Building tonight at 7 o’clock. For those with tickets, dinner will be provided at 6 p.m. The society plans to induct Gary Hawk as a “Famous Allen Countian.”