Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum Names Bonnie Byrd as Executive Director
The Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum has named Bonnie Byrd as its new Executive Director, effective Nov. 14, 2018.
Byrd has served as Curator of Collections & Exhibits at the organization since June of 2015. In that role, she has helped marshal the relocation of research facilities, exhibits, documents and over 18,000 items in the collection to remodeled quarters. The historic 1893 Waukesha County Courthouse, home of the museum since Jan. 16, 1915, has been completely remodeled by museum partners, Historic Prairieville, Ltd. and Legacy Architecture, Inc. The project was financed in part with Historic Tax Credits and Community Block Grant funding.
“We are thrilled to have Bonnie step into the role of Executive Director at this exciting time in our history,” said Charles Byler, chair of the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum Board of Trustees.
“She is a true museum professional with an expansive set of skills. Her experience, her passion for the mission of the museum and leadership throughout her tenure makes her the perfect executive director to lead us into the future.”
Byrd noted, “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to lead this organization as we move forward from this remarkable achievement in historic building preservation. We’ve secured a space designed with us in mind, dedicated to the work we do to preserve and share Waukesha County’s history. It’s a history full of progressive ideas and innovations that have shaped, not only our region and Wisconsin, but also reverberated throughout the country and world. I’m continuously impressed by the historic preservation, research, and achievement of my predecessors at the Historical Society. I am proud that as Curator I was able to bring new exhibits into our space. We’re currently hosting an exhibit from Wisconsin Historical Society, Great Lakes Small Streams, exploring the state’s long relationship with water and the impact we have had on our vast waterways. The relationships I’ve built with our incredible volunteers, staff, and board during my tenure as Curator are indispensable as I take on this new role. I am honored to become WCHSM’s Executive Director, and am excited to lead WCHSM, fundraising to build out our permanent exhibit spaces dedicated to an exploration of Waukesha County history. My goal, our goal, is to create stronger ties to our community throughout this process, from the launch of a new Corporate Connections Program to building our membership and education programs.”
The public will have a chance to meet and greet Bonnie at the Museum’s official ribbon cutting ceremony on November 7 at 5:30 p.m. - 101 W. Main St. in Waukesha. This will be the first chance to see the restored courtroom/banquet facility and the new museum, but reservations are requested. See the museum webpage at www.waukeshacountymuseum.org for details.
Byrd is a graduate of Bridgewater College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and also of the University of Albany, SUNY earning a Masters Degree in Public History. Having worked in museums for more than a decade, she first came to WCHSM to complete a Graduate Internship in 2014. Byrd and her husband live in a lovely Victorian home in the Carroll University neighborhood.
For more information, contact the Waukesha County Museum at 262 521-2859.
The Waukesha County Museum is the #1 leader in the region for preserving, educating and sharing the stories of Waukesha County, delivering on its mission to foster the exploration of the American experience through the stories of Waukesha County.
Bonnie Byrd