Historical Society names Vicki Knauff museum director
Former Highland County Historical Society board member Vicki Knauff will be taking on a different role with the organization, as she has entered a contract to serve as director for the Highland House Museum, effective April 28.
Knauff was hired as director at the HCHS board of trustees’ most recent meeting, held April 17.
Board of trustees chair Pamela Nickell said that there was “unanimous confirmation of Vicki” as the right person for the job.
“There were stellar comments made about her,” Nickell said.
The board met twice following the motion to hire Knauff to draft a one-year employment contract and outline a job description, Nickell said.
“She has a big task in front of her,” Nickell said.
Knauff had been approved as a board member for the Highland County Historical Society in their October 2013 reorganizational meeting. Knauff turned in a letter of resignation from the board to Nickell upon her appointment as director.
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“When the board first talked about hiring a director, I asked her to be on the committee,” Nickell said. “She asked not to be on the committee because of a conflict of interest, because she thought she might want to be director.”
As this is the first time there has been a vacancy on the board since its reorganization, Nickell said that the board will be establishing a procedure for the replacement of members who leave before the term ends. Nickell said that a board member appointed to replace Knauff, who was set to
serve two years, would be an interim member until he or she can be officially approved at the organization’s annual meeting in October.
“The entire membership has to approve them,” Nickell said. “The person wouldn’t take her seat until then.”
Interested parties can contact the Historical Society for information on becoming a board member.
Knauff, of Sinking Spring, retired in 2013 after 32 years of experience as a history teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree from Xavier University.
Knauff is a member of the Highland County Women’s Hall of Fame and is a longtime member of the Highland County Historical Society. She has held leadership positions in a number of other committees and organizations, including the Ohio Council for the Social Studies, the Great Lakes Regional Social Studies Conference and the Ohio Bicentennial Commission.
“I’ve been retired two years,” Knauff said. “I taught history for 32 years. It seems like a natural fit for me. I love Highland County, and I think it’s very important to get involved for the history of Highland County to be preserved and protected for future generations.
“I’m very excited. I know I have a huge responsibility. I’ve got very large shoes to fill with past directors like Margaret Van Frank and Jean Wallis. I’m sure I’m going to talk to them quite a bit on procedures, policies and the general operation of the museum. I consider those two ladies my mentors.”
Knauff’s job responsibilities will include managing the Highland House Museum, assisting with early budgets, short- and long-term goals, fundraising, programs, events and open houses; supervising the recording of gifts of artifacts and displays; and assisting in utilizing and supervising volunteers, including a calendar of volunteer staffing and schedules.
According to Knauff, the Society and the Highland House Museum have a number of special events planned for spring and summer, including:
• A D-Day observance to be held at the Veterans Memorial on June 7 at 10 a.m.;
• A motorcoach tour to the Cincinnati Museum Center to view the Princess Diana exhibit on June 18; and
• A special exhibit of Civil War memorabilia during the Festival of the Bells.
The Society is also developing an ongoing gift shop in the museum, and board members are also working to select a college student to serve as an intern curator for the museum over the summer.
The official opening for the season is May 17. The museum will be open on Saturdays and Sundays every weekend from 1-5 p.m. for visitors to tour the museum.