Seward House Museum Executive Director Peter Wisbey will be stepping down by the end of the year.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Peter Wisbey, executive director of the Seward House, holds Homer resident Francis B. Carpenter's “First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation” of Abraham Lincoln and William Seward.
Peter Wisbey, executive director of the Seward House, holds Homer resident Francis B. Carpenter's “First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation” of Abraham Lincoln and William Seward.
Wisbey, a Rochester resident, has commuted for nine years to his job at Seward House and plans to return to Rochester to be with his family and pursue career opportunities closer to home, he said Thursday.
“It's been a wonderful nine years and now it's time to pass on the mantle,” Wisbey said.
He indicated that the long commute and dividing his loyalties between two communities has been stressful on his family life. Wisbey and his wife have two daughters, 12 and 8 years old.
“I'm excited about the prospects for change,” he said, “and I'm sorry to leave this wonderful community.”
He said he was taking this opportunity to explore a number of options, including teaching, lecturing and writing along with his interests in administration and curating.
Wisbey said he considered himself fortunate to have assumed his first position as a museum director at a time his skills were needed.
“There's great momentum for the community moving forward,” he said, citing the upcoming possibility of a national park being established in the name of Harriet Tubman, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 200th anniversary of Seward House, and the possibility of Lincoln's life being filmed, in part, in Auburn.
Wisbey said he was first attracted to Seward House by its “wonderful collection and great stories to tell.”
“I appreciate the board's trusting me to tell it,” he said.
After undertaking new historical research and interpretation projects during his first few years, Wisbey said Doris Kearns Goodwin's “Team of Rivals” really gave the museum a jump start and programs at the museum expanded.
The board added to its professional staff and the curator offered school programs and special events.
“We went from having one phone line and a public phone that we put on the desk to go looking for someone to teleconferencing, distance learning, and Web access,” he said.
The museum hosted notable dignitaries during Wisbey's tenure, including former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. “Seward Salutes Alaska” was his most intense program, he said. He was amazed to have been given the opportunities to meet leaders and authors in his position as director.
Wisbey said he had always wanted to re-enact a funeral, and he got the opportunity to do William Seward's funeral in 2005.
“It was small,” he said, noting his enjoyment of both big and small ventures at the museum.
Wisbey developed the museum's Circle of Friends membership, diversifying the funding base. He especially enjoyed going to schools and speaking to students, lecturing and behind the scenes tours. Now more than 13,000 people visit annually, a 40 percent increase from 2000.
“It was very fulfilling,” Wisbey said of his tenure.
Wisbey will remain executive director through Dec. 31. The search for his replacement should take several months.
“At a time when many historic house museums are struggling, Seward House is enjoying record attendance and serving as an anchor attraction among Auburn's many historic and cultural sites,” Daniel J. Fessenden, the president of the museum's board of trustees said in a news release. “Peter has been a big reason for this success.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
“It's been a wonderful nine years and now it's time to pass on the mantle,” Wisbey said.
He indicated that the long commute and dividing his loyalties between two communities has been stressful on his family life. Wisbey and his wife have two daughters, 12 and 8 years old.
“I'm excited about the prospects for change,” he said, “and I'm sorry to leave this wonderful community.”
He said he was taking this opportunity to explore a number of options, including teaching, lecturing and writing along with his interests in administration and curating.
Wisbey said he considered himself fortunate to have assumed his first position as a museum director at a time his skills were needed.
“There's great momentum for the community moving forward,” he said, citing the upcoming possibility of a national park being established in the name of Harriet Tubman, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 200th anniversary of Seward House, and the possibility of Lincoln's life being filmed, in part, in Auburn.
Wisbey said he was first attracted to Seward House by its “wonderful collection and great stories to tell.”
“I appreciate the board's trusting me to tell it,” he said.
After undertaking new historical research and interpretation projects during his first few years, Wisbey said Doris Kearns Goodwin's “Team of Rivals” really gave the museum a jump start and programs at the museum expanded.
The board added to its professional staff and the curator offered school programs and special events.
“We went from having one phone line and a public phone that we put on the desk to go looking for someone to teleconferencing, distance learning, and Web access,” he said.
The museum hosted notable dignitaries during Wisbey's tenure, including former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. “Seward Salutes Alaska” was his most intense program, he said. He was amazed to have been given the opportunities to meet leaders and authors in his position as director.
Wisbey said he had always wanted to re-enact a funeral, and he got the opportunity to do William Seward's funeral in 2005.
“It was small,” he said, noting his enjoyment of both big and small ventures at the museum.
Wisbey developed the museum's Circle of Friends membership, diversifying the funding base. He especially enjoyed going to schools and speaking to students, lecturing and behind the scenes tours. Now more than 13,000 people visit annually, a 40 percent increase from 2000.
“It was very fulfilling,” Wisbey said of his tenure.
Wisbey will remain executive director through Dec. 31. The search for his replacement should take several months.
“At a time when many historic house museums are struggling, Seward House is enjoying record attendance and serving as an anchor attraction among Auburn's many historic and cultural sites,” Daniel J. Fessenden, the president of the museum's board of trustees said in a news release. “Peter has been a big reason for this success.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.