“This is an exciting time to be involved at the Stars and Stripes Museum,” Morgan Wilkinson observes enthusiastically. “We finally have secured enough funds that we can maintain a full-time staff, and we are able to plan a broad array of activities that will appeal to various ages and interests.”
Wilkinson, new curator at the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, was hired in December, after working as a volunteer for several months. She was joined on staff by Kayla Hester, who is the new collections manager.
“One of the main goals of 2019 was to increase funding to an operable level,” says Wilkinson. “The board wanted to add staff so that Laura Ward Meyer could concentrate on administrative duties. With my expertise in anthropology, and Kayla’s in historic preservation, I think we are a good fit to help expand both the museum offerings and our presence in, not only the local communities, but into the national realm, as well.”
The boost to the museum’s funding came as a result of the first annual Spirit of Democracy dinner event held at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau. Hosted by the museum, keynote speakers were the Honorable Mike Parson, Missouri Governor, and Max Lederer, Publisher of the Stars and Stripes, the nation’s military newspaper.
“The dinner was beyond our wildest expectations,” reflects Wilkinson, “and we already are reviewing pros and cons from this past November’s event and are beginning to make plans for our second annual Spirit of Democracy dinner next fall.”
As Wilkinson and Hester settle into their new roles as permanent staff members, they are enjoying familiarizing themselves with the museum and planning for future changes and events.
“I primarily work on the collections,” states Hester. “Currently, I am going through the various categories to see what we have. With several different types of collections, and some of them quite extensive—like the uniforms—it can be tedious, but rewarding, work.”
Hester goes on to explain, “I have to check each item to make sure it is logged into the computer. It is labor-intensive and requires close attention to detail, but,” she laughs, “that’s what historic preservationists enjoy.”
While Hester’s work tends to keep her somewhat isolated, Wilkinson, on the other hand, is working to raise public awareness of everything the museum has to offer, as well as initiate several new fundraising events that engage the public’s participation.
“People tend to write us off as strictly a military museum,” discloses Wilkinson, “but we offer a variety of cultural interests. People can learn about military history through the eyes of the Stars and Stripes staffers who were there when significant events took place.”
Wilkinson points to a little-known exhibit to make her case. “This exhibit features the work of Shel Silverstein. Before anyone ever heard of The Giving Tree or Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein was a cartoonist for the Stars and Stripes military newspaper during the Korean War.”
Wilkinson stresses that while the military aspect, is of course a key component, one goal of the museum is to attract younger visitors. With that in mind, one of their outreach programs is geared toward children of the surrounding area.
“We want our museum to be a family friendly resource,” explains Wilkinson. “To that end we are offering ‘Kids Night at the Museum’ one evening a month. During these sessions we will cover diverse topics that will allow students to explore various historically significant cultures and events through presentation, question-and-answer, and hands-on activities.”
The Kids Night programs, held on the second Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m., are by reservation and are open to students in third through eighth grade. A ten-dollar registration fee covers the cost of materials used for the projects. Registration forms are mailed to area schools for distribution to students, or reservations can be made by calling the museum at 573-568-2055 during regular museum hours. Due to space restrictions in the museum, the classes are limited to 12 participants.
Among the various fund-raising initiatives planned for this year, Wilkinson says she is especially excited about the Lovers Lane Craft Vendor Show in February and the Swingin’ for the Stars and Stripes Co-ed Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby in July.
“On Saturday, February 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., craft and vendor booths will be set up at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield,” Wilkinson explains. “Area residents will have the opportunity to shop from a variety of local and regional artisans and craftsmen. The event is free to the public, with a 50/50 drawing and raffle included in the day’s festivities.”
The museum is pairing up with Dexter Parks and Recreation to sponsor a softball tournament July 24th and 25th.
“I played softball in high school,” Wilkinson recounts, “so I am super excited about this co-ed, multi-generational event. The home-run derby will be on Friday, July 24th, and then the eight-team tournament will take place on Saturday.”
Wilkinson points out that there are many sponsorship opportunities available for this event, and she is looking forward to working with the local and area business community to make it a profitable venture for both the museum and business owners.
“As the museum enters its 24th year,” Wilkinson observes thoughtfully, “we are very proud to look back at where we began, and eagerly anticipate the endless possibilities for our future growth.”
Wilkinson is a 2014 graduate of Bloomfield High School and a 2018 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a BA in anthropology.
Hester is a 2014 graduate of Dexter High School. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a BA in history and a BS in historic preservation.