The new executive director of the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum says being part of a museum is just who she is.
Beth Kowalski spoke with Seehafernews.com after she was named as the next leader of the wood type museum at the end of August, after Peter Crabbe retired from the job in July.
Kowalski says she’s worked in different museums for over 30 years of her life, including time at the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, and now her new role at Hamilton.
She says having museums is like having a touch point with the modern day.
She stated, “In the day of digital age and digital technology, sometimes is still very important to see the original the hands-on and things that were created (at Hamilton).”
Obviously, with Hamilton, it’s the wood type that draws people to visit.
“I know that somebody handmade that,” she explained. “Yes, you can have something digital today, but it’s that handmade quality. And it’s allowing generations to learn that, kind of like I said, where we came from in the past to where we are going toward in the future.”
She also says it’s the legacy of a company like the Hamilton Manufacturing Company that stayed in Two Rivers for generations until its closure in 2013.
Kowalski says she finds that history fascinating, but still loves to have the working components of wood-type still being used today.
As the new director, she says she wants to dive into internal archives and connect more of that history to the public.
She also wants to elevate the museum by making sure the collection of wood-type they have is taken care of.
Kowalski also says she wants to meet members in the community as she’s moved here.
You can find out more about her vision by finding a message to museum volunteers at woodtype.org.
