Simpson succeeds Smith-Bové as Springfield Museums head

March 10, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Kay Simpson
Reminder Publications submitted photo

SPRINGFIELD – The new president of the Springfield Museums sees the impact made by the Quadrangle on the region’s tourism industry increasing with the opening of a museum dedicated to Dr. Seuss in 2017.

Kay Simpson was recently named by the Board of Trustees to succeed of Holly Smith-Bové, who left the museum in June of 2015. She has been serving as the interim president.

Simpson has worked for the museums in various capacities as a museum educator and administrator, and served as Vice President from 2010 through 2015

The new museum dedicated to the life and work of Springfield resident Theodor Seuss Geisel will be in the building that used to house the history museum. Simpson said that extensive work is being undertaken to prepare the building, which is under historic preservation restrictions. There will be upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems, as well as an elevator installed to make all floors accessible, she added.

The museum, which is scheduled to open in June 2017, will feature interactive exhibits on the first floor and Seuss memorabilia on the second. Simpson said the artist’s two stepdaughters have continued many items including his drawing table and other personal items to help re-create his working space.  

Original art has also been donated.

The exhibit will also trace back images in his books to building and events from when he grew up in Springfield, Simpson said.

Another Seuss initiative is the creation of a working tour of Forest Park that is underway with the city’s Parks Department. Simpson explained Geisel’s father was the superintendent of Forest Park. She would like to extend the walking tour to include other locations in the city, such as the former Classical High School.

“It’s a very exciting project,” she said.

Seuss is a “point of community pride,” Simpson said. “He’s a touchstone, a hometown hero.”

A new website, www.seussinspringfield.org, will be launched with expanded content on the artist and the museum.

The addition of the museum will undoubtedly increase the number of people who visit the museums. Simpson said according to the economic impact calculator used by the museum industry, The Springfield Museums contribute $13 million to the local economy.

According to a study of zip codes of visitors, 25 percent of people who come to the museums travel 50 miles or more to get there, Simpson said.

The new Seuss museum “will be a way to draw more people here,” she noted.

The new museum is being financed by a capital campaign with the goal of raising $7 million. So far in the “quiet” or non-public phase of the campaign; $4.1 million has already been raised. The public kick-off for the campaign will commence on June 9.

Simpson said a crowd-sourced effort might be part of the public campaign.

The Seuss museum would not be the only project to benefit from the campaign, Simpson explained. The George Walter Vincent Smith Museum, which she described as a “rare Victorian museum,” needs a new roof and replacement of its 23 skylights. The restoration of the Tiffany stained glass windows on the second floor and its wooden doors are also on the list.

The museum’s welcome center would also be reconfigured to handle a better flow of people in anticipation of the addition of the Seuss museum, she added.

Simpson sees Springfield as a city with “so many assets,” such as The Armory Museum, the Community Music School, the Springfield Symphony and others. She believes the city’s growing success is to “promote it as a collective [of attractions.]”

Simpson added, “Dr. Seuss is something that is city-wide. It’s an opportunity to work with our city partners.”

With Simpson’s promotion as a president came Heather Haskell’s promotion as vice president. Haskell has been employed at the Springfield Museums for almost 30 years, serving as the director of the organization’s two art museums since 1998 and as director of Collections for the last eight years.  

Samuel N. Hamner, chairman of the board of trustees, said, “The board is very enthusiastic about its unanimous decision. Kay is an outstanding administrator and leader, and Heather's talents as a curator and collections expert are invaluable assets to the Museums. Those attributes and their many years of distinguished service to the organization make them uniquely qualified to guide the Springfield Museums through the next chapter in its storied history.”

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