Los Altos History Museum Names New Executive Director

LOS ALTOS, CA – The Los Altos History Museum has named Elisabeth I. Ward as its new Executive Director effective March 20.

“Elisabeth will be a passionate and energetic leader, focused on implementing a vision of what a local history museum should be as a community resource," said Marilyn Henderson, Board President.

A series of private receptions to introduce Ward to the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills community will be scheduled.

The search committee, chaired by Marilyn Henderson, was composed of Ginger Beman, Linda Eckols, Nan Geschke, Julia Lovin, Jane Reed, Ed Taft and Eleanor Watanabe.

Ward, a native of Mission Viejo, holds a Ph.D. and B.A. in Scandinavian Languages and Literature from University of California, Berkeley, and a M.A. in Anthropology, with a concentration in Museum Studies, from Georgetown University. Prior to joining the Los Altos History Museum, Ward was director of the Scandinavian Cultural Center at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA., and was responsible for every aspect of the operation, from collection care to program management to fiscal reporting, also working with the Cultural Council.

Previously, Ward was a lecturer in Scandinavian languages and UC Berkeley, Director at the Vikingaheimar Museum in Iceland, and Museum Specialist at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Department. She is the author of many academic publications and is fluent in Icelandic with a functional knowledge of Norwegian and Spanish.

The Los Altos History Museum began in 1977 with the opening of the J. Gilbert Smith House historic farmhouse, built in 1905. In 2001, the Los Altos History Museum opened its modern building next door, which houses the museum's collections, permanent and changing exhibits, store and administrative offices. The museum and its collections are owned by the City of Los Altos and are managed by an independent nonprofit organization, whose staff and volunteers are responsible for all programs and operations.

The Museum and J. Gilbert Smith House are open Thursday through Sunday, from noon-4pm. Admission is free. The gardens, outdoor agricultural exhibits and picnic area are accessible beyond Museum hours. For more information, go to www.losaltoshistory.org, email hello@losaltoshistory.org, or phone 650.948.9427 x14.

GOING ON IN THE AREA:

• Love One Another--Raggedy Ann and Andy - Los Altos History Museum
• Get-In-Free Day at Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Santa Cruz
• Love Sick: Mountain View
• 'The Fearsome Pirate Frank' - San Carlos Children's Theater

--Image via Los Altos History Museum