Portsmouth Historical Society names Emma Stratton as executive director
PORTSMOUTH – The Portsmouth Historical Society announced the selection of Emma Stratton as executive director. She joins the Historical Society after five years as executive director of the American Independence Museum in Exeter.
Stratton brings 15 years of historic house and history museum experience to her new post with the Portsmouth Historical Society, which includes the John Paul Jones House Museum in downtown Portsmouth. After receiving her MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University in Washington D.C., she joined the Smithsonian, first as Team Leader in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, then as Curatorial Assistant for the museum’s Renwick Gallery, and then as Permissions Coordinator.
Then in 2014, Stratton joined the Heurich House Museum in Washington D.C., first as Events and Marketing Coordinator and later became the Director of Public Engagement. She also interned with the Society of Cincinnati’s Anderson House in Washington, updating the Society’s holdings in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Catalog of American Portraiture.
In making the announcement, Reagan Ruedig, prospective Chair of the Board of Trustees said, “The Portsmouth Historical Society’s search committee has fulfilled our goal of having our new executive director in place by late spring. We are delighted to welcome Emma to the organization. She brings extensive experience running cultural and historical non-profits, a passion for history and museums, and a love for Portsmouth. We are fortunate to have a skilled and energetic leader to guide us as we move into the Portsmouth 400 celebrations next year. We look forward to having the Portsmouth community meet her!”
Stratton is a member of the New England Museum Association and NH Heritage Museum Trail, and served on the State of NH Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery Arts Reopening Subcommittee on Museums. She joins the Board, staff and consultants in preparing for the Portsmouth Historical Society’s annual meeting on June 22, and implementing plans for programs, events and partnerships in conjunction with the exhibition, “Imagine That! The Power of Picture Books,” a major review of New England children’s book illustrators (May 6 to Sept. 25).
Portsmouth Historical Society, founded in 1917, is a nonprofit devoted to championing the history, arts, and culture of the Portsmouth region through acquisitions, preservation, museum exhibitions, programs, and publications. It operates two facilities: the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center and the 1758 John Paul Jones House Museum and Gardens, a national historic landmark. For more information, visit www.PortsmouthHistory.org or call 603-436-8433.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Historical Society names Emma Stratton as Executive Director
