The WCMFA: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Visits the Museum

On August 16, 2012 Roscoe Bartlett, the US Representative for Maryland’s 6^th District, visited the museum during the American Alliance of Museum’s (AAM) “Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum Week” (August 11 – August 18, 2012). Museum Director, Rebecca Massie Lane, extended the invitation to Rep. Bartlett and was excited to have him accept.

Rebecca Massie Lane and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett view the "Still Life: The Painted Image" Exhibition

Rep. Bartlett toured the museum’s galleries with museum staff and members of the Board of Trustees, Al Martin and John Schnebly. He was especially taken with the museum’s major exhibition in commemoration of the 150^th Anniversary of the American Civil War, Valley of the Shadow, on view through July 28, 2013 and the variety of artistic experiences offered by the museum.

John Schnebley, Rebecca Massie Lane, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, and Al Martin

"Our people seem to feel as if they can somehow reconnect with the past. There's solidity there. There's something that they can reconnect with the past, the future will somehow be better." – Rep. Roscoe Bartlett

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett touring the "Valley of the Shadow" exhibition

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett with the museum's John Gutzon Borglum, "Bust of Lincoln"

Part of Rep. Bartlett’s visit was a tour of the collections storage areas and an overview of the important work being done in the collections inventory project. Lauren Ippolito, Jennifer Chapman Smith, and Kay Palmateer explained to Rep. Bartlett the process of inventorying each object and how it has, and will continue to, impact the accessibility of collection’s objects to the public and further grow the museum’s reputation not only in Maryland and the 6^th district but throughout the country.