The Future of Historic House Museums

Abby Battis (ALM) is the associate director for collections at Historic Beverly. She has more than a decade of experience in the museum field in curatorial practice and collections management. Prior to this, Battis served as executive director of the Rockport Art Association and Museum. Prior to her time in Rockport, she served as the assistant director and curator of the Lynn Museum in Lynn, MA. Battis holds a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in museum studies from the Harvard Extension School, where she has been an instructor for five years, teaching courses on the future of historic house museums and museum exhibition design fundamentals. She is also a co-chair for the Registrars and Collections Care Specialists for the New England Museum Association. Battis has served as a consultant for various museums, including being an integral part of the strategic planning project for the Wenham Museum and a museum consultant for the Southold Historical Society on Long Island. She recently finished a project as museum historian for the Bakers Island Light project for Essex National Heritage. She has been named one of the Top 10 Women Leaders in the Region by North of Boston Business Magazine and has received numerous awards including the Pioneer in Partnership Award from Essex National Heritage and the National Park Service, the Gold Star Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and an Arts and Culture Citation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives.