Intern Spotlight: Delaina Pedroza

About Me

Hi! My name is Delaina (Duh-lay-na) Pedroza. I’m excited to spend 10 weeks working in collections as an intern at the NUMU Museum of Los Gatos. A little background about myself, I received my undergrad degree from UCR in 2023 with a BA in History, BUT I was originally a Business Administration student. I didn’t change my degree until about midway through my first internship in a museum, where I decided that I would be working in collections! Although I went to school in SoCal I was born and raised in the Bay Area, specifically San Jose, so I have a lot of fond memories of taking a trip to Los Gatos as a kid. I never knew until applying for this internship that there was a prominent museum in Los Gatos. Over the last two years I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of organizations and their collections departments. I’m currently pursuing my Masters in Library Science at San Jose State, so when I’m not working I’m going to school or spending time with my kids (4 cats). I’m excited to help make some of the amazing objects at NUMU available for the public to enjoy and learn from.

About My Degree

Although a MLIS might not sound like it pertains to museum studies, in a sense it does. We learn how to use information systems, handling, documenting, exporting, and caring for those items, whether it’s metadata, electronically, physically, or both. The great thing about a masters in library science is that you learn what goes into library work, but can branch off into your own emphasis, focusing on what interests you. That may be archival work, children’s education, information science, etc.

Artifact Spotlight

Working at the museum has taught me a lot in the past three months. One, there is a museum in Los Gatos called NUMU, but overall there have been really interesting objects, stories, and histories and so on that I have been able to learn from over the course of my internship. For instance, I came across an object called a Kabuto, which is a miniature version of a samurai’s head set from feudal Japan. These miniature samurai helmets were placed in front of the homes of samurai warriors on “Tango no Sekku,” or Boys Day, to celebrate these warriors’ achievements. Samurai armor was more than just practical outerwear, it also signified the samurai’s status as a warrior, member of an elite class, and man of honor. So on this day it was especially important to honor sons and sons who had become samurai, and miniature kabuto was just one of those ways. Today, it is now more commonly known as as “Children’s Day” (Kodomo no Hi) as it celebrates all children, not just boys, and is celebrated on the 5th of May every year. You can find more information by looking at the museum’s collection online to learn more about the other items listed with this object!

Takeaways

Although this object is interesting and was definitely an interesting object to learn about, I think the most important thing about it is what we still don’t know: who donated it and what story does it tell? A common instance is that most objects can’t be fully traced back because of outdated practices, but we lose their histories in the process. Who donated it? What significance did it have to them? How did they come to have this object? Although museums are a great place to learn about new cultures, traditions, etc. that you may not have thought existed before, these also hold deep personal roots about those in our communities and the lives they’ve lived that lead them to Los Gatos and NUMU. When most people think about the significance of a museum they reflect on being able to educate, a source of history, and a tourist destination of sorts. While all of those are great, they also provide a sense of belonging, visibility, comfort, and community to those who visit. Take the time to visit the museum, its website, or collections and take a second to better understand your own histories, the town’s histories, and the people who live in and around Los Gatos!

-written by Delaina Pedroza

Intern Spotlight: Teddy Hardgrove

About Me

Hello everyone! My name is Teddy Hardgrove. I am 24 years old and have a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in Museum Studies from University of San Francisco. I’m originally from the greater Los Angeles area but have since transplanted to the Bay. My undergraduate focus was in archaeology, and my graduate focus was in archives and collections management. I wrote my thesis on law and ethics as they apply to oral histories in archives. In my free time, I enjoy visiting museums, listening to music, playing piano, and collecting zines and vintage ephemera, such as postcards. I also volunteer at the GLBT Historical Society Archives on a weekly basis.

My Time at NUMU

Over the course of my internship so far, I’ve cataloged the last parts of the Frank and George Collection, particularly documents related to the caretakers of Frank and George’s estate and violinist Yehudi Menuhin. These included legal documents, newspaper clippings, and photographs. I also had the pleasure of cataloging Frank and George’s guestbook from the mid-50's to mid-60’s and a pair of gorgeous color pastels depicting the couple. 

More recently, I’ve cataloged a wide variety of objects such as an indigenous ceramic platter from the 1840s, stylish mid-century hats, and Victorian quilts. I have also assisted in setting up the ArtNow exhibit, arranging objects for a painting class along with many other day-to-day tasks around the museum.

Takeaways

Throughout my tenure at NUMU, I have built my skills in collections management and encountered many unique challenges, such as cross-referencing provenance information from many different sources, as well as interesting objects with compelling stories to tell, such as the Samurai Battle Helmet highlighted in another article. 

This internship has reinforced the fact that one of the greatest barriers to excellent collections care is lack of provenance information. Provenance is the story of the object- where it was made, who made it, who owned it and how they came to possess it. This information is important to enrich a visitor’s experience and enhance researchers' and museum staff’s understanding of the object. Information is also important for objects in case they were stolen or coerced from their original owners’ possession. With provenance, items can be restored to their rightful owners after many years. Laws such as NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA aim to restore indigenous objects to their communities of origin, and there are similar restitution laws for Nazi-looted art. Small museums and volunteer-run organizations must take great pains to thoroughly document provenance for these reasons.

-written by Teddy Hardgrove

Intern Spotlight: Hope Snipes

About Me

Hello! My name is Hope Snipes, I am 26 years old, and I have a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of Victoria, British Columbia. I’m from Davis, but I moved to the Bay Area with my partner for his job last year. I ended up in Canada because of how beautiful Victoria is, as well as the affordability of their schooling. My partner and I both love going to museums, nature parks, zoos, etc. in any place we visit. I had never even been to Los Gatos before applying to this job, but I’m super glad I was given the opportunity to work for NUMU. Los Gatos has such a vivid and interesting history, and I will definitely be back to visit.

My Degree and Work History

Previously to this job I worked with the Tseshaht first nation in BC, on an archaeological site where I focused on lithic material and stone tools. We excavated at the site and got to do lab work on the material afterwards, through the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, in conjunction with the Tseshaht tribe. It was truly an amazing experience to work with them, I am so glad our work went to good use there. I also worked with the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, and I truly loved doing the museum work. I definitely want to continue working in collections and conservation. After a couple pandemic-fueled years working retail jobs, I am so grateful I was able to work this internship with NUMU.

My Time at NUMU

Anyone who knows me in my personal life knows I love antiquing and collecting, so a job in the collections department seems like a no-brainer. I worked primarily on material from Cathedral Oaks, pertaining to Los Gatos royalty Frank Ingerson and George Dennison. It was so amazing to get to work on material from a prolific and artistic gay couple; they are truly my new heroes. I spent pretty much all my time organizing and sorting through the material NUMU has on them; from sketches and notebooks, to letters with the Menuhin family, to telegrams with Olivia de Havilland, to power and water bills for the Cathedral Oaks estate. I got to do hours of research on fine arts and local history, and I loved every minute of it. I felt truly in my element working at NUMU, and I’m so happy I got to spend the past few months doing something I loved.

-written by Hope Snipes

Intern Spotlight: Hana Lock

About Me

Hello, everyone! My name is Hana Lock; I’m 22 years old with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from San Jose State University. At SJSU, I studied traditional drawing, painting, and printmaking, and I also worked for the university’s gallery as a student assistant. Aside from making art, I like to visit museums and galleries, browse old used bookstores, wander around antique shops and thrift stores, and collect animal skulls and creepy dolls. I had a wonderful time gaining hands-on experience in museum operations at NUMU, and it has inspired me to continue pursuing this line of work.

My Art Practice

I have always been fascinated by the processes of life and death and find morbid beauty in its more grotesque aspects. My art approaches life, death, decay, and rebirth through both a scientific and spiritual lens; combining the natural sciences with various philosophic, religious and spiritual beliefs through whimsically macabre imagery. As a draftsman, I am also interested in the language of line. I strive for precision and detail, and I believe that in addressing the formal and conceptual qualities inherent in line, I can capture the delicate intricacies of the natural and imaginative world.

My favorite medium is ballpoint pen, but I also use watercolor, ink, acrylic, and oil. I take visual and conceptual inspiration from Western and Japanese art, religion, mythology, and folklore and often mix and match the two cultures to highlight their similarities and differences. I am especially interested in Art Nouveau, Japanese woodblock prints, 19th century medical illustrations, memento mori, and Japanese Buddhism. 

Now that I’ve graduated, I plan to continue to build my art career by continuing to do gallery and museum work, exhibiting my art, entering local and international competitions, and eventually getting an MFA. I am nervous but excited to see what kind of artist I will grow into and how far I can go.

My Time at NUMU

During my internship at NUMU, I primarily cataloged various artworks and objects in the museum’s collection. I worked with items from the Frank and George collection, historical and contemporary art, and my favorite: taxidermy. I loved being able to get a close look at the specimens and doing studies of them in my sketchbook. My personal favorite is the bobcat because, frankly, it’s ugly and awful to the point that it circles back to endearing.

Takeaways

One thing that stood out to me in my experience at NUMU was the importance of good record-keeping. I realized just how easy it was for an artwork to become a complete unknown, and as an artist, it was sad to see someone’s hard work go uncredited. Most of the mystery works were likely by local artists, so it was a shame to be unable to give them the recognition and legacy they deserve. However, the lack of information led me down some interesting rabbit holes and I did enjoy discovering bits of historical trivia through my research. Some notable ones were finding works that were loaned during the Federal Art Project during the Great Depression or an artist who was also the designer of the Argus A camera.  

Overall, this internship gave me valuable experiences in the inner workings of museum and gallery operations and made me realize just how much I enjoy doing behind-the-scenes work. I loved working with the people at NUMU and am sad it was over so soon. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to see where these experiences will take me.

-Written by Hana Lock

Intern Spotlight: Laura Sankary

About Me

Hello everyone! My name is Laura Sankary. I am 25 years old with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Conservation from the UD (University of Delaware). I’m from Minnesota but have family who live in Los Gatos. A few things about me, I like to play piano, visit museums, and travel to new places. During my undergrad, I had the opportunity to intern at the MIA (Minneapolis Art Institute) and UD. I conserved a variety of objects: frames, masks, hair, ceramics, and paintings. Interning at NUMU has introduced me to museum operations and museum collections. The experience has helped with deciding what I would like to study while looking at grad schools.

About My Degree

I have my Bachelor’s degree in Art Conservation from the University of Delaware. 

What is Art Conservation?

Art Conservation is the individual and collaborative effort of research, treatment, care, and preservation of material culture. It combines chemistry and art history to keep the integrity and stories of these objects for future generations. 

The courses that I took were taught by practicing art conservators. While in the program, I learned about conservation practices and techniques, care and preservation of cultural materials, and art materials and techniques. The program also provided opportunities to learn and demonstrate what I acquired over time.

My Time at NUMU

During my internship at NUMU, I cataloged and rehoused archival materials that are of, or related to, Frank and George in the museum’s collections database. Items I’ve cataloged are letters, journals, postcards, newspapers, photographs, documents, scrapbooks, and photo albums. My favorite item I cataloged was Olivia de Havilland’s journal about her trip with Frank and George to Hollywood and meeting studio executives. In the last few weeks of the internship, I have been cataloging and evaluating the condition of artworks done by Frank and George.

Takeaways

One thing that stood out to me was the similarities between art conservation and collections management. Both fields have to document, research, rehouse, and evaluate the condition of art objects. Their end goals are to preserve art objects and their stories. For me, preserving and conserving art objects and their stories is why I became so passionate about art conservation. When working in collections, I was doing similar work but in a different application. When creating a record, it is almost like creating an identity for the object. All the information that is held within the record preserves its story and history. And once the record is done, it can be shared to the public. That's what I found truly special about doing this work.  

Overall, the internship at NUMU has given me such valuable insights of the systems and operations of museums and museum collections. It has helped me to find what I am passionate about and my next steps in my schooling and career. Thank you to everyone at NUMU, for being so welcoming and kind. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and to be able to be part of an amazing and inspiring team.

-Written by Laura Sankary