From the Curator: VAMP with the Assist

As Christmas is approaching it has me thinking about the NBA. Every Christmas Day I watch the NBA marquee games, especially if the Boston Celtics are playing. Assists are an important part of basketball. This is when one player passes the ball to a teammate in a position to score. One of the things the VA Museum Program (VAMP) does is assist VA facilities to set them up for success.  

The VAMP not only collects objects and creates content. We also provide technical assistance to staff across VA to preserve and utilize their historical materials. VA employees frequently reach out to ask how to manage the objects that their facility has collected for many years. They are usually given the task of managing these collections as an auxiliary duty. So, we provide information on best practices and strategies that they can use with their limited resources. Over the past three years we have interacted with more than 882 employees, and we spent approximately 942 hours providing assistance.

For larger projects, I may conduct a site visit to evaluate how we can help. In July, I visited the Tuskegee VA Medical Center campus to work with Historian Maureen Thompson on their mini-museum project. She is planning to renovate the museum room in the hospital, and we discussed possible approaches and strategies. This discussion included basic interpretive planning and how to ensure the preservation of displayed objects. One of the recommendations from the visit was a scaled-down collections management plan for Tuskegee. I also provided lists of vendors and equipment that may be appropriate for the space. We were also able to transfer several objects from the National VA History Center to Tuskegee for use in their museum displays. These objects were redundant and not part of the permanent collection. This project is aiming for a 2027 opening and we will continue to consult with the Tuskegee team.

America 250

The museum program is also focused on helping VA celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the United States. In November, the Deputy Secretary opened a modest exhibit in the VACO lobby that we developed to kick off America 250. Museum program staff managed the project and collaborated with Administration Historians and other VA staff to make the display a reality. The augmented reality tour and virtual museum projects are in development, and they are both intended to launch in 2026 as part of the America 250 commemoration.

Stay tuned for updates on these projects in 2026. It is shaping up to be a very exciting year for the VA Museum Program.