About the
Museum
Mission
Staff
Governance
Museum History
Staff
Director: Dr. Gaye Bland
gbland@rogersark.org
Gaye came to the Rogers Historical Museum in 1991 after
working several years as director of the Siloam Springs
Museum. She took over as director in 1994. While
her primary duties revolve around administration, she really
likes the fact that here she also gets to work on exhibits,
help with programs, and even give tours of the Hawkins
House. Born and raised in Maryland, Gaye met her
husband, a native of Rogers, while both were earning their
doctorates in history at the University of Kentucky.
She and her husband have two grown twin daughters, one who
teaches high school like her dad, and one
who went into
museum work like mom. Her personal interests include
travel, gardening, and cooking.
Assistant Director: John Burroughs
jburroughs@rogersark.org
John joined the Museum as Assistant Director in December
2007 and enjoys working with the Rogers community. His
duties focus on museum administration, exhibit development,
research supervision,
and membership and volunteer services.
John earned a MPA degree and a Museum Studies Graduate
Certificate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
and a BA in history from Eastern Illinois University. His
background includes experience with The University Museum at
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Saint
Louis Science Center.
Curator of Collections: Sarah Price
sprice@rogersark.org
Sarah came to the Museum as curator of collections in
November of 2005. She has an M.S. in Museum
Studies/Collections Management from the University of
Colorado-Boulder, and has worked at both the Boulder History
Museum and the Denver Art Museum. As curator she researches,
catalogs, and cares for museum objects, prepares and
researches exhibits, creates the "Cool Stuff!" donation of
the month entry for the museum website, and presents
"Curator's Corner" programs. Her interests include early
twentieth century art, women's history, and collecting art
deco and glass.
Curator of Education: Janet Hargus
jhargus@rogersark.org
As curator of education Janet is responsible for overseeing
the Museum's educational programs for children. Janet's high
school teachers all echoed the same sentiment, "Janet,
you've got to teach!" But when she attended the University
of Arkansas, there were more teachers than there were
teaching jobs, so she earned a degree in Landscape
Architecture, thinking that she'd someday teach that
subject. Instead Janet ended up at the Museum teaching
children about history. She joined the staff as education
assistant in 2000 and was promoted to curator in 2001. In
her free time Janet volunteers at Hobbs State
Park-Conservation Area, is director of the nursery at her
church, and enjoys spending time with
her daughter Molly.
Collections Assistant: Terrilyn Wendling
twendling@rogersark.org
Terrilyn wears two hats. Her primary job responsibility is
cataloging and storing our growing collection and helping
with exhibits from time to time. But she also handles
scheduling for school programs and helps with programs as
needed. Originally from Michigan, Terrilyn has been at the
Museum since 2006. She received a B.A. in Archaeology and
M.A. in American History and Museum Studies. Terrilyn was
drawn to Museum Studies because museums make history more
accessible to everyone using real historical objects and
stories. This history buff is particularly interested in the
Revolutionary Period and
the Victorian Era, so she feel
right at home in our 1895 Hawkins House. Terrilyn lives with
her husband
in Bentonville, and enjoys all types of crafts.
Education
Assistant: Jessica Whitehead
jwhitehead@rogersark.org
Jessica Whitehead grew up in Diamond, MO. She earned a BA in
History from Missouri Southern Sate University. She and her
husband, David Sappe, have two children, Steven and Meleah.
They reside in Decatur with their pet, Captain Philbert the
Wonder Dog. Jessica enjoys reading and sewing. She collects
vintage sewing books, patterns and notions.
E ducation Assistant, Adult Programs: Monte Harris
mharris@rogersark.org
Monte has been with the Rogers Historical Museum since 1998.
Her job at the Museum includes adult presentations, oral
history interviews, and presenting bus and walking tours of
local historic sites. Monte is a fifth-generation resident
of Benton County and a long-time student of history. A
strong advocate of historic preservation, she has partnered
with various county, state, and federal agencies to help
document local history. Monte also has served on the Pea
Ridge National Military Park Foundation Board for more than
10 years.
Museum Office Manager: Patricia Campbell
pcampbell@rogersark.org
Pat has worked for the museum since 1989, starting out as a
work study student doing anything that needed to be done.
Through the years she has been secretary, Friends of the
Museum membership secretary, education program presenter,
education department secretary, and now office manager.
Pat is a bit of a computer whiz, and loves to learn new
software and use new technologies. At home
she enjoys
cooking, genealogy research, and spending time with her
family, which includes her husband, 2 children and in-laws,
as well as 5 grandchildren.
Museum
Guide: Debbie Smith
dfsmith@rogersark.org
Debbie is our museum guide. She works each Saturday guiding
visitors through the Hawkins House.
But during the week she
works with Janet and Jessica helping to prepare for and
present educational programs and works in the research
library. Debbie is also an instructor in the medical field
with
37 years of experience and has a degree in business and
computer science.
Museum Custodian: Dick Townsend
Dick has been the custodian since late in 2006. He grew up
in the Prairie Creek area and graduated
from Rogers High
School. Dick joined the Army after high school and served in
the United States and
in South Korea, where he was a nurse
at a field hospital. After his military service Dick
returned to Rogers, where he worked for Wendt Sonis for
almost thirty years. After retiring he went into the
property management business, which he enjoys because of the
satisfaction he gets from buying
an old house and renovating
it.
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