Stephanie Townrow

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About Me

Public historian and scholar interested in inclusive history education, museum leadership, and early American history. Experienced museum educator and program manager. Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholar and Ph.D. candidate in the History of American Civilization Ph.D. Program at the University of Delaware. Currently writing about the history of early American street food. Coffee addict who knows way too many obscure facts about President James Buchanan.

View my 200-word bio (PDF)
View my resume (PDF)

Professional Experience

Director of Education and Public Programs
LancasterHistory

January 2019—August 2020

    • Manage, evaluate, and create educational programs across the organization including classes, internships, workshops, and presentations
    • Develop digital humanities resources to supplement educational offerings, including pre- and post-visit digital materials to enhance school programs
    • Coordinate public programs, including the monthly Regional History Colloquium, the quarterly Material Culture Forum, community events, and off-campus lectures
    • Act as community liaison, fostering community engagement through outreach
    • Offer interpretive history tours of President James Buchanan’s Wheatland for all audiences, and publish “History from the House” blog
    • Work as part of the Marketing Team to serve as community manager for LancasterHistory.org’s Twitter and Instagram accounts and contribute to additional social media and marketing efforts
    • Serve on Planning Committee for Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Historic Site

Museum Educator
LancasterHistory

August 2016—January 2019

  • Coordinate, evaluate, and create new educational programs across the organization including classes, workshops, and presentations
  • Develop digital humanities resources to supplement educational offerings, including pre- and post-visit digital materials to enhance school programs
  • Coordinate public programs, including the monthly Regional History Colloquium, community events, and off-campus lectures
  • Engage colleagues and other resources to present interpretive strategies and methods to increase best interpretive practice among educators and volunteer guides
  • Schedule and coordinate group and student tours for LancasterHistory.org
  • Assist with updates and changes to period room exhibitions in the Wheatland mansion as dictated by research results, changing seasons and program needs
  • Offer interpretive history tours of President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, and contribute to regular History from the House blog
  • Work as part of the Marketing Team to serve as community manager for LancasterHistory.org’s Twitter and Instagram accounts and contribute to additional social media and marketing efforts

Digital Humanities Producer and Program Coordinator
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

 June 2015—June 2016

  • Construct high-quality digital presentations using cutting-edge, open-source digital humanities platforms
  • Collaborate with a team to consider creative and effective ways to translate primary source materials into interactive digital exhibits
  • Design and produce pre- and post-visit digital educational materials to accompany hit Broadway musical “Hamilton”
  • Liaison for strategic partnerships with valuable organizational partners including KnightLab and Google Cultural Institute
  • Offer input on social media strategies to market and promote Gilder Lehrman programs; Regular contributor to staff blog and social media presence
  • Program Coordinator for a nationally reaching grant program on World War I, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and produced through a partnership with the Library of America

Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

July 2013—June 2015

  • Launched and manage the Public Library Affiliate Program
  • Manage Traveling Exhibitions Program and coordinate program logistics
  • Provide administrative support to large-scale grant programs
  • Research and secure rights and reproductions permissions
  • Act as direct supervisor of interns

History Educator
Brooklyn Historical Society/Brooklyn Navy Yard

January 2013—June 2013

  • Lead in-depth, hands-on school tours to K-12 student groups
  • Lead oral history workshops
  • Lead group activities
  • Promote tours through social media

Education

University of Delaware
Ph.D. Candidate & Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholar
History of American Civilization, Current

New York University
M.A., Archives and Public History, 2015

Hunter College (CUNY)
B.A., History and Religious Studies, 2012
Magna Cum Laude

Yale Public History Institute
Gilder Lehrman Fellow, 2013

Portfolio

President James Buchanan: Path to the Presidency

President James Buchanan: Path to the Presidency

digital exhibit featured in Google Presidents launch

The Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion

interactive map, audio tour, and exploration of the Whiskey Rebellion

Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom

Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom

featured on Google Doodle, 2/1/16

Hamilton: An American Musical Online Portal

Hamilton: An American Musical Online Portal

student resources created in partnership with Hamilton musical

History from the House

History from the House

blog exploring the hidden histories of President Buchanan's Wheatland

Mob Violence in the Whiskey Rebellion

The Tradition of Mob Violence in the Whiskey Insurrection

thesis on political crowd action in 1790s Pennsylvania

Lewis and Clark StoryMap

Lewis and Clark Expedition

interactive map of Lewis and Clark's 1804 expedition

"No one much cared"

"No one much cared"

thesis on specie counterfeiting and community support in 1780s Hampshire County

Paul Revere's Engraving of the Boston Massacre

Paul Revere's Engraving of the Boston Massacre

in-depth exploration of Revere's celebrated engraving

Harriet Lane

digital exhibit featured on Google Arts & Culture

"Fair First Lady"

talk about First Lady Harriet Lane

Gradual Abolition in Pennsylvania

Google Arts & Culture exhibit

Buchanan Basics

behind-the-scenes videos at LancasterHistory

Wheatland Grounds

tour of grounds & outbuildings at President Buchanan's home

Buchanan's Drinking Habits

exploring Buchanan's alcohol consumption

Press

LNP: "History Happy Hour program"

Reading Eagle: "Wheatland offers insights into James Buchanan"

LNP: "History Happy Hour: Buchanan Campaign Songs"

LNP: "4 centuries of local history in 4 decades"

LNP: "Cocktail to toast Harriet Lane's love of roses"

Penn Live: "Worst President Ever?"

Letter: "Removing Monuments is not Erasing History"

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