Kathryn Ness (GRS’15) Joins Plimoth Plantation as Curator of Collections
Congratulations to Kate!
Plimoth Plantation Press Release
Kathryn Ness, Ph.D., Joins Plimoth Plantation as Curator of Collections
Appointment comes as acclaimed living history museum places renewed emphasis on extensive archaeological collection
Plimoth Plantation, America’s acclaimed living history museum of 17th-century Colonial and Native New England, has appointed Kathryn Ness, Ph. D., as Curator of Collections. Dr. Ness joins the museum from Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. She will oversee the acquisition, preservation, and use of Plimoth Plantation’s collections, as well as curate exhibits and introduce innovative public programming.
Dr. Ness will be undertaking new initiatives that reflect Plimoth’s ongoing commitment to research and scholarship and are designed to give the public a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to uncover the past and inform the present. “I am eager to explore Plimoth Plantation’s extensive archaeological collections and work with the talented staff as well as university collaborators to find new ways of incorporating Colonial and Native New England artifacts into new exhibits and research projects,” said Dr. Ness. “The public can look forward to some exciting announcements as early as this spring that will begin to put the Museum’s archaeological roots back in the spotlight.”
Prior to her work at Harvard’s Peabody Museum, Dr. Ness worked with Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research. She has excavated and surveyed sites in Virginia and studied collections and archaeological sites in Massachusetts, Florida, and Spain.
Dr. Ness received her doctorate in Archaeology from Boston University Department of Archaeology and her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Art History from the College of William and Mary. Her research interests include complex cultural exchanges, globalization, dining practices, and cultural identity. Her recent publications include an article in the International Journal of Historical Archaeology and a book on cultural identity in the Spanish Atlantic, which is scheduled to be released winter 2016.
“Dr. Ness brings an exceptional combination of research experience, archaeological expertise, and genuine enthusiasm for sharing the museum’s educational mission with learners of all ages,” said Ellie Donovan, Plimoth Plantation’s Executive Director. “It was Harry Hornblower’s passion for archaeology that led to the founding of the Museum in 1947. We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Ness on the eve of Plimoth Plantation’s 70th anniversary with the goal of bringing our remarkable collections to light for the benefit of the public.”
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About Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is the living museum of the United States’ foundation in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Boston, and 15 minutes north of Cape Cod, the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week, from mid-March through the end of November. A private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution, the Museum is supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, and revenue from a variety of dining programs/special events and gift shops. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. For more information, visit www.plimoth.org.