About the Museum

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Last Updated: Dec 03, 2025, 02:06 PM

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History

The Sharp Museum has been a repository of artifacts since Dr. Cyrus Thomas was commissioned to begin collecting for a museum by the first board of Trustees of Southern Illinois Normal University some time before 1871. The Museum formally opened to the public in 1874 and was located in the first Old Main Building. Since then, it has occupied 11 different locations across campus. The Museum has been located in Faner Hall since 1974. The Museum's 140 Anniversary Year was 2014. 

Curators or Directors

  • 1874-1879 Cyrus Thomas
  • 1879-1917 George Hazen French
  • 1917-1921 Wanda Newsum (Gum)
  • 1921-1931 No Record
  • 1931-1937 Mary Goddard (Steck)
  • 1937-1943 Fred Roy Cagle
  • 1943-1950 John Willis Allen
  • 1950-1970 J. Charles Kelley
  • 1970-1972 Basil C. Hedrick
  • 1972-1975 Carroll L. Riley
  • 1975-1977 Basil C. Hedrick
  • 1977-1978 Darrell W. Harrison (interim)
  • 1978-2000 John Whitlock
  • 2000-2001 Lori Huffman (interim)
  • 2001-2016 Dona Bachman

Mission Statement

The Sharp Museum, an educational institution within a larger institution, is committed to serving the Southern Illinois University campus community, the people of Southern Illinois, and visitors to our region. As a steward of Southern Illinois history and with an international collection, the Museum is a portal to understanding the local and world heritage that has made us who we are. We collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and educate using a diverse and engaging range of artifacts and educational methods on behalf of those we serve. As a teaching museum, we offer hands-on opportunities in progressive museum practices and provide leadership to museums across the region. Using both our own collection and bringing in exhibitions and programs from outside, the Museum illuminates the connections between ourselves and the arts, humanities and sciences. 

(Approved by the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, September 12, 2013)

Staff

Susannah MunsonSusannah Munson
Curator of Anthropology II
Email: smunson@siu.edu

Susannah Munson joined the museum’s staff in September 2013. Before that, she had served as a graduate assistant and as Curator of Anthropology for the Museum’s Institute of Museums and Library Services grant. She holds a B.S. degree in Anthropology from the College of Charleston (1999) and an M.A. degree in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University (2012).

Susannah has been instrumental in the Museum’s digitization of collections projects for some 6 years and she has researched and formatted kiosks or virtual exhibits featuring Museum artifacts for the Museum’s website.

 

T Lance in a purple shirt

T Lance
Curator of Exhibits
Email: t.lance@siu.edu

T Lance joined the museum's staff in November of 2024. Prior to that, Lance was the senior gallery associate at New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art and the Program Manager for New Harmony Clay Project. Lance has over 9 years combined experience working in university galleries, museums, and art collections.They received their Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from the University of Southern Indiana (USI) in 2014. They went on to receive their Bachelor of Art in Visual Art Teaching with minors in both P-12 Education Licensure and Arts & Heritage Administration from USI in 2018. Mx. Lance is currently taking a break from pursuing a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofits.