From the Director

I recall meeting Stacy Draper many years ago when I was a graduate student. I was in awe of her stature as a well-respected curator doing work that I thought was quite glamourous. I could not have forseen a time when I would witness Stacy's retirement yet, here we are! During Stacy's 43 year tenure at the museum, she helped guide exponential growth in the collections as the museum facility itself expanded to include both 57 and 59 Second Street. The sheer volume of work just in collections management is mind boggling. Never mind the countless hours she spent on research, exhibition development, education programs, and the annual Holiday Greens Show and so much more. 

HCM board member and local artist, Patrick Pigott created a beautiful plaque to honor Stacy's years of service. It states that she left an indelible mark on the museum. This is true without question. Stacy did this important, glamour free work with grace and a sense of humor that recently was fondly recounted by numerous friends and colleagues as we celebrated her retirement. She leaves a legacy that will benefit our community for generations to come. 

Stacy also had the wisdom to cultivate the next generation to succeed her. Samantha Mahoski has worked by Stacy's side for several years and we are very fortunate that she agreed to begin her own journey as the next curator of the Hart Cluett. Rensselaer County is exceptionally fortunate to have these two talented women working to preserve and promote its history. While Stacy will be taking some well deserved time for travel and rest, we surely have not seen the last of her. 

Board member and Collections Committee Chair, Doug Boucher helped to recruit Stacy and he has worked by her side throughout her tenure. In honor of the many contributions that Doug and Stacy have made to the museum, we have created the Draper Bucher Curatorial fund. This fund will support museum collections stewardship. If you would like to make a donation to the fund in Stacy's honor, please click on the button below.

Starlyn D'Angelo,

Executive Director
Hart-Cluett Museum
Historic Rensselaer County
Pronouns: she/her