Bill Brewster Named Curator of First Division Museum |
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February 21, 2011
Bill Brewster Named Curator of First Division Museum
Bill Brewster Named Curator of First Division Museum
WHEATON, IL, February 18, 2011 — The First Division Museum at Cantigny, part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, announces the appointment of William F. Brewster as curator. He joined the museum staff earlier this month after serving 16 years as Curator of Collections for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison.“We welcome Bill to Cantigny and are very pleased that he accepted this key position,” said Paul Herbert, First Division Museum executive director. “He’s a true museum professional coming from one of the best mid-size military museums in the United States.”
Brewster was directly involved in establishing the expanded Wisconsin Veterans Museum and oversaw the doubling of its object collection. He has worked in all aspects of museum operations during his career, including curatorial, collection management, exhibits, programming, visitor services, research and oral history. He is the author of many articles on military history, military artifacts and museum management and is a frequent speaker at academic and professional forums.“I’m very excited to join the First Division Museum’s collections team,” said Brewster. “The staff is knowledgeable and thoroughly dedicated to the mission of preserving and presenting the history of the 1st Infantry Division. My goal is to further develop the collections, document what it means to be a soldier of the ‘Big Red One,’ and continue our tradition of interpretive excellence.”
Brewster holds a bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University as well as degrees in Social Services and Horology. He succeeds Terri Navratil, who retired from the First Division Museum last September after 10 years as curator.
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About the First Division Museum
The First Division Museum at Cantigny, part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, promotes public learning about America’s military heritage and affairs through the history of the Big Red One—the famed 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. It stands in tribute to all who have served our country in the armed forces. The museum’s main exhibit hall transports visitors to the trenches of World War I, the beaches of World War II and the jungles of Vietnam. Outside, tanks are displayed from every era, along with personnel carriers and artillery. The Robert R. McCormick Research Center, open to the public, houses the museum’s library, archival and photo collections. Visit the First Division Museum at Cantigny online at FirstDivisionMuseum.org.
