Commission

The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission

The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission was created with a primary function to oversee the operations of the state museum. The Commission is also entrusted by statute with establishing the strategic direction of the museum, with an emphasis on the educational and cultural enrichment of the citizens of this state. As such, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that the citizens of this state have access and exposure to the museum collections and special changing exhibits, and that current collections are preserved appropriately and exposed to the public. Further, it is the mission of the Commission to work to ensure that future acquisitions are made in a deliberate manner in support of the mission and goals of the museum, for the purpose of the educational and cultural enrichment of citizens of the state.



State Museum Commission Chairman Victor Ashe (center) and Museum Executive Director Lois Riggins-Ezzell (right)celebrate new Costume & Textile Institute inductee fiber artist Judi Gaston at a special ceremony in Knoxville recently. Gaston, an award-winning artist who has enjoyed a distinguished career in weaving, wore a scarf made of recycled materials for the event. Two of her textile creations (on mannequins) are shown in the photograph.



(L to R) Lois Riggins-Ezzell, Museum Executive Director, Dianne Neal, TN State Museum Foundation Board member, Ambassador Victor Ashe, Chairman of the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission and Museum Curator Myers Brown officially open the museum’s newest exhibition, “Becoming the Volunteer State: Tennessee in the War of 1812,” at a preview and walking tour for the media on February 16.

The State Museum, at the request of the TN Speaker of the House's office, recently completed the development, design, and production of a monumental-sized photographic mural for the mezzanine level of Legislative Plaza. The permanent installation features 156 images representing all areas of the Volunteer State from east, middle and west Tennessee. The photos, taken by Chief State Photographer Jed DeKalb and others working in the state's Photographic Services division, were selected by a committee comprised of designees from the House of Representatives staff and members' offices. Shown in front of the new mural are (l to r): Rep. Steve McDaniel, the museum's Director of External Affairs Leigh Hendry, House Speaker Beth Harwell, Museum Executive Director Lois Riggins-Ezzell, the museum's Communications Designer Steven E. Hamby and Rep. Craig Fitzhugh.

Back row (L to R): Representative Craig Fitzhugh, Dr. Jan Simek, Nancy De Friece, Johnny B. Moore, Jr. , TSM Executive Director Lois Riggins-Ezzell, Senator Douglas Henry, Anna Durham Windrow, Representative Steve K. McDaniel
Front row (L to R): Mary Ann Clark, Deborah S. DiPietro, Vice Chairman Charles Cook, Chairman Victor Ashe, Evadine O. McMahan, TN Speaker of the House Beth Harwell