Erin Dougherty, who will officially assume the role as executive director of the Historical Society of Princeton on February 20, is looking both forward and outward as she approaches the start date of her tenure.
The outward view takes in the Historical Society's eventual move to the preserved Updike Farmstead off Quaker Road, which is just one of many organizational changes on her plate, creating a lively start to her new position, and not a lot of time for a learning curve.
But she's not worried.
"I'm thrilled to be moving to Princeton to take this position and I feel really fortunate to have this opportunity," she said from her current office at Morristown, where she is the outgoing vice president for Programs at the Morris Museum. "I think I can bring a lot to the Historical Society with my knowledge of the cultural scene throughout the state."
Aside from that, she said she does have something to learn in her new post and the challenge of an organization in transition.
Last month, during the Historical Society's annual board meeting, it was announced that Ms. Dougherty, 39, would fill an 11-month vacancy, ending the a search that began following the untimely death of Gail Stern, HSP's executive director in March 2006 after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. Ms. Stern, who had expanded HSP's role in the community, as well as launching exhibitions focusing on Princeton diverse ethnic demographic, had evidently left a group behind so well-trained and competent, that the staff of four was able to effectively bridge the 11 months between Ms. Stern's passing and Ms. Dougherty's hiring.
"They really are just amazing people, and they continued to operate even when there was a vacuum in leadership of that magnitude. I'm really lucky — they're such top-notch professionals," the new director said.
In 2004, HSP purchased Updike for $1.25 million and will eventually use those refurbished buildings for administrative offices and receptions. That relocation is not imminent, Ms. Dougherty said, adding that the move could come in the next two to three years.
The $1.25 million price tag was paid for in part by a $400,000 grant from New Jersey Green Acres and $191,290 from Mercer County Open Space Preservation Board. The farm is located in a State and National Historic District and in the Princeton Township Battlefield District. The area is also identified as a parcel intended for preservation in the open space and recreation element of the Princeton Community Master Plan.
In the meantime, Ms. Dougherty said that she would like to enhance HSP's exhibition scope, including planning deeper into the future, and establishing statewide contacts in seeking outside assistance with particular exhibits. Additionally, the organization needs to continue building "in the path of fund-raising," she said, adding that her background in educational programming could assist in creating ties with area schools and colleges.
But putting the long view aside, Ms. Dougherty said she is "really looking forward to learning about all the other institutions in Princeton proper, and certainly meeting all sorts of people who can put our mission forth.
"I want the Historical Society to be one of the first things people think of when they think of Princeton."