Relic Wranglers at TAM 2025 Austin

The Collections Managers Committee (CMC) is proud to launch the pilot project of its Relic Wranglers initiative, a program dedicated to providing hands-on collections support to museums in the host city of the Texas Association of Museums Annual Conference. This year's event will be held on Sunday, April 6, at Flower Hill Center, beginning at 9:00am – 3:00pm. 

Flower Hill, located in the heart of Austin, Texas, is a historic house museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Smoot family, who resided on the property for three generations. The home and its contents provide a rich narrative of Austin's past, showcasing everything from Victorian architecture to personal artifacts that reflect daily life across several decades. 

For this project, participants will focus primarily on the inventorying of a toy closet, which contains a variety of historic toys and playthings integral to the story of Flower Hill. The inventory work will involve organizing, photographing and evaluating the condition of the contents to enhance the museum’s collections records and ensure the preservation of these artifacts for future interpretation. 

This pilot project is an exciting opportunity to support Flower Hill Center while fostering collaboration among museum professionals passionate about collections care. If you are interested in participating, please complete the volunteer form and email it to anielsen@brownsvillehistory.org  by March 14, 2025. We are seeking individuals with a background in collections management and experience in tasks such as inventorying, cataloging, and artifact handling. We look forward to the positive impact this effort will have on the museum and the community it serves.