Museum of the West will open doors in early 2003

Displaying an irreplaceable Salvation Army historic collection will be just one purpose of the Western Territory’s new Salvation Army Museum of the West, scheduled to open in early 2003 in its new site on the Crestmont College campus.

Museum Curator Kimberly Mack, who joined Crestmont’s staff last January, also currently receives several dozen requests each month for scholarly research.

“Our archival collection is a rich resource to Salvation Army ministers, theologians, historians and congregations throughout the United States and the world,” Mack said. “It not only chronicles Salvation Army heritage, doctrine and ministries, but also vividly traces the growth of the West. We’re upgrading the technology for a digital archives, so that students and researchers can access the collection of 19^th and 20^th century books, photographs, films, vintage ‘lantern’ slides, uniforms and costumes, documents and scrapbooks and other artifacts.”

The new curator, who formerly held positions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, looks forward to involving the community in The Salvation Army’s western heritage through on-site educational programs and online access, and also with private and school group tours, inter-museum dialogue, listing with the American Association of Museums, and the activities of the museum committee, chaired by Colonel George Church.

“The committee is a wonderful advisory group interested in representing the history of this territory,” Mack said. “They are supporting the development of exhibits, the creating of giving opportunities, and the formation of an historical society.”

For information about the museum, call (310) 265-6241, or email: kimberly_mack@usw.salvationarmy.org

or visit: www.crestmontcollege.edu.