A Summer of Learning: Welcoming New Conservation and Education Assistants
The Kelsey Museum is pleased to welcome two interns on board this summer. In the Education Department, museum studies student Thomas Gaines is writing and assembling a new Teacher Resource Guide focused on the discipline of archaeology to supplement social studies curricula in K–12 classrooms. Upstairs in the Conservation Lab, undergraduate Hannah Magnus will assist with various projects, from cleaning artifacts to carbon-dating textiles.


Thomas Gaines studies history and museum studies at U-M. A self-described enthusiastic student of history, Thomas is especially interested in change and revolution throughout different cultures and contexts. His love of museums—and what goes into a successful museum—led him to pursue the Museum Studies Program, ultimately bringing him to the Kelsey.
Here, Thomas is working with Director of Education Will Pestle to create a brand-new archaeology-focused Teacher Resource Guide. This document, intended to be used alongside the Kelsey and its collections, will allow educators to better instruct their students about the field of archaeology and what it can teach us about the past.
“As a historically minded person (and a lifelong Indiana Jones fan), I have always held a deep interest in archaeology and the amazing archaeological discoveries that influence our understanding of natural and human history,” said Thomas. Indeed, his role at the Kelsey has overlapped with not only his academic interests—history, archaeology, archival research, and collaboration and creation within a museum setting—but also his personal passions, including geography, geology, and the technology of archaeological research.
So far, Thomas has enjoyed the collaborative nature of the Teacher Resource Guide’s development and the way it has provided an insider’s look at the process of generating public history and teaching people about archaeology. “I was also surprised and pleased to be able to lend a hand in rehanging a number of objects in the gallery space at the museum,” he noted, “because which Indiana Jones kid wouldn’t love getting to help move around the ancient artifacts?”
Outside of his history and museums, Thomas—who is from Traverse City in northern Michigan—has an innate love for the outdoors. He spends his free time on his bike, walking in the Arboretum, exploring the local frisbee golf scene, and attempting to find the best fishing spots in southeast Michigan.
For the past several months, Hannah Magnus was a research assistant in the Archaeobiology Lab, working with Dr. Laura Motta and other students to wash and sort bones from the University of Michigan–excavated site of Tel Anafa. This summer, Hannah is changing tack as she heads to a different Kelsey laboratory starting in mid-June.
Hannah, who studies anthropology and archaeology and is interested in “all things history,” just finished her sophomore year. She recently transferred from Michigan State University to the University of Michigan—a trek she used to make often when she worked in the Archaeobiology Lab. At Michigan State, Hannah participated in archival research that explored the university’s first observatory and worked at the Kooskia Lab, where she sorted and labeled artifacts. Hannah has also previously attended the Gabii field school in Italy, an experience that allowed her to gain hands-on experience in excavation techniques.
Over the coming months, Hannah will assist Kelsey conservators Suzanne Davis and Carrie Roberts with cleaning an assemblage of marble Roman inscriptions. She will also support curator Nicola Barham’s ongoing project to carbon-date a collection of textile fragments historically labeled as Coptic. “I wanted to explore conservation to learn how to handle and care for artifacts properly,” Hannah said. “I also hope to gain an advanced understanding about how artifacts are created and how the methods of their creation impact how museums care for the artifacts.”
Of her upcoming projects, Hannah is particularly excited about working with textiles. “I’ve always had an interest in historical fashion and fiber arts,” she said. “I know how to cross-stitch, crochet, and sew, and by working on the conservation of textiles, I hope to find a way to combine my hobbies with my passion for archaeology.”
Welcome, Thomas and Hannah—the Kelsey Museum is excited to have you here!
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