Museum Staff

Dr. David Pilgrim, Founder and Director

In his role as Director, Dr. Pilgrim is responsible for the following:

• Collecting the objects to be housed in the Museum.
• Devising ways to exhibit and interpret the Museums objects.
• Creating traveling exhibits;
• Working with museum staff to maintain and protect the Museum's objects;
• Working with museum staff to keep track of inventory;
• And, educating the public about the objects and publicizing their existence.

Contact Dr. Pilgrim:
[email protected]
(231) 591-3946

Lisa Kemmis, Museum Assistant

Lisa Kemmis has served as the Museum assistant since 2010. Ms. Kemmis primary responsibilities are:

• Initial contact person for all Museum business.
• Scheduling of all group tours.
• Scheduling for the Museum's traveling exhibits.
• Processing monetary and artifact donations.
• Docent.
• Office administration duties.

Contact Lisa Kemmis: [email protected]
(231) 591-5873

Cyndi Tiedt, Collections Manager

Cyndi Tiedt joined the Jim Crow Museum staff in July 2017.  Mrs. Tiedt is responsible for:

• Implementing museum educational experiences.
• Managing proper documentation of the museum collections.
• Maintaining the collections management database.
• Ensuring proper care and preservation of the museum collections by managing the collections storage rooms and implementing preventive conservation methods.

Contact Cyndi Tiedt:
 [email protected]
(231) 591-3103

Education Coordinator (Currently Vacant)

The Education Coordinator is responsible for the following:

• All educational programming for the Museum.
• Developing curriculum, museum learning experiences, and lesson plans for the Museum
• Developing and leading professional development sessions for traditional and non-traditional educators.
• Collaborating with educational and community leaders, and partner organizations, on the implementation of educational experiences pertaining to the Museum.

Contact the museum about educational programming and materials [email protected]

Franklin Hughes, Videographer/Multimedia

Franklin Hughes joined the Jim Crow Museum staff in the fall of 2011. Mr. Hughes is responsible for:

• The audio and video content of the New Jim Crow Museum.
• Maintain Jim Crow Museum web site.
• Creating video and graphic content for use in the museum and for promotions.

Contact Franklin Hughes: [email protected]
(231) 591-3970

Seva TerBurgh,
Student Employee

Seva TerBurgh joined the JCM staff in the Spring of 2021. Seva is a student enrolled at Ferris in the Digital Animation and Game Design program. They are responsible for:

• Coordinating and training other students brought on board.
• Accessioning donations into the collection & recording donation information.
• Packing & safely storing objects according to preservation standards.