On June 2, our Collections Manager Caprice Erickson presented a talk at the Mass History Conference on "Empathy in Museum Collections: A Glimpse into the Collection at the Armenian Museum of America” at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
This year’s conference theme, “Connecting and Caring Through History,” encourages us to reconnect with our communities and the “why” behind what we do. With a myriad of digital and traditional tools at our disposal, there are more ways than ever to make history public. How can we offer interpretations that tell diverse stories and bridge the gap between past and present?
“With a vibrant culture and an ancient history, Armenians add an ornamental thread to our diverse social tapestry in America. Connecting with their history helps us understand why many Armenians came to America and can also encourage us to reflect on how our own ancestors came to be here,” said Erickson during her illustrated talk.
Caprice Erickson obtained her BA at the University of St. Thomas in Houston in History with a concentration in Irish Studies and Russian Studies. In 2018, she received her MLitt in Museum and Gallery Studies from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she conducted research on the intangible cultural heritage of the Scottish Gaelic language. Before joining the Museum in 2024, she worked at Houston’s Holocaust Museum.