Woman at the Chrysler: Docent Liven Art Scene

During the exhibition Women of the Chrysler: A 400-Year Celebration of the Arts, we’re celebrating the contributions of women to the history of the Chrysler Museum. Women from all backgrounds have played an integral role in the creation, development, and operation of the Museum from its very beginning. Each week during the exhibition, we’re a story about a woman or group of women accompanied by an online album of images from the Library's collections. We also invite you to join us in the Library to learn more about these dedicated women.

When I find myself in Huber Court or the Galleries on a weekday morning, I am always impressed by the hum of activity, and the many happy groups touring in a surprisingly orderly fashion. I especially enjoy overhearing bits and pieces of conversations between tour groups and the Docents who make this all possible. Next week these dedicated women and men will celebrate the conclusion of another successful year of leading thousands of children and adults in an enlightening conversation with the Chrysler Museum Collections and exhibitions.

As with many programs at the Museum, the Docent program grew from the hard work of a group of inspired Norfolk women. In 1958, the Junior League of Norfolk established a volunteer docent program to lead school tours at the Museum. Modeling their program after the National Gallery of Art, they began giving their first tours in the spring of 1959 with only six volunteers. These founding volunteers recognized the importance of the arts and the Museum to the quality of education offered in the region’s schools. As the demand for school tours grew, so did the number of volunteers. Consequently, the Junior League pledged $20,000 in 1966 towards the salary of the Museum’s first education director, Mr. Richard Carroll. His primary responsibility was to train the Museum’s Docents. During this time, women from the service clubs of Virginia Beach and Portsmouth also assisted with Museum education programs, including taking works of Art into schools. Even after Walter P. Chrysler Jr. brought his art collection to Norfolk in 1970s, the role of the Docents in the Museum’s mission remained essential, and continues to be a key part of the Museum today.

In honor of the millions of tours that have been given by Museum Docents during the last 50 years, we’ve created a slideshow of images from the Library archives of Docents doing what they do best – bringing people and art together.