Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara McLaughlin.
Kara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Prior to working in the non-profit/museum field, I spent close to twenty years in the private sector. I first worked in the human resources departments of some larger companies in the Boston area, then ran a regional human resources consulting firm for several years. While I enjoyed my time in the private sector, I wanted a job where I was making a more direct and positive impact on my community. I then changed careers and went into teaching. For the next four years, I taught elementary and middle school who were struggling with math.
I was teaching part-time when I received a call from the President of the Board of Trustees at The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association. We were acquainted and he was familiar with my professional background. He asked if I would consider an interim position while they searched for a permanent replacement for the previous Executive Director who had just retired. Having grown up in Salem and taught in Salem, I was familiar with The Gables’ unique dual mission and it was very appealing to me. I felt that the combination of my professional management and my teaching background made me qualified for the job, even if I was not well versed in museums, history or Hawthorne. After interviewing with a search committee comprised of a few board members, the President of the Board offered me and I accepted the interim position.
I spent the next six to eight months in that position. Apparently, the board was happy enough with my performance to offer me the permanent position. I was enjoying the job and the people that worked there, so I accepted. That was over five years ago now.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has definitely not been “smooth.” Some of the struggles are likely similar to those at many other non-profits and museums. Specifically, we do not have enough funding to do everything we need to or should be doing. Staffing levels are not as high as they should be, so just about everyone is working really hard, often performing multiple roles. This can be difficult to both do and to watch, because I know as an HR professional, having clearly defined roles is important to ensure things run smoothly.
The schedule can be quite exhausting. For most of the year, we are open seven days a week, with extended hours from June – October. We have a lot of programming and events where management presence is needed (or at least desired) and other community events where we should have a presence. There are also be evening board and committee meetings.
For me, personally, not having expertise in the museum field also meant I had a steep learning curve. The most important thing to do here was making sure to hire or keep on staff people with the expertise that I lack(ed).
While all of the above at times felt or still feel like “struggles”, I will also say they are challenges that make the job interesting. I like the fact that I never experience the same day twice and that I learn something new just about every day.
I will also say it has been rewarding to see the progress we have made over time. Sometimes, it can feel like we can’t get ahead, but when I look back to where were five years ago and see growth in every area and when I receive positive feedback about The Gables from our visitors and our community, it feels really good!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association – what should we know?
The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association (The Gables) is a non-profit that owns and operates a National Historic Landmark District located on the historic waterfront of Salem, Massachusetts. Our campus consists of several 17th and 18th-century homes, including the 1668 Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, which served as the inspiration and setting for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 gothic romance, The House of the Seven Gables.
This year marks the 350th anniversary of the construction of the mansion in a number of ways this year. We have been celebrating by sharing 350 years of stories. Of course, the most famous story associated with the house is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel. That story, in and of itself, makes the house and our site worthy of preservation. But that is only one of our stories. And while it resonates with many, we know the audience interested in the legacy of Nathaniel Hawthorne is limited. What makes The Gables truly special are the many layers of history, the many different stories that make it possible for just about everyone to make a connection.
Here, you can find the story of the American dream…the rags to riches tale of a Captain John Turner, son of indentured servants, who participated in the triangle trade of Colonial New England, and became one of the richest men in Essex County. He built this amazing mansion for his family’s home.
But that American dream was not an option for Rebecca, Titus and Lewis, the enslaved people that lived and worked in the home. It is important to know their stories live here as well.
Those looking for stories about strong women can find inspiration from Susannah Ingersoll, who, at age 22, inherited her family’s home, refused to let anyone take it away, bought more property and became a real-estate mogul at a time when married women were not allowed to own property. While she remained single, she still managed to be a great woman behind a famous man, for it was she that encouraged her younger cousin Nathaniel Hawthorne to “write about this old house.”
And then there is, Caroline Emmerton, one of our country’s earliest social entrepreneurs. Over 100 years ago, Miss Emmerton capitalized on the popularity of Hawthorne’s novel, turned the Mansion into a museum and used the proceeds from ticket sales to fund work to help immigrants settle in this country – work to help them make American home.
I could go on and on sharing stories about The House of the Seven Gables, but perhaps what makes us so incredibly unique and relevant is that stories are still being written. Miss Emmerton’s legacy of helping immigrants settle in this country lives on today as we provide adult ESL and Citizenship preparation classes to some of our region’s newest arrivals. We also hold a summer enrichment program called Caribbean Connections, which is designed to help younger English Language Learners forge a bond with their new home, as they discover the long-standing connection it has with the one they left behind, all while building their literacy skills in both English and Spanish. Lastly, to help strengthen the connections and understanding between long-time residents and more recent immigrants, we host a series of community conversations on the topic of immigration.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I work with an incredible team at The Gables. Our professional guide staff help to welcome over 100,000 visitors yearly from all 50 states and dozens of countries. They are the front line of hospitality and knowledge. We have an amazing crew that helps us to maintain our property ranging from gardeners to carpenters. Without them, preservation wouldn’t be possible. The board of trustees helps us to be creative with programming and funding to support our mission. My administrative staff keeps the wheels turning. Whether its writing grants, caring for our museum collections and archives, offering educational programming, or managing the lecture series, I couldn’t do it without them.
Pricing:
- $16.00 adults
- $15.00 seniors
- $13 young adults
- $11 children 5-12
- $0 children under 5
Contact Info:
- Address: 115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970 - Website: www.7gables.org
- Phone: 978-744-0991
- Email: info@7gables.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/h7gables
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7gables/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/h7gables
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