GAM 2025 Conference
Milledgeville, Georgia
Conference sessions and workshops will take place at: Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University 221 North Clarke Street Early Bird (Ends January 10): |
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Keynote Speaker: Matthew S. Davis Matt Davis is a North Carolina native and earned both a BS in history and a MA in history with a concentration in public history from Georgia College & State University. He is Director of the Institutional History Museum at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he manages University Chapel (a National Historic Landmark) and the Washington Hall Gallery, as well as overseeing development of a new W&L Institutional History Museum. From 2013 to 2024, Davis served as Director of Historic Museums at Georgia College & State University, which includes Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, Andalusia: The Home of Flannery O’Connor, and the Sallie Ellis Davis House. Davis is active in several museum professional organizations and presents frequently at conferences nationwide. He founded the Milledgeville Museum Association and served as president of the Georgia Association of Museums (2018–2021) and the Southeastern Museums Conference (2022–2024). He is a member of the Historic House Museum Committee for the American Association for State and Local History and serves as an accreditation and MAP reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. In 2012, Davis was named GAM’s Museum Professional of the Year. In addition to museums, Davis is an adjunct professor of history at Georgia Military College and has served in various local organizations, including as board chair of the Milledgeville Convention & Visitors Bureau and as a member of Georgia College’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. He resides in both Georgia and Virginia with his wife, Lisa, and his children Addison, Aiden, and Abigail. |
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About Our Theme
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“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.” Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena. We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities. |
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 CONFERENCE SPONSORS
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