Meet the Collections Team

Sarah Ayers

Ballwin, Missouri

Westminster College, Class of 2021 (Political Science and History, Pre-Law minor)

I enjoy working at the Museum because working hands-on with the history shows you different parts of the Museums and Westminster's past. The most interesting thing I’ve cataloged is a humidor for Churchill to keep his cigars in!

Loren Etris

Blue Springs, Missouri

Westminster College, Class of 2022 (Psychology, Criminal Justice and Education minors)

I have enjoyed working at ANCM since my Freshmen year because I am surrounded by the rich history of Churchill. This semester working in collections has been an interesting discovery of the objects we have in the museum, and I have enjoyed learning more about the objects.

Cyd Funk

Durango, Colorado

Westminster College, Class of 2022 (Philosophy and Political Science)

I enjoy working at the Museum because I am surrounded by kind people and get to work underneath a beautiful, old building with a rich history. My most interesting discovery working in collections was a vase dating back to BCE!

Lena Leuci

Bob and Lois DeFer Senior Intern for Archives and Collections

In the nearly two years I've interned at ANCM, I've enjoyed the range of projects I've been able to work on and lead – from social media content, to exhibit planning and installation, to collections inventorying and database digitization – to help share our history with visitors and ensure that the Museum's collections will be organized and preserved for the future. An object I came across during the ongoing database project that intrigued me was a black silk parasol with three rows of ruffles belonging to Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston's mother.

Rebecca Rothermitch

Mexico, Missouri

Westminster College, Class of 2022 (Sports and Entertainment Business Management)

I enjoy working at America's National Churchill Museum because I get a unique behind-the-scenes look at all the neat things that go on here. I love getting to play a part in putting together special events and tours. I have met some very cool (and very important) people, such as Edwina Sandys, Andrew Roberts, and even Tim McCarver! On a day-to-day basis, I get to have meaningful conversations with customers and see the lasting impacts of Sir Winston Churchill's visit to Westminster College. Going through our artifacts the last few months while we have been closed has also been fun. I have had the opportunity to read multiple letters written by Churchill himself. To me, working at the museum is more than just a job - it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Kelsie Slaughter

Fulton, Missouri

Alumna, Westminster College, Class of 2020 (History, Museum Studies minor)

I was the child that my parents had to keep a close watch on in museums. According to me, all objects in a collection needed to be touched and examined closely. Most museums frown on that type of behavior when you’re seven years old and have absolutely no training on how to handle priceless artifacts. At America’s National Churchill Museum some of our objects demand to be seen. You can’t miss our graffitied segment of the Berlin Wall or the bright white limestone of St. Mary The Virgin, Aldermanbury. Others have been quietly abiding their time in our archives for decades. I have the unique opportunity to conserve these pieces of history, reimagine these objects in an exhibit and tell their stories. I’m overjoyed to say that after five years of working for America’s National Churchill Museum, I can look back to that seven year old wishing she could hold the artifacts and tell her that she will have the opportunity to handle objects she could never have imagined.