MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT! Congratulations to Leah Davis Witherow – Woman of Influence 2018 Award Recipient At the 2018 Women of Influence Event held on Nov. 15, Leah was one of 13 women honored in Colorado Springs for her numerable professional accomplishments and a person who consistently gives back to the community. CSPM Congratulates Leah on this very deserving award: “As the Curator of History and Archivist for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Leah Davis Witherow has had a lasting and impressive impact on preserving and sharing the history of our community. Over the past 16 years that I have been volunteering at the Museum, I have watched her create fascinating and accessible exhibits, both static and interactive, and develop programs that are both appealing and instructive. Her knowledge, her guidance of the presentation of the museum’s artifacts, her ability to lead tours back through local history, and her informational and at times humorous presentations are what made her an exceptional recipient for a Woman of Influence Award.” - CSPM Volunteer, Joyce Morgan “Leah’s list of professional accomplishments is long and worthy of this award, but it’s her personal commitment to preserving, protecting and sharing our community’s history that makes her an outstanding Woman of Influence recipient. There’s no topic too broad or too obscure that Leah won’t research and present to groups. When she speaks she always looks for the personal stories of the people who made a difference and encourages her audience to be the next history maker. When Leah speaks people listen, learn and have a better understanding of who we are as a community.” - Jan Martin, CSPM Board of Director, Martin Business Group “I have known Leah for nearly 25 years, and it has been my privilege to supervise her since 2002. In Leah’s capacity, she is responsible for the overall content and accuracy of the museum’s exhibits and programs. She also supervises some of the CSPM staff, and works closely with the museum’s acquisitions committee to ensure that newly acquired artifacts serve the museum’s mission and reflect the broad history of the community. She is in great demand as a speaker for local clubs and organizations, constantly seeking out new stories that illustrate the unique and fascinating history of the Pikes Peak region. She is deeply committed to the idea that the only way to really understand the place in which we live is to know and appreciate its history which is also a key objective for the museum’s mission “to build a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history.” “In an age of increasing cynicism and tribalism, multiple studies indicate that museums are widely seen as among the most responsible and truthful institutions in our country. This reputation is not an accident. It required a deep commitment to the highest ethical standards of our field and to maintaining our public trust obligations. These are values that I know Leah embodies and models in her work. In these and many other ways, Leah certainly deserves the Woman of Influence Award, and we congratulate her.” - Matt Mayberry, MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 8
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