Meet the Board:
Amy Marks Delaney
Amy manages Retail and Licensing at Winterthur.
Acknowledgements
I am committed to understanding how my life has been directly and indirectly shaped by the oppression of other humans and cultures. My ancestors participated in wars against Indigenous people and settled their land, both by agreement and by force. My homes, past and present, and my places of employment have been located on land that was occupied by Menominee, Outagamie, Winnebago, Pentucket, Lenape, Susquahannock, and other Indigenous peoples. The institutions of my education are also located on these lands, and my studies have been overwhelmingly shaped by the perspective of white, Western people, mostly male. While I have worked hard for my place in the world, I acknowledge that my course has been unfettered by struggles related to race, sexuality, language, or access to education. Though my understanding is imperfect and perpetually developing, I endeavor to learn with humility. I commit to listening to and supporting others who have not had my advantages so that together we may achieve cultural strength and richness that has not existed before.
I am committed to understanding how my life has been directly and indirectly shaped by the oppression of other humans and cultures. My ancestors participated in wars against Indigenous people and settled their land, both by agreement and by force. My homes, past and present, and my places of employment have been located on land that was occupied by Menominee, Outagamie, Winnebago, Pentucket, Lenape, Susquahannock, and other Indigenous peoples. The institutions of my education are also located on these lands, and my studies have been overwhelmingly shaped by the perspective of white, Western people, mostly male. While I have worked hard for my place in the world, I acknowledge that my course has been unfettered by struggles related to race, sexuality, language, or access to education. Though my understanding is imperfect and perpetually developing, I endeavor to learn with humility. I commit to listening to and supporting others who have not had my advantages so that together we may achieve cultural strength and richness that has not existed before.
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What is your favorite object, room, or place (on the grounds) at Winterthur, and why?
I have so many wonderful memories of the Reflecting Pool. I remember gathering there with my classmates and our families after thesis presentations—our last time together—proud, relieved, and a little anxious about the future. A few years later, when my husband and I eloped, we had our surprise ceremony there early one morning, with two of my classmates serving as impromptu bridesmaids. And during the 15+ years I worked at Winterthur, I spent countless lunch hours on the Reflecting Pool steps with friends and colleagues, watching dragonflies zoom and fat frogs plop into the water. (And I may or may not have fallen asleep there on a few especially warm days…) What words of advice do you have for current Fellows? Don’t worry if you are still unsure of your path. Some people know what they want to do early on and that’s great. But it’s also ok not to know yet. Just try things that you think you’ll like and keep moving forward. The skills and experiences you gain won’t be wasted, even if you ultimately choose to go in another direction. In fact, they often come in handy later in ways you didn’t expect. Your contribution will be meaningful even if you’re outside the mainstream. What book do you consider essential reading? I recently read Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant, who is a professor of organizational psychology at Wharton. I was fascinated by his perspective on the critical role of non-conformist thinking, specifically in business and more broadly in cultural movements. I am fortunate to have been surrounded by originals all my life: family, friends, and colleagues. It was both illuminating and encouraging to learn about the value of turning ideas upside down and inside out to get somewhere new. |
Amy and her class immediately following their thesis presentations in May 2000. Taken by the Reflecting Pool, of course!
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