Hilary Marx and Lauren Bloom

00:06 Hi, I'm Lauren Bloom. I'm 48 years old today January 26th, 2020. I am here in Orlando Florida with my friend and fellow Winter Park Winter Park where Orlando History Center fellow board member Hilary Marx. I am Hilary Marx. I am 36 today is January 26th 2020. We are here in Orlando Florida. My interview partner is my friend Lauren Bloom. She's also on the board of the Historical Society with me.

00:39 Thank you for correcting the name I spend so much time in Winter Park that Winter Park just came out of my mouth, but I'm happy to be here and I guess that brings up a point Hillary that you are the one who originally got me involved with Museum. So, I don't know if I've ever heard about how you first became involved with the museum. It's a good question. So it was it was pretty out of the blue. I can't say I had ever considered it before one day. I had a voicemail from the recruitment director asking me saying that I've been recommended by a person that was actually a professional competitor. So I was very suspicious of the opportunity to sabotage your career or something. And so I very reluctantly called back and then I agreed to a lunch and kind of exported and I think I was just open to the possibilities of it. But I remember coming to my first meeting and at that time we

01:39 Her coming out of a challenging. And I remember thinking he did that me up but it turned out he was turning out and at that time the board was really focused on diversifying the perspective. And so I remember it was very surprising because there were very few people of color. There was one other woman and the meetings were very formal and it was very uncomfortable. Even I remember at my first meeting to speak up and I had a question about a policy matter and I remember just feeling very intimidated But ultimately speaking up about it and over time we had opportunity to recruit more people in the lot of perspective. And so you are someone that has a lot of great energy is very positive. And so I thought of you a you're a woman I thought that that was I am I just

02:39 Thought that you were up for anything and it would be great to have you so that was why I asked but I'm glad you thought of me. I really have enjoyed being on this board when you called me, I guess also out of the blue and it's like anything else in life that I was kind of like, I'll take the first step and then you're not quite sure what to think and you take the first step which in my case was at breakfast with Museum director and the head of the recruitment committee and then like a switch flip like I hope they accept me. I really really want to be on this board and I filled out my application and was so excited cuz I think history is one of those topics. I've just always had an interest in but like a lot of hobbies and things that I liked as a kid as you get older you almost forget that you're interested in because life gets busy. So I think that your story is also really interesting aside from being super positive and being someone that I think would just be as great asked that I thought would be a great asset and you've turned out to be having moved or

03:39 Your whole life in one area and then move to Central Florida. I also thought that you had interesting perspective when we're dealing with Central Florida history. I also didn't rub in Central Florida, but I grew up in Florida. I feel like sometimes there's more crossover connectivity. So your perspective is interesting and I feel like independent and you have other life experience from similar things. So, I don't know how has that been being from out of region and being on this Ford really been interesting because coming I mean, there's been interesting for so many reasons first of all coming from Boston, which is so old city coming to Orlando or the history is relatively young and newer is quite funny. So, you know the courthouse that's on the 4th or 5th floor hear the historic Courthouse. What's that? Always makes me laugh because here they make such a big deal that was courthouse is history. And this is Torah Courthouse, you know, if I've had jury duty in Boston if serve jury duty in a courthouse looks just like that.

04:39 Like they're still in Houston Boston. He's old court houses from the 70s. You're right though. Actually, I was speaking to a friend our mutual friend. That's how we first met and

05:00 I was talking about the interesting challenges related to managing the collection and pieces of the collection where perhaps the I think Pam says pronouns is how you say that word provenance. I think I think it's Providence to but yeah, and if it doesn't have that story that it's not as historically significant and so I was speaking to this friend that was also tied to Boston and she was talking about well, the history of those items goes back so much further. So imagine that but if the item was probably donated in whatever 1770 and so it's interesting to think about. Yeah, we're talking about things that were donated in the 40s or the 60s or whatever but that's sort of what makes for the fun. Is that it is this newer sort of Porky thing and

05:57 Do I think it's really fine? Cuz the history that's more recent and away is just you think about it more things that happened to people that we knew grandparents that were alive during the time. We were alive rather than history that happened way back in the 1600, right? There's more connectivity and Florida such a young City to because it's new but that's been really fun for me. I was not able to be on a board of a museum in Boston the board there was so much older and more established but in a way because everything here is newer is also younger and flower a drawing boards Las Vegas Boulder now that I think I am. Well, you're right. I forgot about that so that up there the people that are on boards are these long-established kind of characters versus here. There's room for a lot of New Perspective, which is one of the best things about this one. So, yeah, I think I've also enjoyed we've talked about this before the other board members are really interesting.

06:57 That era when I started was kicking off this. Of opportunity to bring on new people. So just like I brought you people had heard of someone else that they thought would be good and through that we have so many really interesting Co board members, which has been just a real Delight for me a departure from my professional life and just a completely different topic. So I think that's also been the appeal. Yeah, I completely agree. It's been really nice meeting all these really interesting people that share a common interest in history because I do think it's important that you have to enjoy history to serve on this board. So one of my favorite activities that we did as a board was when we went and visited the archive Center and looked at the items that did not pass the test to be in the museum, but for some reason the museum needs to keep still they may still as a

07:57 Listen, I do since you are on the committee that decides what are you guys call yourselves the collections committee? Okay, cuz I really name and you decide what to actually put in each collection. What kind of passes muster and what doesn't yeah, that process is really interesting. So while all the Committees are important and I also value my time on the finance committee. That wasn't his much fun. Now that one is so interesting because it really is the fundamentals of what having a museum and the responsibility for maintaining a historical collection and Tails. And so even we certainly had to be educated by the curator of collections in terms of what we were looking for on the accessioning and DSs thing but thinking about the fact that if you come down and you have gone through your grandparents house and even if they maintain some really interesting knick-knack type of items we can

08:57 Responsibly take all of that and we really have an obligation to assess each item determine whether it's in the scope and bring it in if it's in the scope, so I just I think it's that's been really fun because even the complexity of some of the conversations we've gotten into wall trying to do that work has been so interesting. So I don't know. Do you have an experienced similar? So was there an item in the archive that really stuck out to you? Well, not really archive is much but from personal experience. I had my grandparents died 10 years ago and they're both in their 90's and their big Travelers. So they accumulated so much stuff and I know this is been a popular topic. I read about it in the New York Times of the boomers are having a problem when they downsize and nobody wants their stop.

09:46 And it's quite interesting to me going through my grandparents stop and thinking about what meaningful and we need to keep and what are they buying the target of their day. So just think about a museum doing this on such a big scale. Like what do we need to keep as a historical momentum vs. You can't keep everything like what is significant and what isn't so help to me personally let go of items when you know, how you have those trophies from high school or thing. Yeah that and I think I'm able to think a little bit more critically about okay if I shove this in my attic in my house, what is the future of this item? I really think the future is just my children or grandchildren coming up on this box having to decide that my trophy for some insignificant thing was not of any historical significance or family significant and throwing it in the garbage just like I would throw in the garbage today. So yeah, I think it's helped me think much more critically.

10:46 Our place in the world and what this means but it's also so interesting when you think about everything that we cannot anticipate so the appreciation for the fact that your grandparents might have kept some of those items because let's say they wanted to show it to their friends. They couldn't google image that item, right? So you had to keep it and you have to show it to your child your grandchild and so man. How does that change things? And so I was just telling someone about I have this really embarrassing part of my childhood wear during the 1996 Olympics. I thought that it was really important that I maintain articles about the coverage of this event. And so I remember over that summer being whatever I was 12 13, whatever and flipping me some like this was some sort of

11:40 Significant thing and it's even then that was pretty silly. There was a then so Technologies really change the world as far as keepsakes like that. But then even it's been interesting to watch also the need for us to be very diligent about the scope of our collection and what we're trying to achieve so there might be a historically significant item from the Civil War for example, but unless we can connect that to a soldier from this area or in the event that occurred in this area. It's not something that really belongs here. So again, I think all that ties back into even helping me personally think critically about all of this and then this sort of goes into I don't have never really asked you how you felt about the events of pulse. So as part of the society we have a lot of

12:40 Collection and the historical collecting that was happening right after that event. So I don't know. How did you feel when we went and we looked at the collection. We saw all these items in the collection. That was just a horrifying event. It really was a think something like that could happen in our backyard anyone we know could have been there that night could have gone out dancing with a girl's night or you know what? I mean? You knew who was going to me that really really shook me knowing that that could happen because before that I thought of terrorism is happening in such a big scale and big place is not just a little club in Orlando. Yeah, and I think that in our role to as the people that are responsible for this collection, you were really forced to connect to the the victim eventually because of the items that we have absolutely or just so personal think about what you had and all these items these people had going out to a club bring a Saturday night in June and not even thinking about

13:40 But yeah, I think that it's back to the fact that the reason we have history museums like this is because you know, we need to know what happened in history so doesn't repeat itself over time. You're right, and even some of the discussion that we have around all of these events is so interesting. So I think we we talked at one time when I was saying that at one of the meetings there's a discussion about memorializing those events forces working to prevent those events. And how do you direct resources? So all of these issues I think are so complex and that to me is what makes history so important. I think it's so easy to look at it and minimize it to its simplest form. But if you dig into all the perspectives and all the issues, it just becomes it's like anything it's multi-faceted right? It's layered so

14:37 What do you think makes this this Museum special when compared to other museums you've been exposed to all that's a good question. I think this is a really unique Museum and it made me realize things like the stink hole exhibit. I knew about the sinkhole happening, but he just did such a good job and a low-tech way and I were replacing some of these exhibits with a little bit more high-tech stuff. But I love that thing called Museum cuz you can read about a thing call. You can hear the articles but until you go see that exhibit or you're actually walking into the sinkhole. It really puts perspective around it and shows why there's still a place for museums as much as we have online and can Google and read about different bands. I hate when I think about this Museum specifically I think about the commitment of the employee. So I've never fail to be impressed with everyone's commitment to the core machine.

15:37 I also am super impressed by their commitment to I think the word they used to describe. It is decolonizing.

15:46 Have you heard them saying I have not. What does that mean? They're referring to the need to make sure the collection is historically accurate from a lot of perspective. So historically the collections were were largely one-sided. So it was quite Colonial history. Will I guess that makes sense? Yeah, and so meanwhile while all these events were occurring and they're also things occurring in other places in the community and we didn't have them covered and so the staff dedication to doing that while also doing the really difficult work of contemporary collecting on things like Paulson The Other events. I think his has just been also really interesting and eye-opening to me and I think it's also been

16:32 Super fascinating to watch that these issues are not they're not as polarizing as they're made out to be I think in the broader Community or media, maybe whatever whatever it is. It's we're we're pretty unified in terms of certain issues where perhaps there politicized and other Arenas, you know, that makes a lot of sense. It is interesting to hear about the Native American history here in the African American culture here and at the Museum really does cover all aspects and facets of the history here. And again, it's so interesting to me that back in Boston with little bit more advanced than this was still a territory. It's interesting as far as the history being so recent. So what's your first memory of going to a museum and that's a good question the Museum of Natural History in New York City. That's a good one. Yeah, we went there and it was a really interesting one. I do love Museum specially I do travel a lot and I find the

17:32 Museums in different cities and countries is a really nice way to learn about the history of their back to the fact that you can Google it and you kind of know it but until you see it visually it really put things in a different perspective. What's the most surprising thing you've ever learned to the museum? That's a good question. I went to the museum in Spain by learn something. That's really cool to see all his stuff. Done in his outdoor exhibit. It was just really neat to see when you're walking in your sister such an artist business vision and the Museum of the originally set up to be some sort of planned community and it failed and they made a museum out of it. I believe that's the story may I could have gotten some of that a little bit wrong if your version of the Museum's just happened and it's interesting to think now that we

18:32 Kind of see behind-the-scenes how some of the stuff grows totally. How about you? What's your first memory is going to museum. So my grandmother lives in the Metro DC area. So I think I'd have to say it's really going to those smithsonian's it's only as an adult that I realized the Smithsonian wasn't one place. It's a bunch of places, but I'd say it has to be that I also really distinctly remember at that time. You could I don't think you can do the same or you could tour some sort of FBI like Museum in modern-day Spy Museum in so you could see the active 10 Most Wanted and you could see confiscated items. And again, I don't think they do this anymore for security reasons. I guess pretty cool that was in the mid-to-late eighties. But yeah, I just I like everything about them. I like the amount of energy put into

19:32 Retaining the story's of the little placard that goes up the item. I'm the only one in my family that really likes museums and so not a situation where we can visit and everyone wants to stand there and read every placard. Well, I'm guessing it out for kids museums are not that much, and I was a kid. I did not love Museum. Right right other than the ones you could do stuff like the Children's Museum and I only like the aquarium where you can pick up the puppy and you're right. So I think most children that would be the case. I always enjoyed reading those placards. But I also there's something about the amount of space dedicated to these items. So the lighting of the layout I just I find that fascinating that this whole thoughtful design has gone into these items that are on display. So whether it be an art museum, I also love art museums or Historical Museum whatever it is, but I think the most maybe surprising when I've ever been to

20:31 Was when we were on our honeymoon in Thailand, we had a day where in our itinerary we were going to a place called The Hall of opium. I know it was a museum dedicated to the history of the opiate trade and it was it was put there by again. I'm like you maybe I'm going to get this wrong but one of the Queen's was really dedicated to making sure the people stayed away from the opiate trade and so it was the history of that from when they first got hooked on it how they converted the fields to Poppy like it went all the way up through the modern-day and how you will get arrested. If you really interested interesting at this very bizarre of skier place and it's up in the northern part of Thailand, so I would highly recommend it but yeah that was just such an example of sometimes the the biggest surprise in the most delightful thing is this weird. We were even laughing when it was on our itinerary like to travel agent has booked us to spend all afternoon.

21:31 In the Hall of opium, what does she know about you? It was just that again. It's it was just a speak into to your point. I was never going to sit there and do a bunch of why would I research rys Druid opiate trade in Northern Thailand, but it was presented in this super interesting way and now I'll never forget it. Well, it's funny you say that I was in Hong Kong this fall and we went to a museum in Hong Kong and they had a whole exhibit about the opiate trade and I don't remember it all now, but I know that when it was under British rule, they went through. Giving it to the Chinese and then somebody else would be in charge and say no no, no, they can't have it. There'd be no opium. And so you have these people addicted and then I couldn't get it and it was all sorts of crazy. So you're right. I was like trying to be very kind to the British in the recording but yes, there was a whole Hall about the the British early influence.

22:31 Into getting the people into opium. I've distinctly remember that again. The British are bad people cool museums. Have you been to the 911 museum? I so I went to a temporary iteration of it. So I've not been to the permanent one. So even though I was in the temporary one was very interesting. I had at the time had a colleague who's brother had passed in 911. And so when we were kicking off a project in New York when the early days like around lunch-time, he's like come here. I want to show you something and so we went to the temporary. Wow, and you were with the victim's brother. Wow, that must be very emotional. It was interesting it seem to be almost a therapeutic for him to remember the event and introduce other people to it. And I guess make sure the connection was there, so I'm not

23:31 Into the modern-day one the present day one and it's interesting cuz I I hear about it sometimes even when we're doing a collections company work Pam the curator brings it up as an example, right, but I've not seen it. So have you been yeah, so it for a while I kind of shied away from going during trips to New York, but I really wanted to go and so I went this past May and they did such an amazing job and back to what you were saying about museums these days. I don't know if it's being on a board or being older it's need to see the lighting and how they choose to display things. Plus they actually display. Yeah, please just had such an amazing job with this Museum the architecture the design work and then of course, it's brand new and modern but they told the story and such a fantastic way. I mean, it's a sad tragic story, but I think as far as museums go they just did an amazing job.

24:31 About setting the tone. So you've also probably been to Yad vashem. Yes. I have the Holocaust Museum in Israel. And so same idea where there's these portions of it where the tone was set very intentionally and it's just the way that you do that I guess and evoke those emotions to get the person in the right space is so fascinating. So actually you remind me of something really interesting that I'm always curious about but it doesn't come up in casual conversation. Where were you on on that day? I was leaving my apartment in Boston and driving to work and I was I had to do a meeting at night. So I was running a little late and I was stopped at the red light turning and I've known something about a plane crash, but before I left my apartment, but they thought it was just a little one and I'm at the red light in the cop directing traffic made me roll down my window so that he could ask me what was going on.

25:29 And that's when I kind of realize that it was something bigger than just a small plane crash at least officer asked you what was he asked me what was going on? I knew anything. So how did that so that must have been how did having been alive during the event feel than going to a museum dedicated to you that it was really different going to one when you were alive during it and a member at all. It really kind of History. It feels more like current events tonight. They'll yeah, but it was kind of weird to see it all laid out the way it was laid out. Yeah, I'll have to try that because if you were alive and I think of any age to be aware reasonably aware that is a very strange thing that there's already a museum dedicated to this thing. However, that day was such a turning point in our lives. So I had just gone to college a few weeks prior a while. I was in my freshman year of college was a pretty disorienting time already. Yeah.

26:29 I turned my birthday is 3 days before so I had just turned 18 and I just remember it being very confusing and disoriented that must have been really interesting being college with these new people that you didn't know that well and cuz everybody just want to community actor that it was really just a weird time that you didn't want to go out but you didn't want to sit home alone either. It was such an interesting time. Yeah, so strange, so I will have to have to put that on my list next time but I haven't made it there absolutely. Yeah museums and not to switch the topic from such a depressing topic but museums are really interesting as far as what they convey and tell us about a point of history or a different kind of ardour. Are you at all entire museums? Love them? Yeah. You said that before the entire? What's your favorite Art Museum?

27:29 Favorite one. So I've never seen one. I don't like even if the collection Is Not Great primarily because of the layout in the space in the lighting dedicated to sometimes with what in my personal opinion is not even particularly good art. Obviously, it's subjective. I really enjoyed that's probably a early intro to them was is it called The Prado in Spain by figured you would know you said you like the I think that's the one that's like the a wider collection. So I just remember I remember loving it then so I was probably cash 11 or 12 and get this wasn't something that my family then was interested in either. So to my parent's credit, they would send me on school trips or things that I thought I would enjoy that we can make

28:29 For the rest of the family wasn't good. So they at least see your parents are not listen to culture. As you are certain travel would not be as into art in that way. And so I just remember we would be on a tour and they might be pointing out one piece like normally a very famous piece, right? And it was amazing to me that there would be a whole other room that we weren't even stopped again where these pieces were out there. I finally got other ones that really made an impression of I really like that Garth Isabella Stewart Gardner Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is an amazing one in Boston such a literal letter and treasure.

29:13 But I even really like our little our little one here in Orlando. Do you ever go to it? I have been to a more advanced than anything else is beautiful space like we got married there. So maybe it was still that just that love of the space. But yeah, we had the whole thing or a ceremony in a reception at the Museum married. Now. What time of year did you get married November?

29:41 What about you? We were married for 7 years in December. And where was he in Boston in a hotel that seems fitting exactly.

29:56 So do you think you will stay in Central Florida for a while? I love it here. I really do. It's such a nice easy way of life. I love Boston. I love the culture that Boston has but I've been pleasantly surprised that there's culture and interesting people and interesting things to do in Central, Florida. You just have to try a little harder to find them. Okay. So you said an easy way of life. What what makes you say that as much traffic in for 1. The traffic is a barometer of all things he's but you know, I can get to this History Museum in 15 minutes from my house and anywhere in downtown Orlando. Yeah. I'm really on the southside of Winter Park to learn from you. I guess not and Sunday, but living in a city is a little harder once you move outside the city cuz you need more space getting in and out. It's not as easy as it is here, but I really like Central Florida and then when you said you have to try a little harder to find the things that are interesting, what does that mean? Do you hear first think about a relay?

30:56 Do you think about going to Disney or Universal? And then once you realize there's more culture here that the Holocaust Museum is moving here. The philosophes also interesting to with all the tourists coming here that if we find a way to capture some of those tourists to come see these museums to take a day off from the parks is fascinating to me as well. Yeah, I agree. So are you a theme park person? I like them. I do. I don't like scary rides anymore. Do you like theme parks? We are not our kids are very much are kids. They like them a couple times a year maybe but we're not ever going to be the family that is going out there every weekend with a matching shirts not us, but I think I also is an adult get far too distracted about how amazed I am at. What a great job. They do. I do have to hand it to them in that way and what a production it is.

31:56 And just how everything is thought through I just I can never get over it. But as a result, I also can't experience the magic anymore. Outside and the business side behind of it of what a fantastic business to get all these people spend amount of money. Did you spend going to the theme parks but I do think it's cool to see the magic and it's a little bit of escapism to drive 45 minutes and feel like you're in another world know you're right. Yeah, it's Central Florida and that way is so interesting because almost everyone has been here, but they only been to the theme parks and they've only been to that side of town. So I always find that fascinating to that. There are times when we meet people in their surprise when I explain that you and I probably Live Well 25-30 miles away from Young and so when I explained that people are kind of baffled in that, yeah, I definitely go over there, you know, not infrequent.

32:56 Name for whatever. It is. Dinners are people are in town were visiting but it's not what we're doing most of the time and it's hard to explain it as a whole world up here that does not revolve around the theme parks the people about their careers and other Industries and museums and day-to-day life that does not involve the theme park but I was one of those people till I moved here. I didn't know hit the world exists that I thought Orlando was all amusement park chain restaurants on strip malls funny unlimited portrayal in entertainment and when I think about it, it's that you know, when in fact you're right, there's it's it's still a sizeable city, maybe not comparatively. Yeah, but it is interesting to a first of all the travel anywhere from here is so easy cuz we've direct flights everywhere and then we could drive 40 minutes and go to Disney.

33:56 Rings and go to any celebrity chef own restaurant and you know live music and all sorts of fun things to do. I completely agree with you. So what do you hope that the future for you holds whether it be in Central Florida specifically or that's a great question. Very good question. I think to get more involved in our local community. But even though when I I still feel like a newcomer even though it's been six years, which is crazy to think about it and get more of a community maybe have my travel my husband travel a little less and partake more of Central Florida with me know that's a really nice but I really enjoy life here. How about you? What do you see the future for you and tailing? That's an interesting one. I I agree. I think Community is really really important. I hope that I will have

34:48 Points in the Futures are right now. I don't have a lot of capacity to take on other community involvement and that's something I would really like. So as my little boys are older and has maybe certain pieces of Life calm down. I hope that I will be able to continue to contribute because Community I think a lot of people think it's important, but they don't see that. You also need to contribute to it and build it and not just speak it out when you need it. That's a really good way of summing it off and I've heard people say that they don't realize community so important to the app. I need the community to be there. So it's better not to need it. But you need it for you spiritually and personally rather than actually need it. Yeah and be a person that's actively contributing to maintaining it and making sure it's there. So, I hope that the future provides me with more time and attention to do that.

35:45 That makes sense to me. So any upcoming anyting any travels coming up or any Milestones coming out that you're excited for and more short-term history question.

35:59 I wish I had a better answer. Okay and March so we will go to Mexico where my husband's family partially live to.

36:20 That's really fun. Yeah. Yeah. Is there anything unique and special about a Mexican wedding? Is it like a 400-person kind of wedding? That's a great question. And I don't know because since being wasn't raised in Mexico we often it's interesting we plug in and we're glad that this big giant family is there but we don't know custom. So I think we just typically have to prepare to go with the flow still show up and see how it goes. That's coming up in March. What about you you always have something we are traveling in March to the Seychelles with the stuff and you buy along the way we get a quick little stay in Dubai and then go to the Seychelles. Have you ever been there before now or never had you pick it? There's a Trip Lee wanted to go on it look like a really neat place kind of the opposite of the speaking about Museum. I don't think they have any museums there. I think it's all snorkeling and hiking and outdoorsy stuff, but I'm excited for it. So in the future

37:20 Oh you will is raising kids at raising kids is not easy and having a big job on top of that.