Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

For a student of history, traveling through time would be the ultimate educational experience. But since time travel is not currently possible, Evan Albaugh ’25, a history major from Ankeny, Iowa, has found other ways to observe the past and share its lessons.

When he saw a post on Handshake (Grinnell’s job and internship search software) for a summer research internship at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, he jumped at the opportunity.

“Being from the Des Moines area, I was already aware of Hoyt Sherman Place — I even took my high school graduation photos there,” he recalls. “I applied immediately and drove out after class one day for an in-person interview, toured the building, shared my previous experiences, and started working shortly after.”

Hoyt Sherman Place, the first public art gallery in Des Moines, opened in 1907. It was built adjacent to the home of Hoyt and Sara Sherman, which was considered “a society showpiece of the grandest scale.” The Shermans raised five children in the home, which they later donated to the city of Des Moines with the understanding that it would forever be called Hoyt Sherman Place.

Research and Beyond

Albaugh’s multifaceted internship offered him the opportunity to go beyond research to assist with public relations, community development, and day-to-day gallery operations.

Albaugh says he spent most of his time conducting research to find information on artists represented in the collection as well historical figures and organizations with ties to the building. "I uploaded this information into Past Perfect, the museum software that we use, and this really helped me refine my skills,” Albaugh says. He also led guided tours, deep cleaned several marble statues in the collection, and helped staff a table at the Des Moines Art Festival. 

Hoyt Sherman Place was also undergoing the restoration of its front lawn over the summer, which allowed Albaugh a unique opportunity particularly suited to his interests.

“They tore up their whole lawn to put in a new stage and do some landscaping. So after my shifts, I’d go out into the lawn where the grass had been removed and look for artifacts because that’s just something I kind of do in my free time,” he says. “Wherever there’s bare dirt, I have to go take a look.”

Albaugh cleaned up the most interesting artifacts he found and researched their provenance. These included historic glass, pottery shards from the turn of the previous century, a small porcelain doll, antique glass marbles, and a bullet casing from 1904. He put these in a display case and presented it to his employers. “I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to do that," he says.

Preparing for the Future

Albaugh's work at Hoyt Sherman Place allowed him to build upon experiences at the Ankeny Area Historical Society, where he had done two previous summer internships.

For instance, he was able to work with museum software at the historical society. Through his research at Hoyt Sherman, he expanded those skills. "It really gave me a lot more experience," he says.

Albaugh says he hopes to pursue a career in museum work after graduation, and these internships have given him a headstart in a competitive field. “Essentially, within two summers of being at Grinnell, I’ve had the equivalent experience of three internships, so it’s something that’s going to really help me in the future,” he says.