STORYTELLING A KEY COMPONENT
Trevor Allen named executive director of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
After five years of helping with the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Trevor Allen is officially the venue's new executive director.
Allen was the museum's program assistant and later program director, assisting his predecessor, Melinda McCrary. Prior to McCrary's tenure, Jim Kern held the position for 33 years and served as a mentor to Allen.
“I've worked here five years, I've learned museum studies essentially on the go. What translates well is storytelling,” said Allen. “History is happening and history is for everybody. We have to make sure that we are telling everybody's story.”
Allen says he learned “engagement and enthusiasm” from McCrary. Her style for storytelling, he says, was engrossing and understandable.
Allen said he learned humility from Kern. Allen says Kern is a “central repository” for Vallejo” and was never arrogant in his knowledge. Allen calls Kern “down to earth” and “humble.”
“It is a privilege to accept the board's appointment as Executive Director,” said Allen in a news release. “I honor their trust in me and acknowledge the hard work ahead. I am truly excited by this new challenge. I look forward to collaborating with the board, staff, volunteers, and our diverse community on new events, programs, and exhibits that will make the Vallejo Museum a more inviting and inspiring place to visit and explore. It's an exciting time to be here.”
Allen holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA, where he studied history and theater, and also a master's degree from San Francisco State in English: Creative Writing. He has worked for the San Francisco Zoological Society in its membership and fundraising departments, at the San Francisco Opera in their development department, and for eight years at Theatre Bay Area as director of theatre company services.
He is a playwright, Dramatists Guild member and author of “`Working for the Mouse' And Other Plays,” published by EXIT Press. He has performed in stage plays in Los Angeles, San Francisco and around the Bay Area. He has also done voiceovers for TV and radio.
Since moving to Vallejo in 2011 with his wife, he has been a founding member of the Vallejo Arts Alliance, a member of the artist advisory board of the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation (now VCA), and has volunteered with Obtainium Works Art Studio since 2013 on events such as the Obtainium Cup con
“History is happening and history is for everybody. We have to make sure that we are telling everybody's story.” —Trevor Allen, Vallejo Naval and History Museum executive director
traptor's rally, the Fourth of July Parade and the Mad Hatter Parade.
With Allen's theater background, he is sure there is a key component: Storytelling. He's also thrilled to tell stories of different cultures in Vallejo.
“It's important to tell all of the stories, not just from one particular point of view. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm excited,” said Allen. “Now that I am the executive director, I can make changes. I can finally do some of the things I would like to do. But I am also mindful of the responsibility that it entails by going to each community, telling their stories and asking them to help us tell it with them — not for them or about them.”
In Allen's new role, he is able to complete the tasks he feels fit. Allen hopes the audience views the Navy Museum as “not just a Navy museum but a history museum.”
In collaboration with the Vallejo City Council, the museum will honor women in all branches of the service this week. Over 90 women will be honored.
Also, this weekend, the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum is having a soft opening for “Vallejo Collects,” an exhibition of collections. With a donation of duck decoys froom Mare Island, Allen gathered more loan donations of Brickmania toys, collections, old cameras, miniature furniture, toy soldiers and miniature dollhouses.
Allen says this will be a “whimsy” experience and great for all ages. This exhibit will be open for a month.
The Vallejo
Naval and Historical Museum seeks representation from leaders in the community. For Black History Month, the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum hosted a History Speakers Series that included author and activist Jake Sloan and author Sharon McGriff-Payne.
Additionally, the museum's Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit about the Latin/Hispanic community in Vallejo.
Allen said he is looking forward to a Filipino exhibit in June and is diligently working on connecting with the Native American/Indigenous community to share its story with them.
Another effort is renovating the south gallery of the museum. This area displays the history of Vallejo's commencement.
Allen recognizes the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum team's tenacity and dedication to the museum.
“I am so thankful for the board. I could not do this without all of the volunteers. I am thankful for the volunteers and my staff. I could never do this job on my own this is not a oneman show. I can succeed at this job because of their help.”