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Sullivan Museum& History Center

Staff Bios

Marilyn C. Solvay - Director

Marilyn has been in the museum field for nearly three decades—and has worked in science, children’s, history, maritime, art and battlefield museums. She received her academic training at the University of Arizona (M.A. in Museum Studies), George Washington University (M.A.T. in Museum Education), and at Lesley University (PhD in Educational Studies).  Marilyn has held positions at the Bostonian Society, the USS Constitution Museum, the Children’s Museum of Maine, the Dyer Library Association, Old Sturbridge Village, the New Hampshire Farm Museum, and Strawbery Banke.

In addition, Dr. Solvay has also taught American Studies at Lesley University, Franklin Pierce College, New England University and Baypath College. Her favorite courses are “The History of Women & Work,” and “Introduction to American Society, Values & Beliefs.” She has served on national museum committees including The Education Committee of the American Association of Museums, the Standards Committee for the American Association of State and Local History, and as a grant reader for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Recently she served for three years as a coordinator for a National Leadership Grant project on how families learn about history in small museums—testing out hands-on exhibit components, length of labels, types of images, and even how groups of visitors play games together!

Marilyn joined the staff at the Sullivan Museum &  History Center in the spring of 2008 and is excited to be a member of the Norwich community! Her family includes three talented children—Roian, Alexa and Nathaniel—and assorted animals! She spends all her spare time outside—gardening, hiking, biking, walking, rollerblading, camping, and kayaking. Marilyn is an avid fan of NPR and enjoys her daily doses of laughter!

Marielle Fortier Kirby - Registrar

Marielle is in her fourth year as museum registrar to the Sullivan Museum & History Center. She came to Norwich after working with the Vermont Museum & Gallery Alliance helping local historical societies throughout Vermont and interning at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Marielle worked with the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and got her start with the Vermont Historical Society when they relocated their historical collections to the Vermont History Center in Barre, Vt.

A December 2000 grad of Johnson State College, Marielle currently oversees the historical collections at Norwich, works with exhibits and trains work study students and volunteers in collections care.

Marielle resides in Williamstown, Vt. with her husband, step-daughter, three dogs and three cats. She enjoys baking, snowshoeing, photography, geography and spending time with her family.

Kelly Gonzalez - Historical Collections Specialist

Kelly started her college career at Bemidji State University in Minnesota. She transferred schools, graduating from Norwich University in May 2007 with a BA in history. While a student at Norwich, she volunteered at the Museum to get a more hands-on experience with history. After an internship with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Kelly came back to Norwich.

She splits her time between the Museum in the mornings and the Archives in the afternoons. Kelly is responsible for helping researchers, accessioning new donations, exhibit planning and installation, and administrative help for both the Museum’s Registrar and library’s Archivist.

Kelly lives in Northfield with her husband, Oscar. When she’s not at work, she enjoys reading, cross stitching, spending time outdoors, and keeping in touch with friends and family around the country.