The Conservancy is excited to introduce our global community to our newest team member, Sydney Sheehan!
Sydney is our Curatorial Associate and is the driving force behind numerous special projects, such as our recent T-shirt campaign and our Museum Planning Survey. Sydney comes to us from Columbia University. She has a Masters of Arts in American Art and a real passion for our Flagship.
The Conservancy is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the SS United States, with the goal of creating an inspiring future for this magnificent ship.
Today, we’re speaking with the Conservancy’s Administrative Associate, Griffin Watson, who plays an important role in supporting the Conservancy’s mission.
Griffin graduated from James Madison University with a degree in History and International Affairs, and brings a wealth of administrative and community outreach experience to our organization.
Photo of Griffin Watson, courtesy of Susan Gibbs.
From a very young age, I have had a strong passion for history. My grandfather, an avid genealogist, used to captivate me with stories of our family’s past in his 19th-century Greek revival house in upstate New York. From this upbringing, I developed a love for American history and the built historic environment around us. Moving all over the East Coast, I also developed a particular passion for maritime history. After studying history and international affairs in college, I moved to Philadelphia and soon discovered that the SS United States was docked here. While researching the ship, I discovered that the Conservancy was looking for an Administrative Associate. The position fits all of my passions perfectly!
I handle the day-to-day operations of the Conservancy. Some of my tasks involve donor communications, processing donations, and helping to plan events. I do some curatorial work as well, such as cataloging items that have been donated to the Conservancy. Since much of our staff works remotely, I also connect everyone with the physical office in Philadelphia and work on other miscellaneous tasks that require an in-office presence.
I am proud of the curatorial work we do. We have preserved hundreds of items from the SS United States’ heyday. These artifacts range from everyday items such as life vests to more glamorous items such as the ship’s Steinway piano. All these artifacts play such an important role in telling the story of the ship and the people who worked and traveled on her. My favorite part of studying history is telling the stories of the people who came before us.
I am looking forward to working towards restoring and revitalizing the ship. I think that it has great potential not only as an educational space but also as a working and living space, where it can continue to make history. I consider it such a privilege to be able to work with one of America’s greatest national treasures, and I firmly believe that with the hard work of the Conservancy and the generosity of our donors we will be able to preserve this treasure for future generations.
As the SS United States Conservancy works to secure the future of the nation's greatest and sole remaining ocean liner, we're also busy building the world's largest collection of artifacts, art and historical documents from the SS United States.
Today we're giving you a peek behind the scenes, as we speak with a Conservancy staff member who plays a key role in advancing our curatorial mission and protecting the legacy of America's Flagship: Outreach and Preservation Director, Allee Davis.
Allee Davis, SS United States Conservancy Outreach and Preservation Director. Photograph by Lara Hetzel.
How did you get involved with the SS United States Conservancy?
Growing up in and around Philadelphia, I was aware of the ship's presence and in awe of her story. Shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania's Historic Preservation graduate program, I had the opportunity to join the SS United States Conservancy, and a little over four years later, I remain humbled and excited to be a part of this tremendous effort to save and preserve one of our nation's most irreplaceable pieces of history.
What is your role as the Conservancy's Outreach and Preservation Director?
As Outreach and Preservation Director for the SS United States Conservancy, I oversee communications with our amazing, far-reaching network of members and supporters, as well as our curatorial efforts — including managing the organization's growing permanent collections and engaging in key preservation-related issues surrounding the vessel's present condition and potential future uses.
A curatorial highlight: United States Lines playing cards donated by Paul T. Allen. Photograph by Allee Davis and Michael Wolfe.
What is the most exciting thing about working with the Conservancy's curatorial collections?
Of the many exciting aspects of working with the Conservancy's curatorial collections, one of my favorites is learning the provenance of each treasure as it is added to our permanent collections. Donors often share compelling stories highlighting their personal connections to the ship, and these accounts truly bring the SS United States to life. Whether sharing memories of drinking whisky with Marlon Brando or clarifying the operation of the ship's watertight doors, these stories combine to convey the unparalleled significance and unique history of the Big U!
One of my favorite stories from the ship's service years occurred on the ship's 256th voyage in September and October of 1963, one of several crossings made by actress Rita Hayworth. Residing in cabin M69 during this particular voyage, Ms. Hayworth submitted a complaint after discovering her toilet seat was stolen, likely by a crew member. Although the allegation was denied by all crew at the time, many years later, at one of the Conservancy's events, the mystery was solved. A few crew members smitten by Ms. Hayworth did, indeed, take her toilet seat from her cabin. It's fun connections such as these that help to build the complex, layered history of the SS United States.
What are your goals for the future of the Conservancy's curatorial collections and programs?
My efforts in managing the Conservancy's permanent collections and curatorial programs are inspired by the innovation deeply enmeshed in the ship's history and significance as a post-war technological marvel. In keeping with the spirit of the ship, and the excitement around which she was designed and built, we hope to make the history of the SS United States available to the public in similar, innovative ways.
As we lay the groundwork for our future, permanent display, we're at work building a searchable database of former passenger and crew members as we continue to amass passenger lists and similar rosters from the ship's service years. Once a basic database is finalized and circulated, an incredible network of historical connections will emerge! We're also supporting exciting temporary exhibitions: next up is a partnership with the Norman Rockwell Museum, in tandem with the release of renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay’s forthcoming book about the SS United States.
We're so grateful to Allee for all that she does to ensure a safe future for the Conservancy's curatorial collections and for the largest item in our care — America's Flagship, the SS United States! Help us continue this important work by making your tax-deductible donation today.
