Sylvia Bruner has been a game-changer for the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Johnson County, Wyoming. Admired by everyone who visits, it is easy to see why Bruner’s leadership has resulted in the museum becoming a finalist for the National Medal for Museum and Library Services. From her impressive upbringing on Piney Creek north of Buffalo to her undying commitment and enthusiasm during her time at Fort Phil Kearney, she brought invaluable experience which have transformed the museum into a place of engaging discovery. Susan Theune, a longtime volunteer at the museum, expresses heartfelt joy as she lauds Bruner’s triumph over a difficult situation for the esteemed facility.
The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Johnson County is a sight to behold, with its native limestone and sandstone structure and bronze statue of local hero Nate Champion which beckons visitors through the front steps. Inside, they will find an abundance of Wyoming history, from sprawling dioramas to interactive exhibits and tens of thousands of artifacts. Under the leadership of Sylvia Bruner, the museum has been transformed into a place of engaging discovery, becoming a finalist for the National Medal for Museum and Library Services.
This is no small feat for any museum, let alone a small facility in rural Wyoming. Susan Theune, a longtime volunteer at the museum, proudly states that one cannot find a better museum director than Sylvia Bruner. Her tireless work to “pull the museum out of a very difficult time” has been highly praised by Sharon Miller, a museum board member.
Growing Up on Piney Creek
She soon rose to the occasion, impressing board members, museum staff and volunteers, community members, and other professionals in the museum world. Bruner’s upbringing on Piney Creek north of Buffalo had homeschooled her, but at 15 she got her first job at Fort Phil Kearney. She initially worked in the bookstore, but with the help of Bill and Carla Raymond, she soon began performing reenactments and asked to shoot the cannon. Her determination and enthusiasm earned her admiration from all those around her.
Working at Fort Phil Kearney and Gatchell Museum
The Raymonds taught Bruner how to fire off a replica Civil-war era cannon, igniting her passionate interest in history. Rather than go to college right away, Bruner took the initiative to work at both Fort Phil Kearney and Gatchell Museum while taking night classes at Sheridan College to earn an associate degree in history. Her dedication was rewarded with 20 years of service at the museum, and she plans to celebrate this October. The museum opened in 1957 after Jim Gatchell’s death with his extensive collection of gifts, from firearms to bows and arrows, which he had received from customers throughout his career.
Over the years, the museum’s footprint has expanded and now encompasses three interconnected buildings. Its collections have grown in scope and its galleries span subjects from geology and fossils to local Native American history and the Johnson County cattle war. In 2016, despite a “bookkeeping mistake” leading to the museum spending $35,000 in restricted funds, Bruner was appointed to the museum’s helm. With her leadership, the Gatchell Museum managed to retain its American Alliance of Museums accreditation after reaccreditation assessment.
This was no small feat, as the museum had to address issues ranging from thermostat covers to the creation of a strategic plan and a formal document detailing its legal relationship with the county. Bruner’s leadership was commended by board member Sharon Miller, who said that “She was just the absolutely right person for the job at the time.” With her leadership, the Gatchell Museum is now thriving and is much loved in Buffalo and Johnson County.
National Medal Recognition
Under the leadership of Director Bruner, the Museum has achieved National Medal recognition for its outstanding community outreach programs. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. Through its expansive outreach initiatives, the Museum strives to fulfill its purpose of providing access to learning about what has happened in the past and serve the community at large.
Under the leadership of Director Bruner, the museum has gone from being seen as a repository to expanding its community outreach programs. This shift has been noticed and recognized by the National Medal, which is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. It is clear that the museum strives to fulfill its purpose of providing access to learning about what has happened in the past and serve the community at large.
The museum’s programming has had great success, with free daytime walking tours of Buffalo, cemetery tours by night, summer youth art classes, genealogy courses and public lectures. Most notably, the Art Museum Mondays for kids program has been so successful that it is now free to participants due to volunteer donations and grants. The most recent project, a retrospective of renowned and local artist D. Michael Thomas’ work, opened May 12th.
In 2018, the museum was proud to sponsor a presentation by Sam Mihara, who was incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming during World War II. After his presentation in Laramie, the museum invited him to Buffalo to share his story with the community.
Despite Mihara having experienced heckling, harassment and threats in previous presentations, the Buffalo High School auditorium was filled with 700 people, a remarkable turnout for a town of 4,400. The community welcomed Mihara with open arms, with high school students lining up to meet him and shake his hand. It was an important piece of history to bring home, and the museum’s leadership was credited for the warm reception.
Sylvia Bruner’s impressive upbringing on Piney Creek coupled with her unstoppable determination and enthusiasm has not only earned her admiration, but it has ultimately transformed the Jim Gatchell Memorial museum into a site of engaging discovery and a finalist for the National Medal Museum and Library Service. Her hard work and dedication have truly set an example and raised the standard for museums everywhere.
