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Indiana Historical Society Names New President and CEO
The Indiana Historical Society Board of Trustees announced today that it has appointed John A. Herbst as the Society’s new president and chief executive officer. Herbst will begin his new duties on September 4, 2006, succeeding Sal Cilella, who is moving to the Atlanta History Center.
John Herbst has worked in the education, history and museum fields for more than 30 years. He is currently president and CEO of the Indiana State Museum. Before that, he held various public history positions, serving as president and CEO of Conner Prairie, Inc., executive director of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, executive director of the American Labor Museum in New Jersey, director of education at the New Jersey Historical Society and curator of history at the Paterson Museum in Paterson, New Jersey. Herbst has also taught high school American and European history, social studies and urban history. He is currently actively involved on several national and state task forces and committees for a variety of cultural organizations and heritage-related projects.
Michael Blickman, chair of the IHS Board of Trustees, stated, “The board is thrilled with the selection of John Herbst as the new President and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society. Sal Cilella, our current President and CEO, has provided superb leadership and direction and we wish him the best at the Atlanta History Center. We are confident that John Herbst possesses the vision and expertise to take the Historical Society to a new level of excellence.” Blickman added, “John has a proven record of success and understands our important mission to serve the people of the state of Indiana. We are absolutely delighted that we found the best person right here in our own backyard and John emerged quickly as the absolute best candidate to lead the Society. We look forward to John’s leadership with great excitement and anticipation.”
Thomas G. Hoback, search committee chair, said “We are poised and ready for the next phase in our evolution and believe that John has the passion, experience and foresight to get us there. Our organization not only believes in presenting Indiana’s rich history, but in sharing it in such a way that resonates as relevant and meaningful today.”
Herbst said, “I am honored to step into this role and am engaged by the opportunities and challenges it presents. To be a part of an organization with more than 175 years of dedication to preserving, collecting and sharing Indiana’s heritage is exciting. I look forward to building upon its great legacy.”
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society, one of the oldest and largest historical societies in the United States, maintains one of the largest collections of material on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and has been Indiana’s storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and disseminating Indiana history. The independent, nonprofit organization also publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; provides youth, adult and family programming; assists local historical groups throughout the state. The society (www.indianahistory.org) is located in the Indiana History Center at 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
—Adapted from the Indiana Historical Society’s press release of June 15, 2006.
© American Historical Association
Last Updated: February 26, 2008 1:45 PM