Former Eastern lecturer receives inaugural award for historical preservation

Jamie Eves

A retired history lecturer at Eastern Connecticut State University has received an inaugural award named in his honor for his dedication to the research and preservation of local history. Jamie Eves has been recognized by the Connecticut League of Museums with the "Jamie Eves Award" for his contributions as former director of the Mill Museum in Willimantic and for his legacy as a local historian.

Though Eves played no part in creating the award, he emphasized the importance of communities acknowledging and uplifting their own histories.

"It is too easy sometimes to forget that history occurs on the local level, and it is important for communities to know that what they experienced was important - to see that local struggles, achievements and failures had meaning," said Eves. "Through the establishment of this award, the Connecticut League of Museums promotes learning, research and teaching of history at the local level, where communities exist."

Eves served as executive director of the Mill Museum from 2011 to 2021 and was interim director from June to September of this year. He highlighted the collaborative spirit of the museum team as he took them through various plans and renovations.

"I believe that local history museums like the Mill Museum are true team efforts, as opposed to the legacies of individual directors," said Eves. "During my tenure, the museum's dedicated team of staff and volunteers repainted and repaired the museum's buildings, improved historic collections and increased visitation. These were team successes. I was the cheerleader and paper-pusher."

Jamie Eves (bottom right) hosts Eastern volunteers at the Mill Museum during the fall 2024 Day of Caring with the Center for Community Engagement.

As a lecturer at Eastern, Eves taught history for nearly two decades. His primary research topics included American environmental history and New England history.

"At one time or another, I taught almost all of (Eastern's) United States history courses, from colonial America through post-World War II, as well as Canadian history, world history, Western civilization and modern Europe,"he said.

Aaron Skarzenski, who recently succeeded Eves as director of the Mill Museum, acknowledged Eves's impact on the institution and the community, saying that Eves gave new meaning to the museum's mission while making Connecticut's industrial history accessible to modern perspectives.

"Jamie has been an incredible resource to the museum and the broader community of Willimantic, Windham and Connecticut as a whole," said Skarzenski. "During his time, he has contributed to the progressive nature of the museum's work, even as it seeks to maintain its core mission of transmitting and making the history of industrial Connecticut as an influential maker state accessible to contemporary audiences."

He continued: "The creation and conference of this award is as significant as it is timely as he steps down from the role of interim director. ... It's only right that an award be named in his honor."

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