Shelly McElroy is the 2022 Historian in Residence

2022 Historian in Residence

Shelly McElroy is the curator of Pioneer Acres Museum in Irricana, Alberta. Pioneer Acres Museum is one of the largest agricultural and industrial history museums in Alberta with a collection of thousands of artifacts. Shelly has a background in education, agriculture, counselling, and museums. Her primary field is the natural grass pasture behind the museum where she works that is full of crocuses, meadowlarks, and the occasional unwelcome skunk.

About Shelly’s research:

Shelly McElroy thinks we are happiest when we spend time in nature, take daily walks, have moments to reflect, and find stories that give us context, meaning, and hope. What can we learn from the past that can help us live more appreciative and thoughtful lives today? Shelly will explore how agriculture shaped life in Calgary and area in the early twentieth century (and how it still does). Calgarians are invited to hang out as Shelly demos the very glamourous work involved in running a museum – making phone calls, having thirty-five browser tabs open on a computer and figuring out what kinds of ant traps work best. She will share her day-in-the-life experiences as a curator at a rural museum and create talks and tours so that we can spend time together. Junior curators are welcome! Lastly, the role of museums is changing, and we will reflect on their significance as we move into the future.

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The Historian in Residence is presented in partnership with Calgary Public Library.