Barham steps down at Museum

Town of Farragut staff and friends gathered in Farragut Museum Wednesday evening, Jan. 18, to bid farewell to Julia Barham. Town Historic Resources coordinator

Her last day with the Town was Thursday, Jan. 19.

“I’ve known her for three or four years,” Museum docent Henry Bird said. “She’s a great young lady. We’re going to miss her a lot.”

Barham recently accepted a position at Karns Elementary School, where she will be working in the office.

“I’m excited about this new chapter in my career, and I am looking forward to learning new things and meeting new people,” she said.

“I have had a wonderful experience working at the Farragut Museum for the past 14 years,” Barham added.

She first joined the Town June 25, 2008.

“I was hired as Museum coordinator,” Barham recalled. “I have always been in charge of running the Farragut Museum, which has included managing volunteers, installing exhibitions and many other things.

“My title has changed over the years, but my job has stayed the same,” she added. “My favorite aspects of my position have been installing exhibitions and working with my volunteers.

“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many of the people who started the Museum and many of the most knowledgeable historians from the community.”

Barham said she was grateful for “the opportunity to learn community history directly from those who grew up in this community and those who started the Town of Farragut. It was an invaluable experience and one I will not forget.

“So many of my wonderful volunteers have contributed their time and energy to this Museum over the years, and I hope to stay involved in a volunteer capacity in the future,” she added.

Before working for the Town, Barham was attending the University of Tusculum, where she graduated with a degree in museum studies in 2008.