The Key West Art & Historical Society was established in 1949. At that time, KWAHS operated the East Martello Fort with a strictly volunteer staff. Today KWAHS oversees three of the most important historic museums in Key West, relying on an impressive group of volunteers and a professional staff of 20.
Just as in the beginning, KWAHS upholds its mission "to promote the humanities, art and history of the Florida Keys by educating the public, and by collecting, preserving and exhibiting significant art, artifacts and historical properties".
BOARD MEMBERS Shirrel Rhoades – President Donald Lowe – 1st VP Gordon Brown – Secretary Jody Carlson –Treasurer Jerry Cash David Eyer Lynda Frechette Kerry Shelby William Wright Roberta Fine Ann Hurlock Lee Garrison STAFF Executive Director, Claudia Pennington, ext. 11 cpennington@kwahs.org Director of Programs, Gerri Sidoti, ext. 12 - gsidoti@kwahs.org CFO, Kathleen Moody, ext. 16 - kmoody@kwahs.org Public Relations, communications@kwahs.org Curator, Norman Aberle, ext. 14 - naberle@kwahs.org WebMaster, Jane Rohrschneider, ext. 29 - keywestjane@kwahs.org Education Coordinator, Suzanne Pereira, ext. 27 - spereira@kwahs.org Museum Stores Manager, Linda Hardy, ext. 10 - MuseumStore@kwahs.org Reception and Custom Gift Shop, Danny Marrah, John Johnson, ext. 18 Lighthouse Store Personnel, Nancy Harris, Mary Lou (ML) McCarthy, Carolyn Ferguson East Martello Store Personnel, Jo Cooper, and Irene Loeber.