Each month, we ask a staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and other personal tidbits. As we observe a month full of Mouse Madness, we'd like to introduce you to someone who gets up close and personal with Mickey and thousands of the artifacts in our collections on a daily basis... so today, we're asking Brenda Litzinger... what do YOU do??
WDFM: What is your title and what do YOU do here at The Walt Disney Family Museum? My title is Associate Registrar and I have the pleasure of managing and caring for the permanent collection, which contains over 20,000 objects. I’m also responsible for processing all new acquisitions. This includes unpacking, cataloguing and examining the condition of everything that comes into the collection. It’s fun, but requires a great attention to detail.
What is your fondest Disney memory OR what is your favorite gallery at the Walt Disney Museum and why?
It’s difficult to choose a favorite. I love that the Theater Gallery hosts exciting temporary exhibitions. The current exhibit is Between Frames: The Magic of Stop Motion Animation. I had always appreciated the artistry of stop motion films, but the exhibit taught me a lot more about the process and turned me into a major fan!
How does your job communicate and interpret the legacy of Walt Disney?
In caring for the collection, I work to ensure that the objects related to Walt’s life and the early days of the Disney Studio are documented and preserved in perpetuity. The collection illustrates Walt’s inspiring personal story, and my role in bringing these objects to the public helps propel his legacy.
Describe your workspace OR your favorite item on your desk:
My desk has accumulated a lot of little trinkets and keepsakes. The oldest thing I have is a “Brenda” nametag from the 30-year anniversary of Disneyland. I’ve never worked at the park, but a neighbor gave it to me when I was younger and I held onto it. Maybe I sensed my work would someday relate to Disney…
Tell us a little known fact about you!
I love going to see live comedy. There is a great local scene here in San Francisco so I try to make it out to a couple of stand-up shows each month.