Zlokas Rapolla standing in front of a recreation of Guy Clark's workshop that she and her team put together in 2019. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla.
alumni
At a 2023 event celebrating Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum staff accomplishments. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla.

For the past 9 years, Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla has worked at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Rapolla, a 2015 Virginia Tech M.A. History graduate, now holds the position of Registrar and Manager of Collection Access at the Museum.

Rapolla frequently uses many of the skills she honed during her graduate career in her current role at the museum and expressed that what she learned has truly helped her in her career.

“My time balancing coursework, assistantship duties, and thesis research was instrumental in learning how to balance exhibition, curatorial, donor communication, and collections work in a fast-paced museum environment,” said Rapolla. “Just like in the M.A. program, each aspect requires a different type of critical thinking and relationship-building.”

During her time in the History Department’s graduate program, Rapolla also earned the Public History Certificate. “The public history program provided a valuable understanding of museum theory, as well as other tangible skills,” said Rapolla.

In 2014, she completed her internship requirement at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In addition to finding plenty of networking opportunities, Rapolla discovered that she really enjoyed working in a large, fast-paced museum environment.

Now, Rapolla is on the other side of the internship process: she manages the Collections Graduate Internship at the Museum. “I find it very rewarding to see how an intern’s skills, interests, and goals can transform over a twelve-week period,” she said.

To learn more about Rapolla’s work at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, read the full Q&A conversation below!

alumni on a career panel
Posing in front of the Outlaws and Armadillos exhibit she helped install in 2018 as a Gallery Tech/Curatorial Assistant. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla.
alum at an annual event
Presenting on a panel about careers in museum services in 2022. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla.
Photo of a 2022 annual report that included a feature on collections work and shows Zlokas Rapolla unpacking a custom-made electric guitar, owned and played by Joe Ely.
A 2022 annual report included a feature on collections work and shows Rapolla unpacking a custom-made electric guitar. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Zlokas Rapolla.

What is your day-to-day life like as a public historian?
Even after nine years at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, it still feels like no two days are the same! I might spend one day managing an artifact photoshoot for an upcoming exhibition book, and the next day packing artifacts in a warehouse. Other days include meetings as part of our Collections Committee, fielding donation offers, cataloging new loans and donations, hiring art handlers, and placing artifacts on exhibition -- sometimes all in the same day!

What is something you've done in your current role that you're especially proud of? 
In 2024, I managed logistics of safely transporting the Marty Stuart collection from Philadelphia, Mississippi, to Nashville. Marty’s collection comprises not only artifacts from his own illustrious career, but also features many iconic pieces from artists such as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Hank Williams. Transporting a large collection —- 2 full semi-trucks —- of costumes, manuscripts, instruments, and artwork involved hands-on packing, coordinating insurance policies, securing climate-controlled trucks, and opportunities for problem-solving along the way. The experience was capped off by sharing the story on The Today Show!

What are your favorite aspects of your job, and what are the most challenging? 
I love how varied and fast-paced the work can be, which is often also the most challenging! It’s important to stay organized and be ready for unplanned opportunities.

What is the most rewarding aspect of managing the Collections Graduate Internship? What advice do you have for students who may be interested in pursuing work in public history? 
I find it very rewarding to see how an intern’s skills, interests, and goals can transform over a twelve-week period. Some interns want to vary their experiences and step away with an unexpected new career goal, while others use the time to build new proficiencies. I also love seeing my interns land their dream jobs, often right at home at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum!

I would advise students to try to vary their internship, volunteering, and other field experiences. If you are interested in museum work, try volunteering at a small museum where you can get your (gloved) hands processing an archival collection, while also learning about their education and public programs. Don’t be afraid to reach out to public historians to ask for informational interviews, a job shadow, or simply to be kept in mind for future opportunities. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 
When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling with my husband, spending time with our rescue dog, Cannoli, and volunteering (Ut Prosim!) as Chair of the Next Chapter Society for the Nashville Public Library Foundation.