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Grosse Pointe
Historical Society
established 1945
Winter 2009
Vol. 26, No.1
Welcome Maureen Devine, New Executive Director
T
he Board of Trustees of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society is
excited to announce its new Executive Director, Maureen
Devine. Devine, a native Grosse Pointer, has an extensive
background in caring for art and historical collections, including
10 years at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House starting in 1988. Most
recently working in Chicago as a consultant curator to McCormick
Place, Chicago’s premier convention center, and as associate exhibit
curator for The Glass Experience at the Museum of Science and
Industry, Devine brings more than 20 years experience organizing
and administering museum collections, as well as fundraising and
community relations.
“Maureen has roots in the community and world-class education and
experience,” said Stuart Grigg, president of the Society. “She has the
proven ability to envision our future from a strategic level and to help the Grosse Pointe Historical Society take
its next step toward growth and goals.”
Devine started out as an artist who received her BFA in printmaking from Western Michigan University. She later
focused on art history for her MA from Wayne State University and has participated in several professional
development programs on museum leadership and collecting. She lives in Detroit with her husband, Larry
Baranski, Director of Public Programs at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
As head curator at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Devine was responsible for the care and documentation of
the art and historical collections, and was involved with historic preservation and public programming. She left
there in 1998 and joined Driehaus Capital Management in Chicago as art curator. Driehaus’ founder owns several
historic buildings and an exceptional 19th century fine and decorative art collection. She was responsible for the
care, research, display and documentation of the corporate and private collections in the Chicago headquarters,
international offices, and private residences, as well as historic preservation of several historic structures.
“The legacy of Grosse Pointe represents a wealth of interesting social history and architecture relating to our
community, as well as to the City of Detroit. This heritage reaches back to the Native American presence, to
French ribbon farms, to the great houses, the auto industry, and now the new millennium. I look forward to
preserving, sharing and celebrating this history,” said Devine.
Wilkinson Foundation Supports Further Digitizing, City Survey
Digitizing the collection of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society will continue as
planned thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Wilkinson Foundation, endowed by
Grosse Pointe residents Warren and Mireille Wilkinson. Artwork, photos, docu-
ments, books, and maps will be scanned and then made available on the
Society’s Web site, www.gphistorical.org, through an on-line search engine, for
research. Additional Web galleries and exhibits may also be added. To date, the
Web site has 15 online exhibits.
A portion of the grant funding is designated for continuation of a survey of the
“built environment” of the City of Grosse Pointe. This study was begun by
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