Volunteer Profile: Keri Upton

--John Kennedy, Director of Museum Education and Public Outreach

When her husband arrived in Newport to attend the Naval War College, Keri Upton knew she wanted to keep busy. Attending the Spouses' Welcome Coffee at  the O'Club, she sought out opportunities to volunteer in the local area and  she chose two venues to which she divided her time. Fortunately, the Naval War College Museum was one of those chosen. Keri took charge of the photographic digitization project and became the cornerstone of the effort. As a retired naval officer, she brought great depth of knowledge that allowed her to create detailed labels for many of the photographs that had previously lacked identification data. She organized the approach and procedures that all volunteers were to use and saw to it that each volunteer was trained to the skill level needed to maintain the program. Not a fan of the cold, snowy winter we experienced this year, she nevertheless found her way to the museum and maintained her hours. She and her husband have now returned to Virginia with its warm weather, a new house, and the promise of many pleasant hours pursuing a golf ball. We wish them both the very best. She will be greatly missed.