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Staff Bios
Jeffrey A. Drobney — Kennesaw Director of Recreation and Culture
Dr. Jeffrey A. Drobney serves as Director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History and as the Director of the Kennesaw Museum Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and has an extensive background in public history. Prior to becoming Director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History he worked with numerous local, state, and federal agencies on a variety of public and private projects.
Jennifer Legates — Director of Education
Jennifer Legates has worked in museums for more than 10 years and brings with her a wealth of knowledge of museum education. Most recently, she was the Director of Education at the historic Dumbarton House Museum in Washington, DC. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of Education at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, developing education programs and overseeing the museum’s volunteer program. She has worked in museum education and interpretation relating to the Civil War at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, Virginia, as well as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Legates has been a Civil War living historian for more than 15 years, conducting public programs and participating in large-scale living history events.
Mike Bearrow — Curator
Mike Bearrow has been working for the Southern Museum since it was known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. He began as a front ticketing office employee in 1999, then was named assistant curator in 2003 after completing his bachelor’s degree in history from Kennesaw State University. He became curator in 2006.
Bearrow is a lifelong Civil War enthusiast and became a serious re-enactor in 1998. Though a born and bred Southerner, Bearrow has participated as both a Union and Confederate soldier.
Ava Wilkey — Registrar/Curator
Ava Wilkey is the Registrar/ Curator responsible for collections care and processing since 2006. A love of history spurred her to leave the business world and pursue a career she truly loved, history. She received her BA in History and Public History certification from Kennesaw State University in 2004. A former Museum Collection manager at the Atlanta History Center she brings valuable experience on moving large collections and installing several major exhibitions. The team effort of Curator’s resulted in the museum’s first major in-house exhibition, “Portraits in Gray: A Civil War Photography Exhibition” that will begin traveling in late 2008. Her latest efforts will result in another exhibition, “A Gift to our Greatest Generation: Georgia’s French Gratitude Boxcar.” Wilkey is an active member of the Southeastern Registrars Association, Society for Women and the Civil War and the Civil War Roundtable of Atlanta. She is also a guest lecturer on Collections Management topics for undergraduate and graduate university classes.
Harper C. Harris — Lead Interpreter
Harper C. Harris was born in Cobb County, Georgia. He has worked for the Southern Museum since it was the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. His passion for history is evident in the spirited Civil War programs and tours he gives on soldiers' lives and the Great Locomotive Chase. His more than 36 years as a re-enactor give him a unique perspective on history.
Sallie Loy — Senior Archivist
Sallie Loy is the senior archivist working with the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History Archives and Library since 2001 after receiving her BA/History and Certificate of Public History from Kennesaw State University. She currently serves on the Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Meeting Planning and Georgia Archives Week Planning Committees. Sallie is also co-author of three Arcadia books using the archival materials housed in the SMCW&LH Archives and Library, “The Southern Railway”, “Southern Railway: Further Recollections”, and “Images of America: Kennesaw”.
