The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is pleased to announce that John C. Rumm, Ph.D., an historian, archivist and expert on heritage will serve as the first Executive Director of the Catholic Heritage Center. The appointment takes effect immediately. The Catholic Heritage Center will be located at 320 Walnut Street in Philadelphia and is scheduled to open in late 2002.

Dr. Rumm served as an historian at the Smithsonian Institution on the Joseph Henry Papers Project in Washington D.C. from June 1986 to July 1993. In 1993, Dr. Rumm took on the position of Traveling Exhibits Coordinator and Project Director at the Smithsonian Institution. For the next four years, he planned, developed and managed exhibitions as they circulated to museums throughout the United States. During this time, Dr. Rumm also developed and taught courses in the Academic Studies Department of The Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C.

In 1997 Dr. Rumm moved to The History Factory in Chantilly Virginia as Senior Historian. Until 1999, he consulted on heritage, marketing and communications projects for clients that included corporations, trade groups and professional associations. In 1999, Dr. Rumm was appointed Senior Historian at History Associates Incorporated in Rockville, Maryland where he served until 2000. At that time, Dr. Rumm joined W. Atlee Burpee & Company in Warminster, Pennsylvania as Manager of Corporate Communications. During late 2000 and 2001, Dr. Rumm served as an independent consultant on heritage and communications for local, national and international clients.

Dr. Rumm graduated from Ohio State University in 1978 and completed his Master of Arts in American History and Museum Studies at the University of Delaware in 1980. He received a Ph.D. in American History at the University of Delaware in 1989.

Background – Catholic Heritage Center:
-Cardinal Bevilacqua announced creation of CHC at a news conference on March 7, 2001
-CHC is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose center for preservation and exhibition of Catholic art, history and culture
-first of its kind diocesan heritage center in the country
-building located at 320 Walnut Street, Philadelphia (purchased by Archdiocese in 1996)
-property adjacent to Old Saint Joseph's Church, Willings Alley, founded in 1733
-six floors plus rooftop reception area – will house orientation theater, café, gift shop, special exhibits gallery, core exhibit gallery, archival storage and archival library and research center
-anticipated opening date – late 2002
-visit www.catholicheritage-phl.org

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747