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Museum and Visitor Center
of the Bastrop County Historical Society

About Us: Our Staff

Barbara Vana - Museum Administrator
Born in Hallettsville, Texas, Barbara received a B.A. in History from Lamar University and taught Texas History for 31 years in the Spring Branch Independent School District.   Barbara and her husband, Alex, retired to Bastrop in 2001.  She has been the Museum Administrator for eight years, responsible for museum operations including accounting functions, museum and bus tours, general correspondence, press releases, quarterly meetings, and preparing the membership newsletter.  She also serves as Secretary to the Board of Trustees.     

Stephanie Peterson - Archivist
Stephanie Peterson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas and was owner of her own custom picture framing business, specializing in acid-free and preservation materials. She was a volunteer at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas (preservation and preparation department), installed art and repaired objects for the Hyder Collection at Tarlton Law Library (University of Texas), and prepared original documents and photographs for display at the O. Henry Museum in Austin. Stephanie's many talents include hanging sheetrock, trim carpentry, landscaping, light plumbing and electrical work.

Howard New - Museum Weekend Staff
Howard, a Bastrop County native, retired from the navy as a Chief Petty Officer and later attended  Pensacola Junior College and North West Florida University.  He worked for the Civil Service, retiring as supervisor of man-hour cost accounting for the Naval Air Rework Facility.  After returning home, Howard began genealogy research and has become very familiar with all the old records at the court houses of Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales, Lee, and Fayette Counties.  He has also researched and photographed newspapers and historical documents for inclusion on the US GenWeb genealogy website.  Howard does genealogy research for individuals who contact the museum by letter or email, and is available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to assist those who come to the museum to search our extensive family files.

Cindye Wolford, Director, Old Town Visitor Center
Cindye earned a bachelors degree in Journalism with minors in business and art from Angelo State University in 1977. During her 27-year career with GTE/Verizon, she managed production of brochures and served as editor of five award-winning publications including Forum Magazine, targeted to large business customers. Awards include the GTE President's Individual Champion Award and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill. In 1994, Cindye served as the director of the Dallas Chapter IABC Bronze Quill Awards Program, which was deemed the most successful in the organization's history. Cindye currently oversees the operation of the Visitor Center while compiling data pertaining to local tourism and developing print media, from shopping and event guides to newspaper and magazine ads and articles, to promote the area.