By LMHS Staff

For Elizabeth Laurent, growing up in an old Alexandria, Virginia, house filled with objects originally owned by other people, left its lasting mark. After studying history and art history at Williams College, Elizabeth completed her MA at the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in Early American Culture. Trained as a curator, she has worked with many regional history organizations (Cliveden, Stenton, Lemon Hill, Grundy Mansion, Founder’s Hall at Girard College, Chester County History Center, Fairmount Water Works, Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University) and is now a senior external advisor with Drexel’s Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships.

What is your favorite Lower Merion/Narberth memory? 
A highlight of recent years was attending Sunday morning services at Ardmore’s Zion Baptist Church, at the kind invitation of Zion parishioner and my fellow LMHS trustee Craig Whitney. Having driven past Zion for many years, it was deeply moving to join the congregation as they celebrated their 125th anniversary. Thank you, Craig!

How long have you lived in Lower Merion/Narberth? In which community?
In 2000, my family moved from the Haverford Township side of Ardmore to Merion Station just before our twins started kindergarten at Cynwyd Elementary.

Why do you want to serve on the board of the Society?
I am interested in more fully entwining the Society with the lives of Lower Merion students and residents. Having commuted to work with great regional buildings and collections, it is puzzling to reflect that after 20+ years of living nearby, before joining the LMHS Board I entered the Academy Building only once. I am eager to explore the best strategies for the Society’s meaningful outreach to establish a stronger community presence.