On this episode of Banking on KC, Susan Stanton, Interim Executive Director of The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, joins host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how the museum’s unique collections help visitors understand childhood development, culture and history through the lens of toys and miniatures.
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Susan Stanton Final Transcript
Kelly Scanlon: Welcome to Banking on KC. I'm your host, Kelly Scanlon. Thank you for joining us. With us on this episode is Susan Stanton, the Interim Executive Director of the National Toy and Miniature Museum. Welcome, Susan.
Susan Stanton: Thank you.
Kelly Scanlon: You know you are well known for your strategic leadership across major companies and H and R Block, I'm thinking of Pay Less Cash Center, some of the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. And you've recently transitioned from board member of the museum to its interim executive director. So given that vast experience, what insights does that collective service and experience give you as you start this new role?
Susan Stanton: Well, you know, there's a lot of things that are very similar across all those experiences, and one of the main things is to understand what's unique, what's really special about the enterprise that you're working with. The toy miniature museum is, special, not just in Kansas City, but nationally. I mean with just an amazing collection, wonderful outreach, and great accessibility.
I think the other thing that's very similar across all these enterprises is that it's relationships that count. So you know, relationships with your clients or your customers or your visitors, relationships with your vendors or your donors, relationships with your colleagues and your team members. I mean, all good experiences and enterprises are built around people and people are about relationships.
Kelly Scanlon: That's so true, and it's so universal, which I believe when we were talking earlier, this is the eighth interim position that you have held in addition to all of the corporate experience.
Susan Stanton: It's been my, my second, second career. And, it's been wonderful.
I mean, I've learned so much about our city and met, you know, amazing people that I still connect with
Kelly Scanlon: the museum. It began in 1982, perhaps a little more recently than people might think. So it was 1982. So talk to us about how it got started, why it got started, and how it's evolved into this really preeminent, museum that's not just only recognized here, but nationally.
Susan Stanton: Well, there were two individuals, women. And I'll talk about women a lot as in our conversation, Barbara Marshall and Mary Harris Francis, who each individually had different kinds of collections. Uh, Barbara was a collector of fine art, uh, miniatures. And she even commissioned things. She didn't just collect, she commissioned.
Kelly Scanlon: Okay, so she had them made for her personal collection. Okay.
Susan Stanton: Yes. And the miniatures are really fine art. Mary Harris Francis was a collector of toys and she loved the historical significance and the stories that toys told. And they were friends, but they had different kinds of collections at some point.
You know, I, I don't know. The story is their husband said they needed to find someplace 'cause there was too much sitting at their homes. Now I think the story, while it makes us smile, diminishes the impact and the motivation of those two women because they were both about excellence and they were both about sharing and their drive to share their love for their toys and their miniatures.
Drove them to decide they needed to put their collections together and have a place where others could share and see and experience it. And so that's what drove them to the museum.
Kelly Scanlon: People might not think about it, but toys really do reflect a broader cultural. Seen, uh, you know, our, our cultural values, uh, even technological shifts are reflected in our toys.
So talk to us about, uh, how the museum's toys do reflect that. And there's one in particular called Toys from the Attic, Stories of an American Childhood. Perhaps you can weave that into it too.
Susan Stanton: Well, Toys From the Attic, what it really does is illustrate through toys, what they teach children. So. The the first kind of toys that children get when they're infants, you know, the snuggles and the little dolls and your first stuffed animal.
It's all about comfort, but then children progress, and then it becomes about maybe learning more about yourself, and then you move to toys. That might be what it's like to be a grownup. So you might have a toy where you're pretending you're a grownup. True, true. And then you might move to the world around you.
And so Toys in the Attic kind of takes people through by looking at these different stages, how toys play this important role in a child's development in terms of, you know, providing comfort, understanding themselves. Pretending they're gonna be a grownup and what's that, what that's like. And then looking at the bigger world.
So, you know, it's really a fascinating way to think about how toys play into early childhood development. Which is another area of interest of mine.
Kelly Scanlon: Yes. And so, so when you talk about toys and the fact that they are so integral, they're not just entertainment for children. They, they play an integral role in, in their development.
And the toys themselves though, you talk about, imagine what it would be like as an adult. Do those. Figures change over time. For example, maybe in some period it was a firefighter in another period it's a computer scientist. I don't know.
Susan Stanton: Yes, absolutely. It definitely reflects society and, and you know, we have a, an, uh, areas we call iconic toys and it kind of looks at toys from the 1950s and it every kind of decade through the early two thousands and, um.
You know, there's similarities in the 1950s, there's an erector set. Oh yes. But, you know, in the two thousands it's uh, a much more complicated, but still about building, uh, helping a child develop, you know, fine motor and tactical skills, um, you know, engineering things. So there, there are clearly themes, but, how they're represented.. not just represented, but how we, we dealt with that has changed as technology and materials and digital kinds of things that have come to the forefront.
Kelly Scanlon: Can you give us a few examples of some of the most iconic pieces, the ones you consider the most iconic there at the museum?
Susan Stanton: Well, in the miniatures, one of the additions that we had after we made some renovations in 2022, that's called the miniature maze. It has a miniature museum. Where you can see artwork in, you know, very fine scale, you know, one to 12. There's also in this miniature museum, an entryway, it's not the Nelson, but it's based on, the artist based it on a number of museums, uh, the perspective of the visitor.
You're kind of inside and you're looking into this atrium that's got Greek and Roman columns. Then you see the door to the exterior of this building, and through that door you can see the skyline of Kansas City. Wow. There are lots of little wonder moments, I think, in the miniature area because if you have to look real close and then you see these things that, you know, if you're not really observant, you miss, there's a classroom for architecture with these tiny.
Intricate instruments that architects might use. So the miniature gallery has sections like that that are just awe inspiring. The toys which are on our second floor are more likely to make you smile and laugh because they bring back memories. Or you'll see intergenerational families there, you know, maybe three generations.
And grandma will talk about that was her doll. And then. You know, her granddaughter might look at her doll and, uh, it, you know, it's just. It's, it's just wonderful.
Kelly Scanlon: When you talked about the miniatures, one of the things that I saw on the website, you can actually download patterns and, and like teachers can lead their children in the classroom through making some of these different yes pieces.
Susan Stanton: It's really fascinating and, and we have an area called the artist Studio. So it's the miniature artist studio. And you can see how these are made. Uh, you can try a couple things yourself. We have a, a grandfather clock that would be, uh, in the, the appropriate scale for fine scale miniatures, and the visitor can try.
With little tweezers to attach the um, hour hand and the minute hand to this grandfather clock so you can get a sense, experiential sense of what it's like to work at that scale with that kind of fine art.
Kelly Scanlon: Yeah. And you mentioned the 12 to one, if I remember right. That means that for every 12 inches of an actual piece, it's one inch in the miniature Approximately.
Susan Stanton: Yes. That's what most of ours are. I think there are a few that are even. More than that, you know, maybe 32 to one. But the fine art, that scale is 12 to one.
Kelly Scanlon: This all got started with two women, uh, collecting and finding a place to share it with others. But now the collection has grown to 93,000 pieces, and I think about 22,000 are the miniatures and the others the balances for the toys. That's a lot of pieces. Uh, as it continues to grow. How does the museum curate, choose which ones will be accepted, and importantly, the stories they're gonna tell for the different generations you just mentioned that are gonna come in and visit?
Susan Stanton: Well, we have two curators, one for collections for the objects, and one for a learning and engagement.
So Amy McKune and Madeline Rislow and they work together. So it's all about, uh, what pieces, what objects are missing in terms of. Having from, for the miniatures, uh, an appropriate representation of the work that exists. Barbara Marshall used to commission works. That's a way in which to fill gaps. Right.
And then, Madeline in working in our, as a curator of learning engagement. That's a little more about the storytelling and how do we help our community and our visitors understand themselves, the world they live in, the world they don't live in. So how do we expose them to things that may not be part of their, their current experience?
One of our, uh, more recent exhibits, unfortunately it's not there now, it's closed with, um. Uh, black Dolls and, you know, we had, um, people tell their stories about the Black Dolls that were in the exhibit and that exposed people who may never have heard those stories before, right to the stories of others.
Kelly Scanlon: Yeah. What is the oldest piece that you have there?
Susan Stanton: Well, I learned the other day on a quick tour with, with our curator, Amy, that the oldest doll we have is from 1690.
Kelly Scanlon: Really? Yes. And so can you tell us a little bit about that story, how you acquired what it is,
Susan Stanton: and how you acquired it? Well, we acquired it recently.
Um, through a generous donation of a private donor. Yeah. I know it's from England, but I don't know all the provenance or any of that. Mm-hmm. But, um, she's lovely. She's, she's probably 16 inches tall. She's, um, on exhibit now in our doll gallery,
Kelly Scanlon: but that's about what, 350 years old?
Susan Stanton: Yes, yes. That was our oldest one.
That is amazing. Around 1690.
Kelly Scanlon: Now you've been talking about the miniatures and you've been talking about the toys and, and the two collectors who. Brought all of this forward. How, how did they compliment each other? Some people might go, okay, miniatures toys, how, how do
Susan Stanton: the two work together to say that they compliment each other is the correct term, because they're not a alike, I mean, the miniatures are fine art and the toys, of course, it's, it's a collection of historical objects.
You do see a number of similarities or things where they connect. I mean, you will see. Miniature houses, homes. Then we have a lot of Dollhouse, amazing collection of doll houses, so how people lived in different era. And so those conversations around those kind of pieces will be very similar in the miniatures we have.
So I think I mentioned earlier, there's an architect classroom. So how people studied, what they learned. We also have, uh, an art deco jewelry store. Then of course, in the toys you've got lots of Barbies with jewelry and things like that. So there are things that can be part of a shared conversation. But they are different.
Kelly Scanlon: Let's go to today's toys. How do you see them evolving, especially for children who are used to, you know, I guess you'd call them digitally native children because they're so used to, uh, pushing buttons and, and having things respond to them instead of perhaps having to use their imagination with a doll That just looked like a, a little human, you know? And you had to make up all the things and use your imagination and, and pretend. So, so how do you see, um, these toys evolving in order to capture the attention of digitally native children or perhaps to do just the opposite, to teach them to toys that teach them to use their imagination?
Susan Stanton: Yeah, it's, I, I think it's a dilemma and I am not totally not an expert on. Today's digital toys. I mean, I observe them, but, uh, early childhood has said, and there's lots of science behind this play, and that's the verb for toys, you know, play is, is will provide. Physical, cognitive and social and emotional benefits for childhood development?
My concern is that in the digital world of toys, um, the cognitive is clearly there. The physical, probably not as much. I think they're advanced ones where, you know, you do a, a, a scavenger hunt with a digital narrator or something. But a lot of those highly advanced digital toys are only for high income because they're very expensive.
And I, I get very concerned about how the digital toys serve the emotional social needs. I look at my, my nephew and niece's children, so two generations down, and what I notice is that those digital toys, there's always a scoring or a red or green. Or a thumbs up, thumbs down. It's very much a win or lose.
It's not about exploring, it's not about discovery. And so that concerns me. And it also, if you don't have a playmate, you know I mentioned at the beginning so much about what's common in these enterprises is relationships is key. And, and the digital toys don't provide that. I mean, they, they have a programmed response, but that's not how real people know.
Kelly Scanlon: We hope not anyway.
Yeah. But no, that, that, that's true. There's, you learn skills of give and take compromise, sharing all kinds of different things when you have a playmate, as you said. So it'll be interesting to see how, how that all evolves. I think it was about 10 years ago, uh, the museum underwent a major, nearly $11 million renovation, uh, big national campaign.
It created new gallery experiences and, and other programs. How have those changes enriched the storytelling and the visitor interaction for,
Susan Stanton: well, that campaign, which was in like. 20 14, 20 15 really brought a lot more interpretation to the museum. So it wasn't just a display of the collections, but it really helped tell the story.
We added some, uh, segments like the artist gallery where it explained how miniatures are made. So it, it really changed the visitor experience that they were not just observing. But there was more experiential and more learning going on, and then we just expanded so we could actually show more of the collections and, you know, just make a, a more comfortable visitor experience.
Kelly Scanlon: Well, yeah, and we haven't really talked about, um, the exhibits that are not permanent. You do have a rotating group of exhibits, so gave you probably more space for that as well.
Susan Stanton: Yes. In 2014 we added, um, a large, uh, space that we can use for rotating exhibits on our second floor around toys. And more recently.
We had a smaller campaign in 2022 and we added another, uh, rotating gallery on our first floor. We just finished closing. The local artists go miniature in that gallery. And so that allowed us to allow, we, we had, I made this number may be wrong, but about 18 local artists who did miniature work and they would, this, this was a very unique opportunity for their work to be shown.
In a museum of this scale and importance. Um, and so having that gallery space to be able to do that, you know, was really. Wonderful.
Kelly Scanlon: You mentioned a little bit about the schools earlier, your educational partnerships with KC Youth organizations. Talk with us about that outreach.
Susan Stanton: Well, it's, uh, with, you know, a lot of the traditional partners, the school districts, we have lots of field trips that will come in, different youth serving organizations, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts.
All those kind of traditional, kind of a burgeoning group that we see now are homeschoolers Sure. Mm-hmm. Who, um, you know, kind of collaborate and do activities together. One of our really interesting programs right now is called Story Connections, and that serves individuals who are, uh, suffering from memory loss and their caregivers.
We do it both onsite. Then we have story connections on the go. Right now we partner with the Johnson County Library. This uses toys and that creates memories and conversation. And Joy, you know, it's just a wonderful program using the toy collection. Uh, and we partner in, in the design of it with the Alzheimer's Association.
So it's that kind of outreach, using the collection in ways that probably we're never envisioned. But, you know, with the professional staff, with the curators that we have, they understand how. We can leverage and use this amazing asset that we have to bring even more benefit to our community.
Kelly Scanlon: Yeah, and I'm glad you pointed out, uh, that last program because when I asked you the question, I really was thinking about, okay, toys and children, you're outreaching to the schools.
But that outreach, as you said, in ways that you might never expect, how, how the value that you can bring to certain, uh, parts of the population. Um, we mentioned some of the different programs and the, the rotating exhibits and, and so forth, but you also have seasonal type programs or, or special programs that occur within given timeframes.
Talk to us about those.
Susan Stanton: Yeah, I mean, summer is a wonderful time to come visit. Um, we have, uh, the second Sunday, every, every month is free. Uh, we have a summer camp in July, art of the Imagination, which will be, uh, connected to or themed to the Nostalgia Awakens. We have workshops for first and second graders, workshops for teenagers.
Uh, we'll have a series of, uh, talks by a local. But nationally prominent Star Wars collector, um, on the third Thursday of July, August and September. So we have a very busy calendar.
Kelly Scanlon: Yeah. And all of these take place in that beautiful building. Tell us about, I'd be remiss if we didn't talk about that. I think that's why I thought it was older than 1982 is because I always picture Yes.
Where you're located when I think about it.
Susan Stanton: So that was the Truman, uh, home mansion. And I have to say, one of my. Connections. And why I was always a little interested is that my mother grew up about five blocks from there. Oh, okay. She grew up at 57th and Oak and we're located at 52nd and Oak, and she grew up, um, when the TOS lived there.
One of the kind of infamous things that happened there, uh, was that for a couple years when Mrs. Turman went to Europe, um. Nel Donnelley. Oh yes. Of Nelly Don.
Kelly Scanlon: Mm-hmm.
Susan Stanton: Uh, rented the home, lived there, and she was, uh, abducted along with her chaperone. Yes. My mother was down the street and she was 12 years old, I think, at the time.
So she remembered it.
Kelly Scanlon: Yeah. That involved James A. Reed. Yes. Was now most the road. Yes, it's a road. Yes. Which it is, but yeah.
Susan Stanton: And when my mother, during my mother's later years, she's deceased now. That's one of the places she liked me to take her. So we would go there. She particularly loved the miniatures and, and we would go and at, you know, towards the end she was in a wheelchair.
She loved the miniatures, but it just brought her great memories of course. 'cause we would go buy her home and she remembered when the family lived there and mm-hmm. All the excitement when, you know, nail Donnelley got abducted. So, you know, it was just, I've lived here my entire life and it was just kind of a special.
Special memory and connection to my family for me. So
Kelly Scanlon: aside from the memories, the personal memories, um, what draws you to the toy and miniature museum and what continues to inspire you about it today?
Susan Stanton: Well, unlike other physicians that I've held, one of the things that's been very nice is that I can leave my office and take 20 steps and go outside.
Go through a door and see all these people enjoying the museum. I mean, it's wonderful feedback. It's very motivating. And you know, I just love that experience. Uh, and it's very easy to do, you know, so many times. When your leadership roles, you're locked away in an office kind of and stuck to a computer screen and, uh, this really helps you connect with why you're there.
I guess the other thing is, you know, I, as a board member, you have, you buy into the mission, you believe in the mission, but when you have an opportunity to sit behind a desk, you get to appreciate the team that's working on it in a different way. And so, you know, the opportunity to partner with those people and help them.
Be successful in making sure the museum moves forward is, you know, very, very rewarding.
Kelly Scanlon: For all of our listeners who have not been there, or maybe you've been there a long time ago and wanna go back, talk to us about when you're open, you're there at 52nd and Oak, when are you open? What are your hours?
And uh, like I said, there's all kinds of fun things on your website too. So tell us about how to access those.
Susan Stanton: We are open. We are open every day except Tuesday, 10 to four. And again, our second Sundays every month are free. Uh, we would love to have people come visit. We had, we do have docent tours. You can see the schedule of those on our website, which is toy and miniature museum.org.
It is long, but that's the website and we just have a, a lot of things going on. I would almost encourage people to plan two visits because the miniatures will just draw you in and then you realize, oh my gosh, I don't need more time. Right. And I haven't even seen the choice. So you might even. Wanna plan two visits.
Kelly Scanlon: That's really a good point because I read on the website that you should plan for at least three hours, but sometimes when you have small children, three hours can be a long time. So two di divided between toys and miniature. That's a great idea.
Susan Stanton: Although we did have, there was a, a couple mothers and. I think there were five children there yesterday and they did the miniatures and then they went outside.
We have a beautiful lawn, and they had snacks and their lunch, and then they came back in and did the toys in the afternoon. They were recharged
Kelly Scanlon: and ready to go again. Well, Susan, thank you so much for coming and sharing about this wonderful gem that we have here in Kansas City and, and for stepping up and taking over this interim role as, uh, as you look for in new direct.
Um, really appreciate that and for all of the different positions you have held to really raise Kansas City's profile and the Kansas City community.
Susan Stanton: Well, thank you for having me. It's been great.
Joe Close: This is Joe Close, president of Country Club Bank. Thank you to Susan Stanton for being our guest on this episode of Banking on KC. From highlighting the vision of founders Barbara Marshall and Mary Harris Francis to exploring how toys and miniatures help us understand childhood development, historical shifts and cultural values.
Susan reminded us that this museum is more than a collection. It's a storytelling space that inspires curiosity across all generations. Whether it's a Star Wars action figure or a one inch grandfather clock. The museum connects us to memory, imagination, and innovation. At Country Club Bank, we understand the value that cultural institutions bring to a region.
Places like the National Toy and Miniature Museum do more than preserve history. They create educational opportunities, attract tourism and foster civic pride, showcasing organizations that enhance Kansas City's identity and economy as part of our mission as a community-focused bank. Thanks for tuning in this week. We're Banking on You, Kansas City Country. Club Bank -Member FDIC.