History in the Family: Sisters Making Their Mark in Museums and Archives

Like many siblings, Phoebe and Sophie Cos grew up with shared interests and values. So perhaps it’s no surprise to outside observers that they both ended up in the GLAM sector—industry shorthand for galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. That outcome, however, was far from inevitable. Phoebe explored engineering, teaching, and publishing before landing in museums. Sophie initially resisted the field altogether, finding early public-facing roles to be not quite for her and only later finding herself drawn to the behind-the-scenes work of archives.

The Cos sisters were raised in Rochester, New York, and both studied history as undergraduates, Phoebe at Mount Holyoke College and Sophie at Case Western Reserve University, before moving on to graduate school. Phoebe earned a master’s in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and is now coordinator of museum visits and outreach at the New Britain Museum of American Art in Connecticut, where she develops tours, programs, and community-facing initiatives. Sophie completed dual master’s degrees in history and library science at Simmons University, and today works as an archivist at Historic New England’s Library and Archives.

After spotting them together at the 2025 Historic New England Summit in New Haven, Connecticut, comparing notes over donuts, we were intrigued to learn they’d both ended up in the cultural heritage sector in New England and asked them to tell us more about how they got here.

Did you both always know you wanted to work in museums, libraries, or archives?

Phoebe: I did not. For most of high school I thought I wanted to be an engineer, then an English teacher, and then work in publishing. It wasn’t until interning at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester, New York, my senior year of high school and taking an amazing history class my sophomore year of college that I actually considered museums as a job.

I’m not surprised Sophie went into the archiving field at all though! When she was eight years old, she catalogued all of our chapter books that all lived on a big bookshelf in her room. She made us all library cards to check out the books, which at the time drove me nuts because half the books were mine! Looking back though, it was a very organized system and made it easy to look for books. She is a voracious reader, especially around history and historical fiction, including many of the classics she read as a teen that were tomes I dreamed of finishing as an adult.

Sophie: Honestly, I was dead set against working in museums as a career for a long time. Both Phoebe and I worked public-facing/interpretation-focused museum jobs in our teenage years, and while Phoebe thrived in that environment (signaling her future career), I was not a huge fan of public speaking. I had no idea that there were so many different kinds of careers in GLAMs, especially all of the “behind-the-scenes” positions that are so critical to the cultural heritage field as a whole! Studying history in college, I thought I might become a lawyer or lean toward political science. It was only as my studies progressed that I was exposed to the myriad of cultural heritage jobs, including archives. I was drawn to working in libraries, but I knew I wanted that little extra history “boost.”

I’m not surprised at all that Phoebe ended up in a museum education career; she has always thrived in situations where she could engage an audience to try and learn more, whether that be about art, science, or history. She loves creating community, and it is so fitting that she’s ended up in a career path where she can do just that.

If you could swap jobs for a day, what would you each be most curious to try?

Phoebe: I’d be interested in donation inquiries and seeing the different collections at Historic New England. It’s always cool hearing about the different collections Sophie is working on and I’d be fascinated to see what people look to donate. The coolest collection she has mentioned recently is the Boston Transit collection!

Sophie: I would be interested in getting the opportunity to brainstorm/create some type of fun public programming, maybe something interactive with patrons. I love hearing about the cool programs that Phoebe and her colleagues are planning, especially those that blend the visual arts with other forms of creative expression and involve community members.

Do you ever share ideas, strategies, or resources with each other across your roles?

Phoebe: Literally all the time! It’s a gift to have someone who knows your whole personal world and also knows the way your professional world works, too. Sophie clued me into the Historic New England Summit in New Haven last November and we went together. She is also constantly recommending books. We love to visit and analyze exhibits together, drawing from our different backgrounds in collections and interpretation.

Sophie: Seconding what Phoebe said, it’s so nice to have people in your life that understand your professional “language,” so to speak, and can connect with you in all parts of your life. Phoebe is always in the know when it comes to which cool exhibitions are coming to museums nearby and is full of recommendations for institutions to check out when I’m traveling somewhere new.

If the two of you teamed up on a project, what would you want it to be about?

Phoebe and Sophie: We think we would make a good team for an oral history or genealogical project. Phoebe likes to talk about history and connecting with people’s personal experiences, while Sophie likes to organize histories and stories behind the scenes.

Is there a recent project or initiative you’ve worked on that you found especially meaningful or rewarding?

Phoebe: When I was at Plimoth Patuxet Museums in Plymouth, Massachusetts, I launched a multi-day Winter Fine Arts and Craft Fair featuring artisans from around New England; music and dance performances; and presentations in art, dance, and foodways from Indigenous artisans and chefs. Sophie came and helped move people into their booths and helped run stations throughout the weekend. It meant a lot having her physical and emotional support on site during the launch of such a big program.

Sophie: The Library and Archives’ recent move from Otis House to 85 Merrimac Street in Boston and the Historic New England Center in Haverhill, Massachusetts, was quite the undertaking, and on a scale that few archivists experience in their careers. As an early-career archivist, it was daunting at first. Along the way, however, the move helped me feel in tune with the collections, understand more about the organization’s history, and remind myself why I got into this work in the first place! I was part of a team working hard to steward these collections in the ways they deserved, and that was reward enough.

If you had a full day to spend together exploring a museum, library, or archive, what would you want to see and do?

Phoebe and Sophie: It wouldn’t be the first time! We’ve explored many museums and cultural heritage sites together since Sophie was born, ranging across the country and around the world. Our list of favorite museums visited include: the George Eastman Museum, in Rochester, New York (hometown shout-out); Minuteman National Park in Massachusetts at dawn; the V&A in London; the Museum Lutherstiege (Martin Luther Museum) in Augsburg, Germany (where we were frightened out of our wits by some excellent exhibition design); The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Springfield, Massachusetts; and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. We would want to visit somewhere with engaging exhibits and a breadth of collections, making us leave with something to chew on. And don’t forget the museum shop!