It is hard to believe that January will mark the first anniversary of the passing of Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, director of the Illinois State Museum. Cinnamon was a force. Named after a secret agent popularized in the 1960s action TV series "Mission Impossible," she lived up to all the complexity of her namesake, a super-spy whose cover was being an actress and supermodel. Cinnamon's super skills were being brilliant, brave, thoughtful, strategic and fierce. Her cover was being the person who could light up a room with her humor, irreverence and silliness. She was kind, loving and loyal. Above all else, she adored her husband, Larry, and their son, Jacob. Together, they built a life full of curiosity, purpose and joy, whether traveling, attending community events or spending a quiet evening at home watching movies.
Cinnamon had a network of friends and colleagues that spanned decades. When you were in her orbit, you knew that you were valued. Since Cinnamon's passing, I have been fortunate to attend five gatherings in four states that brought together different combinations of her family, friends and museum colleagues to remember and celebrate her life. What struck me is that the stories and memories shared, while unique to the person telling it, were strikingly similar. Cinnamon was consistent – she showed you exactly who she was. She had a moral compass like none other and a drive to excel. At the same time, she was at the front of the pack when it came to good, clean-hearted fun. When on an adventure with Cinnamon, you could expect hilarity to ensue. She brought people together in both friendship and work. She shared her skills and talents to mentor others and was the encourager-in-chief to many.
From a young age, Cinnamon knew that museums would be her life's work. She earned a degree in anthropology with a minor in Western Art from Purdue University and went on to earn a master's degree in museum studies. While executive director of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawsfordsville, Indiana, she developed a love of small museums, and under her leadership the museum received the field's highest honor – a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. During this time, Cinnamon was also making her mark on the wider museum field, writing or editing three books. Two are now used in museum studies programs across the country. She served on the boards of national museum associations, including the American Association for State and Local History and the American Alliance of Museums. While at each of these organizations, she helped to build strategies to both push and hold museums accountable to become more diverse and equitable in all aspects of their governance, administration and operations.
While at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine, Cinnamon worked directly with Indigenous communities, including tribal leaders, scholars and artists who guided and advised her to an understanding of Native perspectives on how their history and culture was being represented and, more often than not, misrepresented in museums. Cinnamon led the Abbe, working in concert with the Native community, to create a plan to decolonize and center Indigenous culture.
When the Illinois State Museum was seeking a new director, Cinnamon's skills and expertise were a match to the museum's future direction. In 2019, she arrived in Springfield, excited to be working in a city and state with such a diversity of people and at an institution that had decolonization in its strategic plan. She only had a few short months before the COVID pandemic would hit. It was not long after that she began a very private battle with cancer. Through it all, she did what she always did. She collaborated with colleagues, the Department of Natural Resources and the governor's office to keep forging ahead to meet important objectives. She advocated and worked to help diversify the board, including the appointment of the first Indigenous members. She worked with her team to make sure that all Illinoisians saw themselves in the museum, propelling decolonization efforts, including working on significant legislation. She launched exhibits like Edgewise, Noir and Gen X, an exhibit that celebrated the soundtrack of her generation.
Cinnamon pushed boundaries and created them when necessary. She understood allyship and that every person holds and owns their own story. I am convinced that Cinnamon had secret hours in her day that the rest of us don't have. Her flame burned bright because it had to. She lived life full-on. To honor her, we should do the same.
I encourage you to explore her work. Visit museums. Read great books. Give back to your community. Never stop learning. Get up to some hijinks. Have a good belly-laugh with a friend. Most of all, tell your family and friends that you love them.
Donna K. Sack, of Naperville, has worked in and with museums and museum associations for more than 30 years. She was a longtime friend and colleague of Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko.
