Meet the Team: Preserving the Sound of History with Jordan M. 🎶

By the American Jazz Museum Marketing Team
Published: Chiara Cooper

“Everything I do revolves around the care of our collections and maintaining their documentation, preventive conservation, curatorial work, and digitization.”
— Jordan M., Registrar & Collections Manager

At the American Jazz Museum, every artifact tells a story from the smooth brass of a trumpet to the handwritten notes of a jazz legend. Behind the scenes, Registrar & Collections Manager Jordan M. ensures those stories are preserved, documented, and shared with care.

For the past two years, Jordan has played a vital role in safeguarding the museum’s growing collection and keeping jazz history alive for generations to come.

A Week in the Life: Caring for a Living Legacy

Most days, Jordan can be found processing artifacts and identifying, cataloging, and assessing their condition. It’s meticulous work that blends science, history, and artistry.

She also collaborates with volunteers, conducts research, and supports curatorial projects. “Every day brings something new,” she says.“From assisting scholars to preparing artifacts for display, my work keeps me close to the heart of our mission.”

Collecting with Purpose

When the museum decides to acquire or retire an artifact,Jordan looks to its Scope of Collections, a guiding document that defines what stories the museum seeks to tell.

“We strive to collect artifacts that represent and embody the history of jazz and its influence on American culture,” Jordan explains.

This includes pieces connected to the 18th & VineJazz District, as well as broader American jazz stories. Each new object is carefully assessed for its authenticity, rarity, and contribution to the larger narrative.

Preservation in Practice

Preserving history takes more than storage space and it requires science, vigilance, and creativity.

“Two big challenges always stand out: the environment and time,” says Jordan. “We carefully manage temperature, humidity, and light levels to protect artifacts, and we work to slow their natural aging as much as possible.”

Her work ensures that everything from fragile instruments to vintage recordings is protected for future generations.

Making Jazz History Accessible

The museum’s collections come to life through exhibitions such as Jazz Abroad in the Ida McBeth Gallery and JazzIllustrated at the Black Archives of Mid-America.

Jordan’s next big goal? Expanding digital access.

“A major goal of the Collections Department is to build an online database where visitors can explore artifacts that aren’t on display,”she says.

In the meantime, she plans to highlight treasures like John Coltrane’s dog tags and original artwork byMiles Davis and Les McCann through social media and educational content.

A Favorite from the Archives

When asked to pick a favorite piece, Jordan doesn’t hesitate.

“It may not be the ‘jazziest’ thing we have,” she laughs,“but I love our graphophone. It’s one of the oldest objects in the collection and a fun way to talk about how music technology evolved—from mechanical playback to digital streaming.”

The graphophone may be a relic of the past, but in Jordan’s hands, it connects visitors to the continuous innovation of music itself.

Preserving the Pulse of Jazz

Jordan’s two years at the American Jazz Museum have been defined by her deep commitment to care, authenticity, and access. Whether cataloging a new donation or adjusting light levels in a gallery, her work ensures that jazz history remains vibrant and accessible.

“Our job in preservation is to slow time, to keep these stories alive for the next audience waiting to be inspired.”

About the American Jazz Museum‍

Located in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the American Jazz Museum celebrates the past, present, and future of jazz through exhibitions, performances, education, and community engagement.

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🌐 americanjazzmuseum.org
📸 @ajazzmuseumkc

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