Polly Jontz

Background

Jontz, Polly was born on October 26, 1928 in Akron, Ohio, United States. Daughter of Clinton C. and Lora E. (Hunter) Prather.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science, Indiana University, 1949.

Career

Copy editor The Indianapolis News, 1949-1950. Public relations and development director The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 1963-1982. Vice president Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, 1982-1996.

President Conner Prairie, Indianapolis, 1982-1996, president emerita, since 1996. Coordinator seminar for history administration Colonial Williamsburg. Lecturer Lilly Endowment seminars, 1979, 80, 81, Public Relations Society of America, National Federation Press Women, International Association of Business Communications, Association Science and Technology Centers, American Association Museum, American Association State and Local History, Earlham College, Butler University, Indiana University, Ball State University, Indiana State University, Anderson College.

Teacher Indiana U.-Purdue University, division continuing education, 1979, 80. Development and public relations consultant, teacher, lecturer Indiana Committee for Humanities, 1977-1980, Indiana U.-Purdue University division continuing education, 1980, Muncie Ballet, 1981, E. Central Indiana Community Singers, 1981.

Achievements

• Polly Jontz has been listed as a noteworthy college official, museum director by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Past board directors Indianapolis Speech and Hearing Center, Inc., Junior League of Indianapolis Community Advisory Council, Indiana Department Public Instruction, Alliance for Arts in Education Committee. Board visitors Defense Information School Fort Benjamin Harrison. Founding member, first president Travel Indiana, Inc., Inter Museum Promotional Action Team.

Past president The Children's Museum Guild. Board directors Friends of Holliday Park, Indianapolis Day Nursery, Indiana Rotary Foundation, Exec.Svc. Corps. Member American Association Museum (consultant music assessment program, senior accreditationexaminer, grant reviewer Institute Museum Superior vena cava syndrome), American Association State and Local History (past board directors), International Council Museum, Indiana History Society (board directors), Association Indiana Museum, Indianapolis Consortium Art Adminstrs.

(past president), Women in Comm. (past president Indianapolis professional chapter, Clarion award 1977, Frances Wright award 1982, Matrix award 1988), Indiana Advisers for Arts, Midwest Museum Conference (chairman annual conference 1990, Distinguished Svc. award 1994), Morris-Butler House (advising committee), Rotary (past board directors), Contemporary Club (board directors), Kappa Kappa Gamma (past president Indianapolis alumnae). F C.

Connections

Married Leland Daughter of Jontz, June 25, 1950. Children: James P., Mary Lee Jontz Turk.

Father:

Clinton C. Prather

Father:

Jontz Prather

Mother:

Lora E. (Hunter) Prather

Spouse:

Leland Daughter of Jontz

child:

Mary Lee Jontz Turk Jontz

child:

James P. Jontz