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Chazen Museum of Art Curator of Education Anne Lambert figures she has trained fourteen classes of docents — about 250 volunteers — during the forty-one years she has served the University . And when the thirty-odd newest Chazen Museum of Art docents start giving their first public tours in January 2017 , they will join an essential volunteer force that is as old as the museum itself .

When the Elvehjem Art Center first opened in 1970 , the administration was soon overwhelmed by the demand for tours of the new campus building and art collection . A tour coordinator from UW – Extension was hired part-time to train volunteer guides , and Lambert started her long relationship with the museum as a volunteer herself . In 1975 , she was hired as curator of education for the still-new Elvehjem Art Center . Lambert inherited a well-launched docent program and has guided its growth in tandem with the museum ’ s mission and changes in volunteer demographics .

The latest class of docents began training over the summer , and members of the cohort have completed the first of two art history survey courses they are required to audit . Like previous docent classes , they are willing to give up a lot of free time for both the training and the volunteer service . Lambert notes that this class is particularly enthusiastic . “ This class is not ordinary ,” she says with great affection . “ They are here five days a week putting in extra time and study .”

“ It ’ s not like any other volunteer position , because you have to know about art and you have to be a good

A docent from the first group to serve the Museum leads a tour in 1973 .

teacher ,” says Lambert . “ I ’ ve often said , you have to be like Chaucer ’ s scholar , ‘ to gladly learn and gladly teach .’”

In the early days , docents were mostly faculty spouses . As more women began to enter the world of paid work , the docent profile shifted to retired professionals . Today , however , a docent is likely to come from any walk of life . This year ’ s group includes attorneys , nurses , elementary and college educators , a pharmacist , librarians , and an epidemiologist . Lambert says health workers make good docents because they are sensitive , they read