Burt Logan
Executive Director and CEO
Ohio Historical Society
Burt Logan became the executive director and CEO of the Ohio Historical Society in December of 2009. The Ohio Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1885 that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology, natural history and historic architecture. He oversees more than 180 employees and a $19 million operating budget.
The society provides services in nearly every community in the state, including: administering 58 historic sites and museums─the largest statewide network in the nation; collecting, preserving and interpreting millions of historic documents, photographs and objects; operating the state’s archives and a research library; conducting historic preservation activities; providing educational and collections resources online to more than 5 million visitors each year; reaching more than 100,000 Ohio students in the state each year through its educational programs; presenting public programs and special events throughout the year; and
providing outreach services to local historical groups throughout Ohio.
Prior to moving to Columbus, Mr. Logan led the U.S.S. Constitution Museum from 1995 to 2009—first as its executive director then as president since 2007. From 1986 to 1995, he served as the director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He began his museum career as executive director of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania from 1983 to 1986.
Mr. Logan received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in June 1976. In his senior year, he was awarded the General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley Award for Excellence in Historical Research.
He received a Master of Arts in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Cooperstown, New York, in 1983 where he was a National Museum Act Fellow. During his senior year, the faculty selected him to receive the Huguenot Society of New York’s Most Outstanding Student Award. In 2005, Mr. Logan was selected to participate in the Museum Leadership Institute at the Getty Center, one of the leading professional development programs for decision makers in the field, in Los Angeles, California. He has since been asked to be presenter for the program.
Mr. Logan is active in professional organizations, including: the American Alliance of Museums, serving both as a site reviewer on its Accreditation Commission and as a consultant on its Museum Assessment Program; and Institute of Museum and Library Services as a grants review panelist. In July 2012 Mr. Logan was appointed Chair of the Accreditation Commission for the American Alliance of Museums. He was the past president of both the Council of American Maritime Museums and the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History. A member of the Rotary, he has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Board of Directors of the West Point Society of New England. Mr. Logan also is a member of the National Council for the American Association for State and Local History.
He and his wife Bonnie live in Bexley, Ohio, and are the parents of three sons, Mark, Garrett and Sean, and the grandparents of Corrin.