Frederick Schmid

Director of the Indian Museum

Frederick Schmid is like the taciturn heron who, ankle-deep in water as he fishes, sees everything, hears everything and never misses a trick.

In conference, he listens almost too intently, even allowing a "brain-storming" session to begin to get out of hand, but with a well-planned comment can turn it back into a productive session.

"The project is the most important consideration," he says, "not egos, personalities, or excuses." His fight for the Indian Museum, first for funds, then for exhibits, has been his personal spur for over a year, ever since he came to Wichita from the Smithsonian Institution.

"It's been my intention all along to open some eyes with this Museum. It's 'old hat' when people think just because they've seen a museum once, they've seen it all. I want them to keep coming back."