UMass Boston

In a role that is equal parts head and heart, Maureen Melton ’85, G’90 is crafting histories for the art world and connecting them with the audiences of today. Maureen Melton ’85, G’90 knows things that you don’t know, and she’s made a career out of working to change that.

As the inaugural historian and archivist at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), Melton spends her days carefully preserving the knowledge and narratives behind the museum’s collections. A story and a half below the museum’s sprawling marble galleries, her desk is nestled in an unassuming corner amid the stacks cataloging the countless stories behind more than a half million works of art. But perhaps one of the most interesting stories Melton carries is her own: a first-generation college graduate from a working-class background in Foxborough, MA, who became the steward of records for one of the nation’s most prestigious art museums.

Growing up one of seven children, Melton’s early life was far from the world of art. “We didn’t grow up going to museums,” she said. “Art was something for other people—something we didn’t really feel a part of.” Her father worked as a lineman for the railroad, and with seven mouths to feed, college tuition wasn’t financially feasible. Melton’s trajectory shifted when she discovered UMass Boston, a place that welcomed ambitious students from diverse backgrounds with open arms.

“I came to UMass because it was affordable, but what I found was a remarkable education,” Melton recalled. Enrolling in 1974 as a part of the first class to attend the Columbia Point campus, she found mentors among professors who had left private institutions to teach at UMass Boston, drawn by its mission to expand access to quality college education. “UMass had professors who believed in lifting people up. They weren’t there to teach just the ‘elite,’ but to give kids like me a real chance,” she explained.

Her academic path took a few unexpected turns. Initially an English major, she soon pivoted to political science, attracted by her love of public policy and campaign work. She paused her schooling to join political campaigns across the country, including the reelection campaign of President Jimmy Carter. But a life in politics proved unsustainable. “It was exhausting,” she said with a smile, “and campaigns don’t offer much in terms of job security.”

Melton returned to UMass Boston to complete her bachelor’s degree and then a graduate degree in history and archival management, supported by scholarships and fellowships that enabled her to study with less financial strain. While working toward her master’s, she began her job search, seeking a position that would allow her to work in history without limiting her to academia. “The MFA was hiring its first-ever archivist, and I thought, ‘Why not?!’” Overcoming her initial doubts about whether a public university graduate would be considered, she applied—and got the job. Since 1987, Melton has dedicated herself to unearthing, organizing, and sharing the MFA’s rich history, helping the public engage with art through personal, and often untold, stories.

At the MFA, Melton’s role is part cataloger, part chronicler—preserving the museum’s institutional memory while interpreting its past for the public. “As an archivist, I organize and maintain records, but as a historian, I get to be the storyteller,” she explained. Her dual responsibilities allow her to delve into the lives of the people behind the art—the donors, sitters, and artists who have contributed to the MFA’s collection.

When she’s not in the archives, Melton can often be found in the galleries leading tours for new museum staff, orienting parts of the volunteer team, or even helping a guest find the Cassatt or Monet they’ve traveled miles to see in person. One of her passions is making art accessible to all, a perspective influenced by her own initial unfamiliarity with museums. “I want people to feel like they belong here,” she said. “You don’t need a PhD to enjoy art. Sometimes, all you need is a good story. When I tell people about the donors who gave the artwork or the artist’s life, I see their faces light up,” she said. “Art becomes personal. And when you share that history, people realize they’re not just looking at a painting; they’re entering a story that spans centuries.”

Melton’s deep affection for UMass Boston has never faded. As an active member of the UMass Boston Alumni Association Board of Directors and the university’s Board of Visitors, she frequently returns to campus, sharing her professional insights and advocating for students to “dream big.” Inspired by the institution’s commitment to giving back, in 2019 she established her own endowed scholarship to provide graduate students in history with the same support that changed her life’s path.

Her love of history, cultivated in UMass Boston’s classrooms, has come full circle in both Melton’s role at the museum and in her generosity. “UMass Boston gave me the tools to understand and share history,” she reflected. “Now, I get to bring art to life for people from all walks of life. I’m so grateful to the university for not once, but twice, propelling me into work that I love.”