Photo courtesy of Megan Dorsey
Megan Dorsey - Pfister Hotel
Pfister Hotel storyteller-in-residence Megan Dorsey
Towering pillars and Victorian paintings in intricate golden frames decorate the Pfister hotel’s lobby. Megan Dorsey, the hotel’s Storyteller in Residence, can often be found drinking tea in the cafe or wandering the building’s many beautiful floors.
The Pfister Hotel has been a historic landmark of Milwaukee for over a century. Home of a vast collection of historical art, the hotel has hosted an artist in residence since 2009. Due to the program’s success and popularity, the Pfister instated a similar storyteller in residence position on April 17. Through her role as the hotel’s first storyteller, Dorsey publishes blogs and social media posts featuring stories that highlight the Pfister’s unique history, drawing on her background in art history and antique collection.
Dorsey was a curious and creative child, always writing in a journal and collecting old letters and photographs. She inherited her parents’ love for antiques, and after receiving her art history degree and working at galleries and auction houses, Dorsey began an antique sales business of her own. She said that the storyteller position is a perfect culmination of her expertise and interests and feels lucky to share her perspective.
“It just feels so aligned with what I do, keeping the stories alive,” said Dorsey. “I love diving into history and telling stories about it as well as my own experiences.”
History through a Modern Lens
Dorsey’s work often highlights a specific aspect of the Pfister's history through a modern lens and she regularly works with the hotel's archivist for background. Dorsey values Milwaukee’s complex past and the Pfister’s significance and she said that she wants to use this role to highlight both.
“I really appreciate how much this city preserves its rich history,” said Dorsey, a Chicago native who moved to Milwaukee. “I think it’s really important that we know where we came from and know how these cities were built and the people who made them.”
Dorsey’s workflow includes spending lots of time at the Pfister, stopping by throughout the week and interacting with guests and staff. She uses this time to write and capture photos and videos for social media. Though she doesn’t have a designated workspace, the flexibility works well with the nature of her job.
“I will explore, and I'll just imagine myself maybe back in the day there. I have a big imagination, so I'll make up stories in my head,” said Dorsey. “A lot of it is just being there and experiencing it. There’s something about writing from the place.”
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The staff at the Pfister are happy about the new position and that Dorsey is the one to fill it. Dorsey said she is equally happy to call the hotel her creative sanctuary.
“I just love being in (the Pfister),” said Dorsey. “There's something so calming about it and relaxing. The world outside is so chaotic, and you go in there, and it's just filled with so much beauty.”
