Flagg Township Museum Director Devore to retire: ‘You never know what the day is going to bring’

Jan Devore never knows what each day is going to bring at the Flagg Township Museum in Rochelle. Whether that’s a visitor bringing in a unique piece of history or coming in with an off-the-wall question, organizing a growing number of exhibits, putting on programming and events, or learning more about exhibits the museum already has, every day has been something new. Devore will soon retire after serving as the museum’s director since 2019. “I’ve always liked old things,” Devore said. “I don’t think of myself as a collector, but I certainly have old items. It always interested me. I’m not an avid museum goer. But taking advantage of this small museum to work within the community and move things forward was a fun opportunity.”Devore previously worked at Northern Illinois University in its museum studies graduate certificate program. An internship as part of an archive group brought her to the Flagg Township Museum, where she later worked as a volunteer and assistant director before taki