Contact Us

Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, 120 North Main Street, Hannibal, MO 63401

Staff

Biographies:

Henry Sweets, Executive Director

Henry Sweets received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1971 and a Master's in Education in 1973. He then taught high school science for two years in Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in New Jersey, and two years at Byron High School in Illinois. He next earned a Master of Arts degree in American History and Museum Studies from the University of Delaware in 1978. Sweets came to the Mark Twain Museum in January, 1978. He has edited the Museum publication The Fence Painter since 1982, led workshops and made many presentations on behalf of the Museum. Sweets has also served on the local Board of Education from 1992 to 2010.  Henry is available to speak to your group about various topics related to Mark Twain. Favorite Twain Quote: "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."

Dena Ellis, Finance, Gift Shop, and Maintenance Manager
Dena Ellis came to the Mark Twain Museum in 2004 after spending nearly 20 years in the corporate world at Unicco, the maintenance providers at the BASF plant outside of Hannibal. She graduated from the San Diego College of Respiratory Therapy and attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Hanniibal-LaGrange College. As a lifelong resident of Hannibal, Dena brings her love for Mark Twain, the Mississippi River, and Hannibal itself to her position as the manager of finances, maintenance, and the three gift shops at the Mark Twain Museum. Dena's desire is to have the museum set the standard for visitor enjoyment and to garner local pride of ownership in the museum properties. Favorite Twain quote: "Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."

Brenna McDermott, Marketing and Community Relations Manager

Brenna McDermott received her B.A. in communications with an emphasis in journalism in 2011 from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Brenna managed to get through 17 years of education without ever having read a Mark Twain book, but she’s trying to catch up now.  She enjoys reading everything she can, writing non-fiction, playing recreational sports, being a television enthusiast and taking walks at Riverview Park. Brenna manages the publicity for the museum as well as advertising, social media and oversees the volunteer program and admissions. She also helps plan fundraisers and events for the museum. Her greatest achievement thus far in life was having an editorial republished in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, serving as editor in chief for 2011's best student newspaper in the state of Missouri (as voted by the Missouri College Media Advisors in 2011) and running a half-marathon. Favorite Twain quote: "There isn't time - so brief is life - for bickerings, apologies, heartburnings, callings to account. There is only time for loving - and but an instant, so to speak, for that."