Carolyn Brackett describes her work as marketing director at the Hermitage:

"...we are privately owned, non-profit, and that’s one of the misconceptions people have.  They think we’re either owned by the state or by the federal government and managed by the National Park Service, and so we try to get the message across continually that we’re not.  But we are fortunate that we do receive some grants occasionally from the state.  We’ve gotten several in the past year.  One, to help replant some of the trees after the tornado.  We’ve also gotten several from the Tennessee Historical Commission for different projects.  For example, one that we did on the first Hermitage, which is going to be a huge project for us next year, we received a grant to be able to bring in, I guess he was a scientist, to determine the exact age of the logs and he can tell us when the building was built.  The log cabin…it’s a log building where Jackson lived before the mansion was built.  And we’re getting ready to restore those.  That’s going to be a huge preservation project for us.  And so, likewise, it’ll also be a huge promotion for us, so I’m working on that."

Tony Guzzi, the assistant curator at the Hermitage, describes the extent of the collection:

"The historic collection is comprised of items that have a historical association with Andrew Jackson.  Most of these items are things that he actually owned, but we have also recently expanded this collection to include things that the family owned after his death.  We consider historic to also include things that the family owned while they lived here at the Hermitage.  Also, items that are associated with Jackson that were actually made before his death are included in that collection as well.  Interpretation One is our actual antiques that serve an interpretive purpose.  Interpretation Two are reproduction items that serve an interpretive purpose.  We have a hands on education collection for students.  We have a Ladies Hermitage Association Collection, which is comprised of items that were produced by the Ladies Hermitage Association, be they things directly associated with the organization, souvenirs which they have created, things along those lines.  We also have a large photograph and document collection, both things that have to do with the Hermitage and Andrew Jackson in the past, and things that have to do with the Ladies Hermitage Association.  That’s in a nutshell what we have."