All - I am pleased that we are again talking about museums as
permanent institutions.
I wrote the following years ago which may be helpful to our discussion:
"One trait that distinguishes us as a species is our habit of
acquiring, keeping, and handing objects on to subsequent generations.
Wise man - Homo sapiens - that we have called ourselves, we might
more fittingly be named Keeper man - H. collector. Our museums
appear to be the ultimate, present-day totems illustrating this human
characteristic. (We have created).... a collection of the familiar
out of the unfamiliar, to be passed on from generation to generation.
Collectors and their collections have become milestones in our
history and identity."
Peter B. Tirrell, Associate Director
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
The University of Oklahoma
2401 Chautauqua Ave.
Norman, Oklahoma 73072-7029
Office phone: 405/ 325-1009, secretary & voice mail available
Fax: 405/ 325-7699
SNOMNH web page: http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/
At 2:12 PM +0100 12/16/03, Steven de Clercq wrote:
>Like Milton, I have great problems with the approach suggested by Giovanni.
>
>Let us continue to call museums an institution (with a mission, staff,
>collections, public, a building, etc.).
>
>Besides, what is a site?
>1. an area or piece of land where something was, is or will happen;
>2. A place where something important happened.
>For me a 'site of memory' can easily be a graveyard and a 'site of
>knowledge' an academy of science ... Are they museums?!
>
>Furthermore: museums care, interpret, study, exhibit, more then just
>heritage and culture. Don't forget nature and science!
>
>I plea for a down to earth and short definition that describes in clear and
>unambiguous terms the basic functions of a museum:
>
>"Museums are institutions that keep collections for research and
>presentation"
>
>Best regards,
>
>Steven W.G. de Clercq
>
>Utrecht University, senior consultant Academic Heritage
>Vice-Chair of UMAC, ICOM's International Committee for University Museums
>& Collections
>website: <http://www.icom.museum/umac>
>Straatweg 17, 3603 CV MAARSSEN, the Netherlands
>Tel: OO31-(0)346-567.573; Fax: 0031-(0)346-578.843
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>__________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>On 15-12-2003 15:05, "Gary Edson" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > On 12/14/03 5:48 AM, "tukuma muzejs" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Dear colleagues: Giving consideration to the proposed definitions by
> > Giovanni and Agrita, three options may be:
> >
> > One:
> > Museums are sites of memory, knowledge, and the creation of identity that
> > exist for the sustainability of society and that act through collecting,
> > caring for, interpreting, and exhibiting the heritage of communities.
> >
> > Two:
> > Museums are sites of memory, knowledge, and the creation of identity that
> > sustain society through collecting, caring for, interpreting, and
>exhibiting
> > heritage.
> >
> > Three:
> > Museums are sites of memory, knowledge, creation of identity which act
> > through collecting, taking care, interpreting and exhibiting the cultural
> > heritage of communities.
> >
> > Assuming we continue this discussion, I continue to be concerned with the
> > level of participation by the ICOM membership. We are working for ways to
> > have more discussion in at least three languages. Concern has also been
> > expressed about the limited number of ICOM members having access to ICOM-L.
> > If anyone has a suggestion on how to bring this issue to the attention of
> > more of the membership let me know.
> >
> > Gary Edson
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >
> >
> >> Dear colleaques,
> >> I followed the discussion about the new definition since its begining and
> >> find very much to think ower. Each of participants has given his
> >> contribution to this very important and vital matter for the words museums
> >> community. At first I would like to thank Milton Bloch for a
>short rewiew of
> >> development of the museums definition at very begining of this discussion.
> >> It was great to see how museums definition became more and more society
> >> orriented.
> >> The next was the discussion about a meaning of the word museum and the
> >> broadening of it speaking about sites, tangible and intangible heritage.
> >> It seems for me that the very short definition written by
>Jiovanni Pinna is
> >> a good explanation of meaning of the museum but there still exists the
> >> question - what is a purpose of museums activities.
> >> During the general Conference of ICOM in Stavanger Saroj Gose pointed out
> >> that museums are able to foster the development of the society.
>Today we are
> >> speaking about sustainable development and museums contribution to it.
> >> On my mind it is important to describe the purpose of museum in the
> >> definition. I would use Jiovanni's definition only adding that
>museums exist
> >> for sustainability of society or sustainable development of society.
> >>
> >> So, it could be like that:
> >>
> >> Museums are sites of memory, knowledge, creation of identity
>which exist for
> >> sustainability of society and
> >> act through collecting, taking care, interpreting and exhibiting the
> >> cultural heritage of communities.
> >>
> >> Excuse me for not so perfect English. I would be happy to hear other
> >> oppinnions.
> >> Sincerely yours,
> >> Agrita Ozola,
> >> Chairperson of ICOM Latvia,
> >> Director of Tukums Museum
> >> Harmonijas street 7, Tukums LV 3101
> >> T.: +371 31 82 390
> >> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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