In a message dated 00-12-12 15:17:42 EST, Nesdon Booth wrote:

<< All of David's comments seem to apply primarily to history museums. There
is
 a disturbing parochialism in these remarks. I really don't see the harm in a
 more inclusive essence. In all of the definitions of museums and in most
 large museum complexes, history is only one wing. >>

Nesdon, I think your concept of history is parochial.  Obviously, I agree
with David Haynes on this issue.  Perhaps my notion of historical artifact
was not explained adequately, but I meant history in the broadest sense.  I
certainly don't agree with a former director of my museum, who actually
asserted that something had to be at least ten years old before it became
"historical."  Well, not to be flippant, but he and his ideas are history!
Even paintings in a museum of "contemporary" art are "historical" (especially
nowadays); it's just recent history.  I work in a large museum complex, and
none of the museums has a separate history "wing".

David Haberstich

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