Dear Ms. Nash,
We are a fairly new museum whose mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit,
and interpret the history of American funeral and mourning customs from
1840 to the present. Because our curator of collections and I come not
with experience in funeral service but instead with advanced degrees in
American history and museums, we continue to learn about the funeral
profession and the allied subjects associated with death and mourning.
I've been collecting printed material and photographs of funeral floral
arrangements for the Museum's research collection, and my goal is to
recreate "set" pieces synonymous with Victorian funerals to be included as
part of a revision that we're completing in the exhibit area. Staff at the
Florist's Review referred me to Ralph Null from MS State University, and he
told me of his work on the SI exhibit.
Mr. Null suggested that I contact Jim Buckler, who I understand is
deceased. If possible, we'd like to locate some of the reproduction "set"
pieces for exhibit at the Museum, and we'd also like to locate examples of
the wire forms that were used to create the designs as we interpret this
aspect of funeral service. Was the 1970s exhibit focused on funeral
arrangements? Was there a catalog for the exhibit? Can you refer us to
specific instructions for recreating the originals?
I recall seeing a Victorian gardens exhibit at the Strong Museum in
Rochester in the late 1980s, but I don't recall cut floral arrangement
being included.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. I look forward
to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Jon N. Austin, Director
Museum of Funeral Customs
1440 Monument Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 544-3480
(217) 544-3484 (fax)
www.funeralmuseum.org
The Museum of Funeral Customs is operated by the Illinois Funeral Service
Foundation, which is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, and the
Illinois Funeral Directors Association.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lauranne nash [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 12:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Smithsonian Victorian Exhibit--Late 1970s??
Dear Mr. Austin,
A colleague here at the Smithsonian forwarded your inquiry to me. The two
staff members who had primary responsibility for the exhibition (A
Victorian
Horticultural Extravaganza) left the Smithsonian over 10 years ago. If
there is anything one of us working here now could try to help you with,
please let us know. There are some records from the exhibition in storage,
so we cannot guarantee we have what you are looking for, but we are willing
to try for you. Please feel free to e-mail me back.
Lauranne C. Nash
Collections Management & Education Branch
Horticulture Services Division
>>> [log in to unmask] 02/20/04 12:20PM >>>
Colleagues:
I'm seeking a contact at the Smithsonian or elsewhere who might recall
what
I've been told was a large exhibit that was created by SI in the late
1970s
that dealt with aspects of 19th century floral culture in Victorian
America. More specifically, I'm trying to reach Jim Buckler or others who
created reproduction floral "set" pieces that would be appropriate for
funeral use.
Many thanks in advance!
Jon
Jon N. Austin, Director
Museum of Funeral Customs
1440 Monument Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 544-3480
(217) 544-3484 (fax)
www.funeralmuseum.org
The Museum of Funeral Customs is operated by the Illinois Funeral Service
Foundation, which is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, and the
Illinois Funeral Directors Association.
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