In a message dated 00-03-15 15:49:40 EST, Cynthia Ogarek wrote:

<< I pretty much agree with the above, but smoking cigarettes at one time was
very much a part of
 popular culture.  This vestige of that time might be an important aspect of
that object >>
Although I hesitate to make a comment on a subject which is not strictly
museum-oriented, I would like to point out that smoking is still very much a
part of life in most of the world, and it's still very much a part of
American culture as well, so I wouldn't be too quick to speak of it in the
past tense.  The "culture" has changed considerably, of course, and American
society is now very segmented in this regard.  While most gatherings of
educated folks within certain age ranges are generally smoke-free, and of
course you can't smoke in most public places, you can easily find other
places and neighborhoods where virtually everyone smokes.  And of course
there's a high incidence of smoking among teenagers, which is precisely what
so many people are upset about.  If you collect clothing artifacts from
certain segments of the population, such as some occupational groups, you're
still likely to encounter lingering tobacco odors.  And if you collect
teenage clothing, I'd expect it in a significant percentage.

David Haberstich

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