I see that this discussion has been continuing for a few days, so perhaps you have heard all you want to hear. I just wanted to get my two cents in, in favor of community interpretation where it adds a human dimension to descriptive labeling. I have often used quotations from extensive oral histories and other first-person archival materials to aid in interpretations of community history. They add a freshness and a very approachable feeling to the exhibit labels. The grammar may not be what you'd like, and the interpretation somewhat folksy, and the dates a bit loose, but it is always real, not contrived, and certainly not unapproachably academic. Just last week a community member gave me a wonderful description of the oddest looking bus I had ever seen. He said the folks who rode them called them "alligator busses", with their great long "snouts" housing the engine way out in front of the coach. They had their own set of wheels, one set for the engine housing and the other for the coach. This long-retired fellow settled back and told me of hopping on board in his outlying community and riding the alligator bus into Seattle. As I looked over his cherished old photo brought in to be accessioned, he was off in a wonderful memory land describing how he and his best friend would sit way up in front with the driver, hanging out over the engine. When I asked how long they ran, he responded "Oh, only a few years, in the early '30's. The engine enclosure tended to separate from the coach on a turn and run off by itself. We thought it was pretty exciting and always hoped it would happen when we were sitting up there." Now where are you going to get that kind of a kid's eye perspective on what must have been a hugely embarrassing and expensive public transportation move-- (something Seattle now seems to be famous for). You can bet I will include his description along with any other "tombstone" stats, as one lister called them, when this is checked out. Micki Ryan Curator Highline Historical Society Burien WA ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).