Lisa,
 
This sounds like a wonderful project! As far as suggestions...the only thing I can think of is to have the adult participants research (with assistance if need be) and verify the facts that they're recalling.
 
From what I am gathering from some other responses, there are concerns about presenting misconstrued facts, etc. and perpetuating information that is incorrect. I'm also certain that the participants would appreciate learning of things that perhaps they were only vaguely familiar with at some point.
 
So what I'd also like to see in your proposal is more emphasis on adult learning. Although that is inherent in the work that they will be doing, it would be great to promote this primarily as an educational opportunity for the participants. If I were writing or reviewing this as a proposal for a grant, I would definitely want to see this. The resulting interpretive information for the community is secondary to the learning activities.
 
Often, the facts I obtain from oral histories I've learned of from CCC Alumni aren't necessarily wrong/inaccurate...but they are 60+ year old memories of experiences and facts from CCC enrollees, of whom were teenagers at the time. I'm always trying to research supportive documents to verify/clarify the information I'm being told.
 
The alumni are very appreciative and interested in learning about more facts about the CCC program. They do want to see their legacy portrayed accurately.
 
For your pilot project, this would be a great opportunity to provide the participants with basic interpretive training, resources for learning about museology, documentation, etc. This is a great opportunity to find out what they would like to learn about, etc.
 
I love your proposal and am certain it will be a success. Good work!
 
Pam
 
 
In a message dated 2/28/2006 5:20:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
I've appreciated these comments about involving community voices in museum
curating.  I'd love advice on a project I'm trying to develop that would
involve older adults in some choice and labeling of objects.  (FYI, only
this year have I begun interning in a museum education department and taking
courses in Museum Studies.  I do have an MA in History from Stanford and six
years experience teaching high school and adults...but I'm still new to the
museum world.  I also work as a personal historian...so the opportunity to
offer older adults reminiscence activities surrounding museum objects is
appealing to me.)

Here are the basics of my idea.  Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated!

We plan to work with 3 or 4 local museums and a group of 10-12 adults from a
retirement community's independent living program.  The participants will
meet twice weekly: during one of those weekly meetings, participants will
travel to a different museum for tours and reminiscence activities; on the
other weekly session they will do other reminiscence work leading up to and
following up on the museums to be visited.  With the assistance of each
museum's Curator of Education, I will develop reminiscence activities that
are structured around the involved museums' displays, exhibits, time
periods, and mission statements.

We have several possible end results in mind.  Some of them include:
* Participants will develop one reminiscence activity into a 2-3 page
personal history story. These stories will be shared publicly (possible
ideas: sent to the local paper; aired on public radio; included on museums'
websites; integrated into museum displays).
* Participants can create reminiscence "Outreach Kits" for the involved
museums, learning more about their collections and acting
as "curators" as they decide which objects to include and the information to
be included with the objects;
* Particpants' reminiscences can contribute to one of the museum's exhibit
on life stages; and
* Participants put on a "storytelling" event for their families and friends
in a culminating session for sharing their reminiscences.

The first three ideas which would, to an extent, allow the older adults a
voice in the museum's exhibits and resources.  Any suggestions?
reservations?

Also, I am trying to structure a pilot project -- a one- or one-and-a-half
hour session with a group of members of the retirement community we hope to
work with -- in which we can do a number of brief reminiscence activities,
but also get their feedback on the project.  If you have had any experience
with this and have suggestions, please share.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Lisa Halverson
==================
Lisa Rampton Halverson
HM:  [log in to unmask]
         www.taylorandlisa.com
WK:  [log in to unmask]
         www.longlineoflovememoirs.com
and   www.bloomingtonArts.info
PH:   (812) 335-0738

"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself."
         -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
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