Over the years, I've found that the best method to get visitors to understand something about the pain of enslavement is through human interaction.  Objects and text panels can convey a tremendous amount of information, but a well trained guide or the proper use of museum theater can get to the emotional core of familial separation.

18 years ago, Colonial Williamsburg staged an estate sale that included the sale of human property.  You can still google the details.  For those of us who were there, it was one of the most effective and heart wrenching uses of museum theater ever.

When I was working on the reinterpretation of Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY, I trained interpreters to discuss the sale of an enslaved boy, Sam.  Philipsburg Manor focuses its interpretation on understanding enslavement in the colonial north.  After the owner's death in 1750, the estate was put up for sale.  9 of 23 enslaved individuals were sold within 6 months.  Sam was put on auction in April, 1750--he was sold for 62 pounds.  Sam was 8 years old.  Interpreters now ask their group--"Be Sam's mother/father/etc for a moment and think about having your 8 year old son sold from you."

If you want to get visitors to understand something about an emotionally tragic issue or event then you should have a well trained person in that room to help personalize that story and to assist with the tears and the follow up questions.

Michael A. Lord
Historic Hudson Valley
www.hudsonvalley.org


On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 12:28 PM, LINDA ELLIS <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Check out the exhibition:  Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America, organized by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, here's a link:

http://freedomcenter.org/freedom-forum/index.php/2009/10/sanctuary-lynching-photography-america-opens-january-19/

Many publications have written on this exhibition, especially on ethics of museum exhibitions, and there is likely a lot of material that could be helpful for anyone curating and designing exhibits on the most difficult of topics.

Dr. Linda Ellis
Senior Curator, University Museum
Professor, Museum Studies Program
San Francisco State University
--------------------------------------------
Founder & Director [1987-2011],
Museum Studies Program, SFSU
www.sfsu.edu/~museumst/
https://twitter.com/SFSUMuseum
www.facebook.com/SFSUMuseum
From: Museum discussion list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Carol Ely [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 3:10 PM
To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Ethics in Museum Exhibitions?

I understand the idea of wanting people to feel and experience your exhibition, and your attempt to be bold and not hide the horror is brave…. But….. what you suggest will never allow your visitors to inhabit the minds and emotions of enslaved individuals, and it’s almost insulting to suggest that in one museum visit they will “get it” by miming some of the experiences in a pretended way. And, as another reply has emphasized, this is not an appropriate experience for children, parents will NOT agree to be separated for something like this, and all of the waivers in the world won’t help you. Perhaps if you restrict it to adults only, with a waiver, you could do it, but my other qualms still apply.

 

Connor Prairie Museum has a “follow the North Star” experience – they might offer some ideas about what works and what does not; Holocaust museums have deep knowledge about how aid audiences to understand and empathize with those who lived through past atrocities – see “Daniel’s Story” in D.C., a Holocaust exhibit for children. But none of these museums separate families, which was, of course, part of the horror of slavery for many, as you acknowledge. I just don’t think you can go there, without losing your audience’s hearts and minds. Find another way.

 

Carol Ely

Locust Grove

Louisville

 


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