Anachronism would properly refer to material culture items out of time
rather than out of place (why is there a digital alarm clock by the bed in
your 17th century cottage?).
Why there would be an hourglass by the bed is anyone's guess, but it's not
an anachronism.  I think the term "tall tales" encompasses most of these
stories that aren't based in fact.  I was once told that the basement of an
18th century house was used in winter to store bodies during the winter
until the ground outside was soft enough to dig.  This sounded exceedingly
improbable to me, and bodies in the basement would fit the "tall tale" tag.
Vincent

At 09:10 AM 2/23/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>At our living history museum, we often use the term "anachronism," not only
>when discussing material culture items that are out of place, but verbal
>presentations as well.
>Michael, Old Cowtown Museum
>----- Original Message -----
>From: David E. Haberstich <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 9:11 PM
>Subject: Re: Proper term
>
>
> > In a message dated 01-02-22 21:03:24 EST, William Maurer writes:
> >
> > << I am wondering if there is a term for an entirely wrong statement of
>fact
> > or
> >  wild exaggeration. A statement that certainly should have been caught by
>the
> >  director, educator or whoever is in charge of guide or docent training.
> >  Have you experienced this as a common thing in historic houses and the
> >  telling of the history? There must be a term stronger than "silly docent
> >  tales." >>
> >
> > I've heard some volunteer docents in several museums tell some real
>whoppers,
> > and I suspect that part of the problem is inadequate or inappropriate
> > training.  I know in my own museum docents are not generally trained by
>the
> > curatorial staff, which I've always thought was a mistake.  In fact, some
>of
> > the docents have no idea who the curators are.  I'm not trying to
>generalize
> > about docents or docent training programs, but I've heard enough errors of
> > fact to convince me that there is sometimes a problem, and the innocent
> > public gets shortchanged and misinformed.  When one gives a tour or
>lecture
> > in either a museum setting or a lecture hall, there's no substitute for
>depth
> > of knowledge and expertise.  I'm not attempting to slam museum educators
>and
> > their programs, and my evidence is purely personal and anecdotal, but it's
> > clear to me that some institutions don't take seriously enough their
> > obligation to disseminate accurate information to the public through
>docent
> > tours.
> >
> > One experience which stands out in my mind is a visit several years ago to
> > Alnwick Castle, the home of the Dukes of Northumberland in England.  In
> > describing some of the foibles of the ancestors of this family, the tour
> > guide mentioned that one illegitimate son of a duke, James Smithson, was
>so
> > disgusted at the way he was treated by British society that he gave his
> > fortune to the United States to found the Smithsonian Institution.  That's
> > true enough, but then she went on to say that he designed the Smithsonian
> > Castle.  Wrong.  He was long dead when the Castle was designed and built,
>and
> > he never visited the U.S., which is precisely what was so unusual about
>his
> > generosity.  This wasn't an earth-shattering mistake, but it was a totally
> > unnecessary and avoidable muddle.
> >
> > David Haberstich
> >
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>=========================================================
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>=========================================================
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Vincent T. Lyon
Robert Crown Law Library
Stanford University
650-725-0810
[log in to unmask]

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