Dear Lisa
One of my most vivid museum experiences was visiting Plimoth Plantation
when I was a child. At the first (or second house now) on the right, we
spoke to Mrs. Frances Cooke (Hester Mayhew) who was making jam tarts,
with a circle below - a plop of jam - and a circle laid over the top
with the center hole cut out. The dough was a darker color than I
expected. Flies were in the air but they did not seem to disturb her.
Later in a house across the street my mother got in a bit of a "debate"
with one of the men about Christmas!
About the same time we also went to OSV, so why do I not have such a
vivid memory of being at Sturbridge? Both are world-class institutions.
Both had a first-person interpretation at the time. The difference
derives from something over which neither institution had any control -
a personal connection with the place. I am related to Mrs. Frances Cooke
and Thomas Rogers (who had died the first winter).
I must have been about eight years old that summer. My family have long
supported museums and historic preservation, and summers for me as a
child consisted of another dusty library and another old house, so there
are many museum visits which I could describe, but no particular MEMORY
stands out like the specific experience of talking to Mrs. Frances Cooke
whilst she was preparing tarts.
I hope that this helps!
Ware
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House
Curator of Collections
725 Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
[log in to unmask]
www.mcfaddin-ward.org
409.832.1906 p
409.832.3483 f
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Lisa Dillon
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 7:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: History Museums and Memory
Hello all,
I am doing research on the topic of museums and memory as part of my
master's degree in Museum Studies. I am particularly interested in the
role of
personal and collective memory in history museums across the globe. How
can
objects, exhibitions, and programs inspire memory, imagination, feeling,
and a
sense of identity in museum visitors?
I would greatly appreciate any information on personal experiences
with
exhibits or programs related to this issue. As well, if you can think of
any
relevant literature on this topic or other people interested in museums
and
memory, please let me know. Thank you very much for your time, and I
look
forward to hearing from you.
Lisa Dillon
Candidate for Master's Degree
in Museum Studies
University of Toronto
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