Well said, Colin. As the old Royal Navy saying has it, "If you can't take a
joke, you shouldn't have joined!".

That's a neat idea as regards the work clothing worn by maintenance staff
being quasi-period dress, as well as the clothing worn by the interpreters.
This is where a site's atmosphere can break down,if it's not upheld.

There is a different situation at Mystic Seaport, where most of the
interpreters seem to wear shorts and shirts and some (or all) the
concessionaires wear the period costumes, though this may have changed since
I was there 4 years ago.

At Soverign Hill in Ballarat (Victoria, Oz), those staff that are not
normally in costume all day long climb into costume for a part of each day
and do some interpretation. I think this is a great idea, as it keeps them
close to both other staff and the visitors and, of course, it's fun besides.
Their head of visitor services, whom I was visiting, excused himself and
came out of his office a few minutes later wearing a black clawhammer suit
and stovepipe hat. "What are YOU supposed to be?" I asked. "Oh," he replied,
"I'm the vicar and I'm going up to inspect the school and its occupants." As
I was killing myself laughing, I had to explain that he was the dead spit of
Monty Python's famous "Dirty Vicar".

Best,

Harry (late major)
Harry Needham
Special Advisor - Programme Development
Canadian War Museum
330 Sussex Drive,
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0M8
Voice: (819) 776-8612  Fax (819) 776-8623
Email: [log in to unmask]

> ----------
> From:         Colin Stevens[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Wednesday, May 26, 1999 1:30 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Dress Codes
>
> Our museum has a dress code for frontline staff who work in the outdoor
> village area. Most of them wear replica early 1920s period costumes. Our
> maintenance staff have been provided with work clothes that are available
> "off the shelf" today, but  look basically the same as work clothing from
> the early 1920s. We have a policy about the costumes, and have a "Costume
> Co-ordinator" who buys/makes the items, and issues them. Policing the
> wearing of them is a bit of a problem, not so much for the Historic
> Interpreters, but for the Maintenance staff as their supervisors do not
> enforce the wearing of the supplied clothing. Support staff are not always
> 'museum conscious' as their work, be it reception, maintenance, grounds,
> sales or secretarial, is not unique to museums. They also do not come
> usually come to us with a formal education in museums. Our senior office
> staff tend to dress appropriately in office dress and most importantly,
> set
> an example e.g.  I always wear a tie (unless doing dirty work that day).
>
> There are times that feedback causes us to change things. One cashier
> booth
> was terribly hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so rather than
> making
> permanent major changes to the clothing worn, we worked on the environment
> and added an air conditioner and heaters.
>
> Dress codes - Clearly thought out, clearly stated/posted, consistent
> implementation, monitoring and setting a good example are the keys to its
> success.
>
> I am presently a Captain with 583 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets
> (youth
> 12 - 18 years old). We have strict national codes re: uniforms, hair,
> jewellry, and make-up. These are made known at the beginning and are
> enforced at all levels. The youths respond well and we are very proud of
> them. For youths who do not wish to abide by these dress codes, they don't
> have to - they simply don't join.
>
> At a worksite, if the dress code is in place, clearly posted and/or made
> available to all staff and volunteers before signing on and is enforced,
> it
> should work. It is simply a condition of the job. It should even be
> included
> in the interview process - "Here is the dress code, do you have any
> problems
> with abiding by it if hired or signed on as a volunteer?"
>
> Colin Macgregor Stevens
> Museum Curator
> Burnaby Village Museum
> City of Burnaby,  BC,  CANADA
> (604) 293-6500
> Business: [log in to unmask]
> Museum Webpage:
> http://www.burnabyparksrec.org/villagemuseum/villagemuseum.html
> Personal: [log in to unmask]  Personal website:
> http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net
>
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