This is forwarded from H-WEST. All opinions are the author's. Don't blame the messenger, I didn't write it. It deserves a response. Have at it, folks. They've been warned. Reply to H-West for the best effect: [log in to unmask] Cheers, HBC >Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 13:32:58 +0000 (CST6CDT) >From: "G. L. Seligmann (AcadCore, x3399)" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: how to visit a museum >Sender: H-Net Western History List <[log in to unmask]> >To: Multiple recipients of list H-WEST <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-to: H-Net Western History List <[log in to unmask]> >Organization: University of North Texas >Comments: To: [log in to unmask] > > You took the thoughts right off my keyboard. gls > > >From: [log in to unmask] (Kathleen Mero) > > > > >I love museums, I hate museums. Does anyone else feel this way? The >reasons why I love museums is obvious. Why I also hate them is more of >a problem...here are a few peeves......museum galleries are so large >that any discussion being held echoes throughout, thus discouraging my >occasional debates with spouse over the fate of the buffalo or >whatever. I often feel like an intruder not a seeker of knowledge in >these immense rooms. There is no where to sit and think about things, >art galleries usually offer some sitting spaces but not the artifact >rooms. Stopping for a snack is a joke, I have yet to find a museum >that didn't feel it had a mission to charge the highest price possible >for a cup of coffee and a bagel. If you take one or two children you >can easily run up a lunch bill of $20 for a couple of hot dogs and soft >drinks and maybe an ice cream or jello, what do the poor people do? I >know that museums have wonderful educated scholars on their payrolls, >called curators. How come I never see them? If I go to a National or >State Park I can find a naturalist or a geologist or some other >knowledgeable person who will actually talk to me, answer questions and >other wise enrich my visit. In most museums the only official person >in any gallery is the rent-a-cop. The rest rooms are either in the >basement or up on the 3rd floor. School kids get lots of attention in >Museums, this is a good thing, but why is it that the same attention >isn't available for those of us old enough to pay the taxes and buy the >memberships? Why can't I go to a museum and know that everyday at 1:30 >the Curator of Native American Blankets will be in the gallery to lead >a discussion, and impart her knowledge? I know her day is busy with >all that blanket curating, but shouldn't part of that day include time >with the people she is curating for? Of course she will be available >at the 'Friends' Reception and Gala Opening of the latest exhibit, but >that is hardly the place to pull her aside and raid her brain for info >on that red blanket with the swastikas on it you just inherited from >Uncle Doc. Well, all this pent up emotion sort of surprised even me. >Please, all the wonderful curators out there, don't misunderstand, I >love you all, but occasionally it might be a good idea for all of us to >look at what we love and what we hate about museums. But we must never >consider living without them! Kathleen J. Mero > **************************************** Henry B. Crawford Curator of History [log in to unmask] Museum of Texas Tech University 806/742-2442 Box 43191 FAX 742-1136 Lubbock, TX 79409-3191 ***** "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are dead!!" *****