Museum Do museums over do weapons?

[thomas aagaard]

In SOME cases, "State Guidance" reflects a curriculum with an "agenda" of some type.
In my opinion, a museum should disregard the agenda and, instead, display and TEACH history as it was from the perspective of that particular time period. To do so will help 21st century people better understand 19th century thought/perspective, motivations, etc.

But to get school classes to come you usually need to make sure that the visit allow the teachers to check a number of things from official guidelines or teaching requirements.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I have always opted for items that are "the best example" or have an interesting history or most importantly, complement the story being told.

Agreed.

As a visitor, I find the "display everything" exhibits overwhelming. As a museum professional, I was taught the same thing.

To put it another way, let me use an example. A museum has ten pistols from the American Civil War. They are slightly different models and variants, but to the majority of visitors indistinguishable. What is to be gained by displaying all of them? One serves as a representative example. It could be paired with an officer's uniform or cavalry saber to further illustrate part of the war. It should definitely be paired with a bullet because, from experience, many people are surprised to see what old time bullets looked like. It can be paired with photos or a diary or other artifacts to tell the story of an individual or regiment.

I guess it comes down to what forum members think a museum should do. Should a museum tell the story of the Civil War or should a museum show artifacts from the Civil War? Trying to do both could make it hard to do either well.

Ask the Museum of the Confederacy how well the "room full of stuff" model works in the 21st century.

In SOME cases, "State Guidance" reflects a curriculum with an "agenda" of some type.
In my opinion, a museum should disregard the agenda and, instead, display and TEACH history as it was from the perspective of that particular time period. To do so will help 21st century people better understand 19th century thought/perspective, motivations, etc.

A museum needs to cover topics related to the school curriculum otherwise how does the teacher justify the field trip? For museums, that curriculum mostly means what topics need to be covered, not specifications on how they are covered (though that might be different for a state museum rather than a nonprofit) nor restrictions on what can't be covered.

Also keep in mind that for a successful museum you usually need to be drawing in local field trips: for grants, attendance numbers, and community engagement. At the same time, your museum also needs to appeal to adults, otherwise you're running a children's museum.

 

[Tom Hughes]

When discussing war, nothing inspires more than the weapons involved in the conflict. Especially during the American civil war, when so many different types of weapons were used. It's hard to explain the war without discussing the arms used to fight the war. Many would argue that the civil war is what led to our American Industrial Revolution.

 

[Borderruffian]

So if Michigan had a " large" history with the Underground Rail Road the perhaps a display concerning that should be opened to explain that. However it sounds to me like a new Treasury of Virtue slant is going to be given to the ACW, that in no way surprises me at all it's all the rage up north to make themselves out to be valiant Knights only interested in false narrative.

 

[major bill]

My usual approach is to ask the teacher how much time they have and what topics they want reinforced. If a school group has two hours , more can be covered than if the school group only has 45 minutes to cover all three floors.

This brings up the issue of me bring up items from our prop room. At times groups of 20 to 40 students arrive every 15 minutes. With late buses it may be two or three groups get there with in 5 minutes of each other. If the first group to arrive has 2 hours and the next to arrive has 1 hour, the third group is late so only has 30 minutes before they need to leave. The two hour group will take time to touch and use all the props,the last group not only will have no time for hands on activities and will have to some how pass the other two school groups.

What often then happens is the Director will get a letter claiming that their children did not receive the same experience as the other school groups. It is hard for me to explain that I can not provide the exact same educational experience in 30 minutes as I can in 2 hours. I appreciate that the 30 minute students see other classes carding wool and wearing Civil War sack coats, while their class skips the Civil War gallery entirely because they had to bypass the group that has 2 hours. This often discourages me from bringing any props or hands on items. At least even if I got suspended, docents work for free, well less than free if I include gas money. If a school group only has 30 minutes then it really doesn't matter how many muskets are in the Civil War room or how many weapons are in the Workd War Two room.

To make our tender forum member feel better, so far I have not been suspended, not had to spend time getting retrained, or have a Museum official escort me. I have been informed that one more "First American" instead of "First People" will result in me needing to be retrained and recertified. Heaven help me if I ever use the "I" word. I did use the phrase "Native American canoe" a week ago and so far it has not been 'officially reported' to anyone, I suspect I will luck out this time.

 

[Cavalier]

I can sympathize with the idea that if the museum owns 1000 muskets they don't necessarily need to display all of them. Those dozen or so relative to that particular battle though should be displayed in my opinion.

I believe the museum is not only there to educate school children. The museum is for displaying artifacts. Anyone can learn about historical events from books, but they can only view artifacts in a museum. If the artifacts are mostly stored in the basement, (or, worse yet, are being sold off by that museum), and are now replaced by cardboard displays concerning issues only generally related to the reason for the museums existence, then there is no purpose in going to the museum.

I this regard I have voted with my feet, or maybe wallet is a better comparison. I no longer patronize museums unless I have a really good idea of what will be displayed.

John

 

[major bill]

The Michigan Museum is tasked with preserving artifacts of historic importance. So we have more than one large storage facility off site. I am sure much less than half our items will ever be displayed. This is why I was happy for the huge temporary display of Civil War items a few years ago. Most of the items in the temporary display had never been on display and may never get put on display again. Some very nice items no one will ever see again. Also some rare one of a kind items that must be protected and to important to risk having on display. Some real significant items are in vaults in the State

Historical Preservation Office. Because the State has stopped funding for the State Historical Preservation Office, these items are safe enough. SHPO should nevet have attempted to stop development at important historical sites.

 

[archieclement]

I think it works both ways though. Case after case of items might be overkill.

But on the other hand some of the "modern" museums that have row after row of giant story boards with few items seem even more empty as far content or interest to me. As the story boards often are so basic or elementary in content, that anyone who has enough interest to wish to visit the battlefield or subject matter gains nothing. A state museums audience may differ somewhat.

 

[Kurt G]

My usual approach is to ask the teacher how much time they have and what topics they want reinforced. If a school group has two hours , more can be covered than if the school group only has 45 minutes to cover all three floors.

This brings up the issue of me bring up items from our prop room. At times groups of 20 to 40 students arrive every 15 minutes. With late buses it may be two or three groups get there with in 5 minutes of each other. If the first group to arrive has 2 hours and the next to arrive has 1 hour, the third group is late so only has 30 minutes before they need to leave. The two hour group will take time to touch and use all the props,the last group not only will have no time for hands on activities and will have to some how pass the other two school groups.

What often then happens is the Director will get a letter claiming that their children did not receive the same experience as the other school groups. It is hard for me to explain that I can not provide the exact same educational experience in 30 minutes as I can in 2 hours. I appreciate that the 30 minute students see other classes carding wool and wearing Civil War sack coats, while their class skips the Civil War gallery entirely because they had to bypass the group that has 2 hours. This often discourages me from bringing any props or hands on items. At least even if I got suspended, docents work for free, well less than free if I include gas money. If a school group only has 30 minutes then it really doesn't matter how many muskets are in the Civil War room or how many weapons are in the Workd War Two room.

To make our tender forum member feel better, so far I have not been suspended, not had to spend time getting retrained, or have a Museum official escort me. I have been informed that one more "First American" instead of "First People" will result in me needing to be retrained and recertified. Heaven help me if I ever use the "I" word. I did use the phrase "Native American canoe" a week ago and so far it has not been 'officially reported' to anyone, I suspect I will luck out this time.

It must be very difficult to not offend some one at the museum these days .

 

[C. Cash]

I am not a fan of museums that have taken away most of their artifacts and replaced them with a bare minimum as well as endless story boards. You can over do it in terms of artifacts, obviously and there is a limit/balance to be struck, but people love variety and all the personal connection that each object provides. For active, inquisitive minds these dumbed down museums become boring and not places to return to. You can pump school kids through them but you lose alot of people who truly love an in depth study of history.

 

[C. Cash]

I think it works both ways though. Case after case of items might be overkill.

But on the other hand some of the "modern" museums that have row after row of giant story boards with few items seem even more empty as far content or interest to me. As the story boards often are so basic or elementary in content, that anyone who has enough interest to wish to visit the battlefield or subject matter gains nothing. A state museums audience may differ somewhat.

Bingo!

 

[Kurt G]

The Michigan Museum is tasked with preserving artifacts of historic importance. So we have more than one large storage facility off site. I am sure much less than half our items will ever be displayed. This is why I was happy for the huge temporary display of Civil War items a few years ago. Most of the items in the temporary display had never been on display and may never get put on display again. Some very nice items no one will ever see again. Also some rare one of a kind items that must be protected and to important to risk having on display. Some real significant items are in vaults in the State

Historical Preservation Office. Because the State has stopped funding for the State Historical Preservation Office, these items are safe enough. SHPO should nevet have attempted to stop development at important historical sites.

Was that the "Plowshares into Swords " exhibit from 2012 ? They had displayed flags from the 18th and 24th Michigan as well as a guidon from the 6th Michigan cavalry .

 

[archieclement]

I am not a fan of museums that have taken away most of their artifacts and replaced them with a bare minimum as well as endless story boards. You can over do it in terms of artifacts, obviously and there is a limit/balance to be struck, but people love variety and all the personal connection that each object provides. For active, inquisitive minds these dumbed down museums become boring and not places to return to. You can pump school kids through them but you lose alot of people who truly love an in depth study of history.

Yes it's always puzzling to me for example when a whole wall might be 5 giant storyboards..........

When in reality the content of the 5 storyboards could have been easily reduced to fit on one storyboard that would have been easily readible. It's almost as if their goal is to waste space and present as little content as possible.

 

[major bill]

It must be very difficult to not offend some one at the museum these days .

Just remember to always say "First People corn" not "First Americans corn". My recent mistake was a young girl asked what the blanket she was sitting on was. I said 'deer skin' and thingswent down hill very fast. At ten years old she was probably too young to understand that First People killed deers and skinned them.

 

[Kurt G]

Just remember to always say "First People corn" not "First Americans corn". My recent mistake was a young girl asked what the blanket she was sitting on was. I said 'deer skin' and thingswent down hill very fast. At ten years old she was probably too young to understand that First People killed deers and skinned them.

Sad about the reaction to deer skin.

 

[carptrash]

Sad about the reaction to deer skin.

It's the world today. I feel for Major Bill who has to deal with these things in real time. it is amazing (to me) how many people today think a tomato is something manufactured in a Del Monte factory.

 

[major bill]

Sad about the reaction to deer skin.

My artifact guild book calls it a deer skin. Part of the standard guidence if that the First People lodge was used because before European contact First People moved from place to place to take advantage of Michigan's resources.

Although this girl's family are vegetarians and believe in the ethical treatment of animals, the First People in Michigan before European contact, were not vegetarians. I can do a better job of trying to hide this fact from tender children, but denying it goes against history.

 

[carptrash]

Although this girl's family are vegetarians and believe in the ethical treatment of animals, the First People in Michigan before European contact, were not vegetarians. I can do a better job of trying to hide this fact from tender children, but denying it goes against history.

It's a long standing discussion - whose standards do we use when dealing with the past?

 

[carptrash]

So if Michigan had a " large" history with the Underground Rail Road the perhaps a display concerning that should be opened to explain that. However it sounds to me like a new Treasury of Virtue slant is going to be given to the ACW, that in no way surprises me at all it's all the rage up north to make themselves out to be valiant Knights only interested in false narrative.

 

[major bill]

Some people believe weapons are the best way to interrupt the Civil War. Let me look a bit deeper in to the weapons issue. The Michigan History Museum does cover 15,000 years of Michigan history. Should weapons be the major focus in most galleries?

I will use two galleries as examples. The gallery covering the Michigan Fur Trade era does not have many weapons, while the next gallery which covers the cooperation and conflict between the First People and Eupoeans has a cannon and other weapons. Should the gallery covering European early contact and the fur trade look for a large number of weapons to replace the canoe and other displays?

Next, should the 1960s room replace the space race displays with weapons from the Vietnam War? Maybe ditch the Motown display and replace it with weapons from the Veitnam War?

What should be the focus of Michigan history from both the fur trade era and the 1960s? School children and adults might find tVietnam era weapons more fun than Stevie Wonder's piano. The space race is old news and these displays could be replaced with M16s and such.

Perhaps the Civil War is best interrupt through weapon while other eras are best interrupted through other artifacts?

Please don't highjack this thread by going in to modern politics, but stay focused on why a large display of weapons is the best way to explain the Civil War.