Quilt Fun!

Yesterday we installed the quilt exhibit.



This is what the museum looked like before.



Chris and I installing the quilts.


And here's what it looks like now.



Author Marcia Kaylakie gave a special presentation on the care, conservation, and documentation of quilts.



We had a nice crowd, and it was a great presentation. We were so happy to have Marcia with us.

Next week, I'll be out of the office-- the Texas Association of Museums annual conference is in Galveston. Oh, I love Galveston!

Making Collections Available

I like learning about ways that Museums make their collections available to the public. Some museums only allow researchers (and members of the general public) access to the collection by making appointments with the Curator. That's fine. That's good. We should allow people access to the collection, especially because we are (at least according to our collections policy) holding the collection in the public's trust.

But, some museums go beyond this making available their entire collections database online. I love this. People can browse through the museum's collection-- they can see all those things that we can't fit on exhibit.

Today, I was reading one of my normal "museum" blogs and I ran across something that I hadn't seen before. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston makes images of their artwork available for use as cell phone wallpapers. Brilliant!

I like pretty things.

And, really, who doesn't?

We're gearing up for our quilt exhibit. I chose six quilts from our collection-- ranging from 1871 to 1998. We've got a crazy quilt, a commemorative quilt, and some others...can you feel the anticipation?



Marcia Kaylakie, author of Texas Quilts and Quilters: A Lone Star Legacy, is going to give a special presentation on the care, conservation and documentation of quilts. She's also going to set up a table at the Museum after the presentation (held in the District Courtroom of the newly-renovated Courthouse) for signing copies of her book. The presentation and the opening of the exhibit are on March 22 @ 10:30 am.

The week after the opening, Mickie, Chris and I will be heading to Galveston for the Texas Assn. of Museums annual meeting. I love Galveston. Love. I love Guido's. I love the beach. I love the Mosquito Cafe (oh that watermelon gazpacho was to die for). That Mexican restaurant in the historic house...the Tremont...the oyster bar. Serious love going on here. I can't wait for Galveston.

Something New...Something Different

I'm trying something a little different...I hate to say revolutionary, because I'll bet others are doing it...somewhere. But, I'm redefining our Acquisitions Committee. I'm building a group of professionals from around the county (our people...our public) to serve on the committee that initially discusses and approves (or doesn't) donations to the Museums various collections. (All final decisions are made by the Board of Directors.)

I've done a little bit of asking around, and most institutions' acquisitions committees seem to be comprised of staff and/or board members. Ours will be a little different. Oh, we'll still have staff-- the director and the curator serve on the committee. But, we're branching beyond this. I've contacted directors of libraries who have local history rooms and I've contacted the head of special collections at the local university.

I think that this will be a dynamic group of people who know collections and know local history. We already work together on an informal basis. When certain items come through our door and I know they would be better served at another institution, I check with them (and, of course, the donor). We're all here for the same purpose-- to collect, preserve, and present our history. We're all here to serve and be a resource to the public. Let's work together in a true and open way. Let's really work to provide what the public needs.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out the way I image it. Then, again, I'm horribly idealistic...and optimistic.

Busy Days

This week seems to be busier than last. Although, I must admit that it feels that way almost every week. Yesterday, we held another round of cataloguing. The four volunteers and I worked from 1 to 4 pm. We're working our way through the World War I collection of Sgt. Charles Beaver. Personally, I've spent the last two work sessions cataloguing items from his housewife (sewing kit)...buttons and safety pins mostly.

Last Saturday, we had our special presentation entitled Early Black Schools in Georgetown 1868-1966. Dr. Farney, who had written her dissertation on the history of schools in Georgetown, found through her research that Black schools in the community existed about 25 years earlier than had been thought. It was a very interesting presentation. I know that I've heard a number of people talk about how much they enjoyed it.

So, what are we doing this week that's so busy? Today, I meeting with our webmaster-- we're in the process of revamping our website. This afternoon I've got a meeting with an historian from Austin who is doing research on slave cabins in Williamson County. I've gathered together some information, but we also have images of two different slave cabins in our collection. I'm going to share those with her. Tonight is also our first meeting for the upcoming Chuckwagon Cook-off. Mickie is going to be at the Sun City Non-profit Fair most of tomorrow. Plus, tomorrow night is the board meeting. Then, some history students from Southwestern are coming by on Friday morning to talk about the Dan Moody/KKK trial. I think that they're going to do a class project on the trial. I've got about 13 things on my to-do list. I'd better get-to crackin.

Planning ahead

It's that time again. Time to start planning for our biggest event of the year. Yep. I'm talking about the Up the Chisholm Trail Cattle Drive and Chuckwagon Cook-off. It's held on the last weekend of September (26 & 27). This year, it's the third year for the Cattle Drive and the second year for the Chuckwagon Cook-off.

Staff started meeting last week...going over budgets, plans, and the cattle drive route. Last year, we drove the cattle 2.5 miles from San Gabriel Park to downtown Georgetown. This year, because of liability and logistics, we're consolidating the entire event at San Gabriel Park. We'll have the chuckwagons, the longhorns, demostrators, live music, and much more. The entire event last year drew over 8000 people. Not too shabby for a museum with a staff of 3.5.

Next week will be the first meeting for the Chuckwagon Committee. We start planning this early so that we can get funding, get wagons (we're aiming for 15! this year), and get everything we need. Last year (our first year for the chuckwagon competition) everything went so, so smoothly that you'd think we'd been old pros. It was such as fabulous event, and I'm not just saying that because I was a part of it. I'd never been to a chuckwagon competition, and I must say that it is just a wonderful thing to behold. The wagons are judged on their authenticity, not to mention their food.

On a completely different note, super-intern Celina has returned to the museum as our new Museum Assistant (AKA administrative assistant). Staff and volunteers are so happy and excited to have her back with us. Yea!

Unwanted Objects

This article in yesterday's Austin American Statesman brings up a good discussion point.

What do Museums do with the objects they no longer want in their collections?

Most museums have a document that is called a Collections Management Policy. We have one at WCHM. One of the topics discussed in our Collections Management Policy is how we go about deaccessioning objects (or removing them from our permanent collection).

I wanted to share that portion of our policy with you, since it is a public document, and ethically and professionally, we're required to treat our collections in certain ways.

From our policy:

An object may be deaccessioned from the permanent collection for any of the following reasons:

• The object is outside of, or no longer relevant to, the Museum’s stated purpose and its acquisitions policy;
• The object lacks physical integrity (incomplete, broken, or in poor and unsalvageable condition);
• The item has failed to retain its authenticity;
• The item has been lost or stolen and remains lost for longer than two years;
• The Museum is unable to properly care for and preserve the object;
• The object has deteriorated to the degree that it cannot be used for exhibit or research purposes;
• There exists a more appropriate repository for the material;
• The item is a duplicate or reproduction; the Museum’s collection contains other objects of the same type that are sufficient or better suited to the Museum’s needs; and/or
• The object is determined through documentation research to fall under items protected under NAGPRA, Antiquities Code of Texas, ARPA, or other relevant acts or treaties, or is determined to be stolen.

Procedure

The Museum Curator will make recommendations for object deaccessioning when one or more of the deaccession criteria are met. Upon approval by the Board, the Museum Curator will make every effort for immediate disposal. Upon deaccessioning, a full written report, with photographs, will become part of the Museum’s permanent records. A complete and open file will be maintained by the Museum on all deaccessioned materials.

Disposal

Objects approved for deaccessioning will be disposed of in one of the following manners:

· Transferred to the Museum’s education or research collection;

· Sold at public auction or sale;

· Exchanged with organizations, institutions, or other relevant sources for objects, library or archival material needed in the Museum’s collections;

· Transferred to another museum or public educational institution; or

· Destroyed.

The Museum Curator will first look for similar institutions that can benefit from deaccessioned materials. In transferring these materials, preference will be given to retaining in the community, state, or nation material that is part of its respective artistic, historical, cultural, technological, or scientific heritage.