Hidden Treasures?
By Stephanie Elliott, Museum Curator

So what similaries do television shows like Antinques Roadshow, American Pickers, and Hardcore Pawn have with people who work with museum collections? Not a whole lot, but in my opinion they tend to give people a false idea of what a museum curator does. It can be difficult at times when someone brings in an item they found in their grandmother’s attic, or dug up on the side of the road, that they believe is very old and very valuable, to then tell them that it is not exactly what they think it is.

Because museum curators or collection staff are not trained in antique appraisals we cannot give anyone a monetary value of their object. We can research the history of the object and tell them more about it, but that is it. We also do not know exactly what every item is that is brought into the museum. That is one of the things that shows like Antinques Roadshow does not portray is the amount of research that goes into identifying and appraising an object. You also don’t see the hundreds or thousands of items that are brought in that are worth nothing.

It is sometimes difficult trying to let someone down easy when they think they really have something of value. For example, I have had many people bring in what they believe is an original copy of the Declaration of Independence and I have to tell them that it is actually a replica produced in 1976 for the 200th anniversary. I have had people call me a liar and tell me I have no idea what I’m talking about, and in those cases I just have to let it go. I have also had people offer to split whatever profit they make from an item if I just gave them a “ballpark” as to how much it is worth.

I’m not saying that we don’t love for people to bring items into the museum so that we can look at them and hopefully tell them more about the object, but sometimes people have a misconception about what we can and cannot do that can make it difficult at times. One of the most interesting aspects of my job is learning about new objects, where they come from, and the history surrounding them. It can just be challenging at times when shows on TV make it seem like everything is a hidden treasure, when that usually isn’t reality.

Maine Coast

Museums of Old York: An exhausted museum educator’s retreat!
By Kelly Mason: Outreach Coordinator

Entrance to Visitor Center

At the end of a busy school season (a couple thousand children strong), this museum educator found herself a little burnt out. As May came to a close, I found myself loosening my corset and gasping for breath: time for a vacation! (Quick, before summer camps gear up!)

At last, my beloved trip up north to the breathtaking coast of Maine had come! As I packed my bags and left my period clothes to air out, I yearned for peace and quiet and to hear the gentle roar of the ocean breaking on the rocks! Of course, no trip to New England would be complete without a trip to the local Historical Society! York, Maine is an amazing gem of town that is nestled next to the ocean with a rich history that has been wonderfully preserved.

I set out for a day filled with rich history, my spirits high! To my delight, I spotted a school bus and heard the muffled sound of giddy children filing through the galleries. As the greeter at the front desk politely apologized for the inconvenience, I explained that, I too, was a museum educator down in North Carolina. How exciting to see others at work, diligently sharing and preserving the past for future generations! (Just like me!) It brought out a sense of excitement and joy (also relief that for just a day, I could sit back and take it in myself).

Me in the pillory

My husband and I visited multiple of the historic buildings, including the one room school house, tavern, and burial grounds. They have a collection of nine historic buildings in their care! The Gaol (pronounced jail) was by far one of the highlights of the trip. We saw the dungeons and the rooms upstairs where the murderers slept (interestingly, in the room connected to the jailor and his children). It was built in 1719 and ran until 1879. They still have the pillory standing in the front of the building for brave visitors to try! We ended our five hour adventure with a private tour of a new exhibit on WWI given by their lovely curator (A major perk of being a museum professional: we often get behind-the-scene tours).

Needless to say, my visit to the Museums of Old York was a delightful experience. As a museum educator, it is invaluable for me to go and visit other historic sites. It not only gives me a fresh perspective, but also recharges my batteries. It reminds me of how important my job is and why I got into this field to begin with! I am pleased to announce that I am refreshed and ready to jump into summer with my corset tightened and my petticoats fluffed!

Emerson-Wilcox House; 1742

Somebody hire a production crew (or Vive La Youtube!)
By Regan Brooks

There have been a lot of articles being bandied about in various museum forums recently, and though the subject matter is one that has worn a bit thin with museum staffs everywhere, it is still no less relevant: how to maintain relevance in our exhibits and programs and engage modern audiences effectively. Or, in other words, how to not be viewed as a dusty old relic that their grandmother might have enjoyed, keep an audience with the attention span of a goldfish fully engaged and heaven forbid, maybe actually ed-u-mah-cate the little dears.

There are many different theories and twice that many ideas. Some seem to work, some not. I won’t bore you with the details, though I will admit it is something that our staff does talk about on almost a daily basis. One of the best ideas for the teaching of history I’ve seen in a long time comes from two actual high school history teachers in Hawai’i. Think of it as “pre-test Cliff Notes edu-tainment.”

New Spin on an Old Revolution!