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Volume 3, Issue 2 From the President's Desk I read with interest recently an article in the January/February 2000 issue of Museum News, a bimonthly publication of the American Association of Museums. It was an excerpt from "Increasing the Usefulness of Museums" written by John Cotton Dana. Dana feels the title "museum" conjures up a certain image in people’s minds – expensive, very old, one-of-a-kind, long provenance treasures housed in a brick, steel, and concrete building. I don’t know about expensive as defined by the Smithsonian, but Allison-Antrim does have some very old, one-of-a-kind treasures. So, we do in some ways fit into the traditional definition and image of a museum. Dana believes that "beauty has no relation to price, rarity, or age." In the Newark Museum there were items on display that were used on an everyday basis by ordinary people. Everyday items might include such things as we have on display in the dining room – the brown transfer-ware pieces (the small pitcher and mug) and the hand forged kitchen utensils. There’s also a certain beauty and ingenuity in the design and feel of the World War I shovel/pick. And what about the hand-carved clover header in the hallway with its smooth, worn wooden handles that were held on long, late-summer afternoons in the fields. To be able to hold these items in one’s hands and imagine the life and times of the people who owned and used them, humbles one with respect for those who have gone before us. Dana wants the "museum industry" to take their facilities to the next level. Talking about an institution with a certain degree of excellence and effectiveness that has not yet been attained anywhere, he writes. "These varied forms of activity I shall unite in one imaginary museum, which, as I shall try to suggest, is so valuable an asset to its community as to make it seem that its title "museum" already a misnomer, should be changed to "institute of visual instruction." The "institute of visual instruction" is what caught my eye. I envision that Allison-Antrim will be able, as it grows in membership, volunteer participation, and community involvement, to provide many hands-on experiences for the public. This could be through permanent programs or events established by AAMI or in cooperation with the school district, Greencastle Area Arts Council, other community organizations, or businesses. Dana feels, "…that the primary duty of those same institutions is to justify their existence by becoming effective agencies in the intellectual, esthetic, industrial, and moral progress of their respective communities." "The influence it has on a community is difficult to measure." "…actions seep out at other levels of time and circumstances." It is very probable that we who have been present for the birth of Allison-Antrim Museum will not know the ultimate effect it will have on this community in our lifetimes. But we can have a vision. Dana says, "All we can do is to plant and water; somebody else will sit in the shade." John Cotton Dana was the founder of the Newark Museum, was a very insightful and farsighted individual who wrote about the challenges of modern day museums and how they fit into their respective communities. The excerpt that appeared in Museum News was last printed in 1916. And, although Dana died 71 years ago (1856-1929), his writings are still very apropos to museums that have been in existence and well established since the last century; and, more importantly, his writings should be used as a handbook for museums that are still in their infancy, such as Allison-Antrim Museum.
Walter Washington Smith Open House On Sunday, February 13, 2000, Allison-Antrim Museum had the first exhibit of all 15 paintings in the Walter Washington Smith collection. Three of the paintings, because of their previous condition, had never been seen by the public. AAMI was lucky to have almost all the individuals present at one time during the afternoon who were involved in making the exhibit happen.
From left to right are: Billy Weaver and Levester Taylor, nephews of Smith; Tina Jiles, great-niece of Smith; Pearl and Norris Anderson, Philadelphia (Pearl was executrix of Smith’s sister’s estate from where the paintings came); Laura Taylor; Alice Brumbaugh who along with her brother, Tom, underwrote the restoration and/or cleaning of the paintings; Bruce Etchison who along with his son, Craig, did the restoration and cleaning; and Jenny Waters.
Docent Training Seminar What is a docent? Webster's definition is teacher, lecturer. In today's culture, docent is associated mostly with the volunteers who work in museums or historical buildings who share their knowledge of the particular items on display. Anyone interested in the history of the Greencastle-Antrim area and who is interested in participating in the Docent Training Seminar is welcome to come. The only condition is that if they are not already a member of the museum we would ask them to join. This training seminar may also pave the way for allowing the museum to be open for a few hours on an additional day in the month or on a weekly basis other than our usual second Sunday of the month. Ted Alexander has put together the agenda for the seminar. This will be an annual workshop so that we can formally train those who wish to volunteer at the museum in this capacity. This does not mean that someone "new" cannot start giving guided tours between the annual workshops. We will try to be as flexible as we can, knowing that everyone has very busy schedules. Individuals may choose how many times per year and when they want to participate in the docent program. Everyone will be familiarized with all the exhibits in the museum, but if they want to focus on just one particular room they may do so. The Docent Training Seminar will be held on two consecutive Saturdays, March 18 and 25, 9 am to 3:30 pm. A box lunch will be provided each day. In addition to learning about and receiving written information on the artifacts and documents on exhibit in the museum, information on the following topics will be presented. The topics include: The Roots of Greencastle; The History of the Greencastle-Antrim Community: An Overview; Historic Costume; Historic Architecture of the Cumberland Valley; The Military Heritage of the Greencastle Area; The Life and Career of Walter Washington Smith; The Religious Heritage of the Greencastle-Antrim Area; Interpreting the Museum. Those who complete the workshop will be awarded a certificate and receive an "Allison-Antrim Museum Docent" pin to be worn while acting as a volunteer at the museum. To register for the seminar, please call Ted Alexander at 597-7086 by March 13, 2000.
When asked how his parents felt about their son being a docent at the museum, Marcie replied, "I’m pretty proud, myself. We both are. He’s grown from being a shy boy into a responsible, self-confident young man." Shockey talking to Marty: I understand that you are very interested in history, especially the Civil War. From where did your interest come? Marty: I saw the movie "Gettysburg" and then I went into a bookstore. There was a book about the same movie and I bought the book. Shockey: When you were first asked if you’d like to become a docent for the museum, what did you think? Marty: I thought it was very exciting. Shockey: Why did you decide to try it? Marty: I thought it would be a good experience because I want to become a history teacher at the middle school level. Marty has chosen to concentrate on the items in the dining room of the museum because that’s where our Civil War items are. Shockey: Was learning the information about the artifacts in the dining room hard? Marty: Not really. After the first few times it kept getting easier. Shockey: What do your friends think about you being a docent? Marty: I tell a few friends about the museum. Some of them are interested in also trying it. Others probably don’t know what it’s all about. Shockey: What do you like about being a docent? Marty: I like learning more about Greencastle’s own history. Shockey: Did you know we had so many famous people from Greencastle? Marty: No, at all. Shockey: What do you like most about being a docent? Marty: Sharing information with people who don’t know a lot about Greencastle. I enjoy the job very much so far. I’m hoping Marty will be the example for other middle school students to start participating in the docent program. Both, Sonya Weaver and Terri Young, middle school history teachers are approaching the faculty as well as the students about taking part in the docent program. This is one more avenue through which to involve the school-age generation in the activities of the museum.
Recent Acquisitions
On Loan
Have You Seen… … the three ivory and wooden handled instruments with the hinged cycle shape on the end? For what purpose were they used? The answer to January’s "Have You Seen…" is the Walck grain cradle. The Walck family’s manufacturing building was located in Canebrake. Canebrake was in the area about two miles east of Greencastle on the Leitersburg Pike where the road known today as McDowell branches left. This section of McDowell Road used to be known as Canebrake Road.
What's Been Happening
Inquiries From the Web Site Surfing in California (surfing the net, that is) was quite popular over the past month. Those from the state of California were most inquisitive.
Thursday, March 9, 2000: Monthly Meeting, 7 pm, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church with Roger Keller speaking on "Famous Myths of American History". Sunday, March 12, 2000: Open House, 1 pm - 4 pm; Colleen Mastrangelo presenting historic American music selections on guitar. Tuesday, March 14, 2000: Pa Chapter 27 Archaeological Society meeting, 7 - 9 pm in the museum basement, assembly of artifact pieces. Museum members are welcome to attend and help. Please call Doug Stine at 762-8629 for more information. March 16, 2000: Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip, "Call to Arms", 10 am, Maryland Public Television Saturday, March 18, 2000: Docent Training Workshop at the museum; details TBA Saturday, March 25, 2000: Docent Training Workshop at the museum; details TBA Sunday, April 9, 2000: Open House, 1 - 4 pm; TBA Thursday, April 13, 2000: Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip, "Building History", 10 am, Maryland Public Television Thursday, April 13, 2000: Quarterly Meeting, 6:30 pm, Antrim House Restaurant; Frank Mowen speaking on "An Overview of the Minstrel Show Tradition in the US and in the Greencastle-Antrim Area". Dinner reservations required by April 10. Thursday, May 11, 2000: Monthly Meeting, 7 pm, Evangelical Lutheran Church; Pastor Glen Miller speaking on the "Religious Heritage of the Greencastle-Antrim Area". Local pastor involved in the community long-time history buff, docent for AAMI Will look at the various denominations over 200 years of our local history. From the early denominations that settled the area such as the Scot-Irish Presbyterians, German Reformed, Lutherans, the "plain" people such as the Mennonites as well as groups that came later that helped shaped the religious and cultural life of our area. Sunday, May 14, 2000: Open House; 1 – 4 pm; TBA
Other Exhibits of Interest Within Traveling Distance February 7-Arpril 20: Shippensburg University Fashion Archives – "Pretty in Pink" featuring different shades of pink, variety of styles, fashion trends, and time periods. For information call 717.477.1239 and visit their Web site at www.ship.edu/~fasharch. March – April: Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has many exhibits of interest from art to photography to embroidery. Call 301.739.5727 or check the events pamphlet on the hall table at the museum. March 7-May 28, 2000: Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore – Gold objects made by Greek artisans that were commissioned by the nomadic Scythians of the Ukraine during the 7th to 3rd centuries B.C. There are more than 170 artifacts on exhibit, many of which have never been seen outside of Ukraine. June 17-September 24, 2000: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. – Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People – All 322 Saturday Evening Post (italicize) covers created by Rockwell over nearly a 50-year period in addition to over 70 oil paintings by Rockwell will be on exhibit.
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