Day 14: Farväl

The Pioneers' Crafts 

Today was the last day of Pioneer the World Camp at the Swedish American Museum. The children have been learning about different customs, new dances, and fun crafts from around the world.
The mood was celebratory, a fine end to a fine session. It was my last day too. I was rushing to finish my Swedish sites project before I ended for the summer. Using the museum's database, I was able to find a number of pictures of sites that were long gone or that I wasn't able to visit. I put on my trusty cotton muslin gloves and scanned the photos at 600 pixels. I was relieved to find two beautiful photographs of the Salem Lutheran Church, one exterior and one interior

(I will add these to the entries on Swedish-American churches). I was able to obtain a number of lovely photos from a brochure on the Swedish Club. Looking through booklet, I was amazed at how many services the Club offered. There were bars, dining areas, a restaurant, administrative rooms, a music room, and lovely lounging areas. It is a shame the organization no longer exists.

The format of my project is as follows: a photo or several photos of the landmark, followed by its title and location, then a short description. All this must fit on a word document, because they will be printed, put in plastic sleeves, and placed in a binder that will be on display in the museum. The file will also be sent to Riksföreningen Sverigekontakt, or the National Society of Sweden Contact. Their website, http://www.sverigekontakt.se/?id=8, lists the various Swedish landmarks around the world. The museum has access to the rest of the photos if they wished to send in larger versions. With that, I ended my summer internship. The time I spent at the Swedish American Museum gave me a better perspective on educating the public with pieces of history. I will definitely be back to visit or volunteer at the museum. 

Farväl!

Day 13: The Cage

Last Friday, our curator Veronica was kind enough to take me on a tour of the Cage, an area in the center of the museum's basement that is gated off. Honestly, this was the highlight of my internship. Inside, there were several desks, filing cabinets, and humidifiers. Along the sides were rows of shelved cases that were covered in plastic sheets to protect the artifacts inside. Veronica and I had a very interesting talk on the ethical debate pertaining to the preservation of artifacts. There are many preservationists who believe exposure in museums have a negative effect on artifacts, and that their preservation outweighs the public's need to see them. Others believe that the museum has an obligation to show these artifacts to the public for the sake of knowledge. Balancing the two is a difficult task, and one that curators have to deal with daily. We also discussed the best ways to preserve artifacts while they're in storage. I have to say, it's made me rethink the way I store things in my crawlspace. The plastic sheets that cover the shelves protect them from dust or any potential water catastrophes. For the more delicate items, such as wedding or confirmation dresses, acid-free boxes are essential. For the more durable items, acid-free tissue in a standard box is acceptable. Clothes that are hanging should have cotton padding on the hangers and covered completely in muslin. Cotton muslin is a delicate fabric that doesn't have any harsh chemicals, and is therefore used often when dealing with artifacts. Banners are rolled and placed in a cotton muslin bag; the white gloves used when handling the artifacts are made of it. The tour definitely increased my fascination with preservation.
Back in the office, I read the transcripts from the interview with the owners of the Swedish Bakery. I outlined a rough map of the places the named. When I look at photos in the archives, I will be able to confirm these locations visually.

Day 12: D is for Donation

I'm very proud.

Last weekend was Andersonville's annual Sidewalk Sale, when shops up and down Clark Street dust off their old wares and sell them for a fraction of the price. I happily agreed to assist with the costume jewelry table. The Swedish American Museum had a large quantity of donated costume jewelry that weren't sold last year, which I marked down and placed in what I hoped was an aesthetically pleasing manner. Some were even packaged in old Marshall Field's boxes, to which a volunteer at the museum joked were heirlooms on their own. All fine jewelry (silver, gold, any precious stones) were reserved for the Tantalizing Treasure Sale, an annual benefit that where precious donated items were sold. The Treasure Sale included donated works of art, fine antiques, etc. I learned that in order to maintain a non-profit organization, the museum held certain events such as these. I'm not complaining. I had a lot fun setting up and getting to know the patrons. The sale drew in a lot of traffic; many of the visitors had never been to the Swedish American Museum before. After purchasing their items, many of them took a tour of the exhibits.

When I was done setting up, I headed back to the office to continue working on my Swedish Sites Project. As I was, I passed by Veronica, our curator. She was inspecting late 19th century dresses that an elderly member had donated to the museum. They were his great-aunt's, and he had generously contributed them, along with several photos. Veronica explained that when someone decides to make a donation, they have two options: 1) donate the items and leave them completely at the museum's disposal or 2) donate the items and have the museum return any they might not place in an exhibit. If a museum does not need certain items, it is plausible to transfer them to other museums. The second option, therefore is for individuals who would prefer to know the location of their heirlooms. The man who donated his great-aunt's items chose this option. I could understand this. If I have a special connection to the Swedish American Museum, or if I live near it, I could visit my relative's personal items and take pride that they are on display. Others, however, are happy to share their ancestors' legacy wherever they may end up. Or they just want to clean their crawlspace.