One table promoted the collections. This table displayed selected documents and the folder and box from which the documents originated. The display exuded the feeling that the box is a treasure trove of interesting things, but did not highlight any one particular document. The second table promoted preservation and sought to educate visitors about how to take care of family papers. This table had a few posters on preservation and conservation and handouts. The handouts came in sleeves (nice touch to set a good example) and contained basic information about handling, storage, and environmental conditions.
Though I enjoyed the tables they did not seem to have a lot of traffic. With how chaotic the Air and Space Museum gets on a Saturday afternoon, the archives tables easily faded into the crowd. Getting people to look down at papers while their heads are looking up at the spaceships is a challenge. Being in a museum that focuses on visitors looking at things, I think some visitors may not have wanted to stop by a table where people are looking at them look at the stuff. Some type of permanent rotating exhibit could be more fitting with visitor expectations, but then it would not come with the same type of experience of being able to talk with the staff and grasp the documents.
Despite the challenges, this type of display is a good way to combine of advocating for the archives with educational outreach. Most successfully, this type of exhibition of archival material and outreach provided the museum visitors who stopped to look a chance to see the institution’s inner workings.
No comments:
Post a Comment