The documents, objects, artifacts, photographs, etc. related to maritime history are stored in a variety of respected institutions throughout the United States and the World. There are many top level maritime museums, and world renown non-maritime institutions that hold vast, important, extremely significant works and collections of works relating to man's involvement with the sea.
The use of the phrases "best research resource of its kind in the western hemisphere", and "largest maritime collection" aside from making unverifiable claims, does a disservice to the researcher, the maritime museum community, and academic libraries and institutions throughout the world whose mission it is to preserve and make these resources available, not to claim bragging rights.
Editorial note on editorial rant: I realize this applies not just to the previously mentioned institution, and that members of my own have also, and often made this same type of misleading statement...and I object to it in all cases.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Story from Mariners
Here's the post on the Mariners Museum Website about the move: http://www.mariner.org/library/tmm_cnu_partnership.php
Look like it will not be happening until summer 2008...so plan your research accordingly.
Look like it will not be happening until summer 2008...so plan your research accordingly.
Library on the move.
Mariners Museum announced yesterday that they will move the "maritime history library to the new $30 million Paul S. Trible Library at neighboring Christopher Newport University. The relocation will not only provide the museum with a long-sought, state-of-the-art archival and research space, but also give CNU its first important scholarly library collection." dailypress.com
If anyone has details on when and how this will effect researchers, and exactly what collections are moving please post. Other than that I'll get in touch with someone down there and get more details.
If anyone has details on when and how this will effect researchers, and exactly what collections are moving please post. Other than that I'll get in touch with someone down there and get more details.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Steam!
One of my favorite e-book sites, Project Gutenberg, just released the 1919 edition of Babcock & Wilcox's classic title: Steam : its Generation and Use. This title is still in print and no stranger to electronic publication; the 41st edition was just released with the complete text on an accompanying CD. The longest continuously published engineering text of its kind, the editors at Project Gutenberg have done a wonderful job. Be sure to see the "Readme" file from the book's main site for information on errors that they have corrected (while allowing for display of the original text), and don't miss the separate List of Illustrations.
Attentive readers might realize by now that this isn't Kelly writing--it's Heather! I'm a new contributor, and spend my days working in a maritime history library in an odd mix of high technology and old-world, traditional book repair. I hope to bring you news of maritime books--newly written as well as old books newly available--so be sure to send along your book news!
Pop Culture and the Pirate - Avast!
As a maritime blogger I would be remiss if I failed to mention that today, September 19th is national(or is it international) Talk Like a Pirate Day.
While I vaguely knew it was coming this morning's reminder actually came from a well known web standards blogger, Jeffery Zeldman who devotes today's entry to the 10 most inappropriate remarks to make on Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Great web resource
Archivist-historian David Mattison’s, Ten Thousand Year blog led me to the excellent resources at the Washington State Library. "The Washington State Library has a remarkable collection of digitized historical books, maps and newspapers through its Washington History site. You can search the newspapers, which date back to 1852, by keyword as they’ve been OCRed or you can locate a specific title. The browse interface is innovative in that you’re shown a popup window with a hyperlinked title of each item on a page. Much of the content deals with British Columbia, Canada. The newspaper images, at least from one of the titles I examined from 1866, are extremely clear, even at 300% magnification. In order to view the maps and newspapers you have to download and install, if you don’t already have it, the free LizardTech DJVu browser plugin."
I did a few searches and found some great info on late 18th century coastal trade.
I did a few searches and found some great info on late 18th century coastal trade.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Postition Announcement - Executive Director - Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport Museum, located in Mystic, Connecticut, currently is seeking to add a new Executive Director. Driven by the exciting goals of the transformation of the Mystic Seaport Museum, reporting to the President & CEO, who will be devoting an extensive amount of his time and energy to the Museum's on-going capital campaign, and working alongside the senior leadership and the Board of Trustees of the Museum, this newly created position will provide both the visionary leadership and extra expertise necessary to take Mystic Seaport to the next level. Mystic Seaport’s transformational plans are aimed at strengthening the institution’s capabilities as a cultural and educational asset.
The Executive Director will be primarily responsible for the Museum’s day to day operations as well as serve as a key participant in strategy formulation and execution. As the chief programming officer and the senior museum professional on staff, the Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of the visitor experience including: exhibiting, public, educational and school programs, community and cultural initiatives, distance learning, volunteers and special events, as well as curatorial, library, collections management and research, and all related support and ancillary operations including food and retail sales, and special events, along with the leadership and management of attendant staff in each area. Given the breadth and diversity of responsibilities and constituencies involved in this position, outstanding leadership skills, a passion for the sea and experience in museum management are essential. The Executive Director should be an excellent communicator who embraces and encourages a team environment and has the ability to interact effectively with donors. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually. Mystic’s assets include four National Historic Landmark vessels, an operational preservation shipyard, an interactive 19th century seafaring village and the Nation’s most extensive (non-Naval) maritime library, and the Rosenfeld photographic collection. Mystic Seaport also offers visitors educational programs for all ages, ranging from summer day camp and sailing lessons to higher education programs, including the undergraduate level Maritime Studies Program in partnership with Williams College. It is not only an institution of great historical prestige but one that is also embarking on very exciting changes for the future to continue to best serve the community, locally and nationally. For additional information on Mystic Seaport, please visit their website at www.mysticseaport.org.
Responses may be sent to Victoria Reese at Heidrick & Struggles in New York at vreese@heidrick.com or by fax, 212-370-9035. Closing date for application is November 15th
The Executive Director will be primarily responsible for the Museum’s day to day operations as well as serve as a key participant in strategy formulation and execution. As the chief programming officer and the senior museum professional on staff, the Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of the visitor experience including: exhibiting, public, educational and school programs, community and cultural initiatives, distance learning, volunteers and special events, as well as curatorial, library, collections management and research, and all related support and ancillary operations including food and retail sales, and special events, along with the leadership and management of attendant staff in each area. Given the breadth and diversity of responsibilities and constituencies involved in this position, outstanding leadership skills, a passion for the sea and experience in museum management are essential. The Executive Director should be an excellent communicator who embraces and encourages a team environment and has the ability to interact effectively with donors. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually. Mystic’s assets include four National Historic Landmark vessels, an operational preservation shipyard, an interactive 19th century seafaring village and the Nation’s most extensive (non-Naval) maritime library, and the Rosenfeld photographic collection. Mystic Seaport also offers visitors educational programs for all ages, ranging from summer day camp and sailing lessons to higher education programs, including the undergraduate level Maritime Studies Program in partnership with Williams College. It is not only an institution of great historical prestige but one that is also embarking on very exciting changes for the future to continue to best serve the community, locally and nationally. For additional information on Mystic Seaport, please visit their website at www.mysticseaport.org.
Responses may be sent to Victoria Reese at Heidrick & Struggles in New York at vreese@heidrick.com or by fax, 212-370-9035. Closing date for application is November 15th
Fellowship for the Study of the Public History of Slavery
Providence, RI - September 17, 2007 - The John Nicholas Brown Center announces a new fellowship for students seeking an M.A. in public humanities who are interested in working in museums and other cultural institutions on issues related to the history and legacy of slavery.
Fellowship recipients will be selected based on relevant experience in museums and cultural institutions, academic coursework on related topics, and an essay that outlines their experience and interest in this area of work. Successful applicants will receive a fellowship that covers tuition, stipend, and fees for the two years it takes to complete the M.A. in public humanities at Brown. Through a partnership with the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the Center will coordinate paid internships for public humanities students. The fellowship especially seeks to prepare future professionals who can lead museums and cultural institutions to address controversial issues and initiate public discussions about slavery, retrospective justice, and the impact of the past on American culture.
The Center's fellowship program connects to Brown University's ongoing examination of the University's historic ties to the slave trade. This initiative began in 2003 with the appointment of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice, charged with studying the impact of the slave trade on the University and recommending institutional responses to the continuing legacy of slavery at Brown and in American society. Following the Committee's recommendations, Brown University has supported efforts to preserve and memorialize the history of slavery and advance the discussion of retrospective justice within museums, libraries, and historic sites.
About the M.A. in Public Humanities
at Brown University
The public humanities program at Brown University combines courses in humanities disciplines with hands-on learning. Students develop expertise in history, literature, archaeology, anthropology, media and performance, public policy, or art history; knowledge of the history, theory, and methods of the public humanities; and the practical skills to handle museum artifacts, create exhibits or Web sites, conduct oral histories, undertake historic preservation projects, and manage cultural programs. By combining the ideas and traditions of diverse communities with the methods and approaches of humanities scholars, students in the M.A. program broaden the ways that Americans understand their cultural heritage.
Students complete two years of courses, including three required classes and nine elective courses. In addition, students undertake two practicums, gaining professional experience by working in cultural institutions. In past years, students have completed practicums at museums (including the Smithsonian, Baseball Hall of Fame, and International Folk Art Museum), local historical societies, the National Park Service, and Providence's New Urban Arts program. Partial fellowships are available to most students in the program, in addition to financial support to attend workshops and conferences and for some student practicums.
The John Nicholas Brown Center supports the Department of American Civilization's M.A. in public humanities with a variety of programs, lectures, and workshops. In the Carriage House Gallery, students experiment with a variety of exhibit styles and techniques. Center staff and students work with cultural organizations and museums across the U.S. to enhance and expand their programs. Internationally, the Center is developing a partnership with the cultural heritage and management programs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
For more information
JNBC Home
M.A. program
Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice
For more information about the public humanities program, see www.brown.edu/ jnbc. Applications for admission to the M.A. in public humanities are due by January 1, 2008. Application forms are available at: http://gradschool.brown.edu/.
Fellowship recipients will be selected based on relevant experience in museums and cultural institutions, academic coursework on related topics, and an essay that outlines their experience and interest in this area of work. Successful applicants will receive a fellowship that covers tuition, stipend, and fees for the two years it takes to complete the M.A. in public humanities at Brown. Through a partnership with the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the Center will coordinate paid internships for public humanities students. The fellowship especially seeks to prepare future professionals who can lead museums and cultural institutions to address controversial issues and initiate public discussions about slavery, retrospective justice, and the impact of the past on American culture.
The Center's fellowship program connects to Brown University's ongoing examination of the University's historic ties to the slave trade. This initiative began in 2003 with the appointment of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice, charged with studying the impact of the slave trade on the University and recommending institutional responses to the continuing legacy of slavery at Brown and in American society. Following the Committee's recommendations, Brown University has supported efforts to preserve and memorialize the history of slavery and advance the discussion of retrospective justice within museums, libraries, and historic sites.
About the M.A. in Public Humanities
at Brown University
The public humanities program at Brown University combines courses in humanities disciplines with hands-on learning. Students develop expertise in history, literature, archaeology, anthropology, media and performance, public policy, or art history; knowledge of the history, theory, and methods of the public humanities; and the practical skills to handle museum artifacts, create exhibits or Web sites, conduct oral histories, undertake historic preservation projects, and manage cultural programs. By combining the ideas and traditions of diverse communities with the methods and approaches of humanities scholars, students in the M.A. program broaden the ways that Americans understand their cultural heritage.
Students complete two years of courses, including three required classes and nine elective courses. In addition, students undertake two practicums, gaining professional experience by working in cultural institutions. In past years, students have completed practicums at museums (including the Smithsonian, Baseball Hall of Fame, and International Folk Art Museum), local historical societies, the National Park Service, and Providence's New Urban Arts program. Partial fellowships are available to most students in the program, in addition to financial support to attend workshops and conferences and for some student practicums.
The John Nicholas Brown Center supports the Department of American Civilization's M.A. in public humanities with a variety of programs, lectures, and workshops. In the Carriage House Gallery, students experiment with a variety of exhibit styles and techniques. Center staff and students work with cultural organizations and museums across the U.S. to enhance and expand their programs. Internationally, the Center is developing a partnership with the cultural heritage and management programs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
For more information
JNBC Home
M.A. program
Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice
For more information about the public humanities program, see www.brown.edu/ jnbc. Applications for admission to the M.A. in public humanities are due by January 1, 2008. Application forms are available at: http://gradschool.brown.edu/.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Close to Home
This morning's The Day newspaper reports on the arrest of a former director of facilities at Mystic Seaport for ordering more than $45,000 worth of copper wire for the museum, then selling much of it to scrap yards in New London and Essex and keeping the money.
Cindy Snarski, worked at the Museum for 2 years prior to being let go in June.
Editorial note: We're not thrilled about this development at Mystic Seaport, and I certainly didn't want to post this, but in all fairness felt that I was obligated to.
Cindy Snarski, worked at the Museum for 2 years prior to being let go in June.
Editorial note: We're not thrilled about this development at Mystic Seaport, and I certainly didn't want to post this, but in all fairness felt that I was obligated to.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Job Posting: Director of Education & Interpretation
The USS Constitution Museum seeks an experienced, energetic professional to lead the Museum’s Education & Interpretation department at an exciting time. The Museum received IMLS’ National Award for Museum Service for its innovative national educational outreach program, and is completing an IMLS National Leadership Grant focused on family learning. The Museum is AAM-accredited and welcomes nearly 300,000 visitors/year. The position includes overseeing gallery interpretation, group visits, educational outreach, public programming, museum volunteers and teacher training. Join the senior management team, participating in NEH-funded exhibit development and strategic planning. The successful candidate will be familiar with current educational standards and object-based learning, with a proven track record of project management from idea to reality.AAM Job Posting
| NOTES: | The Museum offers a competitive salary and a full benefits package. EOE. |
Another high tech craft
Roz Savage, past rower of the Atlantic, is now preparing for her third attempt of the Pacific. Fans can follow her adventure at http://www.rozsavage.com/.
The San Jose Mercury reports on her recent capsizing.
The San Jose Mercury reports on her recent capsizing.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
New Acquistion Anyone?
New York City saw a new kind of watercraft yesterday. Touted as a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel, "Proteaus" is designed for everything from military uses to biological studies, ocean exploration and sea rescue.The spindly catamaran is so efficient that it can travel 5,000 miles — farther than across the Atlantic — on one load of diesel fuel. No idea on how fast it can go, or how much storage space is required to archive it!
Full story
Friday, September 07, 2007
Position Announcement: Nimitz Library
Date Opens: September 4, 2007
Date Closes: October 2, 2007
Making the AP Rounds - Bush Goes Naval
US President George W Bush has taken time out from meetings with other political leaders to visit Sydney's National Maritime Museum.
Following a meeting at his hotel with Labor leader Kevin Rudd, Mr Bush and his motorcade crossed the city to Darling Harbour, where the museum has a USA Gallery.
Among exhibits in the gallery is a bell from the US navy ship USS Canberra. The bell as presented to Australia by Mr Bush in 2001 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ANZUS treaty.
Hmmm, wouldn't it be nice if he visited a US Maritime Museum?
Following a meeting at his hotel with Labor leader Kevin Rudd, Mr Bush and his motorcade crossed the city to Darling Harbour, where the museum has a USA Gallery.
Among exhibits in the gallery is a bell from the US navy ship USS Canberra. The bell as presented to Australia by Mr Bush in 2001 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ANZUS treaty.
Hmmm, wouldn't it be nice if he visited a US Maritime Museum?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Grant ++
The History Channel on Wednesday awarded the Wisconsin Maritime Museum a $9,034 "Save Our History" grant to partner with Manitowoc Lincoln High School and Kewaskum High School for a World War II oral history project.
"History Calls: Individuals Answer—Connecting Wisconsin Teens with the Greatest Generation" will help students learn about local World War II history by interviewing those who lived it — the submariners, shipyard workers, and family members who served on, built, or supported the 28 Manitowoc-built submarines.
The project will involve staff from the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and Digital Design Services in Green Bay with students and teachers from the two high schools.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Input Requested
As a few of you have mentioned, I've not been posting as much lately. Maritime activities have been slow and I've been bringing myself back up to speed on web development technologies - but for a maritime reason. A few months ago Mystic Seaport announced that we would be leading the development of a National Maritime Digital Library and thats where my spare energies are going.The main part that we are focusing on right now is developing a maritime search engine using the Google Custom Search Interface. This will help maritime researchers, people working in subjects that might not naturally come to the top a web-wide search, to more easily find the information they need.
To that end we're requesting that any and all interested parties:
- Try out the search and make comments on the results
- Add the urls for maritime sites to the growing online list. (The "Add a new Web Resource" link is in the upper left hand corner.)- The results off your added link should show up immediately, please let me know if they don't.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Save the Date: Liverpool 2010.
A recent news report announced the funding of a Maritime Park at Liverpool, and made an interesting case for booking your travel plans to see many maritime museums in one stop.
the National Museums Liverpool has been awarded £220,000 from the government-managed DCMS/Wolfson fund to improve and interpret some of the city’s most important docks and quaysides, including the graving docks, Canning Half Tide Basin quayside and Canning Dock.
The new park, due to open in 2009, will link the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the new International Slavery Museum with the forthcoming Museum of Liverpool, opening in 2010.
This part of Liverpool’s dock system has been used for more than 200 years and includes the dry basin of the original Old Dock – the world’s first commercial wet dock and the foundation of Liverpool’s maritime power. It forms part of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
----
the National Museums Liverpool has been awarded £220,000 from the government-managed DCMS/Wolfson fund to improve and interpret some of the city’s most important docks and quaysides, including the graving docks, Canning Half Tide Basin quayside and Canning Dock.
The new park, due to open in 2009, will link the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the new International Slavery Museum with the forthcoming Museum of Liverpool, opening in 2010.
This part of Liverpool’s dock system has been used for more than 200 years and includes the dry basin of the original Old Dock – the world’s first commercial wet dock and the foundation of Liverpool’s maritime power. It forms part of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
----
Book Review: Clifford Beal. "Quelch's Gold: Piracy, Greed and Betrayal in Colonial New England"
Quelch's Gold: Piracy, Greed, and Betrayal in Colonial New England
From H-Net The Tale of John Quelch, Privateer or Pirate In the southern-hemisphere summer of 1703-04, John Quelch commanded the Brigantine Charles in a series of attacks on Portuguese shipping off the Brazilian coast. The Charles had sailed from Marblehead, Massachusetts the previous August, and it returned to its home port with a huge quantity of gold in May, 1704. Soon thereafter Quelch was arrested. He claimed that he had been operating as a legitimate privateer, but there were difficulties with this story. He had a commission from Massachusetts Governor Joseph Dudley, but it was addressed to the ship's original captain. Quelch had taken over the Charles only after that man fell ill, became incapacitated, and died under slightly suspicious circumstances. Another problem with the commission was that it authorized the Charles to operate only against Spanish and French shipping, with no hint of any action against the Portuguese. But the biggest difficulty stemmed from the alliance that had been formalized between England and Portugal just weeks before Quelch's arrival on the Brazilian coast. The Charles had been attacking England's allies, and therefore Quelch was put on trial for his life in what would be the first capital trial conducted by an English admiralty court sitting in North America....
Sure sounds like a great read.
Friday, August 10, 2007
NASOH: Call for Papers
North American Society for Oceanic History and the Council of American Maritime Museums 2008 Annual Conference
Hosted by the University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida
"Defining the Maritime Edge: The History and Archaeology of Inland Environments, Coastal Encounters and Blue Water Connections," the 27th Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH) co-sponsored by the Council of American Maritime Museums, will be hosted by the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, May 7-11, 2008. The Conference Program Committee invites proposals for papers and sessions exploring all aspects of history and archaeology related to saltwater or navigable freshwater environments. Suggested areas of research include, but are not restricted to, archeology and anthropology, arts and sciences, history, or museum exhibitions. Proposals that identify the unique characteristics and influence of coastal and inland waters and explore their interfaces with the larger Continental or Oceanic Worlds are especially encouraged.
The Program Committee welcomes the submission of individual papers and full sessions, preferring panels with three papers and a chair. Proposals should include a brief abstract for each paper or a one-page abstract for panels and brief C.V.s for each participant, including chairs. Graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals for presentations. Accommodations for PowerPoint presentations will be provided; however, any other requirements, including audio-visual equipment, special outlets, or accommodations for disabilities should be included in the proposal. Scholars interested in chairing sessions are welcome to send a brief C.V. to the Program Committee Co-chairs. Please note that all participants must register for the conference. Specific questions may be directed to Program Committee Co-Chair, Bill Thiesen at thiesen@earthlink.net. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2008.
Send or email submissions to the two Program Committee Co-Chairs listed below:
Victor T. Mastone and John O. Jensen
Co-chair, NASOH Program Committee Co-chair, NASOH Program
Committee
Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources Sea Education
Association
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800 P.O. Box 6
Boston, MA 02114-2199 Woods Hole,
MA 02543
victor.mastone@state.ma.us
jensenheritage@cox.net
Program Committee:
John O. Jensen, Sea Education, Co-Chair
Victor T. Mastone, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Co-Chair
William H. Thiesen, United States Coast Guard, Co-Chair
James M. Allan, St. Mary's College
Cathy Green, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
C. Douglas Kroll, College of the Desert
Timothy G. Lynch, California State Maritime Academy
Christopher P. Magra, California State University-Northridge
Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Central Carolina Community College
Amy M. Mitchell-Cook, University of West Florida
James M. Morris, Christopher Newport University (emeritus)
Brian J. Payne, Old Dominion University
Gene A. Smith, Texas Christian University
Channing M. Zucker, United States Navy (ret.)
Hosted by the University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida
"Defining the Maritime Edge: The History and Archaeology of Inland Environments, Coastal Encounters and Blue Water Connections," the 27th Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH) co-sponsored by the Council of American Maritime Museums, will be hosted by the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, May 7-11, 2008. The Conference Program Committee invites proposals for papers and sessions exploring all aspects of history and archaeology related to saltwater or navigable freshwater environments. Suggested areas of research include, but are not restricted to, archeology and anthropology, arts and sciences, history, or museum exhibitions. Proposals that identify the unique characteristics and influence of coastal and inland waters and explore their interfaces with the larger Continental or Oceanic Worlds are especially encouraged.
The Program Committee welcomes the submission of individual papers and full sessions, preferring panels with three papers and a chair. Proposals should include a brief abstract for each paper or a one-page abstract for panels and brief C.V.s for each participant, including chairs. Graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals for presentations. Accommodations for PowerPoint presentations will be provided; however, any other requirements, including audio-visual equipment, special outlets, or accommodations for disabilities should be included in the proposal. Scholars interested in chairing sessions are welcome to send a brief C.V. to the Program Committee Co-chairs. Please note that all participants must register for the conference. Specific questions may be directed to Program Committee Co-Chair, Bill Thiesen at thiesen@earthlink.net. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2008.
Send or email submissions to the two Program Committee Co-Chairs listed below:
Victor T. Mastone and John O. Jensen
Co-chair, NASOH Program Committee Co-chair, NASOH Program
Committee
Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources Sea Education
Association
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800 P.O. Box 6
Boston, MA 02114-2199 Woods Hole,
MA 02543
victor.mastone@state.ma.us
jensenheritage@cox.net
Program Committee:
John O. Jensen, Sea Education, Co-Chair
Victor T. Mastone, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Co-Chair
William H. Thiesen, United States Coast Guard, Co-Chair
James M. Allan, St. Mary's College
Cathy Green, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
C. Douglas Kroll, College of the Desert
Timothy G. Lynch, California State Maritime Academy
Christopher P. Magra, California State University-Northridge
Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Central Carolina Community College
Amy M. Mitchell-Cook, University of West Florida
James M. Morris, Christopher Newport University (emeritus)
Brian J. Payne, Old Dominion University
Gene A. Smith, Texas Christian University
Channing M. Zucker, United States Navy (ret.)
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Possible Discovery
This morning's AP story regards the possible discovery of a life ring from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Forbes reports the the life ring was found 200 miles from the shipwreck.
Tom Farnquist, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society which has one ring, reports that the found ring is "identical in size and configuration. ... Is it possible? Certainly it is."
Others doubt that it would have survived in the open that long.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Independence Seaport Moves On
Independence Seaport has named Lori Dillard Rech as their new President.She is currently the Executive Director of the Betsy Ross House. Rech brings sixteen years of experience as an administrator and educator in history museums. Prior to her tenure at the Betsy Ross House, she was Director of Education and Public Programs for the National Museum of American Jewish History. Earlier roles include Education Director at Fort Mifflin on the Delaware, and Education Coordinator at Brandywine Battlefield. Ms. Dillard Rech is an avid competitive sailor and currently
serves as Vice Commodore (2002-2007) of Liberty Sailing Club. She has a B.A. degree in art history from the University of Florida and an M.A. in museum studies from Syracuse University, with a specialization in education.
She starts work Sept 5.
Interestingly enough the press release also notes that Independence has been raising a great deal of money during these recent troubled times:
Since May 2006, the Museum's invested funds have grown from about $7 million to $14 million, ade possible by prudent management of the investments, the sale of assets that were unrelated to its core educational mission, and an anonymous $1 million gift. Since December 2006, nine new members joined the Board. The philanthropic community returned to the Museum in 2006, moreover, when
total public and private funding increased by 188 percent, from $1.2 million in 2005 to $3.5 million.
Press Release
serves as Vice Commodore (2002-2007) of Liberty Sailing Club. She has a B.A. degree in art history from the University of Florida and an M.A. in museum studies from Syracuse University, with a specialization in education.
She starts work Sept 5.
Interestingly enough the press release also notes that Independence has been raising a great deal of money during these recent troubled times:
Since May 2006, the Museum's invested funds have grown from about $7 million to $14 million, ade possible by prudent management of the investments, the sale of assets that were unrelated to its core educational mission, and an anonymous $1 million gift. Since December 2006, nine new members joined the Board. The philanthropic community returned to the Museum in 2006, moreover, when
total public and private funding increased by 188 percent, from $1.2 million in 2005 to $3.5 million.
Press Release
Friday, July 27, 2007
I Like....Museums (maritime, of course)
It's been a slow month for maritime news. Lots of new exhibits, but no real news. I've been focusing on new methods of delievering information via the web and developing web 2.0 technologies (i.e. ways of getting information back from our users). In the course of that I ran across this site called I Like...Museums.
It's a site that provides info about museums but...not by museum but by topic. For instance they have an I Like....ships trail, and an I Like...maritime trail.
But the cool thing is that users can create the trails and comment on the museums. Which makes interesting reading not only for others, but also for museum personnel.
btw...if you want something fun to do in your spare time...search http://www.flickr.com/ for your favorite maritime museum...you might be surprised what visitors post pictures of.
It's a site that provides info about museums but...not by museum but by topic. For instance they have an I Like....ships trail, and an I Like...maritime trail.
But the cool thing is that users can create the trails and comment on the museums. Which makes interesting reading not only for others, but also for museum personnel.
btw...if you want something fun to do in your spare time...search http://www.flickr.com/ for your favorite maritime museum...you might be surprised what visitors post pictures of.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Speaking of the Titanic
A few entries ago I commented on the popularity of the Titanic exhibit presently being held in Denver. Today's BBC reports on a new Titanic development - an unused ticket. This appears to be the second such ticket in existence, the first having been uncovered in 2003. I'm going to link to the BBC story here instead of relaying all the details because if you're really interested they kindly supply a series of links on the right of the page to more Titanic stories.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New Collection Online
Penobscot Marine Museum now has an education site and searchable catalog. Users can search and see collection items in a nice interface. Students and teachers can learn about maritime history and culture in nine education modules. There is also a journal of a 16-year-old boy who sailed from Belfast to California and back in 1866.
I haven't had too much time to really explore but that's no reason not to share it!
http://www.penobscotbayhistory.org/
I haven't had too much time to really explore but that's no reason not to share it!
http://www.penobscotbayhistory.org/
Monday, July 02, 2007
Titanic Rescue Log Sells for $102,000 at Christie's in New York
From Bloomberg.com
June 28 (Bloomberg) -- A log book from the cable ship Mackay-Bennett detailing the grisly efforts to recover corpses from the Titanic fetched $102,000 today at Christie's International in New York -- more than double its $50,000 high estimate.
The unidentified winning bidder, dressed in a light-blue short-sleeved shirt, dashed from the room as soon as the gavel went down.
The brittle, mottled book, with neat pencil inscriptions, was the most expensive item in a 224-lot Ocean Liner sale that tallied $718,680. The auction, which included vintage travel posters, a silver ice bucket from the Normandie and slew of ship paintings, was estimated to bring as much as $928,000.
Meanwhile - back on the web -
There is an interesting and lengthy discusion underweigh at titanic.com on the Denver Titanic Artifact Exhibit.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Day 2 - Happy July!
Saturday at the WoodenBoat Show was a very good day. More boats and even more people. Bear and Bull, the sandbaggers are here, and some great radio controlled sailboats which were great fun to play with. Mostly we talked to people about the Ships Plans Collection, the range, the detail, the process for ordering, etc., but if we had prepared differently, there is so much more we could have brought to the show.
Around noon word spread that we will have a chance to do just that. The WoodenBoat Show will be returning to Mystic Seaport next year. Same weekend, so mark your calendar.
I did finally manage to get a beer around 4:00 (no Fins in sight - but I'll keep looking), and a couple more at the WoodenBoat reception. Then in true summer fashion had some margaritas and walked around town. Now I've got to make that long commute back to the grounds for the final day.
Around noon word spread that we will have a chance to do just that. The WoodenBoat Show will be returning to Mystic Seaport next year. Same weekend, so mark your calendar.
I did finally manage to get a beer around 4:00 (no Fins in sight - but I'll keep looking), and a couple more at the WoodenBoat reception. Then in true summer fashion had some margaritas and walked around town. Now I've got to make that long commute back to the grounds for the final day.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Kayaks!
It's turned out to be a beautiful day and the grounds are packed. Rumor has it that both parking lots, and most of the side streets are full. The visitors certainly appear to be enjoying themselves. The kids building boats in the next booth absolutely are. I've taken a break and spent some time at the Cheseapeake Light Craft booth. Have I mentioned that I just bought a kayak? Its a Necky Eliza (but I digress). Anyway, the photo says it all.
On the Road
Good morning!
I'm blogging today from the the sixteenth annual WoodenBoat show at Mystic Seaport, and for some reason, at 8:41, I want a beer. I took a walk around while everyone was setting up and there are some amazing boats here. I've got to do some setting up myself, we're featuring the Collections Research Center, but I'll write more later...and post some photos.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Heads Up - Stolen Items
It appears that someone who knows the value of whaling harpoons has stolen some from a case at the New Jersey Cape May County Museum. Please read the full story at philly.com, and keep your eyes open!
Update - Looks like the theft was a few weeks old when reported which is sad because a more timely alert of the maritime community could have helped in the recovery process.Press of Atlantic City.
Update - Looks like the theft was a few weeks old when reported which is sad because a more timely alert of the maritime community could have helped in the recovery process.Press of Atlantic City.
Another Day, Another Maritime Museum
To gather information for potential posting to this blog, I monitor several news feeds and then select stories that seem the most interesting or relevant. Within the past few months however I've been noticing a trend. No story that in itself would constitute a post but taken together is interesting. There are a lot of new maritime museums popping up.
Take for instance last night's story carried in the Dublin [Ireland] news:
Plans to convert the old Mariner’s Church in Dún Laoghaire into a state of the art maritime museum, library and heritage centre have been announced by the Maritime Institute - the voluntary organisation which recently purchased the building.
Then, of course, there are the bigger additions such as the 30 million dollar, Gulf Maritime Museum set to open in 2009:
The museum will be shaped like a ship headed out to Mobile Bay. Exhibits will be housed inside the stern of a full-sized container ship, displayed as if dockside.
Tony Zodrow, who was hired in 2005 as the museum's executive director after serving as director of Birmingham's McWane Center, expects the museum will become a favorite stop for visitors from the Gulf states. He cited a marketing study that projects first-year attendance at more than 160,000.
There is also a major initiative underway in Florida (which i have mentioned previously), and lots and lots of smaller museums. It's just making me wonder - What's going on? Is there an upswing in interest in things maritime? Or just in building maritime museums? How is attendance?
Take for instance last night's story carried in the Dublin [Ireland] news:
Plans to convert the old Mariner’s Church in Dún Laoghaire into a state of the art maritime museum, library and heritage centre have been announced by the Maritime Institute - the voluntary organisation which recently purchased the building.
Then, of course, there are the bigger additions such as the 30 million dollar, Gulf Maritime Museum set to open in 2009:
The museum will be shaped like a ship headed out to Mobile Bay. Exhibits will be housed inside the stern of a full-sized container ship, displayed as if dockside.
Tony Zodrow, who was hired in 2005 as the museum's executive director after serving as director of Birmingham's McWane Center, expects the museum will become a favorite stop for visitors from the Gulf states. He cited a marketing study that projects first-year attendance at more than 160,000.
There is also a major initiative underway in Florida (which i have mentioned previously), and lots and lots of smaller museums. It's just making me wonder - What's going on? Is there an upswing in interest in things maritime? Or just in building maritime museums? How is attendance?
Lois McClure - Locking Along
On June 18th the Lois McClure, a handmade replica of an 1862 canal boat, and it's crew of 14 started off on a voyage of more than a 1000 miles in 100 days through the Erie Canal. The first stop will be Ithaca, in the finger lakes region of New York. From there, the boat will head west through the Erie Canal all the way to Buffalo and Lake Erie. It will then stop in Oswego before making it's way back to Lake Champlain in September.The schedule for the Lois McClure's voyage is online along with some entries in a virtual ships log.
Ever since I first say the Erie Canal I've wanted to travel on it. Real and virtual journey's like these are great ways to engage visitors and those interested in maritime history. Most people will not be able to go and visit the Lois McClure, but being able to check in on her cruise, even get to know some of the crew, is pretty neat.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Position: Film/Video Intern
Mystic Seaport's Collection and Research Department has a temporary (30 wk.) position as Technical Assistant for video-projection. Responsibilities include power point presentations, maintaining AV equipment and technical programming in exhibits. Requirements include interest/experience in video, computers and audio gear, must be dependable with excellent communication skills, at least 18 with ability to lift and carry 75lbs. and walk campus quickly pulling a handcart. Some weekend/evening work possible.
For more information or to apply see Mystic Seaport's Employment Site
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
MSN Most Viewed News Item
The discovery of a bomb lance inside a bowhead whale is an AP story that is appearing in all the papers this morning.
The authenticity and age of the lance was verified by New Bedford's John Bockstoc. And while I can't agree with the conclusion that the lance was fired by a New Bedford whaler, the overall sleuthing is good.
The best article I found on the story is at SouthCoastToday.com
(Same place where I stole the photo)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Maritime Studies Faculty Position
The Sea Education Association (www.sea.edu), located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts invites applications for a permanent faculty member in Maritime Studies. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team dedicated to innovative teaching and studying the ocean environment and its relationship to the earth and human affairs. We are seeking candidates with a Ph.D. in the Humanities or Social Sciences who possess the qualifications to teach advanced undergraduate courses in interdisciplinary maritime studies. We encourage applicants with strong training in history as well graduate level education and/or significant teaching or
professional experiences in one or more the following areas: Maritime History,
Atlantic World, Caribbean Studies, Pacific Studies, Environmental History/Studies,
Public Policy, and Policy History. The successful candidate will pursue
a professional agenda of innovative teaching and excellent scholarship, and possess the desire to join and contribute to a deeply committed educational community. Although a Ph.D. is ultimately required for permanent appointment, we welcome applications from advanced doctoral students with exceptional promise as teacher/scholars.
A review of applications will begin on August 1, 2007, and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, and three letters of reference to:
John Jensen, Chair, Maritime Studies Faculty Search Committee, Sea Education
Association,
P.O. Box 6
Woods Hole, MA 02543.
Electronic submissions are preferred, please send to jjensen@sea.edu.
SEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Friday, June 08, 2007
Slacker
I have to apologize for not posting much in the last few weeks. Every time I've seen a good story I keep promising myself to follow up on it and make a good post...but obviously I haven't.
I have added the feed list to the right hand column of the blog so even if I don't get around to digesting what's going on or doing some indepth research, at least the headlines will be coming through.
This weekend looks pretty clear so hopefully there will be a post coming soon on the discussion on H-Maritime regarding "new" and "old" maritime history.
Kelly
I have added the feed list to the right hand column of the blog so even if I don't get around to digesting what's going on or doing some indepth research, at least the headlines will be coming through.
This weekend looks pretty clear so hopefully there will be a post coming soon on the discussion on H-Maritime regarding "new" and "old" maritime history.
Kelly
Position Announcement: Battleship New Jersey
Director of Education Camden, N J
The Battleship New Jersey Museum & memorial, located in Camden, New Jersey, is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated educator to help run a dynamic educational program. This program is geared to meet New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware State Curriculum Standards for 3rd through 12th grade levels in social studies, math, science, geography and history. The successful candidate will demonstrate ability to develop and implement imaginative lesson plans for on-site and off-site presentations, with emphasis on hands on programming, including the use of artifacts. Must be able to work well with retired teachers, administrators or other educational volunteers. Must have two or more years practical teaching or educational museum experience. May be an active or retired Teacher from any public/private school in the Tri-State Area.
Responsibilities:
Equal Employment Opportunity. Battleship New Jersey strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation or preference, medical condition (including pregnancy) or protected disability where it is unrelated to the ability to perform a job, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, or any other category prohibited by federal, state or applicable local law, regulation or ordinance.
This position is Exempt. Overtime may be required.
To apply for this position please send a cover letter and resume via mail, fax, or email to:
Battleship New Jersey
Attn: Director of Education Search
62 Battleship Place
Camden, NJ 08103
Fax: 856-966-3131
Email: j.hall@battleshipnewjersey.org
No Phone Calls Please Posted June 5th
The Battleship New Jersey Museum & memorial, located in Camden, New Jersey, is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated educator to help run a dynamic educational program. This program is geared to meet New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware State Curriculum Standards for 3rd through 12th grade levels in social studies, math, science, geography and history. The successful candidate will demonstrate ability to develop and implement imaginative lesson plans for on-site and off-site presentations, with emphasis on hands on programming, including the use of artifacts. Must be able to work well with retired teachers, administrators or other educational volunteers. Must have two or more years practical teaching or educational museum experience. May be an active or retired Teacher from any public/private school in the Tri-State Area.
Responsibilities:
- · The management and implementation of all educational activities related to the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial.
- · Under the direction of the Vice President of Curatorial Affairs and Education, provide educational support to interpretive exhibits.
- · Manage existing educational programs for school children and teachers.
- · Recommend changes to existing educational programs as needed.
- · Manage existing and create new supplemental materials and activities related to educational programs.
- · Develop, recommend and implement new programs for use at the elementary, secondary, collegiate and educator level.
- · Continue to expand diversity of educational offerings to include more programs in history, social studies, mathematics and science.
- · Provide collateral support to the Director of Group and Encampment Sales.
- · Manage and grow distance learning program.
- · Manage and grow teacher workshop and in-service programs.
- · Lead the Battleship New Jersey’s EAC (Educational Advisory Council) including the recruitment of additional members.
- · Act as the lead staff member for the Board of Trustee’s Education Committee
- · Forge cooperative relationships with other area cultural and educational institutions.
- · Manage the Battleship NJ’s oral history program in conjunction with Kean University.
- · Represent the Battleship New Jersey Museum at relevant meetings and conferences.
- · Provide support to the Development Department in regards to educational grant writing.
- · Find new and unique uses for primary resources and the use of artifacts in educational programming.
- · Publish the educational newsletter, “Jerseyman for Teachers.”
- · Other duties as assigned.
- Qualifications:
- · Minimum BS degree in Secondary Education OR a BA in History with some Educational Training.
- · Licensed within the last two years by State of NJ, PA or DE to teach middle and high school students in the classroom as a full, part time or substitute teacher.
- · Possess two or more years practical teaching or museum educator experience.
- · Posses a working knowledge of U.S. military and naval history, 1850-present.
- · Excellent organizational, administrative and interpersonal skills.
- · Computer Literate and able to use Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, Power Point and the Internet.
- · Able to produce Battleship-related lesson plans for History, Social Studies, Science, Math and Geography.
- · Must be comfortable with video teleconferencing technology.
- · Excellent writing, researching and editing skills.
- · Able to produce Battleship related pre and post visit lesson plans, activities and programs for teachers and other educators.
- · Ability to work independently on assigned goals with little supervision.
- · Ability to make educational presentations outside of an office or classroom environment.
- · Able to produce materials within a fixed budget, on time and as needed.
- · Able to work as a team in developing Battleship related educational displays for classroom, convention and public relations activities.
- · Ability to have flexible hours, including some weekends and/or evenings.
- · Ability and/or experience in educational grant writing preferred.
Equal Employment Opportunity. Battleship New Jersey strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation or preference, medical condition (including pregnancy) or protected disability where it is unrelated to the ability to perform a job, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, or any other category prohibited by federal, state or applicable local law, regulation or ordinance.
This position is Exempt. Overtime may be required.
To apply for this position please send a cover letter and resume via mail, fax, or email to:
Battleship New Jersey
Attn: Director of Education Search
62 Battleship Place
Camden, NJ 08103
Fax: 856-966-3131
Email: j.hall@battleshipnewjersey.org
No Phone Calls Please Posted June 5th
Monday, May 21, 2007
Oh No! Cutty Sark Burned
A very sad day. Heres the bad news from the BBC.
Continual updates here: http://news.google.com/news?um=1&tab=wn&hl=en&q=cutty+sark+fire. I'm out of town for the day but will check in tonight.
Continual updates here: http://news.google.com/news?um=1&tab=wn&hl=en&q=cutty+sark+fire. I'm out of town for the day but will check in tonight.
Friday, May 18, 2007
More Thoughts on "Digital History"
This is a cool video on Digital Futures.
The following quote is taken from William J. Turkel's Digital History Hacks and is good reading for historians, caretakers and providers of digital history:
Having more changes our ideas of what history and memory are. Roy Rosenzweig's essay on scarcity and abundance should be required reading for all historians. I've already written about information costs, so I won't go into detail here, except to say that historical projects have largely been defined by what we can't find or know, and that's about to change. Having nearly frictionless access to vast amounts of source material makes it possible to undertake projects that hinge on attested, but very-low-frequency evidence. Having more of everything also means that attention becomes a scarce resource. As scholars, our reputations and careers are increasingly shaped by the logic of the gift.
Finally, more is about to become an awful lot more. Technologies like RFID and MEMS make it possible to create vast sensor networks that continuously record data in unimaginable quantities, or that can track the history of practically any object of interest. CARPE researchers study the capture, archival and retrieval of personal experiences across a lifetime. If you thought Samuel Pepys left a lot of material, you haven't seen anything yet.
The following quote is taken from William J. Turkel's Digital History Hacks and is good reading for historians, caretakers and providers of digital history:
Having more changes our ideas of what history and memory are. Roy Rosenzweig's essay on scarcity and abundance should be required reading for all historians. I've already written about information costs, so I won't go into detail here, except to say that historical projects have largely been defined by what we can't find or know, and that's about to change. Having nearly frictionless access to vast amounts of source material makes it possible to undertake projects that hinge on attested, but very-low-frequency evidence. Having more of everything also means that attention becomes a scarce resource. As scholars, our reputations and careers are increasingly shaped by the logic of the gift.
Finally, more is about to become an awful lot more. Technologies like RFID and MEMS make it possible to create vast sensor networks that continuously record data in unimaginable quantities, or that can track the history of practically any object of interest. CARPE researchers study the capture, archival and retrieval of personal experiences across a lifetime. If you thought Samuel Pepys left a lot of material, you haven't seen anything yet.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Speaking of Insider Theft
This from the dailypress.com
NEWPORT NEWS -- The former chief archivist for The Mariners' Museum library is facing a civil suit filed by the museum, alleging that he stole - and then sold - archived items.
Lester Weber was fired Sept. 25 for "policy violations which include, in part, the theft of archival items from the museum's collections for subsequent sale on the Internet and eBay," according to a statement from Alan Diamonstein, chairman of The Mariners' Museum Board of Trustees.
Officer Harold Eley, a Newport News Police Department spokesman, confirmed that police were looking into allegations against Weber but declined to elaborate, citing the continuing investigation.
Weber and his wife, Lori Childs, are named as defendants in a civil suit filed April 16 in Newport News Circuit Court.
Diamonstein, reached late Wednesday, said the museum was seeking the return of stolen merchandise and money for merchandise sold.
"They were archival items that people had given ...," Diamonstein said. "They weren't on display yet."
Lester Weber couldn't be reached for comment. His wife, who answered a phone call late Wednesday, said she couldn't talk about the case and hung up.
NEWPORT NEWS -- The former chief archivist for The Mariners' Museum library is facing a civil suit filed by the museum, alleging that he stole - and then sold - archived items.
Lester Weber was fired Sept. 25 for "policy violations which include, in part, the theft of archival items from the museum's collections for subsequent sale on the Internet and eBay," according to a statement from Alan Diamonstein, chairman of The Mariners' Museum Board of Trustees.
Officer Harold Eley, a Newport News Police Department spokesman, confirmed that police were looking into allegations against Weber but declined to elaborate, citing the continuing investigation.
Weber and his wife, Lori Childs, are named as defendants in a civil suit filed April 16 in Newport News Circuit Court.
Diamonstein, reached late Wednesday, said the museum was seeking the return of stolen merchandise and money for merchandise sold.
"They were archival items that people had given ...," Diamonstein said. "They weren't on display yet."
Lester Weber couldn't be reached for comment. His wife, who answered a phone call late Wednesday, said she couldn't talk about the case and hung up.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Which Really Was About...
Talking to others throughout the conference many mentioned how the sessions they attended were not at all what they had been led to expect. I hadn’t run into that at all…until today.
“The Right Way to Hire, Lessens the Need to Fire”
This morning’s first session started with the fascinating statistic that “90% of museum thefts can be linked to individuals with a direct connection to the museum” and proceeded to detail ways to avoid this pitfall and navigate other aspects of hiring. As I’ll be hiring someone within the next month, thought this would be a good session to attend.
The presentation was given by Steve Lane, former police chief and museum security and now works in legal cases of insider theft. He was a bit right-wing, terrorist conspiracy minded.
He recommended conducting a criminal background investigation on all employees and volunteers and one law states that you do have a duty to conduct what the courts consider “A Reasonable Inquiry into an Applicant’s Background and Character.” As the talk progressed it became clear that what he was really talking about was not insider theft but making sure that the people you hire won’t assault your visitors or staff.
He recommended getting “Cultural Property Protection Manual” which contains a great deal of this information.
…and that was enough of that and I headed off to a session entitled:
“Podcasting: A Do-It-Yourself Case Study”
…which really was about how the Chicago History Museum used the podcast format to create an audio tour of their museum and not about podcasting as it works on the internet at all. Very exhibit/interpretation / performance based and I debated checking out another session and while it feels rude to walk out of a session, it is also rude to bill it as something it is not. Also considering that people are here to share with people who are interested in their topic I decided it was okay to quietly move on in search of relevant knowledge.
“Exhibit RFPs: Things We Learned the Hard Way”
Score! This one was on target. Very good points including that rfps are simply about “Each party explaining itself clearly” Serena Furman stressed that creators be clear about what you are going to do and what you except the contractor to do. Charts work well and can be very clear.
The current issue of the National Association of Museum Exhibitors journal is about this and I'd recommend taking a look. Along with valuable information there are some excellent sample RFPs.
http://name.pmhclients.com/journal/Current%20Issue
One really good thing I’ll say about AAM is that overall the sessions are well done and well coordinated. Much more so then either ALA or SAA.
“The Right Way to Hire, Lessens the Need to Fire”
This morning’s first session started with the fascinating statistic that “90% of museum thefts can be linked to individuals with a direct connection to the museum” and proceeded to detail ways to avoid this pitfall and navigate other aspects of hiring. As I’ll be hiring someone within the next month, thought this would be a good session to attend.
The presentation was given by Steve Lane, former police chief and museum security and now works in legal cases of insider theft. He was a bit right-wing, terrorist conspiracy minded.
He recommended conducting a criminal background investigation on all employees and volunteers and one law states that you do have a duty to conduct what the courts consider “A Reasonable Inquiry into an Applicant’s Background and Character.” As the talk progressed it became clear that what he was really talking about was not insider theft but making sure that the people you hire won’t assault your visitors or staff.
He recommended getting “Cultural Property Protection Manual” which contains a great deal of this information.
…and that was enough of that and I headed off to a session entitled:
“Podcasting: A Do-It-Yourself Case Study”
…which really was about how the Chicago History Museum used the podcast format to create an audio tour of their museum and not about podcasting as it works on the internet at all. Very exhibit/interpretation / performance based and I debated checking out another session and while it feels rude to walk out of a session, it is also rude to bill it as something it is not. Also considering that people are here to share with people who are interested in their topic I decided it was okay to quietly move on in search of relevant knowledge.
“Exhibit RFPs: Things We Learned the Hard Way”
Score! This one was on target. Very good points including that rfps are simply about “Each party explaining itself clearly” Serena Furman stressed that creators be clear about what you are going to do and what you except the contractor to do. Charts work well and can be very clear.
The current issue of the National Association of Museum Exhibitors journal is about this and I'd recommend taking a look. Along with valuable information there are some excellent sample RFPs.
http://name.pmhclients.com/journal/Current%20Issue
One really good thing I’ll say about AAM is that overall the sessions are well done and well coordinated. Much more so then either ALA or SAA.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Collaboration and Communities
Most of the sessions I attended Tuesday shared a common theme of building communities through collaboration. The early session focused on the benefits of inter-museum collaboration, the later on internet collaboration within the museum's community.
The ECHO project is collaboration among several museums spread across the breadth of the United States and uniting native Americans of Hawaii, Alaska, and Louisiana along with cultural heritage institutions in Salem and New Bedford, Mass. Much of the project works to build and support the cultural heritage of the native Americans and is pretty impressive and moving. Both as a way to preserve and share their cultures it offers a successful model.
The other sessions featured various technology tools that fulfilled the strategies of individual museums to build communities of their users through collaborative collection participation and building. There is some impressive work going on here. The sessions only touched on the potentials. The following is a list of groups/websites I plan to explore – if you find something really interesting and useful too, please let me know.
http://www.whatscookin.com/flash/#/ – Night Kitchen Interactive – Remixing Exhibits.
http://www.collectionx.museum/– people can upload their own art, make their own exhibits, comment on and tag all the art.
Center for Open and Sustainable learning – http://folksemantic.org
http://cosl.usu.edu (potentally cool conference in the fall)
http://openid.net/ – a technology by which a user profile is portable among several sites
Museumremix.blogspot.com
The ECHO project is collaboration among several museums spread across the breadth of the United States and uniting native Americans of Hawaii, Alaska, and Louisiana along with cultural heritage institutions in Salem and New Bedford, Mass. Much of the project works to build and support the cultural heritage of the native Americans and is pretty impressive and moving. Both as a way to preserve and share their cultures it offers a successful model.
The other sessions featured various technology tools that fulfilled the strategies of individual museums to build communities of their users through collaborative collection participation and building. There is some impressive work going on here. The sessions only touched on the potentials. The following is a list of groups/websites I plan to explore – if you find something really interesting and useful too, please let me know.
http://www.whatscookin.com/flash/#/ – Night Kitchen Interactive – Remixing Exhibits.
http://www.collectionx.museum/– people can upload their own art, make their own exhibits, comment on and tag all the art.
Center for Open and Sustainable learning – http://folksemantic.org
http://cosl.usu.edu (potentally cool conference in the fall)
http://openid.net/ – a technology by which a user profile is portable among several sites
Museumremix.blogspot.com
Salman Rushdie on Why Museums Matter
AAM Keynote address May 14, 2007
Rushdie gave an entertaining and insightful talk on the impact of museums on life in general and literature specifically.
During the talk I learned that the dinosaurs in the movie Jurassic Park were not of the Jurassic period but rather of the Cretaceous. The movie should have been called Cretaceous Park. Rushdie also noted that Edith Wharton could not have written ½ of her novels without museums to provide the meeting place for illicit lovers. He then shared some very interesting insights on the Da Vince Code.
While keeping the talk lively and entertaining Rushdie also made some very pointed, and more serious comments, two of which really struck home. The first turned on the phrase that “knowledge if power” to which Rushdie added that by conserving the foundations of knowledge and then putting these in the hands of the public, museums are democratizing, forces of political power.
He then concluded by noting that those who forget the past are not just condemned to repeat it, they are Condemned.
Rushdie gave an entertaining and insightful talk on the impact of museums on life in general and literature specifically.
During the talk I learned that the dinosaurs in the movie Jurassic Park were not of the Jurassic period but rather of the Cretaceous. The movie should have been called Cretaceous Park. Rushdie also noted that Edith Wharton could not have written ½ of her novels without museums to provide the meeting place for illicit lovers. He then shared some very interesting insights on the Da Vince Code.
While keeping the talk lively and entertaining Rushdie also made some very pointed, and more serious comments, two of which really struck home. The first turned on the phrase that “knowledge if power” to which Rushdie added that by conserving the foundations of knowledge and then putting these in the hands of the public, museums are democratizing, forces of political power.
He then concluded by noting that those who forget the past are not just condemned to repeat it, they are Condemned.
Why Museums Matter
Sorry the posts have fallen behind. Vacation last week, this week I’m at the American Association of Museums Conference with 6000 other museum professionals (some of which mistakenly think they are not maritime!)
The conference theme is “Why Museums Matter”. It’s a somewhat self serving question for those of us who work in them – aside from our innate interest – its how we earn our livings.
As to why museums matter to the rest of the world, so far, aside from Salman Rushdie (more later) I haven’t heard one outside voice on the subject and honestly I’m not sure most people think we do matter. But just because they never visit, and don’t know the impact of museums on their lived doesn’t mean it doesn’t impact and matter to them.
As Salman Rushdie said in the keynote address, museums are a culture’s collective memory. No museum = cultural amnesia. As we all know from personal experience memory is a tricky thing, subject to re-interpretation and distortion. Only be seeing again the actual artifacts of an experience can we be sure the memory is correct. There is no arguing with a photograph of denying the words in a diary entry. And that, to me, is the big reason museums matter.
The conference theme is “Why Museums Matter”. It’s a somewhat self serving question for those of us who work in them – aside from our innate interest – its how we earn our livings.
As to why museums matter to the rest of the world, so far, aside from Salman Rushdie (more later) I haven’t heard one outside voice on the subject and honestly I’m not sure most people think we do matter. But just because they never visit, and don’t know the impact of museums on their lived doesn’t mean it doesn’t impact and matter to them.
As Salman Rushdie said in the keynote address, museums are a culture’s collective memory. No museum = cultural amnesia. As we all know from personal experience memory is a tricky thing, subject to re-interpretation and distortion. Only be seeing again the actual artifacts of an experience can we be sure the memory is correct. There is no arguing with a photograph of denying the words in a diary entry. And that, to me, is the big reason museums matter.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
How cute is that?
Hi everyone, I'm on vacation in Sedona, AZ right now but wanted to share a little maritime story...
When I go on trips I take along a few (okay more than a few) books, of various types. For the flight I usually select something light, preferable of the "Chick Lit" genre. While reading this trips selection I had to burst out laughing (dour man sitting next to me was not amused) but you may be. In the book the heroine is reunited with her mother who had spent many years in the
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Interesting question
If a dealer offered to sell us a logbook or artifact from the slave trade, would our purchase of it be considered supportive of the slave trade? A controversy on this exact question is brewing in Greenwich over the National Maritime Museum's recent purchase of a Slaver's Log.
Gene X's "Profiting From Slavery 200 Years After Its Abolition" offers insight into both sides of the story.
Gene X's "Profiting From Slavery 200 Years After Its Abolition" offers insight into both sides of the story.
Monday, April 30, 2007
CFP: New Researchers in Maritime History 2008
The sixteenth New Researchers in Maritime History Conference, managed by the British Commission for Maritime History and sponsored by the Society for Nautical Research, will be hosted by the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK, on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March 2008.
The Conference provides an opportunity for those who have recently become engaged in research in maritime history (broadly defined) to present a paper of twenty minutes duration and then answer questions from a supportive audience.
Proposals should take the form of a 200-word abstract and a one-page CV. Your CV should have details of your degrees or other qualifications; your current student or employment status; and your publications (if any). Proposals (email attachment preferred) should be sent by 9 November 2007.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Position (sort of) South Street Seaport
Is this common museum practice or something new? Given that education, in tandem with collecting, is the foundation of the museum mission I find the use of non-regular non-staff to provide a primary service disconcerting.
South Street Seaport is seeking Per Diem Educators is to teach Museum-based programs to visiting school groups, afterschool programs, camp groups and other youth and community organizations, as well as occasional weekend family programs.
HOURS/SALARY:
Per Diem educators are part-time Museum employees. Hours generally consist of weekday mornings, averaging 2-3 days per week, as well as occasional weekend afternoons. Pay rate is $15 per hour for a minimum of four hours; training rate is $9 per hour.
TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and resume to Manager of School and Family Programs, South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038, fax to 212-748-8610, or email schoolprograms@southstseaport.org
South Street Seaport is seeking Per Diem Educators is to teach Museum-based programs to visiting school groups, afterschool programs, camp groups and other youth and community organizations, as well as occasional weekend family programs.
HOURS/SALARY:
Per Diem educators are part-time Museum employees. Hours generally consist of weekday mornings, averaging 2-3 days per week, as well as occasional weekend afternoons. Pay rate is $15 per hour for a minimum of four hours; training rate is $9 per hour.
TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and resume to Manager of School and Family Programs, South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038, fax to 212-748-8610, or email schoolprograms@southstseaport.org
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
And then there were six
Radio Praha reports the discovery of a rare 16th century nautical atlas in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia.While moving a safe containing rare documents to a new building, historians at the Research Library in Olomouc, found a seven-page nautical atlas that was hand-made in 1563. The richly coloured parchment with gold and silver linings shows the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the northern part of the Atlantic. Made by the Catalan cartographer Jaume Olives, there are only five others in the world - in Barcelona, New York, Florence, Milan, and Valenciennes in France.
If anyone can read Czeck, supposedly the maps have been digitized and are available on their website: http://www.vkol.cz/. I can't but that site is an amazing map source!
Many thanks to B. Russell for this story lead.
Monday, April 23, 2007
NAOSH Annual Conference
Gene Smith from the North American Oceanic Society for History would like to remind everyone that the Annual Conference is less than a month away!
The conference entitled "The Merchant Marine in Peace and War" is being held at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.
The program line up is impressive, and some great behind the scenes tours have also been arranged.
Sadly I'll be unable to attend but if someone would like to report on the events, I'd really like to post them.
Auction News: A Paradox
While we rarely talk about the monetary value of our Maritime Collections (Priceless!), others are turning larger and larger profits from collecting and selling them. Recently a bill of sale for the Charles W. Morgan sold on e-bay to an announmous purchaser for over $1600.00. Antiques Roadshow is repeatedly asked to value maritime artifacts, from pilot charts to schrimshaw (and fakeshaw). Now a major Early Australian Private Collection is heading for the auction block.
While the bulk of the collection contains convict related materials the related news story and auctioneers at Bonhams & Goodmanare are quick to point out that the sale will also include:
early whaling hand held harpoons including one from the Charles W. Morgan, an American whaleship which hunted extensively in Australian and New Zealand waters and which has been preserved at Mystic Seaport in the US. Other rare whaling items include whale guns and bomb lance guns used widely during the latter years of the sail era.
Both the e-bay item and the harpoon are gaining added value because a museum preserves the original artifact. I often run across similar value claims regarding other maritime-museum related items. It is, in fact our preservation efforts that make it harder and harder for us to acquire related items. Of course, at the same time, we tend to be the beneficiaries of donors who wouldn't know of us otherwise and just want their family history to have a good home.
While the bulk of the collection contains convict related materials the related news story and auctioneers at Bonhams & Goodmanare are quick to point out that the sale will also include:
early whaling hand held harpoons including one from the Charles W. Morgan, an American whaleship which hunted extensively in Australian and New Zealand waters and which has been preserved at Mystic Seaport in the US. Other rare whaling items include whale guns and bomb lance guns used widely during the latter years of the sail era.
Both the e-bay item and the harpoon are gaining added value because a museum preserves the original artifact. I often run across similar value claims regarding other maritime-museum related items. It is, in fact our preservation efforts that make it harder and harder for us to acquire related items. Of course, at the same time, we tend to be the beneficiaries of donors who wouldn't know of us otherwise and just want their family history to have a good home.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Job Posting: Wisconsin Maritime Museum Curator
The Wisconsin Maritime Museum, an AAM accredited institution and Smithsonian Affiliate, is seeking an experienced curator. Knowledge of American naval history and Great Lakes maritime history and culture is a plus. Understanding of the historical and environmental significance of the Great Lakes watershed is essential.
The curator will be responsible for the development of exciting new exhibits as well as maintenance and enhancement of existing exhibits. The curator will collaborate with the Museum Educator to make the Museum’s collections and the region’s history accessible to the public through innovative, academically grounded educational programming. The curator will supervise the Registrar/Collections Manager in the care and management of the Museum’s substantial archives and collections, including USS Cobia.
NOTES: North American Residents Only. Employer will assist with relocation costs. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salaried, exempt position with excellent benefits, including health insurance, 3 wks pd. vacation, and 403(b) with employer contribution. Relocation allowance.
Requirements
Qualifications • Minimum, M.A. in museum studies, public history, history or other appropriate field of study with 5-7 years of museum experience. Ph.D. in field of interest is highly desirable. • Curatorial experience, including experience developing/designing/installing exhibits. • Meticulous research and writing skills, excellent verbal communication skills. • Excellent organizational/supervisory skills. • Strong interpersonal skills; must work effectively in collaborative team environment. • Self-motivated, energetic leader with ability to visualize the future.
For more information
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
"Its between that and flipping burgers"
Such was the lead comment of "Deadliest Catch" Captain Sig Hansen on the "Daily Show." The interview is pretty good and deals with how hard it is to crab, and the conflicts on board ship and 'breaking ice."Not only is Sig Hensen the most famous Alaskan crab fishing captain, he and his brothers also have a myspace page. How many fishermen have these? Are they valuable maritime artifacts? Are museums preserving these?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Does any body really know what time it is?
For between $7,800 and $173,100 you can buy a Swiss watch made from a piece of the Titanic's hull.Geneva watchmaker Romain Jerome said it purchased a piece of the hull weighing about 1.5 kg (3 pounds) that was retrieved in 1991, but declined to identify the seller. The metal has been certified as authentic by the Titanic's builders Harland and Wolff.
Jerome noted that "So many rich people buy incredibly complicated watches without understanding how they work, because they want a story to tell," he said. "To them we offer a story."
...and I thought that is what museums do! and so they do...
Independence Seaport Museum has just launched the online exhibit Titanic Survivor: Selections from the Thayer Family Collection
Friday, April 13, 2007
Traveling Exhibit Anyone?
Shanghai's National Maritime Museum, set to open in September 2009, is having trouble finding enough exhibits to fill the space and has appealed for donations from both home and abroad.
"We are looking for valuable items that record the changing of the country's maritime development," Xu Peixing, an official in charge of the preparation work for the museum, was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.
China News Story
"We are looking for valuable items that record the changing of the country's maritime development," Xu Peixing, an official in charge of the preparation work for the museum, was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.
China News Story
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Book Review to Go!
The Library of Congress has posted a new podcast: Stephen H. Grant Discusses His Book Peter Strickland: New London Shipmaster, Boston Merchant, First Consul to Senegal
More info, and the link to the 'cast at: the Library of Congress
Much of the research for this book is based upon Mystic Seaport's Peter Strickland Collection,
The book is pretty good too!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Edward S. Miller Research Fellowship in Naval History
The Naval War College Foundation intends to award one grant of $1,000 to the researcher who has the greatest need and can make the optimum use of research materials for naval history located in the Naval War College's Archives, Naval Historical Collection, Naval War College Museum, and Henry E. Eccles Library.
A guide to the College's manuscript, archival, and oral history collections may be found on the Naval War College's website http://www.nwc.navy.mil/museum. Scroll down to 'naval history resources' and click on "Naval Historical Collection Publications." Further information on the manuscript and archival collections and
copies of the registers for specific collections are available online or on request from the Head, Naval Historical Collection. E-mail: evelyn.cherpak@nwc.navy.mil
The recipient will be a Research Fellow in the Naval War College's Maritime History Department, which will provide administrative support during the research visit. Submit detailed research proposal that includes statement of need and plan for optimal use of Naval War College materials, curriculum vitae, at least two letters of recommendation, and relevant background information to:
Miller Naval History Fellowship Committee
Naval War College Foundation
686 Cushing Road
Newport RI 02841-1207
by 1 August 2007. For further information, contact the chair of the selection committee at john.hattendorf@nwc.navy.mil Employees of the U.S. Naval War College or any agency of the U.S. Department of Defense are not eligible for consideration; EEO/AA regulations apply.
Job Posting: Nantucket Historical Association
The Nantucket Historical Association seeks a Public Programs Coordinator to plan, prepare, conduct and evaluate educational public programs and outreach experiences for adults and families at its Whaling Museum and historic sites. Researches, organizes, and implements programming based on the Association’s collections. Responsibilities include public programs, the Discovery Room—a dedicated space at the Whaling Museum where intergenerational groups engage in both self-guided and educator-led learning, museum education summer internship program, and special educational initiatives.
Qualifications: M.A. in museum education, museum studies, or related field, and experience developing creative museum programs. Excellent organization and writing skills necessary. Ability to work evenings and weekends as required for programs.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and the name of three references by Friday, April 27 to:
Johanna Richard, Director of Finance and Administration
P.O. Box 1016
Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, MA 02554
jrichard@nha.org
The mission of the Nantucket Historical Association is to preserve and interpret the history of Nantucket Island in order to inspire island residents, both year-round and seasonal, to shape the island's future with a greater appreciation and respect for their shared heritage, and to foster among all Nantucket residents and visitors a deeper appreciation of the important historical role that the island's people have played in national and world history. www.nha.org
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Maritime Makes the Daily Show
On March 27 Jon Stewart interviewed John Bolton on The Daily Show. Jon's calling Bolton out on a number of issues aside, the highlight of the interview for those of us in the maritime world was when Stewart compared appointing Bolton UN Ambassador to say putting "Capt. Ahab in charge of Save the Whales."... and lots of people are loving the reference!You can view a video of the interview on The Daily Show website...but as it usually freezes up my computer check it out at Pollyticks. warning! interview content has blatent liberal bias!
Image is of Gregory Peck in Moby Dick
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Songs of the Erie Canal
The Library of Congress' latest addition to their American Memory Collection, Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and and Erie Canal is an interesting collection of 75 songs recorded in the 1930s. While the collection includes two essays and a few manuscripts and photographs, the heart is the audio. Easily downloadable in .wav. .mpg. or realplayer formats Nye's voice carries a fine tune.
Things I Didn't Know
This weekend I picked up The Birth of Black America: The First African Americans and the Pursuit of Freedom at Jamestown
by Tim Hashaw, and while I'm only on page 117 I've already learned a great deal about colonial Virginia and it's black settlers and would recommend it highly. Although it does not promote itself as such it is one of the few books I've come across that truly give a sense of the wholeness of the "Atlantic World."
by Tim Hashaw, and while I'm only on page 117 I've already learned a great deal about colonial Virginia and it's black settlers and would recommend it highly. Although it does not promote itself as such it is one of the few books I've come across that truly give a sense of the wholeness of the "Atlantic World."
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A New Blessing of the Fleet
This year hundreds gathered Saturday outside the Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point to take part in the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. The first-ever event to start the Great Lakes shipping season.
Peter Werle, the center’s lead volunteer, said he arranged the ceremony to get people down to the water and recognize the city’s maritime heritage, now largely reduced to tourist vessels and tall ships. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved a slogan deeming the city the ‘‘Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes’’ in 2005.
Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies are held annually in coastal towns throughout the world. Narragansett, RI; Stonington, CT; Darien, GA; Kemah, TX; and Ulladulla, New South Wales and follows a centuries-old tradition originating in southern European, predominantly Catholic, fishing communities. A blessing from the local priest was meant to ensure a safe and bountiful season.
Peter Werle, the center’s lead volunteer, said he arranged the ceremony to get people down to the water and recognize the city’s maritime heritage, now largely reduced to tourist vessels and tall ships. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved a slogan deeming the city the ‘‘Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes’’ in 2005.
Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies are held annually in coastal towns throughout the world. Narragansett, RI; Stonington, CT; Darien, GA; Kemah, TX; and Ulladulla, New South Wales and follows a centuries-old tradition originating in southern European, predominantly Catholic, fishing communities. A blessing from the local priest was meant to ensure a safe and bountiful season.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Position Announcement: Independence Seaport
Project Archivist: Independence Seaport Museum
Applications Contact person: Megan Fraser
Application due date: 2007/04/30
Salary range: Mid 30's
Web Address: www.phillyseaport.org
The Independence Seaport Museum Library seeks a full-time archivist for a one-year processing project. The archivist will arrange and describe two significant collections: the John E. Hand and Sons Company Records and the Seamen's Church Institute Records.
John E. Hand and Sons were manufacturers of nautical instruments in the Philadelphia area for more than 100 years. The archives of the company date from 1873-1997, and consist of approximately 18,000 items, including business correspondence with shipyards, patents, photographs, promotional materials such as calendars and brochures, and approximately 4,000 blueprints and drawings for virtually all of the instruments produced by the company.
The Seamen's Church Institute was founded in Philadelphia in 1843 to offer both spiritual and practical assistance to seafarers from around the world. The organization's archives consist of business and financial records, board meeting minutes, promotional materials and publications, photographs, art work, and records of those who used their facilities.
The goal of the project is to provide intellectual and physical access to these two important collections. The archivist will conduct a survey and determine appropriate arrangement schemes in consultation with the library director. S/he will arrange and rehouse the collection according to standard archival practice, and produce a finding aid including a scope and content note, a brief historical note, and a container/location list. Data from the finding aid will be used in the creation of an electronic record to be contributed to the OCLC union catalog.
Upon completion of arrangement and description, the archivist will co-curate a small exhibit of materials from the collections for the library's display cases. This work will include selection of items, composition of label text and exhibit design. Images and text from this exhibit will be used in a long-term online exhibit mounted on the Museum's website.
Required: ALA-accredited MLS with formal training in archival theory and practice. Knowledge of American/maritime history/technology. Excellent writing and organizational skills, accuracy, attention to detail. Ability to work independently.
Preferred: Undergraduate degree in humanities. Three years experience with mixed materials collections. Reference and/or research experience.
To Apply: Send resume, cover letter and finding aid sample to Megan Fraser, Library Director, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19106; fax: 215.925.6713; or e-mail: library@phillyseaport.org P
Applications Contact person: Megan Fraser
Application due date: 2007/04/30
Salary range: Mid 30's
Web Address: www.phillyseaport.org
The Independence Seaport Museum Library seeks a full-time archivist for a one-year processing project. The archivist will arrange and describe two significant collections: the John E. Hand and Sons Company Records and the Seamen's Church Institute Records.
John E. Hand and Sons were manufacturers of nautical instruments in the Philadelphia area for more than 100 years. The archives of the company date from 1873-1997, and consist of approximately 18,000 items, including business correspondence with shipyards, patents, photographs, promotional materials such as calendars and brochures, and approximately 4,000 blueprints and drawings for virtually all of the instruments produced by the company.
The Seamen's Church Institute was founded in Philadelphia in 1843 to offer both spiritual and practical assistance to seafarers from around the world. The organization's archives consist of business and financial records, board meeting minutes, promotional materials and publications, photographs, art work, and records of those who used their facilities.
The goal of the project is to provide intellectual and physical access to these two important collections. The archivist will conduct a survey and determine appropriate arrangement schemes in consultation with the library director. S/he will arrange and rehouse the collection according to standard archival practice, and produce a finding aid including a scope and content note, a brief historical note, and a container/location list. Data from the finding aid will be used in the creation of an electronic record to be contributed to the OCLC union catalog.
Upon completion of arrangement and description, the archivist will co-curate a small exhibit of materials from the collections for the library's display cases. This work will include selection of items, composition of label text and exhibit design. Images and text from this exhibit will be used in a long-term online exhibit mounted on the Museum's website.
Required: ALA-accredited MLS with formal training in archival theory and practice. Knowledge of American/maritime history/technology. Excellent writing and organizational skills, accuracy, attention to detail. Ability to work independently.
Preferred: Undergraduate degree in humanities. Three years experience with mixed materials collections. Reference and/or research experience.
To Apply: Send resume, cover letter and finding aid sample to Megan Fraser, Library Director, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19106; fax: 215.925.6713; or e-mail: library@phillyseaport.org P
Monday, March 12, 2007
New York Times Museum Review: USS Monitor
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — As sacred relics go, it doesn’t seem too inspiring. In appearance, Nathaniel Hawthorne said, it “looked like a gigantic rat-trap.” In life, it had little more than a single day of major achievement, and in that it was less than triumphant. In death, it was even less grand, sinking into the Atlantic during a storm, not even a year after it first lumbered onto the scene.....Full Story
Pirates Again
Blackbeards ship, Queen Anne's Revenge is thought to be the vessel under excavation off the coast of North Carolina.
According to cnn.com:
Several officials said historical data and coral-covered artifacts recovered from the site -- including 25 cannons, which experts said was an uncommonly large number to find on a ship in the region in the early 18th century -- remove any doubt the wreckage belonged to Blackbeard.
Three university professors, including two from East Carolina University, have challenged the findings. But officials working on the excavation said Friday that the more they find, the stronger their case becomes.
"Historians have really looked at it thoroughly and don't feel that there's any possibility anything else is in there that was not recorded," said Mark Wilde-Ramsing, director of the Queen Anne's Revenge Project. "And the artifacts continue to support it."
Wilde-Ramsing said a coin weight recovered last fall bearing a likeness of Britain's Queen Anne and a King George cup, both dated before the shipwreck, further bolster their position.
---
Plans are to fully excavate the ship in 3 years.
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