CWAM Highlights
Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums Newsletter
Fall 2010
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From the Editor
By Meghan McGinnes
It's hard to believe it's already September--the summer seemed to fly by! There is a lot to read in this issue of CWAM Highlights. More articles written by scholarship winners, intesting legal doings, upcoming seminar/workshop opportunities, and events/exhibits at our member museums are all included. There is also a new section called Museum Swap where members can post items that they no longer need.
Please feel free to contact me at mmcginne@jeffco.us or 720-497-7650 if you have questions, concerns, or ideas for the newsletter! |
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CHAIR REPORT
By Bob Hartzell
The learning curve continues its uphill climb. Thanks to everyone for your patience, understanding, and information as I settle in at the helm. "At the helm" is a misnomer because all of us take turns leading this organization. The number of board members, committee chairs, and volunteers is simply amazing. Thank you all for your service to such a wonderful organization.
Our next board meeting on September 24-25 in Casper is our budget meeting. CWAM is a unique organization because we currently do not have budget concerns. My goal is to keep it that way and be ready for opportunities to serve our members. We have $67,437.30 budgeted for the 2009-2010 fiscal year (September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010). As per the July 2, 2010, Treasurer's Report, our revenue is down $10,879.47 and our expenses are down $9,389.25 resulting in a $1,490.22 revenue to expense shortfall. That is somewhat intentional due to Conference Scholarships that were greater than what we had budgeted. I found it interesting that the budget meeting is after the start of the fiscal year. I called to talk with Michelle Bahe, CWAM Treasurer, to ask about the budget meeting timing. Rick Young answered the phone and, as past Chair of CWAM, I asked Rick about the budget meeting timing. His explanation was that it has been done this way for a long time and, as a matter of fact, was the same case with MPMA. Interesting! By the way, Michelle was in New York for a long weekend of fun and excitement.
How about a little CWAM quiz? What do the letters MAST stand for? What is the purpose of the Museum Assistance and Services Team? Have you ever used this resource? What is the Purchasing Cooperative? Have you saved money using the cooperative? What do the letters EMK stand for? How many have requested and used an Environmental Monitoring Kit? What does it monitor? What publications are available through CWAM? Is there a cost? Are there other publications you would like to see made available? Where and when is our next annual meeting? Did you know that in April, the average high temperature in Durango, Colorado, is 63 degrees and the average low is 30? Did you also know that Durango will be recording record high temperatures during our April 14 - 17, 2011, annual meeting? If you knew that, I need to talk to you about the upcoming Denver Broncos season!
I will see the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs in Casper and the rest of you in Durango ...or parts unknown between now and then. Keep the faith and remember, in just two days from now, tomorrow will be yesterday. |
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CWAM 2011 Annual Meeting
DURANGO TRAIN STOKING FIRES FOR CWAM
by Jan Postler
The "City of the Silver San Juans" beckons today as it did in 1880 when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad began to build the "magic metropolis" of Durango. Still in operation after 129 years, the steam train will take you back to the sights, sounds, and sooty smells of early Durango.
When you come to the 2011 CWAM annual meeting April 14-16, the Durango Boomtown exhibit at the Animas Museum will tell you the rest of the story of the railroad and its "booming metropolis," while Pioneers, Prospectors and Trout: La Plata County's Rural Legacy will explore what first brought settlers and tourists to the area.
Just two blocks from conference headquarters at the historic Strater Hotel, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will welcome you to a barbeque at the Railroad Museum, with tours of the restoration shop and yard. You may also choose the full sensory experience of a half-day train ride from Durango to Cascade and back, along the Animas River into the spectacular San Juan Mountains, as a post-conference tour.
Durango offers a multitude of other entertaining options in walking distance of the Strater Hotel, from browsing galleries and shops to walking the Animas River Trail. Many of the same attractions that drew tourists to Southwest Colorado in the 19th century will make your stay enjoyable: the spectacular San Juan Mountains, relaxing Trimble Hot Springs, and vibrant Native American sites and culture.
The coal fires still burn all night, so we'll keep the locomotives warm for you next Spring when you come to the CWAM annual meeting and conference. Pack your blue jeans and plan to enjoy a step back in time!
All Aboard! For more information contact Local Arrangements Chair Jan Postler at the Animas Museum: 970-259-2402, janpostler@animasmuseum.org or animasmuseum@frontier.net. Visit www.durangosilvertonrailroad.com/, www.durangotrain.com/ and StraterHotel.com for inspiration!
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CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS
Museums and Tourism: Stopping Visitors in Their Tracks
The Program Committee is pleased to announce that the theme for the 2011 CWAM Annual Meeting is "Museums and Tourism: Stopping Visitors in Their Tracks". With the relationship between museums and tourism being a necessarily close one, the committee is excited to bring together these two topics to encourage active and engaging discussions throughout the course of our time in Durango, April 14-17.
The CWAM Annual Meeting offers 2-3 pre-conference workshops, 18 sessions, and has an average annual attendance of over 100 museum professionals. These professionals represent a diverse group of institutions from Colorado, Wyoming, and beyond.
Proposed sessions should address the Annual Meeting theme in some manner. For example, a session might address the various types of tourism or the role tourism plays in museums while another session might explore what it means for museums to stop visitors in their tracks. Sessions last 1 hour, 15 minutes, and should be dynamic, engaging, and creative. Presenters are encouraged to bring their own A/V equipment whenever possible. The deadline for session proposals is Friday, November 19, 2010.
For more information, to suggest a keynote speaker or session presenters, to become involved with the Program Committee, or to request a session proposal form, contact the 2010 CWAM Annual Meeting Program Committee Chair, Nathan Doerr, at education@SheridanCountyHistory.org or 307-675-1150.
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2010 Scholarship Winners
CWAM awarded 13 scholarships to the 2010 Annual Meeting in Laramie. All winners are required to submit an article for the newsletter.
Heidi Quist
I felt very blessed to receive an Unemployed Museum Professional's scholarship to attend the 2010 CWAM Conference in Laramie. Laid-off since December, I hoped it would be a prime opportunity for me to network and find a job. I serve nonprofits, specifically cultural institutions, administratively, as a development professional. I do prospect research, Annual Campaigns, Capitol Campaigns, special events, membership programs, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, cause-related marketing and other creative ways to raise much needed funds. For me, this work is a treasure hunt with the prize being the continued support of the organization's mission, which is always my focus. A personal side benefit to me is that I get to work with scientists, artists, preservationists or whatever the focus of the particular nonprofit is, in order to understand and convey to donors the importance to their work. All donors want to know why the work should be important to them and why they should fund it. They want to know how their donation is going to be used and by whom. They want to know the progress and status of the project to which they have generously given their hard earned riches. It is my job to manage this relationship, in all its iterations, for the benefit of the people who perform the work to which the nonprofit is dedicated, given that the mission of the nonprofit is of benefit to society at large.
I did not find many peers at the CWAM conference with whom I could share my professional concerns. It seemed to me that most of the attendees were those who "do" the work of their nonprofits, not those of us who support them. Nevertheless, the sessions were interesting and informative and, in some cases, inspiring.
I was particularly struck so by the session on the Biolounge program at the CU Museum of Natural History in Boulder. For best benefit, a fundraising professional should be included on all exhibit and program development teams from inception. After all, it is the development staff's job to "sell" the idea and obtain funding to allow it to be brought to fruition. Public relations, public programs, development and marketing all work close together. Our point of view can only strengthen the product which emerges from these teams. I was taught this lesson in the Museum Studies program at CU and am glad to see that they are using it to their benefit, even in the viral, word-of-mouth campaign that has brought so many new college students into the exhibit that it is in danger of becoming too popular for the museum to handle. This is after years of dwindling student involvement.
This very successful new concept at the CU Museum of a space where 18-25 year old visitors relax before they observe the exhibits, visit many times, collaborate on exhibits which are always changing, have access to free coffee and tea and where everything happens, including events, programs, fundraisers, student art, parties and science cafes, has met the goal of getting students excited about science. 58% return and 1/3 of students have returned more than 15 times. This is a remarkable turnaround and took the vision of many dedicated professionals, including public oriented museum employees.
Kate Shaefer
CU BioLounge Attracting New Student Visitors
About a year and a half ago, the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History decided to reinvigorate their Biology hall. The hall's exhibit had been static for the last 45 years showcasing a collection dominated by North American birds. Attendance among students was very low despite being located on the CU campus. The staff wanted to better serve the students and wanted to make the necessary changes to do this quickly and relatively cheaply.
Through the transformation the museum sought to make a space that students would see as their own. The solution settled upon by the staff was to create a coffee shop atmosphere where students could study or read surrounded by exhibits designed by other students. The entire transformation to the new and improved space took only 6 weeks. The limited budget of $20,000 went towards purchasing antique furniture and light fixtures. Much of the objects that now adorn the hall such as old biology dioramas, were donated by other departments on campus. To avoid the previously long exhibit time table that had existed before, the staff developed a new time table that would encourage exhibit variety and changes many times a year. To round out the lounge feel the museum offers complementary tea and coffee for the students to sip while they relax in the new BioLounge.
With the transformation complete, the students started pouring in the new space. The numbers continue to grow doubling and tripling since the opening in early 2009. The students surveyed show a high repeat visitor rate as well as a strong sense of ownership of the space. The renovation has succeeded in its goals and continues to transform and grow to better attract new visitors. Other instututions could benefit from the somewhat unconventional structure of the CU BioLounge. By doing away with a long and tedious exhibit development period and allowing student input the Lounge has an always changing ambiance. Allowing students to stick around and even drink and eat in the space has lured students to the space who may have previously gone to a coffee shop in the area. By thinking unconventionally about what a museum can mean to different people and groups the CU BioLounge has captured a piece of an audience it has long desired.
Kathleen Spring, Lyons Redstone Museum
Becoming a 21st Century Museum Today
There were two pervasive themes occurring throughout the CWAM annual conference. One was defining the 21st century museum, and the second was understanding digital media. It is reminiscent of about two decades ago when understanding the world wide web allowed people to open up to a new Global Village. The museums of today need to welcome the new technology, which will allow the public to have easier and long-term access to their resources. And, they need to leave their solitary repository frame of mind and move into interaction with the community and answer their needs. It is said that it is not the fittest who survive, but those who are willing to change or adapt.
The conference started with the keynote address "21 Century Perils" by Beverly Sheppard, president of the Institute for Learning Innovation, and continued the theme until the final day, with, "How Soon is Too Soon?" The workshops provided tools for museum personnel to start that process now.
Some museums seem to be in a private world of their own. They may collect or study certain fields in minuet detail, to their own satisfaction. The message is, now is the time to move into the new mission of a 21st century museum: We exist to serve the public.
"You're not good because you say you are," said Sheppard. "You're only good when the public says you are." You are what your identity is in the community. Sheppard said that a museum's mission is to bring learning and value to the public in the form of resources. She told the audience to start with "your greatest asset...and then you will move forward with your biggest strength."
Most museums have a mission statement that is either very simplified ("we preserve our town's historical artifacts,") or one of extreme detail. Today, the museum's mission statement should explain "for whom and what purpose" it exists. Rather than deciding the community's needs in an incubator, it is more useful to consult with the public served.
In the workshop "Engaging Partnerships: Expanding audiences and support through new connections," it was stated that the old concept of museums being warehouses is on the endangered list. The future incorporates new technology, advanced collection care, and learning to maximize positive audience impact. One advantage of including the public in a constructive decision-making process is that they will be needed in obtaining funding, and these technological changes are often expensive prospects.
One museum's representatives offered themselves as an example. They followed the guidelines of first finding a "community boundary," and then they decided who was included in it. Then they set out to put a committee together of interested and knowledgeable locals, who eventually set up their own exhibit. Their important contributions were acknowledged by being called co-creators.
Museums are warned that dealing with the public takes more time than dealing with museum professionals. It involves lots of talking, and maybe easing them into trusting the museum's objectives. It can often involve frequent traveling, or at least working outside the museum building.
With money being tight now, it is wise to cooperate with other groups. One museum had used the library's meeting rooms. They had shown people at the senior center some items to identify and tell stories about. Some artists had put on programs. A Native American demonstrated the lost art of arrowhead making. Public TV got their work out into the public domain. The government helped with a forest fire exhibit. A retired school teacher made an extensive visual exhibit. A firefighter loaned materials. A program was done in collaboration with an Arts Council's grant. A living history experience was done at a Swedish (residents) annual smorgasbord.
Collaborate with the museum volunteers. Treat them as individuals. Some may not want to be in the public eye and could do phone calls or typing. What may be boring to one person, may be another person's amusement. Get to know them and discover their bountiful assets.
By examining and deciding the museum's identity in the community, it can become a more valuable resource to the people. Collaborating with community groups and individuals will expand the reach of the museum, and make it a vital, essential asset.
Jennifer Larkins, Denver Firefighters Museum
As a recipient of one of this year's scholarships, I was very excited to attend the annual meeting in Laramie. As expected, I returned home with my head full of new ideas and ways to improve projects we are currently undertaking at the Denver Firefighters Museum.
One such session I attended was Follow the Digitization Trail: the Pros and Cons given by three professionals from the Wyoming State Archives. Having recently embarked upon a digitization project themselves, Roger, Suzi, and Cindy explained the important considerations that every museum should consider before beginning their own projects. They recommended asking questions about your own institution such as: "What format and style works for us," "Could a vendor do it more efficiently and at a lower cost," "How far should we alter an image to make a photograph in poor condition a good digital image?" and "How much do we want to digitize and how will it be used." They shared how they devised answers to these questions to specifically fit the Wyoming State Archives and their experiences along the way. They also recommended programs such as Luna and Past Perfect Virtual Exhibit to aid in uploading digitized items to a website and making them available to the public. Finally, they gave handouts on resources they had used to all attendees and advised that the most important component when beginning a digitization project is to not be afraid to ask someone who had done it before.
As the Denver Firefighters Museum has long been thinking about digitizing our large collection of photographs for better public access, this session was invaluable to me. As no one at our museum has any experience with digitizing collections, we had wondered what such a project would entail. This session helped to give me an idea of where we would need to begin and what steps to take to finally get this project on the road to completion. After attending this and other sessions, I feel that I am better able to contribute to my museum. I truly appreciate the opportunity and look forward to next year's conference.
Patty Kuster, CU Heritage Center
Preservation is something that can be found in most mission statements of the various museums we all come into contact with. Preservation comes in many forms, and as technology advances, so do the methods of preservation. One of the newer paths to preservation is digitization, creating a digital copy of the original. While some artifacts are easily convertible, others pose problems for the museum worker, archivist, or preservationist. This was discussed in great detail during "Follow the Digitization Trail: The Pros & Cons" presented by representatives of the Wyoming State Archives.
Different types of media make for different types of digital files: letters, newspapers, microfiche, photographs, maps, recordings, etc. are converted into the visual or audio media that best suits them. However, getting 3-D renditions of larger items is a lot harder, as well as being more costly. Even these less common and more difficult methods, with the example of the digital laser scanning of Fort Laramie, were discussed in another session. Another area of concern is how long the digital copy itself will last. It is crucial to know what type of digital media best suits the needs of your establishment.
Along with digitization, the protection of artifacts and materials were discussed. There is the possibility of damage in some cases of these modes of preservation. If you are digitizing a damaged photograph, should it be repaired? And if so, how far should the digital restoration go? Access was also a large topic: how can one keep records and files accessible to the public, but not to thieves? How can one put things online? Should one impose limitations, keeping file sizes small or just making things harder or impossible to download? These are decisions that we each must make according to our individual missions and goals.
This session, and several of those that hit on similar topics, helped me realize how much effort goes into the various aspects of working with and preserving collections. Overall, this was an excellent experience that allowed me to learn new skills, techniques, to make strong contacts with other museum professionals, and to be made aware of the resources available to museum professionals. With a wide variety of sessions, there was something for everyone to learn from at CWAM 2010.
Elizabeth Thyfault, Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center
As a new member to the museum world, the Colorado and Wyoming Museum Association annual meeting was essential to my introduction to the warmth and breadth of the museum community. The CWAM meeting in Laramie fulfilled each of my goals in attending the conference: networking with local members, learning more about common museum struggles, and discovering possible solutions for those problems. After the conference I was able to come back to the Nicolaysen Art Museum with the ideas introduced in the various seminars I attended over the weekend. Since the CWAM meeting, the Nicolaysen Art Museum has decided to start a board to help the museum become more environmentally conscious. Our first step will be to establish an efficient recycling system, especially for paper. Many institutions already have a recycling program in place; we at the Nic hope that by visibly changing to a more sustainable working practice that our surrounding community can see our facility appreciates and believes in greener practices.
The Moving Toward Green: Sustainable Modernity seminar provided us with many resources so as we work towards sustainable practice we can be informed and prepared. The Nicolaysen Art Museum has around 35 excellent and dedicated volunteers; therefore, we at the Nicolaysen Art Museum want to continue to develop meaningful program so they can continue to feel connected to our mission.
Documenting Administrative History discussed the importance of knowing the history of your museum. Volunteers here at the Nic could help and take ownership of a project like researching our administrative history. It is my hope that we can develop a project for our volunteers so they are involved in gathering that valuable and meaningful information.
The seminar Biolounge: The Changing Nature of Museum Spaces still resonates with me. Throughout my museum experience I don't doubt the challenge of drawing young adults will continue. I believe a solution lies in the thoughts from Beverly Sheppard, key note at this years CWAM conference. According to Sheppard, lack of diversity in the museum could discourage visitors. Specifically, understanding age group learning styles and interests is fundamental in order to provide an attractive space to specific audiences. The University Of Colorado Museum Of Natural History focused on 18-22 year olds and created a space that had such an increase in visitors that I believe, in time, the Nicolaysen can and should attempt to take on a similar project.
I was very impressed by the conference as a first time attendee and am grateful for the experience. Because of my attendance to CWAM the Nic is starting two projects that were inspired by the annual meeting and we have set on a path to incorporate new ways of solving problems as we continue through the years.
Cecily North-Carnahan, Douglas County History Research Center
Bird by Bird: Joining the FlockI first wanted to say thank you to the CWAM scholarship committee for choosing me as one of the scholarship recipients. This being my second CWAM conference, I was so excited to attend and see how Pinky had changed in the past year. Yet again, CWAM did not fail in providing a great conference.
One of the sessions I attended was the "Bird by Bird" presentation by J. J. Rutherford of History Colorado and Laura Douglas of Education a la Carte. I was intrigued by this session because it sounded like an ambitious project, joining teachers with historical organizations, museums and libraries. History Colorado would like to have every 4th grade student within 50 miles of a historic site, museum or location where history programs can be presented. I am excited to share the word about this project started by History Colorado and hope that it can be successful by creating a network of locations and presenters for classrooms across the state. Working in a public library is quite a different setting but those same 4th graders make their way to the History Research Center to work on reports for their history classes. I think this program could be beneficial to any institution dealing with Colorado history and help in collaboration between organizations which is so desperately needed these days. The powerpoint presentation can be viewed at http://coloradomuseums.org/PDFs/BirdByBird-CWAM-2010.pdf
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2011 Conservation Assessment Program Applications Available This Fall
2010 Marks the 20th Anniversary of CAP!
Heritage Preservation is currently celebrating the Conservation Assessment Program's (CAP) 20th year of helping museums obtain general collections assessments. To mark the occasion, we have created a special feature on our website (www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP) called "Twenty Years of Conservation Improvements through CAP." It showcases one museum from each year in the program's twenty-year history, and demonstrates how each museum used their CAP recommendations to improve collections care.
From the Quincy Art Center in Illinois, to Iolani Palace in Hawaii, to the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge, Montana, we have brought together stories of preservation improvements that involve everything from careful restoration of historic buildings, to extensive fund-raising for collections storage furniture, to innovative methods of volunteer recruitment for collections projects, to the construction of new habitats for living animal collections. Gain inspiration and valuable ideas for collections care improvements from the examples of these dedicated museum professionals.
CAP funds a professional collections assessment for small to mid-sized museums of all types, at a minimal cost. In addition, CAP funds historic buildings assessments for institutions with buildings that are 50 years or older. The assessment process helps museum professionals better understand and improve their institutions' policies and procedures, learn conservation and historic preservation best practices, and forge relationships with conservators and historic structures assessors.The resulting CAP report can help your institution to develop strategies for improved collections care, long-range planning, staff and board education, and fund-raising.
In 2010, 107 museums in 40 states were selected to participate in CAP, including the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville. To view the entire list of current CAP participants, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/10recipients.html.
The 2011 CAP applications will be mailed on Friday, September 3, 2010, to museums on the CAP mailing list and will also be available on Heritage Preservation's Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org. The postmark deadline for applications is midnight on December 1, 2010. Participants are identified on a rolling basis, and site visits for participants can begin as early as January 1, 2011. Final reports must be submitted to Heritage Preservation by November 1, 2011. CAP is administered by Heritage Preservation and supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
To be added to the CAP application mailing list, or for more information, please contact CAP staff at cap@heritagepreservation.org or 202-233-0800.
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One wouldn't normally expect a lawsuit between a watch manufacturer (Omega) and a big-box retailer (COSTCO) about the scope of "gray-market" sales of manufactured goods to have much of an impact on libraries and archives, but the upcoming Supreme Court case of Costco v. Omega is the exception. At stake are some of the core activities of libraries and archives.
The case centers on the "first sale" doctrine in copyright law codified in Section 109: the idea that once a copyright owner has sold a work, its ability to control further distributions and uses of that work end. In the Appeals Court decision now before the Supreme Court, the court found that works made and sold overseas did not have 109 protections. As Kevin Smith noted in an earlier posting on the case, if 109 does not apply to books manufactured abroad, it raises the issue of whether libraries can legally lend foreign items.
The threat that the Appeals Court decision poses to traditional library lending, according to Brandon Butler of ARL, led the Library Copyright Alliance to file an amicus brief that argues that right of libraries to lend foreign material should be protected. For similar reasons, several library associations joined the amicus brief authored by EFF and summarized here.
Unfortunately, the excellent LCA brief by Jonathan Band doesn't go far enough. It is focused on library lending. And it notes that Section 602(a)(3)(c) of the Copyright Act does allow a library to import up to 5 copies of a foreign work "for its library lending or archival purposes," activities that would be unaffected by a decision in this case (though Band has identified a neat little technicality of concern).
Section 109 is about more than just the lending of copyrighted materials, however. Section 109(c) also authorizes the public display of a copyrighted work, "either directly or by the projection of no more than one image at a time, to viewers present at the place where the copy is located." In most archival repositories, foreign manuscripts are not lent to individuals, but rather they are allowed to look at them in a reading room. Similarly, foreign art works legally acquired from individuals other than the copyright owner are publicly displayed on museum walls. The decision of the Appeals Court that the phrase "lawfully made under this title" does not apply to foreign goods acquired from someone other than the copyright owner puts both of these practices in jeopardy.
Imagine the situation at a place like the Harry Ransom Center. Because it acquired the Tom Stoppard Archives from Stoppard, the copyright owner, it would still be able to use Section 109 to display Stoppard's own material from the collection. It would not, however, be able to use Section 109 to show to users any 3rd party copyrighted material created abroad and included in the collection. Nor would it be able to use Section 109 to put non-Stoppard-created material on exhibit. It might find itself in a similar situation to the Irish National Library, which had to secure a special act of Parliament to exhibit physical copies of some James Joyce manuscripts (as I discuss on p. 72 of Copyright and Cultural Institutions).
The situation for archives isn't entirely dire if the decision is upheld. A repository could still develop a fair use rationale for the public use of foreign manuscripts. Alternatively, if the LCA's request that library lending be acknowledged in a decision is accepted, an archives could argue that it is "lending" a manuscript to a patron in a reading room, even if the work is not allowed to leave the room. It would be much harder, however, for a library or museum to argue that public exhibition is a fair use. We might not be able to display publicly foreign works without the permission of the copyright owner.
Big thanks, therefore, to the library associations for speaking out on the need to have first-sale apply to items purchased abroad as well as in the U.S. This is a case that we will all follow closely.
Editor's Note: There's an informative Wall Street Journal article about this topic at http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703977004575393160596764410.html |
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Local Group Campaigns to Secure Future of Treasured Colorado Historic Brothel
The Old Homestead began as an exclusive brothel in 1896 during Colorado's Gold Rush and is today a museum painting a picture of Colorado's history for tourists from around the world, thanks to a group of local ladies dedicated to protecting the historic building for future generations.
Cripple Creek, Colorado (THE OLD HOMESTEAD MUSEUM BOARD) July 21, 2010 -- The Old Homestead, once a grand brothel for the rich men of the Gold Rush Era in Cripple Creek has a colorful history. Since 1958 this historic landmark has given modern tourists a peek at life in the mining towns in the 1800's, which included prostitution for many women. After eleven years of different owners and the uncertainty of continued operation, the local Museum Board finally has the opportunity to purchase the building to preserve the museum for generations to come.
The house was built in 1896 by the famous madam Pearl DeVere to service the powerful men of the Cripple Creek mining district who became rich during Colorado's Gold Rush. In its heyday, it was the very finest, most exclusive source of gentlemen's entertainment in the district. The Old Homestead is the last building left standing of the many infamous pleasure palaces of Cripple Creek. Pearl built the house after the town was leveled by two fires, modeling it after the elite brothels of Paris and building it of brick so it could withstand another fire. And survive it has, for 114 years.
Lodie Hern, president of the local group of ladies who currently run the house, as a museum not a brothel, says "we are confident we will be able to raise the money to buy the house. The girls who worked here deserve to be remembered and we are making sure that the house stays here to make that happen."
"The City of Cripple Creek, local businesses, the people who live and work here and the thousands of tourists who come to see the house and antiques have always been ready to help keep the red light glowing at our front door," Lodie continued.
The Museum Board feels that to truly preserve this piece of Cripple Creek history they need to own the building and must raise $350,000 to purchase it from the current owners, a far cry from the amount that Pearl paid to build the house in 1896. By having the building in the caring hands of this non-profit the possibility of future owners demolishing the structure or using it for purposes other than a museum are eliminated.
The group has begun the grant writing process to obtain some of the funding and has already received help from the local community. They are beginning an investor campaign to allow any one the opportunity to join in and help preserve this important part of Cripple Creek and Colorado's history.
If you would like to learn more about Cripple Creek's colorful history and the part that The Old Homestead played in it come and visit the museum and find out how you can become a piece of Cripple Creek's history by helping with this important project. The Old Homestead Museum 719-689-9090
For additional information about The Old Homestead Museum, contact Charlotte Bumgarner at 719-689-2485 or cb4mile@hughes.net or The Old Homestead Museum at 719-689-9090.
About the Museum Board:
The Old Homestead Museum Board 501c(3) was formed in 1999 for the preservation and operation of the museum. In 2009 the group was able to purchase the furnishings and artifacts of the house, raising the necessary funds in three months. The Board is comprised of six caring local-area residents dedicated to continuing the museum.
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Christmas in July
They say you can fry an egg on the sidewalk in Two Buttes, Colorado almost any day in July and this year was no exception. Yet according to Librarian and Museum Curator Theresa Hendricks of the Two Buttes Museum, it felt just like Christmas. Contributions of pencils, erasers, storage boxes, document boxes, file folders, paper clips and even a much needed check arrived almost every day. These donations were from CWAM individuals and museums who responded to a MAST appeal for supplies to help the small museum begin the huge task of organizing and storing its document collection.
Two Buttes is a tiny town in Baca County with a population of 35 people. Resources for the museum and library have always been minimal, but in the face of the recent recession, funds for storage supplies have been non-existent. The library has even been forced to use bent license plates for book ends. Recognizing the importance of a large find of documents related to the history of the town and dams in the area that turned up one day in the town dump, the curator filled her pickup truck with documents and brought them to a temporary storage facility so they could be saved. There they sat on the floor and on folding tables. An urgent call to CWAM brought in a lot of generous help from Wyoming and Colorado. The CWAM support accomplished two things for the museum. With the help of volunteers, the curator can now begin to inventory and catalogue the collection and put a large part of it in boxes for storage. Secondly, the town has realized that the collection has importance.
An article in the "Plainsman Herald" featured the donations and storage project CWAM made possible. In a Thank You note, Ms. Hendricks says that the generosity of CWAM "was an answer to our prayers." There is still a lot of money to raise and a lot of work to do, but the museum is on its way. Aren't you proud to live in a wonderful place like Colorado/Wyoming where people help each other?
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Dates to Know!
Sept. 24-25--CWAM board meeting, Casper, WY
Nov. 12-Deadline for Winter CWAM Highlights newsletter |
| Museum Swap
STORAGE CABINET AVAILABLE FOR FREE
Well-made, sturdy plywood storage cabinet available for free from Hiwan Homestead Museum. Cabinet is 24" deep by 48" wide by 50" high. There are 12 drawers 3" deep and 48" wide. This cabinet is in excellent condition, available free but you must pick up. Contact the Museum at 720-497-7650 if you are interested. |
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Dear Pinky,
I recently loaned my quilt collection to a very important museum for an exhibition. The installation was beautiful and the museum staff handled the quilts with professional care and expertise. However, I was appalled to see flash photography occurring during the opening night party. In the loan contract, the museum had agreed that no photographs would be taken without my permission.
To be fair, I should say the photography was being done just outside of the exhibition gallery in a reception space and not of my quilts, but the light from the flash could be seen inside the room. Does the light from flash cameras from a distance like fifteen feet cause harm? What should I do about this?
Freaked Out by Flashing
Dear Freaky Flasher,
Hmmm... As I see it you are in control, and the museum has to abide by the contract. Your problem falls into a grey area where technically the museum was doing nothing wrong. I cannot image that this small amount of light could be all that bad and probably doesn't compare to the amount of light exposure your quilts will get over the course of the show. But, if you are concerned, gather your eggs in your hand and speak up. Controlling photography today is a nightmare. Cameras are tiny and most people carry cell phones that can take pictures almost anywhere and of almost anything (even I have been subjected to the harassment of the paparazzi from time to time and in the most compromising of conditions). You may have to rely on the security staff, signage, and the best intentions of all concerned.
As for flashing some distance away from your quilts and not directly at them, there shouldn't be a measurable amount of harm done. Remember it is all a matter of exposure- at least that is what I always say. Flashing is only a problem if the exposure is frequent or for a long, long, long time. Oh my fragile tiny heart! A short little flash now and then should be no trouble at all. Of course, I always look the other way.
Pinky
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Upcoming Workshops/Seminars
The CWAM workshop committee is looking for potential topics and locations to hold full and half day workshops for 2010-11. If you have an idea for a workshop or are interested in presenting or hosting, please contact Beverly Perkins (WY) at beverlyp@bbhc.org or Kerri Atter (CO) at kerri@atterinc.com
BBHC Disaster Preparedness Workshop, Sept. 13, 9 AM to 4 PM; contact BBHC Conservator Beverly Perkins at beverlyp@bbhc.org or 307-578-4029.
National Preservation Institute NAGPRA Seminars (www.npi.org):
Oct. 4, Phoenix, AZ-NAGPRA: Determining Cultural Affiliation
Oct. 5, Phoenix, AZ-NAGPRA: Summaries, Inventories, and Federal Register Notices
Oct. 6-7, Phoenix, AZ-Writing and Managing a Successful Grant
Nov. 15-16, Washington, DC-NAGPRA at 20
Nov. 17-19, Washington, DC-NAGPRA Review Committee Meeting |
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Membership Report
By Brooke Rohde
As of August 2010
Student/Volunteer 22
Individual 159
Institutional 172
Corporate 16
Total Members 369
Memberships by State
Colorado Wyoming Other States
Student/Volunteer 16 5 1
Individual 99 52 8
Institutional 125 42 5
Corporate 11 1 4
Total Members 251 100 18
You can renew your membership online at
www.coloradomuseums.org or www.wyomingmuseums.org
NEW! CWAM is now offering a new Student/Volunteer membership! For only $10, students or volunteers can join CWAM for a year. They receive the same benefits as Individual members--including discounts to the annual meeting. Join online or contact Brooke Rohde at brohde@du.edu.
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Announcements/Job Openings
The Wyoming State Museum recently accomplished affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. The State Museum joins 166 museums and cultural organizations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Panama and Puerto Rico, as an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The State Museum becomes one of only two Smithsonian Affiliates in Wyoming.
"The Wyoming State Museum offers a window to the west through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. The Smithsonian Institution is honored to be working in partnership with the dedicated and professional staff of this exceptional organization. Our work together will enhance the public's understanding of the important contributions made by the people of Wyoming to our nation's history and culture," said Harold Closter, Smithsonian Affiliations Director.
As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the State Museum will receive access to artifacts, education and performing arts programs, expert speakers as well as teacher workshops, along with resources to complement and broaden exhibitions. In addition, the partnership gives staff at the State Museum the opportunity to participate in professional development opportunities and to attend the annual Smithsonian Affiliations National
Conference at the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information about Smithsonian Affiliations, please visit www.affiliations.si.edu. We look forward to our new partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and the learning opportunities it will provide for the people of Wyoming.
Beginning November 1, the Humanities Forum of the Wyoming Humanities Council will introduce 24 new programs for community members to choose from. Nonprofit groups and public agencies in Wyoming may host up to two speakers per year. The only cost to the host organization is a $50 application fee; all other speaker expenses are covered by the council.
Leading up to the 2011 Smithsonian Institution's Museum on Main Street tour of "Key Ingredients: America by Food" are three presentations on foodways, including Nathan Bender's presentation on the history of canning and food preservation, Bill Rossiter's tour of food through songs, and Seth Ward's examination of religious food traditions.
International topics include Rod Garnett's exploration of music traditions in post-Soviet Moldova, and Michael Brose's presentation on the modern silk road.
Programs with a regional focus include Gabriel and Jody Lopez's history of the baseball league founded by Hispanic sugar beet workers, Edward Wadda's introduction to tribal governments on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and Heyward Schrock's presentation on Cheyenne photographer J.E. Stimson.
Visit the Wyoming Humanities Council on the web to view the full roster, or contact Jenny Ingram at jingram@uwyo.edu or (307) 721-9247 for more information.
Jefferson County Open Space is seeking a Museum Education Coordinator at Hiwan Homestead Museum in Evergreen, Colorado. This is a full-time benefited position. The Education Coordinator oversees the Museum's many education programs. These include the Fourth-Grade Pioneer History program, Third-Grade Arts of the Tribal Southwest Program, After-School crafts classes, summer Discovery days Day camp and Just being Kids activities, plus children's summer teas, adult craft classes, and other educational endeavors as planned or developed. The Education Coordinator works closely with the Board of Jefferson County Historical Society through a partnership with Jefferson County Open Space and the Historical Society. The Museum is further supported through the help of more than 100 volunteers.
The applicant must display enthusiasm and proven experience in developing and managing education programs and events. The ability to recruit, train and manage volunteers is essential to the position. Additionally, effective public speaking and written communications are key to this position. Computer experience with Microsoft office applications, Word and Excel and experience with volunteer management scheduling programs is preferred.
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Events and Exhibits
Please contact each individual museum for more information about events and exhibits; some may have registration requirements or fees.
Cheyenne Frontier Days-Old West Museum
307-778-1424
Nov. 5-mid. Feb. 2011-Roy Kerswill paintings
Cripple Creek District Museum
719-689-2634
Sept. 4-26-Doors to the Past: An Art Exhibit and Silent Auction
Saturdays in Oct.-Ghost Walk Tours
Sundays-Walking tours
July 16-Jan.16, 2011-"In the Footsteps of Isabella Bird: Adventures in Twin Time Travel"
Fort Caspar Museum
www.fortcasparwyoming.com
307-235-8462
Oct. 2-Lunch and Learn with Steve Friesen: "Buffalo Bill: A Life in the Wild West"
Oct. 16-Ghost Tours
Hiwan Homestead Museum
Oct. 2-Outdoor Quilt Festival
Oct. 29-Hiwan Halloween Celebration
307-868-2423
Sept. 4-Opening Reception: "Faces from the Land: Twenty Years of Powwow Tradition"
Otero Museum Association
719-384-7500
June 1-Sept. 30-Museum open Monday-Saturday
Poudre Landmarks Foundation
970-221-0533
Through Sept. 12-"The Romance of Lace" at the Avery House
Sept. 11-Historic Homes Tour; tickets go on sale Aug. 9
Sept. 18-Chili Festival at the Amigos del Museo de las Tres Colonias
Oct. 2-Open house at the Water Works
Nov. 6-Dia de los Muertos at the Amigos del Museo de las Tres Colonias
University of Wyoming Art Museum
307-766-6622
Sept. 3-Dec. 23-"Binh Danh: Life, Times, and Matters of the Swamp"
Sept. 4-Dec. 23-"Anne-Karin Furunes: Portraits of Unknowns"
Sept. 11-Nov. 13-"People of the West-A Collector's Vision, Selections from the Erivan and Helga Haub Collection
Sept. 11-Nov. 13-"Iconic Mass Culture: Andy Warhol's Portraits"
Through Dec. 23-"Cold War in America: Works from the 1950s-1970s, Selections from the Art Museum Collection"
Through Dec. 23-"Artists from France: Paintings and Prints from the Art Museum Collection"
Ongoing-"Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational"
Western Museum of Mining and Industry
719-488-0880
June-Oct., Mondays and Wednesdays-Farmer's Market
Sept. 9-WMMI Heritage Lecture Series-William Perry Pendley, Mountain States Legal Foundation
Sept. 18-Keep What You Find Gold and Gemstone Panning Sept. 23-Dec. 30-Margaret Whiting "Laws of the Land"
Sept. 25-Workshop: Mining Claim
October-Halloween Scavenger Hunt in Museum all month
October-Haunted Mines
Oct. 9-Family Exploration Day "Engines"
Nov. 4-Heritage Lecture-Ranching and Mining Reclamation
Nov. 27-The Gold Assay Process: Magic or Chemistry?
Westminster Historical Society
303-426-1858
Sept. 11-12th Annual Tea at the Westminster Grange
The Wildlife Experience
720-488-3386
Through Jan. 5, 2011-"National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal Eyes"
Wyoming State Museum
307-777-7022
Sept. 10-Oct. 16-."Wyoming Women"
Oct. 22-Nov. 30-"Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace" |
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2010-2011 CWAM Board
Jenny Hankinson, Nominations Chair Sarah Baie, CO State Rep
Littleton Historical Museum MCA Denver
6028 S. Gallup Street 1485 Delgany
Littleton, CO 80120 Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-795-3997 or 3950 Phone: 303-295-7885
Fax: 303-730-9818
Fort Caspar Museum CU Museum of Natural History 4001 Fort Caspar Road UCB 218 Casper, WY 82604 Boulder, Colorado 80309 Phone: 307-235-8462 Phone: 303-492-2198 Fax: 307-235-8464 Fax: 303-492-4195 mbahe@cityofcasperwy.com Christina.Cain@Colorado.EDU Maria Sanchez-Kennedy, Grants Chair Bob Hartzell, Chair,
State Issues Team LeaderPueblo City-County Library National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
100 E. Abriendo Avenue P.O. Box 981
Pueblo, CO 81004 Leadville, CO 80461
Phone: 719-553-0205 ext. 205 Phone: 719-486-1229
Fax: 719-553-0329 Fax: 719-486-3927
Laura Douglas, Conn. to Coll. Liaison Christina Bird, Out-going WY State Rep Education a la Carte Historic Governors' Mansion 3236 Newton Street 300 E. 21st Street Denver, Colorado 80211 Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 303-594-7767 Phone: 307-777-7878 Fax: 303-458-7583 educationalacarte@yahoo.com groth_cm@hotmail.com Erik Mason, Historian/Archivist Juti Winchester, Prof. Dev. Team Leader
Longmont Museum & Cultural Center Northwest College
400 Quail Road
Longmont, CO 80501 Phone: 307-587-6437 Phone: 303-651-8969 bellsonme@yahoo.com erik.mason@ci.longmont.co.us Erica Garcia Lloyd Tina Hill, Wyoming Legislative Chair Programs/Services Team Leader Wyoming Frontier Prison Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum 500 West Walnut Street 231 South Frontage Road Rawlins, WY 82301 Vail, CO 81657 Phone: 307-324-4422 Phone: 970-476-1876 Fax: 307-328-4004 wfp@tribcsp.comeglloyd@skimuseum.net Beverly Perkins, Workshop Co-Chair (WY), Andine Hennig, Publications Chair, Website ChairWY Connecting to Collections Institute for Plastination Buffalo Bill Historical Center P.O. Box 24694 720 Sheridan Avenue Denver, CO 80224 Cody, WY 82414 Phone: 720-496-4013 Phone: 307-578-4029 Fax: 866-281-9514 beverlyp@bbhc.org tck.andine@gmail.com
Brooke Rohde, Membership Chair Carl Patterson, M.A.S.TUniversity of Denver, Anthropology Denver Art Museum
2000 E. Asbury, Sturm 146 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy.
Denver, CO 80208 Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 303-871-2543 Phone: 720-865-5029
JP Cavigelli, Wyoming EMK Andrea Miller, Vice Chair, CO Legislative ChairTate Museum, Casper College Lakewood's Heritage Center 125 College Drive 801 S. Yarrow Street Casper, Wyoming 82601 Lakewood, CO 80226 Phone: 307-268-2447 Phone: 303-987-7853 Fax: 307-268-3308 andmil@lakewood.org jpcavigelli@caspercollege.edu
Karen McMahon, Marketing Chair, Kat Neilson, Colorado EMK
Museum Guide Chair, CO Tourism National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
InfoZone News Museum @ Rawlings P.O. Box 981
Public Library Leadville, CO 80461 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Phone: 719-486-1229 Pueblo, CO 81004 Fax: 719-486-3927 Phone: 719-562-5604 katneilson12@gmail.com Fax: 719-553-0310 kmcmahon@pueblolibrary.org Fay Bisbee, Scholarships Meghan McGinnes, Newsletter Editor National Museum of Wildlife Art Hiwan Homestead Museum P.O. Box 6825, 2820 Rungius Rd 4208 S. Timbervale Dr. Jackson, WY 83002 Evergreen, CO 80439 Phone: 307-732-5420 Phone:720-497-7650 toll-free: 800-313-9553, ext. 420 Fax: 303-670-7746 fbisbee@wildlifeart.org mmcginne@jeffco.us Sarah Ligocki, Wyoming Tourism Betsy Martinson, Annual Meeting Chair Wyoming State Museum 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd 2301 Central Avenue Golden, CO 80401 Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 303-526-0744 Phone: 303-777-7021 Fax: 303-526-0197 sligoc@state.wy.us Betsy.Martinson@ci.denver.co.us
Nathan Doerr, 2011 Program Chair, Rebecca Hunt, Academic LiaisonCommunications & Marketing Team Leader University of Colorado, Denver Sheridan County Museum Campus Box 182, P.O. Box 3364 850 Sibley Circle Denver, CO 80217-3364 Sheridan, WY 82801 Phone: 303-556-3442 Phone: 307-675-1150 rebecca.hunt@ucdenver.edu Fax: 307-675-1151
Lisa Fujita, Co-op Purchasing Chair Kerri Atter, Workshop Co-Chair (CO)
The Science Zone Atter, Inc.
Denver, CO 80205
Cathy Osterman, Incoming WY State Rep Jan Postler, Local Arrangements Chair 2011
CFD Old West Museum Animas Museum
P.O. Box 2720 P.O. Box 3384
Cheyenne, WY 82003 Durango, CO
Phone: 307-778-1410 970-259-2402
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