Have you ever examined a museum exhibit and found that the artefacts transported you to another time and place, stimulating your curiosity or informing you on a subject previously unknown? That level of appreciation is the goal of anyone designing and creating an exhibit. The small details, the unexpected item that contributes so much is often the bane of housekeepers, those outdated items that are taking up space. Perhaps there are items such as the diary of a long deceased relative, or a collection that no longer captures the interest of anyone in the family. Photographs of buildings (existing or former), community events, even photographs of scenery contributes to the museum and archival collection. The Ailsa Craig & District Historical Society collects the artefacts and documents created and owned by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and community groups of North Middlesex.
Featured in the photo above is a brass-finished locket, designed to hold small photographs, circa 1920-1930, costume jewelery of another era. Today it is dated, the finish is dull and the latch is worn. The locket requires cleaning and polishing to be presentable, an unlikely additional step before wearing, so it is an obvious donation to a museum. A bonus for every donation is a connection to the original owner, a photograph or other documentation that illustrates how, when, and why. What did the object mean? The past is full of interesting facts and items. Museum visitors, old and young, better comprehend history through the things that surrounded our ancestors. A visit to a museum invokes critical thinking, the consideration of evidence, forming a judgment about the object through observation, and finally an understanding the object. Museums use objects to recreate a physical environment reminiscent of another time and place.
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