Blue Heron Musings

Why are small museums interesting and important?

2010-07-03T04:36:00.000-07:00

Have you experienced museum fatigue? Perhaps you tried to see every exhibit because it was the only opportunity to visit the museum. Large museums require a physical effort, walking between exhibits, long periods of standing to view the exhibits, and the price of admission can be substantial. Museum studies have identified cognitive processing, and the museum environment (the arrangement of displays and exhibit architecture) among the factors believed responsible for museum fatigue. Sometimes the arrangement and number of displays overwhelms the visitor. Museum cafes and stores are not only revenue generators; they exist to alleviate the fatigued visitor.

Small museums offer visitors a different experience, size is an advantage. Some small museums have very specific mandates, usually indicated in the name of the museum, which further focuses their collection. They are ideal for a specialist, or a collector, and are especially good for people who tire easily. Often visitors will see artefacts they would seldom see in a large museum because the exhibits contain local historical objects. The Knight Templar exhibit at the Ailsa Craig Museum is rare. The stories of two local couples intertwine in this exceptional exhibit. The artefacts on display are impressive and deeply rooted in Ailsa Craig history. The photo above is one small part of the exhibit. Everyone should have a chance to see the Knight Templar uniform and learn the history behind the exhibit. Parking is free and the exhibit area is reasonable, chairs are available for visitors.

Small museums exist to collect community history, preserve photograph collections, and their volunteers are passionate about preserving community history. You might find a jumble of artefacts, interesting to look at, and curiosity inspiring. Some visitors look and ask questions or simply wander through the collection and leave with the memory of one or two significant exhibits or artefacts. If the museum contains collections of artefacts with which you are familiar, it is likely to be more interesting. If the artefacts are unfamiliar an interpreter is a big help.

Interpretation in a museum, large or small, introduces visitors to the history in the museum logically. An interpreter presents the history in the exhibit, answers questions and in general reduces visitor fatigue and enhances their experience. A guide will know the stories that make the exhibit meaningful. Some stories are heartbreaking, others are inspiring, some will amuse. Interpretation motivates visitors to engage with exhibits by asking questions, correcting misconceptions, and describing interesting content.

Why are small museums interesting and important? Because they raise public awareness of local heritage. Those who know their local history are well grounded. The Ailsa Craig Museum, open Monday to Friday 10 am to 2 pm and Sundays, 1 to 4 pm, tells the story of North Middlesex’s proud heritage.

Education: memories & mischief

2010-05-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

Imagine a one-room school with students ranging in age from five to fourteen. Now imagine that there is only one teacher and she is just eighteen years old. How did she maintain order? How did she teach multiple grades?

The ambition of a solid education and a better life for their children inspired the citizens of North Middlesex to establish an educational system in the1850s. The government of the time established the sectional school system of education, and citizens built one-room log school buildings, once as much a part of rural landscape as rural churches. Later versions constructed of brick are still evident in Ontario, surviving as homes or community centers. The architecture was straightforward utilitarian, and to my eternal amusement featured separate entrances for boys and girls. Often very young teachers were responsible for discipline and education, dealing with the same range of issues that present day teachers face, but alone with only the annual visit of the School Inspector. Hired by the local Board of Trustees, sometimes living in the same home as their students, their work must have been lonely and frightening at times. How did they manage their duties, with the ever present expectation and judgement of the parents and Board members? What did the curriculum look like? Would you want to sit in the school desks used in rural schools? What did they have to learn and what kind of books did they use? Did they have any fun at all?

The school exhibit at the Ailsa Craig Museum attempts to take visitors back in time to the challenges of rural education, to display the evolution of the school system from one-room schools to central schools, and the challenge of providing secondary education. Step back in time and read about the antics of former students, their memories and their mischief.

Spring cleaning.....remember the museum

2010-03-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Collectors are special people

2010-03-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

Collectors persist in their passion for collection, sometimes over decades, and they become well versed in the details of the specialty. In short, they educate themselves; often to the extent of specialization and sometimes, they become the ultimate source of information about their collection. In formal education, specialists obtain degrees and promote their interests through publication, and some hobbyists become writers and publishers. As a hobby, collecting can be a solitary activity, so the display of four local collections to launch Heritage Week at the breakfast hosted by the Ailsa Craig & District Historical Society was a special event for the community.
Based on the museum’s holdings, North Middlesex residents have a definite inclination for collecting artefacts and memorabilia. Collections presently maintained by the museum range from arrowheads to an ornithological display. Each item has a story to tell. Long or short, that story is a unique window into the past. Collections extend the story to a larger framework and increase the significance of the artefact. It is exciting to discover that you share an interest with others. History tells us that collectors are often the impetus for establishing a museum. Collecting enthusiasts are always welcome in museums.

British Home Children Descendants

2010-03-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of children destined for indenture service in Canada, a country that would be foreign to them. They are part of Canada's history.
Deep in the heart of a museum collection. . . mystery, some confusion, and the history of a community is revealed in tidbits and intriguing details with the work of cataloging a museum collection. For the last eight weeks I've been converting paper records into digital records for Ailsa Craig & District Historical Society. Amidst the details of creating records I think of cross-referencing, exhibits, and metadata records according to the record at hand. Records that capture an earlier place and time are critical to understanding our history, especially when they can be connected to a large history. Museums are not immune to the changes of our society or the shifts in our culture. The ground work is in record keeping, and those records can protect and preserve an historical event such as the Home Children until there is sufficient interest to tell the story. What is to be found in archives and museums that tell that story? Their untold history will help the present generation grow in depth and feeling and understanding. The experiences of 100,000 children who were brought to Canada for an uncertain future between 1869 and the early 1930s has been ignored or hidden for most of their lives because of their circumstances. The combined stories of the home children are creating a movement, passionate people insisting on the recognition of their history. Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered an apology and by September Canada plans to commemorate Canadian Home Children. The Year of the Home Child, 2010. The British Home Child website is collecting personal accounts, published books, some are even creating a quilt to honour their memory. In London, Ontario, Lockwood Films produced a documentary using oral histories, personal accounts, and film footage. Nobody's Child: Canada's Home Children, was produced in 2005. The story of Canada's Home Children and the search by their descendants for roots. Fodder indeed for history preserving record keeping.

Roadtrip with Hot, Flat and Crowded

2009-12-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the audiobook edition of Thomas L. Freidman's Hot, Flat and Crowded I have been able to "read" about his views of the global environmental crisis. He describes it as the biggest innovation project to face the American history. Fully grasped and enacted upon the need to change ecological direction would revolutionize the economy and almost every characteristic of North American life. I now think about the climate crisis in a whole new way. He describes a Code Green plan, the need for innovation, energy efficiency, a commitment to conservation and government policies. Clean energy is not sufficiently developed to sustain an energy grid. In the end, the obvious need is leadership and commitment. I hope that Friedman's outlook will take hold. Read Hot, Flat and Crowded. Think about the climate crisis with a new perspective. Act ASAP.

Public History and Theatre

2009-11-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the good fortune to receive a ticket to Julia Mackey's performance of Jake's Gift in Kitchener. I had already read the reviews and took special note of Antony Holland's comment, an actor and founder of Studio 58. "I am a veteran of the 2nd world war, and this play and its performance made a greater impact on me than all the memorial services I have ever attended." Having seen her instantaneous and continuous transformations between characters and her mastery of Isabelle and Jake I am compelled to agree. Jake is a cranky 80-year old veteran with a lifetime of memories and regrets returning to Normandy, and Isabelle is a precocious local girl with an curious heart and and engaging manner. Both come alive and capture the audience through Julia Mackey's perforance. Once again, my thoughts turn to the power of the arts to engage, to teach, to influence our perceptions and help us remember the sacrifices of our veterans. Truly a work of love, I hope that her performance will be captured on tape so that her performance and the message so skillfully delivered will be available to so many more. The message is for all Canadians and a prelude to the 11th of November. http://www.juliamackey.com/index.html

Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology caused the Current Economic Crisis

2009-04-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

I took advantage of a guest lecture at the law school because the subject was about the current economic crisis. Psychology and economics are important forces in every situation so a lecture involving both by a professor of economics from Yale University appealed to me as a way of coping with the dire news reports of unemployment. In the last year, I have lost touch with current events, so Friday seemed like an opportunity to adjust the balance. Robert Shiller did not disappoint with his lecture on Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology caused the Current Economic Crisis. He illustrated his lecture with economic charts for housing, income and debt in three countries; the United States, Japan and Canada. The story of capitalization as triumphant is over, and the need for stimulus packages is urgent. Canada’s stimulus package is not enough. He recounted an interesting detail from the 1933 World’s Fair. Miracle Whip mayonnaise was introduced in the Great Depression because sales were slipping for Kraft mayonnaise. It was a blend of existing mayonnaise and less expensive salad dressings. Shiller pointed out that Miracle Whip is still with us and still very popular, but most of do not know why. He noted that Starbucks is launching a new line of instant coffee. In this age of coffee aficionados, it seems unbelievable but 70 years from now people may be buying instant coffee from Starbucks and not know the reason it is offered and where the trend originated. I certainly did not know that Miracle Whip was a legacy from the Great Depression.

Shiller demonstrated that human or animal spirits are huge drivers in the economy. That the rising anger in the U.S. over AIG and huge executive bonuses is a force. Fairness is a one of the elements of animal spirits. Corruption and bad faith are in there too, along with money illusion. His charts illustrate that economic trends are driven by animal spirits, which in turn point to narrative-based thinking. If our inner narratives lead us to pulling back, to old economic thinking, to a negative contagion as it did in the Great Depression we will be drinking instant coffee from Starbucks. The G20 conference will be an important historical event because the level of anger is high. Economics must be coordinated around the world because the crisis lies in people’s minds, our cultures, and our way of thinking. We are interconnected culturally and we think similarly. Shiller pointed to the power of enlightened decisions and gave the example unemployment insurance, innovative thinking when it was introduced and is needed now. We are experiencing a crisis of confidence that we haven’t seen since the Great Depression. A lot depends on how President Obama shapes confidence in the future and changing psychology to achieve recovery.

Learning from the First Nation

2009-03-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

This week's topic in Public History was Representation, Repatriation & Controversy. Two of the readings were of particular interest to me, Robyn Gillam's, The Spirit Sings and Our Story in Our Words by Gerald Conaty & Beth Carter. This was also the weekend of the 3rd Annual Pow Wow at Western. McIntosh Gallery is exhibiting photo-based art by Indigenous students at Western, which I plan to visit. I've heard it is good. I took a break on Saturday to visit the Pow Wow. The picture above is the entrance of the dancers, Paul Davenport, UWO President, in the background. I looked at the items on display, some by local vendors, Otter Arts & Crafts and Antler River Trading Post. I was tempted by the soft suede moccasins, the colourfully beaded boxes and necklaces. There is a comfort about these items. A casualness that comes from earthy things. Presently, I'm waiting for the arrival of the Blue Herons. I've watched the Thames rise to an alarming height, forcing me to abandon my customary route for several weeks. But the rush of the winter thaw is diminishing now so the herons will return, in their time, just as the earliest birds of the spring did in February. Last summer Steven Harper issued a historic apology for more than a century of abuse in the Residential Schools, ushering in a new time in Canadian history. I've blogged about the lecture of John Ralston Saul and his book A Fair Country, Telling the Truths About Canada, and he too describes a new time, a time when Canadians need to embrace First Nation wisdom. In September I attended the Active History Conference at Glendon College where First Nation spokesmen told of their challenges and success as activists. Which brings me back to this week's readings. I would like to have seen Our Story in Our Words. Conaty and Carter described the long process of learning that preceded the exhibit. From their account it was a huge success, but that was because they took the time, made the effort to confer with the First Nation people at each and every step in developing the exhibit. They have set a new standard for exhibits of aboriginal artifacts and developed a new way of understanding both for First Nation youth and non-native peoples. This method, or at least a similar method contributed to the success of the National Museum of American Indian in Washington, DC.
The building is surrounded by rocks, plants and even animals from the native world, in the center of a nation's capital city. The prescribed path through the museum begins in a circle under a night sky with drum beats reverberating. It is all a digital creation. The Pow Wow was much less digital, except for the amplification of the drums. On a glorious sharp spring day it was a pity to be in Alumni Hall. The drums and dancers should have been outside. So the dance between natives and non-natives continues, and hopefully the bridge building with public history skills continues too. There is hope in that vision.

Time's First Annual Blog Index

2009-02-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

I learned about this index from CBC and because I'm insatiably curious I began wandering through these blogs. So now I have even more to read. I soon realized I wanted to stay on top of current postings for some of the top 25, like Google Blog, Seth Godin's and Mashable. I can't get interested in celebrities and reality TV, but I love to read about new almost anything and these sites offer plenty of interesting material and RSS feed facilitates all of this so nicely. So I'm hoping that Time will continue to rate blogs and provide new sources of information for readers who are intrigued, and enjoy casually picking up random information from Got2BEGreen and other blogs. I don't think I'll ever separate myself from my keyboard, from the Internet and the adventures down the proverbial garden path....it's such a great place for shy people!

The Canadian Tenors

2008-12-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

I've discovered the marvelous music of the Canadian Tenors. The inspired vision of this group came from Canadian compsoer Jill Ann Siemans. The casting call extended across Canada and took eight-months. Remigio Pereira, Fraser Walters, Jamie Mcknight, and Victor Micallef have backgrounds as diverse as Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, and Malta, reflecting the cultural mosaic that is Canada. Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras created a global demand for beautiful music beautifully sung. There have been many tenors since then, and the Canadian Tenors are competing around the world. Learning about their story and listening to their music has me contemplating the history of Canadian musicians. Some like Mike Ford are performing public history. Bringing historical stories to light with songs like Thanadelthur, and the Oak Island Mystery. Listeners are drawn in by the music and his entertaining delivery. They learn about Vimy Ridge the the Rebellion of 1837, and the depression through music. In Ford's own literature he states that he believes "songs can be a great window into events, ideas and emotions of the past." Canada Needs You, Vol. 1 focuses on themes and personalities from pre-1905 Canada, and Vol. 2 on 20th Century in Canada. Michael Buble's rise in the music world differed from the usual trend as he was more popular in Canada than the United States. That's history now as he is known well beyond North America. His collection of awards from the last decade verify his popularity and perhaps will help to secure his place among Canada's entertainers. So how do these artists fit into history? There are parallels to talent from earlier generations for sure, but I see their lives, their careers differently as I work through archival sources, tracing down tidbits of information to complete the person I'm researching. A fact that will faithfully illuminate how it was at another time in history.

the depths of information

2008-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

Bright Planet

I am an avid user of Google. Refining a search, and locating better reference terms are part of my continual search for information. I have refined my techniques over time and I'm always looking for new and better methods. During class discussion, in Digital History, we talked about the mechanics of information searching, digitization and encoding of text. At first I was uneasy with Cohen's raw and cooked data analogy but I began to realize that my admiration for such creations as the Dublin Core limited my appreciation for raw data. Raw data is a frontier of sorts.
Later, I began to think over other problems with data. The skewed results from information systems because data engineering, data architecture and design are imperfect. The bottom line is a lot of uncharted data. There are places in which software spiders cannot search. The searcher must turn to directories and portals, searchable sites and databases. My search for information on the Deep Web and the Dark Web led me to Robert Lackie, at Rider University. He offers links and advice on searching in those Dark Hiding Places. http://www.robertlackie.com/invisible/index.html

Searching is about the question as much as the answer in the multidimensional repository of the web. If the answer exists in non-text format it is invisible to the searcher unless some tagging is in place. How does one search such sources? At Bright Planet I learned of Data Federation and Symantics, and found the helpful diagram at the top of this page. TCP/IP and XML standards are the current tools, with the next step being semantic mediation or semantic heterogeneities. Bright Planet claims there are nearly 40 distinct types of which there are three categories; structural conflicts, data conflicts and domain conflicts. The Web ontological description languages (OWL) are the emerging standards for machine-readable means to communicate the semantics of data. OWL is used by life sciences, physics, pharmaceuticals and the intelligence sector. Bright Planet designs and develops the world's most powerful search, harvest, and document federation technology which I learned about from their website. In short, my quest to understand invisible data has helped me understand business and government data searching, and even my own searches. A recent ready request in the ARCC while composing our labels and checking our references.

Question could I find Bucke's article "Sanity" in the American Journal of Psychiatry?
I did, quite handily, but then it wasn't raw data!!

R. M. Bucke SANITYAm J Psychiatry, Jul 1890; 47: 17 - 26. ...ARTICLE SANITY R. M. Bucke Asylum for Insane, London...Ontario. I propose to say a few words about sanity as compared with insanity; not in the...accept it as our proper mental habitat. Sanity we take for granted-think little or not...... PDF

I'm in favour of everyone adding metadata to their websites, Web 2.0 is available.

Monuments, Memorials and Plaques

2008-11-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Richard Berry Harrison
(1864–1935), actor. Harrison is one of many actors remembered for a single role. It was his interpretation of De Lawd in The Green Pastures (1930) which made that play so mesmerizing. He played the part nearly two thousand times before his death. Marc Connelly recalled him thus: “Topping his six foot height was a head of leonine gray hair. Below it, we saw a face that had managed to weather sixty five years of struggle and disheartenment. . . . He spoke with a voice like a cello's.” Harrison was the son of slaves who had escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. Moving later to Detroit, he studied elocution and then offered Shakespearean and other recitals on the L. E. Behymer and Chautauqua circuits. The Green Pastures marked his only professional appearance in a play.

I have become interested in Richard Harrison because of this plaque, which I noticed in Nelson Street Park when I first arrived in London. The plaque is not listed in Parks Canada (London, Ontario, Historic Persons) but there is a YouTube site with a video of the installation and the church ceremony. The information above is from Wikipedia. All of this is relevant to our discussion of historic site designation, memorials and nation building. It appears to me that this plaque was sponsored by a local group, having been overlooked by Parks Canada. I expect that there is a process and a political path to such things, but the erection of the plaque is what is important. Although not readable from the photo, this plaque is well-written and describes Richard Harrison's perseverence in following his acting ambition and using his talent. His challenges were stated clearly and as were his accomplishments. Now, I haven't taken the time to examine the details or research his life but it seems to me that there is more to this than the obvioius. The community that took action and erected this plaque are to be congratulated on their effort and the execution of their work.

Memorialization, commemoration, celebration and nation building are all important aspects of understanding who we are as a people. I believe that each generation has a responsibility to continue to memorialize, commemorate, celebrate and nation build. Although we enjoy the comforts of modern living it is all too easy to forget how that comfort is possible, which is why I followed the 1914-1918 memorial with interest and admiration. A similar example of neglecting would be a spender, bent on having material goods without having acquired the means. There is an assumed comfort level, unearned. So if the first attempts at memorializing and commemorating are slanted, political, not balanced or lack perspective, it seems to me that is forgiveable. Who or what isn't a work in progress? Continuing the exercise of remembering and honouring is the point. In Public History we are examining the methods and the result, by critically examining examples. Somewhere on this continum we find our own comfort level and preferences. I regard the examples with a questioning stance, at the same time efforts such as the plaque for Harrison are to be commended. It is simple, straight forward--he lived, he followed his dream, his work was well done, he met his challenges and he should be remembered. So that people like me, walking along a path in a quiet park in London will see, think and reflect on the life of a man I didn't know about, a fellow Canadian, who lived and died long before me will affect my life. I may need help remembering the details of his life in years to come, and without Parks Canada support that will be a bit difficult.

So the my last thought for this message has to do with memoralizing, commemorating and remembering in the future. It seems to me that the tools of the past are giving way to the tools of the present. For example the YouTube video of the Harrison plaque installation. R. H. Thompson, Paul Gross, and the organizations with whom they've collaborated to create their memorials, are forging a new method to reach a 'visual society.' The importance of collaboration, of utilizing artistic talent such as Jason Rip, writer/director of Grey Days Preferable, talent, interest and skill wherever it can be found. In the end, who reads those plaques--just the curious history student, walking through the park! Who seeks out historical markers or places on the Internet before they arrange their trip? I would contend that the general population is not out there looking for historic sites, to learn about their local history, their country's history or to be more knowledgeable of their heritage.

Why I am studying Public History!!!!

Grey Days Preferable

2008-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

I had the good fortune to be invited to a one-act play about the life and work of Paul Peel. He was a local artist and some of his work hangs in Museum London, in the permanent collection. Rod Keith portrays Peel through a collection of monologues, and images of his work are projected above the actors. The humour was gentle, and the story well crafted and engaging.

Jason Rip, the writer and director of Grey Days Preferable, also wrote Beard: A few moments in the life of Roy McDonald and Citizen Marc: The adventures of Marc Emery. Grey Days completes Rips trilogy of famous Londoners. There is defintely something to be said for play performance as a method of publc history. Through the acting talent of Rod Keith and Morag Webster, playing Mildred Paul's sister, the audience was instantly taken back to the time and circumstances in which Peel lived.

A very special tribute

2008-11-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

World War One Fallen to be Honoured
Beginning at sunset, 4th November 2008 World War One Fallen soldiers will be memoralized by illuminating their names onto the the National War Memorial, an attempt to personalize their valour. Nine thousand names per night concluding on the 11th. Four other cities will be part of this project--London (UK), Halifax, Toronto and Regina. The idea of including these cities is a metaphor for the soldiers making the reverse journey. The commemorative act of this rememberance is significant for all generations, the first of its kind. I will be watching the webcast and I hope that people across this great nation will too.

John Ralston Saul

2008-10-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

All sorts of impressions, threads of ideas and frustrations are having a field day in my mind. I'm tempted to simply walk around with a sign on my head stating "so much history, so little time." It just might help the rest of the world understand that I want to take the time to work these ideas and musings into a statement, a complete thought. Some of the threads come from last week's events. I've been reflecting on John Ralston Saul's lecture at Althouse. His contention that the aboriginal roots of the Canadian character has been ignored by our ruling elites. We stumbled into our comfort with complexity, and have yet to develop a conscious and original language about ourselves. I think I've always known this, just didn't find the words. So I've been stealing time to read A Fair Country. My quote for the moment is "how a people understands its history has an effect on how their country can act." Certainly a solid quote for Public History. Next, I attended the Canadian Climate Workshop. Time well spent trying to understand the relationships between history and science, specifically science dedicated to climate change. Brian Fagan's lecture was sobering and excellent. How to pull the information from all these resources together? The collaboration of various disciplines is confusing and complex, but so worthwhile.

Finally, Passchendaele. I had read the critiques. I've heard and read about WWI battles for as long as I can remember, but I was thinking about the public as I watched the movie. What were they seeing? I left wondering if they saw the ideas portrayed; the isolation of communities, the social pressure to sign up, the idealization of war. I often think about the world before WWI, especially in some remote little town or village that has seen better days. Often, that timeframe was "better days." The men and women who left those communities knew very little of the world beyond their homes. Images from Jane Urquhart's The Stone Carvers came to mind. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't the good old days. How well did Passchendaele "market" history to the public? Paul Gross covered a lot of essential points, and he told a story that will stay in the public's memory. Will it inspire Canadians to learn more about their history? It was an ambitious undertaking, a very personal story for Gross, full of heart and sincerity. I think the real importance is that the movie was made.

There is something about birds....

2008-10-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Reading about Google's Pigeon Ranking ------just couldn't resist

Pigeons naturally operate in dense populations, as anyone holding a pack of peanuts in an urban plaza is aware. This compactability enables Google to pack enormous numbers of processors into small spaces, with rack after rack stacked up in our data coops. While this is optimal from the standpoint of space conservation and pigeon contentment, it does create issues during molting season, when large fans must be brought in to blow feathers out of the data coop. Removal of other pigeon byproducts was a greater challenge, until Page and Brin developed groundbreaking technology for converting poop to pixels, the tiny dots that make up a monitor's display. The clean white background of Google's home page is powered by this renewable process.

Active History Conference, messages from the field, where Active Historians are working and their challenges and successes.

2008-09-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

I attended the Active History Conference at Glendon College and left with a greater understanding of Active History. I enjoyed the variety of presenters and subjects. A passion for history and social change can be combined to redirect our culture and our country, illustrated by Dean Jacobs from Walpole Island First Nation Heritage Centre and many others during the conference. As each speaker presented I asked myself about their ability to convey their message, because the historian is only effective if the message is accepted and understood. I was also conscious of their sources and their motivation. Active History initiates a conversation, perhaps a disagreement and there are no conveners. Effective historians acquire a comfort level and develop presentation skills for academic and especially non-academic audiences. This pondering is brought on by my research for my first Archives paper. I am comparing public historians and archivists. I am especially interested in opportunities for collaborative work and points of tension. There are many aspects to examine in this paper and attending the weekend conference took me away from my research, so although it was an interesting weekend I feel better when I'm focusing on the task at hand.

Royal Canadian Regiment Musuem

2008-09-21T10:16:00.001-07:00

Mocha Shrine Centre

2008-09-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Waverly Mansion

2008-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

An example of wood carving on the staircase at the Waverly Mansion on Grand Avenue

Doors Open, London

2008-09-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

There is so much to see at Doors Open this weekend, and so much work waiting at my desk that it felt like a guilty pleasure to venture out on this glorious weeked, but I succumbed. I visited Waverly Mansion, built by Charles Goodhue in 1882, then the Mocha Shrine Centre and finally The Royal Canadian Regimental Museum. I would recommend all of them for a taste of architecture, London's historic past and the proud history of The Royal Canadian Regiment.

Establishing the basics....

2008-09-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

The Thames is still flowing faster, fuller than usual due to the rainfall in the last week, and I have not seen the Blue Heron feeding at dawn or dusk. We share a similar challenge as I seek to manage the coursework of my Public History world. What does the Blue Heron do for food when the river is so fast and so high? I eat soup and crackers when cooking takes too much time.

There have been some pearls in the work I've read. Gerald George and "fabulous bedpans" was worth a chuckle. "The Perils of 'Public' History" caught everyone's attention, because of George's presentation. I have been reflecting on the discussion in Public History about the work, the professional image and the boundaries of public history, so much that I've decided to look into a comparison between archives and public history for the essay requirement in Understanding Archives. There are differences and similarities to chart, and possibly opportunities for collaboration benefical to both disciplines. And so the writing begins . . . more later.

In Digital History our discussions have been about the current tools, computer application and digitization, the revolution in how history looks and feels on computers and without books. I'm musing again about the sheer quantity of material, and the proliferation of digital records, management issues, searchability issues, storage and longevity issues, privacy and preservation.

At the end of the week I want to work out a public history definition, to accurately and truly describe it. I want to explore and understand this work. Several months ago I began a collection of definitions that I liked and wanted to remember, gleaned from the Internet of course.

1st entry

2008-09-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

On my daily walks along The Thames River with Churchill I watch for the Great Blue Heron who fishes on our section of the river. The Iroquois thought the heron a very good omen, and an expert fisher or hunter. The city of London also uses the symbol of the heron for the city bridges. My daily sighting of this heron is a reminder of beauty and the value of expertise. A meaningful moment to enhance my perspective. And so begins my adventure in blogging.

I have always felt a strong connection to history, whether I'm examining an ancient rock or an artifact touched by others long ago, an old letter or a song with unfamiliar phrases. I'm excited to learn how we will make connections to the digital age in Public History. As an avid Internet user I am convinced that this connection is essential. I've explored the Passchendaele blogs and found them fascinating. It seems like a good omen for our Public History year that this new stage of public awareness, of movie production in Canada is happening now.