TRANSITION TIMES:The National Museum of Ireland is attempting to engage students of all ages with the many fascinating historical objects housed there, writes JOHN HOLDEN.
PUTTING THINGS in their context is important. Anyone who has been to the same museum twice – once on their own and once with a guide – will tell you that there is no comparison between the two. Knowing what you’re looking at and how it came to being immediately brings an object to life.
With art, at least it can be enjoyed for its aesthetic value. When it comes to historical and cultural items, however, museums can be a bit dreary without some guidance.
But there are ways to make things come to life. In the National Museum Collins Barracks in Dublin, for example, students are brought in, shown around the many rooms and then given boxes of various artefacts. “If things could talk” is a simple yet engaging activity: students are put into groups and asked to be detectives for an hour. The group must investigate the contents of the box, assess the different objects’ historical and cultural value and choose one thing to put on display in their very own exhibition.
The objects within have come to the museum in a variety of ways. Some have been donated while others have been bought. Moreover, some have historical value and some don’t. Just to add even more spice to the activity, some artefacts are very convincing replicas of their originals.
TY students from Portmarnock Community School in Dublin recently visited the museum to see if things could really talk. “It was random stuff in the boxes,” says Susan Dean (16). “A pair of shoes, a light bulb, a plate and some other strange things that I couldn’t even describe. It was really good because the museum assistants didn’t tell us what anything was. We were just allowed to talk about the objects ourselves and then were told at the end. They also explained what needed to be fixed and what shouldn’t be put on display. We sent a really old bowl back to conservation to be repaired.”
Alan Byrne (16) and his group found a pair of shoes in their box that they assumed were for children. “They were really old-looking and really small,” says Alan. “So we thought they were a pair of kid’s shoes, maybe from the 1800s. It turned out they were Chinese women’s shoes from the 1600s. They used to force themselves into these delicate little things, all for the sake of fashion.”
THE THINGS THAT make it into the boxes span several centuries. Dressmaker’s kits, love letters from the second World War, candle snuffers, 1950s loafer shoes, as well as women’s gloves, gun replicas and war pilot hats, are all common contents of the museum’s boxes. But there is one item which always tends to grab students’ attention. “We found a big old mobile phone in our box,” explains Clare McManus (16). “It was one of those old block ones. I thought it was from the mid-1980s. It’s so bulky and you can’t even text on it. I think in those days only businessmen had them. We decided to put the mobile phone in as our piece for a technology exhibition. It looked like something that would grab people’s attention at a museum.”
The handling of the objects takes place in the Out of Storage gallery of Collins Barracks. This double-storey room gives visitors an overall impression of the types of artefacts in the reserve collections of the National Museum of Ireland. So you’ll find anything from huge medieval wooden sculptures to fine pieces of lacework.
In such an environment, where students are getting involved and being allowed to touch objects rather than just look at them behind glass cases, history really can come alive. “It gives meaning to the objects,” explains one of the museum’s educational assistants, Edith Andrees. “A thing is just a thing until you put it in context, explain its background and its historical or cultural value. Then it takes on a life of its own.
“Students work like detectives and look for clues on objects to decide when and where they’re from,” she adds. “Hallmarks on ceramics, fabrics on shoes or names of people or cities on objects all assist in their investigations. The pieces are kept in protective, acid-free paper and naturally everyone is asked to be careful with them, although the handling itself does some damage.”
“If things could talk” explores several aspects of the workings of a museum, other than just the required detective skills. “It’s a really good insight into how this institution works,” says Muireann Charleton, another educational assistant at Collins Barracks. “Through this programme students learn about what curators do, how objects come to us, how we select them and our conservation process.”
With 289 objects in their storage facility, the museum can continuously include new objects and replace old ones that aren’t getting much attention from groups. “If things could talk” began as a programme for primary level but it soon became clear that it could be workable with older students. “We’re even doing it with History students at third level,” says Charleton.
Time team: The staff keeping museums alive
CuratorThe curator is the keeper of a collection. Whether it's artwork, collectibles, archaeological, historical or scientific objects, the curator is a specialist in their chosen field. As such, they are given responsibility to oversee exhibitions and catalogues of work. The curator is also responsible for conducting original research on subject matter and directing the museum in its collection of other similar pieces.
HistorianThe historian studies and writes about history. They work with ideas and opinions, analysis and reported facts from competing factions and attempt to piece together what happened in a particular period of time. Most curators would be considered historians too, but they base their evidence on objects rather than documents.
ArchaeologistThe archaeologist deals with older material than the historian. Some suggest that in order for research to be archaeological, it must be on subject matter dating before AD 1550. Archaeologists carry out their work through surveys and excavations and examine both documents and objects. Both historians and archaeologists tend to do their work outside of the museum setting, but are central in determining what contents make it in.
ConservatorAs time passes, all objects begin to deteriorate in quality. This is due to factors such as contact with air, handling by people and general wear and tear. It is the job of the conservator to try and maintain historical objects and artworks. Based on the structure of a piece, they must assess whether they are stable, see if there are any problems relating to physical or chemical corrosion and then carry out the necessary corrective treatment.
Archivist The archivist is a collector. They collect, organise, and control information deemed to have long-term value. They can be found in libraries and museums, universities and colleges, and deal with all manner of items: photographs, video recordings, audio, letters, documents, electronic records etc. The storage and preservation of records is expensive, so archivists must be well trained to know what’s worth keeping and what can be thrown away.
For more info go to www.museum.ie
