January – September 2009
Transcription
January – September 2009
HISTORIAN’S ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 CCHM’s Carnegie centennial celebration continues… Andrew Carnegie re-enactor October appearances; Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour is a Wa. success Everybody loves an anniversary celebration and, this year, Clark County Historical Museum has two: the museum’s 45th anniversary in the former Vancouver library and the centennial of the library itself – one of 2,509 libraries built around the world with funds from steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie. In honor of the double anniversary, CCHM has scheduled special events throughout the year. Next up is historical reenactor George Dauler, of Wickliffe, Ohio, who will portray Andrew Carnegie at appearances at the museum, WSU Vancouver and Fort Vancouver George Dauler Regional Library branches the first week of October. See page 2 for a list of Dauler’s Carnegie appearances. Dauler, a graduate of Indiana University, has a master’s degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. museum opened in the library building. The museum cut a 3-D cake, created by the Clark College Culinary Arts program and designed in the shape of the building, for about 500 wellwishers who had gathered to mark the event. CCHM also unveiled a poster of the historic building by artist Paul Lanquist, who lives in Ariel but is internationally known for his poster CCHM’s birthday cake was a 3-D replica of the museum. About 500 people attended the May 24 art. Antique Model A cars provided by the Volcano A’s, a He has been performing historical reVancouver vintage car club, also lined enactments since 1976. His visit is Main Street during the party. made possible through a grant from The event also marked the launch of Humanities Washington, a non-profit Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washorganization and public foundation pro- ington, a free heritage tour of 20 parviding cultural and educational proticipating Carnegie libraries in Washgrams. Matching funds include private ington State. Since its debut, thoudonations and Friends of the Library sands of Carnegie tour passports have groups at each of the participating libeen distributed around the state. It brary branches. also has been the subject of newspaPreviously this spring, the museum per articles and state-sponsored Web hosted a birthday bash May 24 – the blogs. Visit www.cchmuseum.org. 45th year to the day in 1964 when the Sixth annual Harvest Fun Day is bigger than ever Join Clark County Historical Museum for the sixth annual free Harvest Fun Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The free family program is expanded this year to include cooking demonstrations of the farm-fresh bounty of fall crops by the Vancouver’s Farmer’s Market. Urban Farm School will demonstrate how to save seeds. Harvest Fun Day Saturday, Sept. 26 Clark County Historical Museum 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event also features pie-eating and cornshucking contests, the Fort Vancouver Antique Farm Equipment Association exhibition, craft demonstrations, scarecrow making and live music, blacksmithing, spinning, wood carving and pumpkin decorating. Chickens, rabbits and sheep will be exhibited by the 4-H. Call (360) 993-5679 to sign up for contests. Inside this issue: New faces 2 Boomer! award 3 Mouseketeer visit 4 Paul Lanquist artist 5 Helpers tidy collection 6 Annual book is ready 7 Events calendar 8 CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 CCHM names new visitor services coordinator Karen Washabaugh has been named as visitor services coordinator at the Clark County Historical Museum Washabaugh (CCHM). Washabaugh has volunteered at the museum since 2005. Previously she worked as medical records manager for the Vancouver Clinic. She has a master’s in business and is the national past president of the Marine Corps League Auxiliary. Washabaugh replaces Lisa M. Christopher, who resigned in August to become marketing director for Elmer’s restaurants. Washabaugh joins Eileen Fitzsimons, visitor services assistant at CCHM, who was hired in February. Fitzsimons has bachelor’s degrees in art and history from Portland State University. Before joining the CCHM, Fitzsimons conducted historic preservation research for clients. She also is a freelance writer for The Bee, a monthly community newspaper in the Sellwood area of Portland. CCHM also bids farewell to Jessica Clark, visitor services receptionist, who recently left after about two and a half years with CCHM to study business at York College of Pennsylvania. Clark’s permanent replacement is to be named. Page 2 Schedule of appearances for Andrew Carnegie re-enactor Andrew Carnegie re-enactor George Dauler will make 10 Clark County area appearances beginning in October. Tuesday, Oct. 6 10 a.m. Clark County Historical Museum Noon Vancouver Rotary Club 7 p.m. La Center Library Wednesday, Oct. 7 10 a.m. Woodland Library 7 p.m. main branch Fort Vancouver Library Thursday, Oct. 8 4 p.m. Goldendale Library Friday, Oct. 9 10 a.m. Clark County Historical Museum 7 p.m. Camas Library Saturday, Oct. 10 10 a.m. Washington State University Vancouver 2 p.m. Clark County Historical Museum CCHM photo collection goes digital; available online beginning in September Clark County Historical Museum’s vast photo collection will become more accessible in September thanks to a $27,140 Clark County Historical Promotion Grant. Thousands of historic images will be digitized, the first phase of which currently is being completed. Robert Schimelpfenig, a Washington State University Vancouver archive specialist, has been working on the six-month project since February 2009. He recently completed scanning 5,200 images, which also are catalogued and uploaded to WSU Pullman’s digital archive server. The twofold project also stores high-resolution images of the museum’s collection for preservation. The project comprises about 25 percent of the estimated 15,000 images and 2,000 glass-plate negatives in the CCHM collection. “This is the largest project that I have ever worked on,” Schimelpfenig said. “When it is done, it’ll be a low-resolution, searchable database on the Internet. It’ll open a lot of possibilities for the public use, once the images are accessible online.” Schimelpfenig was assisted in the project by Rob Andrews, a WSU Vancouver library Internet users will be able to search this Washington State University Web page for free, low-resolution images of a porreference assistant. tion of the CCHM photographic collection. High-resolution Images can be searched after Sept. 1 images are available for purchase at the museum. at the following Web a link from the www.cchmuseum.org address: www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ library/archive/cchm. There’s also a Web site. Click on “Research Library” then “Collections.” Page 3 CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 CCHM wins WMA award for Boomer! and individual excellence The Clark County Historical Museum Boomer! exhibit won one of two awards of excellence recently presented by the Washington Museum Association (WMA). The museum’s Boomer! exhibit won the 2009 Award of Exhibit Excellence for establishing a high standard of innovation and creativity in all phases of exhibit concept, content, design and production. This exhibit was chosen because it demonstrates leadership in the areas of quality design, creative interpretation and reassessment of collecting practices and represents an elevated level of achievement. Boomer! explores how the baby boom generation transformed American culture. The exhibit has been so popular that the museum extended its run through the end of the year. Leah Jackson was exhibit curator; Sam Mackenzie was the graphic artist; Marie Naughton wrote the interpretive panels. Techjet Imaging printed the exhibit banners and interpretive panels. The second award for individual excellence was presented to CCHM volSusan Tissot unteer Karen Washabaugh for undertaking the challenging task of updating the WMA mailing list and contact information for the purpose of conducting a statewide museum survey. Both awards were presented to Susan Tissot, the museum’s executive director, at the WMA’s annual conference in Pullman, Wa., in June. WMA presents only one award in each category. This is the first time the museum has been recognized for these two categories. WMA awards are prestigious and presented by colleagues in a statewide meeting of museum professionals. CCHM was previously honored by WMA in 2005 with the Award of Publication Excellence for Woven History: Native American Basketry, a 98page full-color book featuring the museum’s basket collection. Boomer! generation speaks: exhibit extended through 2009 From the sexual revolution to Viagra, the baby boom generation has never been shy about telling the world what’s on its mind. Clark County Historical Museum staff listened to boomers and extended the run of its Boomer! exhibit through 2009 due to popular demand. “Baby boomer” is a term commonly used to describe the 76 million people born between 1946 and 1964. The Boomer! exhibit, exploring the ways the baby boom generation transformed American culture, places particular emphasis on Southwest Washington. The museum recently hosted a First Thursday lec- ture series featuring baby boomer Carl “Cubby” O’Brien, a former Walt Disney Mouseketeer, as part of its extension of the exhibit. Nearly 200 people attended the August lecture. The exhibit originally was scheduled to close at the end of April 2009. It now will run through December 2009. Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour is the classic family car trip - with a twist Whether pioneers trekking on the Oregon Trail or suburbanites in the family minivan, Americans have always heeded the call of the open road. This year, they’ve found it in the legacy of 19th-century steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington is an annual, free automobile-based, pass- Like the Grand Tours of Europe that Victorian-era people took, Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington promotes self-enrichment and discovery port tour of 20 Washington of the hidden treasures, history State Carnegie libraries, part of and culture of Washington a network of 33 surviving in the State. Carnegie cities include Austate and 2,509 built around the world. The tour also highburn, Anacortes, Burlington, lights nearby heritage sites and Edmonds, Goldendale, Pasco, cultural destinations. Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Ritzville, Snohomish, Seattle (six sites), Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Walla Walla. Pick up your passport today. The annual tour runs through Dec. 31, 2009. The upcoming 2010 Mr. Carnegie’s Tour of the Great Northwest will include additional Carnegie libraries. For information click on the tour icon at www.cchmuseum.org. CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 Page 4 Former Mouseketeer Cubby draws standing-room only crowd at First Thursday He may be Carl Patrick O’Brien to his mom and dad but he’ll always be Cubby O’Brien to Annette Funicello and the millions of people who fondly remember him as a Mouseketeer on the 1950s Mickey Mouse Club television show. To the nearly 200 people who packed into the Clark County Historical Museum on Aug. 6, he was a reminder of a simpler time. Cubby was the featured speaker at the museum’s “(Being a Mouseketeer) really set the tone for my life.” - Carl “Cubby” O’Brien on his early exposure to show business on the Mickey Mouse Club. free First Thursday monthly lecture series that runs from February through November. He chronicled his stillactive show business career in which he has worked with Shirley MacLaine, Bernadette Peters, Andy Williams and many iconic entertainment figures of the ‘60s, ‘70s Boomer! The kitschy exand ‘80s. After his hibit, explorlecture, he ing how the baby boom signed autogeneration (those born graphs for between 1946 the crowd. Cubby, Cubby then and now. and 1964) transformed American 63, is a former child actor and proculture, now runs through Dec. 31. fessional drummer who has performed on television and Cubby, who was born in 1946, is on the leading edge Broadway. His appearance coincides with the extended of the baby boom generation. He now lives near Amboy. run of the award-winning New exhibit explores women’s suffrage in Washington State odist missionary couple in Seattle in 1853. Blaine, one of the 100 signers of the Declaration of Sentiments at the July 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., had strong views about women’s rights. Women have come a long way in their quest for rights and equality under the law. In honor of the upcoming centennial of Washington State’s suffrage centennial in 2010, the Clark County Historical Museum opened a new exhibit in July. The Catharine Paine Blaine: Seneca Falls and The Women’s Rights Movement in the State of Washington exhibit is a traveling exhibit that celebrates the 2010 Washington Women’s Suffrage Centennial through an exploration of the effect of settlers’ reform ideas on the development of women’s rights in Wash- Heritage Ambassador suffragette re-enactors, dressed in early 20 th century-style clothing and voting rights sashes, welcomed visitors at the exhibit opening on July 2. ington State. It closes Dec. 31. Catharine Paine Blaine and her husband, David E. Blaine, were the first Meth- The exhibit showcases items from the CCHM collection including the wedding dress of early Clark County settler Sarah Jane Anderson, the 13-year-old bride of Reese and mother of the couple’s 14 children. The exhibit also features interactive components to provide a window on the world of women’s lives in the late 19 th century. Visitors can don a muslin skirt and sit sidesaddle to demonstrate how women rode horses in "modest" fashion. Clark County Historical Museum board member Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Clark County League of Women Voters underwrote the exhibit. It was organized by the Washington State Historical Society Traveling Exhibit Service, Tacoma, Wa., in partnership with the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Page 5 CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 1909 library’s centennial anniversary sparks Carnegie consortium tion since 1964. So, in honor of the anniversary, the CCHM created the consortium. “We are stewards of our Carnegie building and we take its heritage very seriously,” said Susan Tissot, executive director of CCHM. The CLCW is hoping to raise awareness of the state’s grand Carnegie buildings (41 were built in Washington), with Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington (See related the globe to make sure these elegant buildings are saved in perpetuity. Carnegies are constructed with elements of symmetry and classical architecture, and trademark features like grand entry staircases and exterior lamp posts, designed to symbolize the elevated status of enlightenment. Logo design by Jane Leonard This year’s centennial of the Clark County Historical Museum’s 1909 Vancouver Carnegie library was impetus for creation of the Carnegie Library Consortium of Washington (CLCW), a grassroots network of 20 participating Carnegie libraries in Washington State. CCHM celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Carnegie library building that has contained the museum and its collec- story on page 3.) and promote preservation of Carnegie library buildings and visitation to local heritage sites around the state. The consortium also wants to connect with other Carnegie pres- CCHM is now on Artist Paul Lanquist creates poster for museum anniversary Do you tweet? That is, are you connected to the social networking site called Twitter? If so, then you can keep track of all that is happening at the Clark County Historical Museum on our Twitter site at http://twitter.com/ CCHMuseum. The page is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the cultural history of Clark County and the Pacific Northwest . Twitter is a free social networking service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are short, text-based postings to the Web site. Created in 2006, Twitter has become a worldwide phenomenon. In the shadow of Mount St. HelLanquist, the grandson of Dust Bowl farm ens volcano, where the folklore of laborers, grew up in a red-white- and-blueBig Foot and the legend of D.B. collar home in Bakersfield, Calif. He got his Cooper were born, illustrator Paul start working as a commercial illustrator for Lanquist creates a steady many Northwest chains like Fred Meyer and stream of poster art that tells the GI Joe's. But he has a uniquely American Lanquist story of America. past, which his work embodies. Lanquist is a leader in his field, creating Call, 360-993-5679, or visit the museum, many destination posters for the jewels of the 1511 Main St., Vancouver, Wa., to order. Visa National Park Service. A cowboy at heart, his and MasterCard orders are accepted. There is souvenir-style, travel posters, numbering a $9.95 shipping charge. more than 1,000 for various sites across the country and Canada, are created in a converted horse stable/ studio next to his house. Lanquist created a special commemorative poster of the Clark County Historical Museum in honor of the 1909 Carnegie library building centennial anniversary. The 18-x-24 poster celebrates the library building which now serves as the museum. The poster project is a fundraiser for the museum. Signed posters are $24.99; unsigned are $19.99. Paul Lanquist’s poster art is for sale at CCHM. CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 Page 6 Federal stimulus money generates a good cleaning in collections area Many hands make light work and thanks to some federal funding, Clark County Historical Museum has been able to do some much-needed cleaning in the collections area of the building. The money, from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helped fund an Educational Service District 112 (ESD 112) Summer Youth Program. The program paid the salaries of 17year-olds Tia Beecher and Alyssa Henderson, both of Vancouver, to work part time cleaning and reorganizing the collections area of the museum. “The girls are very hard workers,” said staff member Eileen Fitzsimons who oversaw the project. “They’ve consolidated collection pieces and now we know our strengths and gaps in the collection.” Volunteer Larry Sickles also helped steer the project working with the girls one day a week. “It was a terribly tedi- Alyssa Henderson and Tia Beecher ous project,” Sickles at work at CCHM. said. “It was a lot of tioning. work handling each item in the collection, checking and “It was hot at times but I cleaning it and then organiz- really enjoyed sorting through the collection and putting ing it on the shelf. But the everything where it should girls were good workers. be,” said Henderson, who They knew what they were supposed to do, and they did plans on studying to become a dental hygienist. it.” “My favorite piece was a At times, the museum’s vanity with a big mirror and collections area was a chalwood carvings. Things just lenge, especially during a aren’t made that way anyweek of triple-digit heat in mid July. The museum does more.” “My favorite piece was the not have central air condi- medical equipment,” said Beecher, who expects to begin studying to become a LPN in the spring. “I also really liked having the opportunity to see all the different objects in the collection. I learned a lot about how people lived way back when.” Henderson and Beecher, who started their project in early July, worked at the museum through the end August. They both plan to attend Apollo College. Gail Spolar, director of the youth work force for ESD 112, said Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties received a total of $2.1 million federal dollars that was split between seven providers in the three counties. About 700 people were employed by the program. CLG grant update: education kits to be tested in the class room CCHM exhibited Clark County Historical Museum held a Hands-On History workshop in July for local teachers on how to use authentic artifacts to teach social history, economics, local and world history and science in the classroom. Teachers Janet Dondelinger, of Pioneer Elementary School in Evergreen School District, and S. Tyler Morgan, of Camas High School, who have developed prototype education kits using artifacts found at the Vancou- ver Convention Center site, presented their work. The pair has been working on the project since late 2008. It is funded by a $10,000 Certified Local Government grant from the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and Clark County to develop a curriculum and prototype educational kits for use in grade 4-12 classrooms in the Southwest Washington area. The project relates to regional history between 1870 and 1920 and features non-culturally sensitive materials excavated during construction of the downtown Vancouver Convention/Hilton Hotel, which opened in 2005. Dondelinger and Morgan expect to begin testing the archaeological education kits in their classrooms this fall. Teachers who attended the Hands-On History workshop received clock hours for their participation. at antiques show Clark County Historical Museum exhibited pieces of its collection at the invitation of the Palmer Antiques & Collectible Show in January. The two-day show at the Clark County Event Center attracted 6,500 people and raised awareness for the museum when it displayed photos and historical artifacts discovered during the 2005 excavation of the Vancouver Convention Center. CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALMANAC JANUARY—SEPTEMBER 2009 Page 7 Privileges of CCHM membership You’re busy. We know that. That’s why we’re reminding those of you who have overlooked the renewal of your Clark County Historical Society membership. Since 1917, the society has been a steward of a broadbased museum collection ranging from 1200 A.D. to 1985. Clark County Historical Museum has featured a string of special events related to the centennial of the 1909 Carnegie library building and the 45th anniversary of the museum’s location in it. We also feature special events monthly. But membership at CCHM has its privileges that include: ● Free CCHM admission ● 10 percent off Museum Store purchases ● advanced notice and mailings of events and programs ● and a free CCHM Annual publication The Annual publication has been a special project of the society since 1960. It focuses on Clark County history and features 14 articles on various aspects of local history in Southwest Washington and the Portland area. The book is edited by Howard Gingold, Camas, a re- Yes, I support my Museum! A parting shot…. Meet Faye Vance, 1919 Clark County prune queen, and her unidentified court . She was crowned back in the day when plum trees and prune dryers made Southwest Washington the prune capital of the world. This photo is just one of an estimated 15,000 prints in the CCHM photographic collection. We’d like to know more about Faye or her court. Contact the museum with any information about Faye, her court, or other achievements she had in her life. tired journalist. The cover, designed by Camas graphic artist Brian M. Christopher, features a 19th-century map of Clark County and an untitled painting of an old-fashioned tent revival meeting by the late Camas artist Diana Rice Do you know Faye? Printed photographic copies of Faye and many other historic images also are available for purchase at the museum for your home or office. Bonin, and, to whom, it is dedicated. If you have an active membership, come in and pick up your free copy of the annual. Or, mail in your renewal using the form on this page. Annual Membership Levels □I am becoming a member. □I am renewing membership. □$500 Curator □$250 Historian □$100 Associate □ I am a current member but want to purchase another □$60 Family □$40 Individual □$25 Student (non- membership as a gift. voting) NAME __________________________________________ Payment information ADDRESS _______________________________________ □ Check (payable to CCHS) □ VISA/MasterCard CITY____________________________STATE _________ / Card Number / Expiration date ZIP+4___________________PHONE_________________ Signature E-mail __________________________________________ Also enclosed is my donation of $________. My donation is □ □ In memory of: OR, in honor of: ________________________________________________ (This person will be recognized in the newsletter.) Please send me information about: □ Volunteer opportunities □ Including CCHS in my will/trust □ Making a gift to CCHS through a bequest, annuity, securities or real estate. Remaining 2009 calendar of events at Clark County Historical Museum All Year 5 Boomer! (extended through 2009); Woven History: Native American Basketry; Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our Carnegie Library Building; Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington, an automobile tour of the 33 surviving Carnegie libraries in Washington State – Get Your Passport! Free, related products available. * Last day of Architectural Walking Tour Program – Academy, Mary Grgich September 3 * Noon Architectural Walking Tour – Academy #2, Middle Mary Grgich Main * 7 PM Lecture: Preserving Your Family Papers and Photographs – Portlandbased librarian/archivist, historian and writer Richard Engeman discusses techniques. Admission free due to Museum After Hours program. 26 10 AM-4 PM: Harvest Fun Day, Free Admission October 1 * 7 PM Lecture: Admission free due to Museum After Hours program. Susan Tissot discusses the Carnegie Library Consortium 6-10 *Andrew Carnegie re-enactor George Dauler appears at CCHM and local libraries and schools. See page 2 of this newsletter for complete list of his appearances. November 5 * 7 PM Lecture: Admission free due to Museum After Hours program. Shanna Stevenson discusses the Women’s History Consortium. 19 *6:00 PM: Annual Meeting and Authors Party December Submit your stamped Mr.Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington passport page before Dec. 31 to be eligible for prize giveaway. 5 * 10 AM-4 PM: Holiday Open House & Artisans Market Staff Please Note: This Calendar is subject to change. For confirmation please contact our museum staff at (360) 993-5679 or [email protected]. Jessica Clark Lisa M. Christopher Eileen Fitzsimons Susan M.G. Tissot…………………………Executive Director 2009 Museum Staff Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga ………..……………..…..WSU Liaison Alan Schurman Bill Hidden Trustee Emeritus Anne McEnerny-Ogle Holly Lay Ron Nierenberg Tom Hunt Becky Archibald Bob Stepsis Paula Knight Lisa Staley Don Millar Richard Colf Stacy Metcalf……...…….………....Secretary Dennis Wickam…..…………………….…….Treasurer Nadine Robertson…...………...Vice President Joan Dengerink………………………President 2009 Board of Trustees Clark County Historical Society 1511 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98660-2945 www.cchmuseum.org (360) 993-5679 *Postage Required* (if not mailed by CCHS)