"Time's a reach, too, you know, just like the one that lies between the islands and the mainland, but the only ferry that can cross it is memory, and that's like a ghost-ship - if you want it to disappear, after a while it will."
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000-- Stephen King (author of 63 novels, five non-fiction books, and more than 200 short
oooostories), from Dolores Claiborne (1993)
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In the passage above, King's title character is referring to things one might prefer to forget. But many of us treasure our memories. In fact, we sometimes seek tricks to hold onto them and access them more readily.
And if we consider how the recent past has muddled our sense of time passing (or not passing), it becomes clearer why museums are so essential. Museums help us remember! They help us relate to past events, people, and places in personal and dynamic ways. The MSM certainly does.
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Here we showcase seven items from the museum’s collections that serve to remind and to educate. They are, in essence, memory devices! |
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Since ancient times, portraits in a variety of mediums have helped us remember people, and also to learn about and appreciate them more. Above, left, is a gold pendant with a watercolor-on-ivory portrait of William King, ca. 1802. Edward Green Malborne painted the image eighteen years before King became Maine's first governor. (72.219.93, Jay York photo)
By the Civil War, photography had advanced and was being used widely, particularly to record events at the battlefront. The 1861 ambrotype photograph above right shows 13-year-old Daniel Marston. The drummer boy was a private with the Ninth Maine Infantry and later the Sixteenth Maine Infantry. (2005.104.3, Mike Taylor photo)
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In about 1822, Jane Otis Prior of Bath decorated this birch box, above left, with musical trophies, decorative lettering, and landscape views as a gift for her friend Sarah McCobb - presumably to hold correspondence, trinkets, and other precious mementos. (1994.119.1, Jay York photo)
Later in the 19th century, wreaths and jewelry made from human hair were treasured keepsakes of lost loved ones. Maria Bailey Wright of Wiscasset made this wreath in 1875 to memorialize two brothers. (2011.6.1, Mike Taylor photo)
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Fabrics and designs used in clothing also help us remember, offering a range of clues about time and place of origin and, often, users' activities, personality, or class status. The wedding waistcoat worn by John Bucknam in 1773 (79.95.1, Jay York photo) and the Russian folk costume given to young U.S.-Soviet ambassador Samantha Smith in 1983 (2010.37.50, Mike Taylor photo) are two examples.
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In the 20th century, it became easier to manufacture souvenirs like this Maine commemorative plate, right.
(2013.9.18, Jay York photo)
While continuing to collect material representative of the state’s history and natural history, and to document present times, MSM staff are also exploring best practices for storing and managing digital assets (e.g., audio and video recordings). These are additional aids for recollection and understanding.
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If you’re inspired to explore more of the Maine State Museum’s objects and documents, it’s easy to search in the MSM’s newly expanded (and regularly expanding) Online Collection Database.
And we should not forget to mention: The Friends of the Maine State Museum hosted a lively online party this summer, chock full of Maine personality, history, and highlights from the collection. Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senator Angus King were among those who played a part, joining museum staff and humorist Gary Crocker. You can link to the one-hour program here.
Veterans Day approaches, so let's keep Maine veterans in mind and support them where we can.
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In closing, check out this tune made of memories and ripe for the change of season: Blackberry Song by Jud Caswell of Brunswick, ME.
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This is a great time to remember the museum.
We always welcome your support.
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Until our next connection, please stay happy and healthy! |
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