The University Museum Reports

THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM REPORTS

"There has been created, without expense to the city, a great Museum to which the public may come at all times for instruction or recreation, and in which the mind that is interested in the science of Man may find unlimited opportunities. Such is The University Museum, an institution occupying a unique post among the Museums of America. Its scope and purpose are nothing less than the History of Mankind." Museum Brochure, 1910

A Century of Community Outreach In 1987 The University Museum of The vast collections of the Museum en- School groups in the Kress Gallery. 1> the University of Pennsylvania will cele- compass ethnographic and archaeo- Louis Shotridge, a Chilkat Indian of the brate the centennial of its founding. logical materials that few institutions Tlingit group, and Assistant Curator from The advent of this anniversary has can rival. Yet objects are but one of the 1912-1932. with his wife and a school provided an opportunity for the Museums resources. The University group in 1912. Museum to reflect not its V only upon Museum undertakes laboratory and Stone inlay at the Sharpe Gallery entrance. past accomplishments, but also on its field research on a worldwide scale, current and future roles, particularly its houses an applied science center, sup- function as an integral part of the ports the epigraphic studies of Egyp- University and as a major center for tian, cuneiform, and Maya texts, and cultural outreach to the City of Phila- maintains a vigorous publications pro- delphia and the Commonwealth of gram which produces research mono- Pennsylvania. graphs resulting from past and The University Museum is among the ongoing Museum sponsored excava- handful of cultural institutions that suc- tions, as well as Expedition magazine, ceeds in being both a museum asso- and the Museum Applied Science Center for ciated with a private university and Archaeology (MASCA) Journal. also an institution with a strong com- The Museum interacts on various mitment to an active public program. levels with the University. Its curators March 20. 1984

"The Museum, in other words, provides for every member of the community without regard to age, station, or general training; liberal and altogether excep- tional opportunities for self-instruction on a great variety of subjects that are closely related to the welfare and intelligence of the individual and of the community. In addition to this it provides for all alike entertainment of the highest and most wholesome character:' George Byron Gordon, Museum Journal Vol. II. no. 3 (1911)

teach courses in American Civilization, 1894. They marked the beginning of a fresh and exciting ways to a public con- Ancient History. Anthropology. Art His- continuing tradition of commitment to vinced that learning is a lifelong, enjoy- tory, Classical Archaeology. Oriental the community-involving the region, able adventure. Studies, Religious Studies, and South- the city, the state, in fact the entire In recent years, the Public Program- east Asian Regional Studies. They also world, in the activities and resources ming Department of the Museum has conduct special programs for the Col- of the Museum. It is clear from an- introduced several innovative series to lege of General Studies. Cooperative nouncements for these 19th century the public. In the fall of 1982 an annual research is currently underway be- talks that the Museum was involved in day-long public series, "Avenues of An- tween MASCA and both the Medical research and studies almost without thropology:' was initiated. Curators School and the Laboratory for Re- geographical or chronological bound- and professors from the Department search on the Structure of Matter. The aries since its beginning: lecturers from of Anthropology, and such allied fields unique research collections of The all over the world came to speak at as Art History and Oriental Studies, University Museum Library are utilized Wednesday afternoon programs on discuss their current research projects by students and scholars from many such diverse topics as "Household Life to help promote a greater public un- departments of the University. And, of Women in the Colonial Period:' derstanding of the broad reaches of the beautiful Museum building is used "Coins of the Ancient Greeks:' and scholarship encompassed by anthro- by the entire University community not "Impressions of the Philippine pology. Participants also visit behind- only for classes but also for many so- Islanders:' ibday it is still a primary ob- the-scenes areas of the Museum, such cial and University activities. jective of the Museum to present in- as the conservation lab, the Sumerian The Museum's public outreach pro- formative and intellectually stimulating tablet room, and Museum archives grams are almost as old as the institu- programs on a wide range of subjects. among others. On other occasions, tion itself. The first public lectures, In the years since 1894. public out- specialized one-and two-day symposia complete with lantern slides, were reach programs have changed and and workshops offer opportunities for sponsored by the Museum as early as grown to keep pace with an increas- detailed study of single topics. ingly interested and informed public. Intellectual curiosity about other cultures, both modem and ancient, is greater than ever before. The entire Museum staff is being challenged to in- terpret the Museum's scholarship in

'Cl Suspension hook. Sepik River District. New Guinea.

'hotomicroscopy at the Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology (MASCA).

When ti&is the last time you visited The University Museum?

Exhibition of Native American artifacts, c. 1915.

for seventeen Major exhibitions, such as the recent more than 40,000 school children been in operation years, Ban Chiang: Discovery of a Lnst Bronze Age through the Museum each year. but supported by annual appropriations and the current Spirit Keepers of the North: also with many programs geared to from the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- Eskimos of Western Alaska, offer opportu- adults. This has been the role of the vania. This Outreach Lecture Program nities for a unified series of lectures Department since its inception in 1915 utilizes traveling exhibit cases in con- and programs. More informal opportu- as the Docent Service, which evolved junction with lectures given by stu- nities for discussion of current into the Education Department in the dents from the Graduate Groups of Museum research are offered by the early 1920s. Before the days of films Ancient History and Classical Archae- Third Friday Series, a program of infor- and television, the Education Depart- ology as well as Museum staff and mal lunchtime lectures by various cura- ment sponsored essay contests and research associates. The program tors and staff offered to faculty, puppet shows for children, as well as operates through the network of students, and University staff. A wide guided tours for the public. libraries and community centers across range of music and dance perform- ibday the Education Department the state. Last year 198 free lectures ances by visiting foreign troupes and continues to devote much effort not were given throughout the state, reach- local artists provide an introduction to only to bringing students into the ing nearly 11.000 people. the art forms of foreign cultures, both Museum, but also in sending the The Education Department also ancient and contemporary. Museum into the school classroom by cooperates with the University of Since 1980 MASCA has offered an- means of artifact loans and an ener- Pennsylvania's College of General nual symposia on a wide variety of getic group of trained volunteers Studies to present courses for in- topics dealing with the uses of scien- known as "Museum on the Go:' This terested adults on many different tific methods for interpreting archaeo- group, funded by local private founda- aspects of archaeology and its histori- logical data. These Saturday symposia tions, visits city schools for periods of cal interpretation. In addition to offer the public a view of the current two to six weeks at a time, giving lively classes on current archaeological tech- research being conducted by MASCA presentations to their young audiences niques, courses have included an in-

Native American Day. 1982. Gallery Concert in the Lower Egyptian Dr. Christopher lones at the First Annual Gallery. Maya Hieroglyphs Symposium. staff as well as an opportunity to hear on different cultures such as the North troduction to Egyptian hieroglyphics visiting scholars. The lecturers arrive American Indians. Ancient Egypt, and and the history of the Olympic Games. several days in advance of the sympo- the Classical World, using artifacts from International Classroom, an affiliate sia to conduct more in-depth seminars the vast collections of The University of the Education Department, has and lectures for University students Museum. The children dress in repro- been providing programs of interna- and to avail themselves of the chance ductions of ancient costumes and even tional education for elementary, high to share their latest research with col- try to grind corn the way it was ground school and college students at the leagues. for centuries to make bread. They get Museum since 1974. IC now adminis- The Education Department of the quite a new view of life in other cul- ters seven different programs held in Museum plays a vital role in the public tures this way! the Museum and in Philadelphia city outreach effort, not only in guiding the An extensive lecture program has and suburban areas. Each fall foreign 3

As it gathers within its walls the harvest of cultures that men once gloried in, the Museum becomes a center for the spread of a higher culture in the present and in the future for all time." The Museum Journal, Vol. I. no. I (1910)

students studying at local colleges and students participated in World: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs demonstration at universities are recruited and trained and Modern programs at the Museum. Museum Showcase in the Bourse. to participate in IC programs as 'inter- 1n special programs will be national Speakers: They lead informal presented at the Museum this year for The World Ancient and Modern, a program discussions on modern aspects of their children in the School District of sponsored by the Education Department culture-dating, social mores, religion, Philadelphia. Each will concentrate on and International Classroom. music, family life, traditional holidays. a particular culture or region of the V Schoolchildren in the Palestini International Speakers from Indochina world and will include a presentation Gallery. serve as cultural consultants and tutors by an international Speaker, gallery in several elementary and high tours, and demonstrations of dance, schools. The World: Ancient and Modern, is music, traditional crafts or story telling. one of the programs available for chil- In an effort to make the unique facili- dren and adults. A guided tour of one ties and resources of the Museum ac- of the galleries led by a museum guide cessible to members of the nearby focuses on ancient aspects of a partic- community, many classes from neigh- ular culture, and is followed by a dis- boring schools are specifically chosen cussion of modern life given by an to participate in these programs. International Speaker. Last year 4.000 The University Museum will soon be one hundred years old. It has seen nearly a century of challenge and growth. Looking ahead to the next century. the Museum is eager to continue the research and exploration that have made it renowned throughout the world and to devise new ways of shar- ing this knowledge. The Museum is an active and interactive part of the University and the community, with a firm commitment to its important role as a public museum.

"As the University Museum approaches its hundredth anniversary, it finds itself young, not old. Rather than focusing upon 96 years of achievement, the people who make up the Museum discover that they see themselves as pioneers, embarking upon a new era, with new challenges and new potential for accom- plishment." Dr. Robert H. Dyson, Jr.. Director of The R. H. Dyson. Jr.. "The University Museum: An Institutional University Museum. Strategic Plan, 1984-1988" 4