NEWSLETTER Spring 2011 Celebrating Spurlock100 Years: Collecting and Connecting

Centennial Celebration

I n si d e

3 Grasped from the Brink: How Community, University Departments, and Faculty Saved the Museum in 1980 4 Pola Triandis, a Museum Superstar 6-8 Calendar of EVENTS

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of at Urbana-Champaign A Message From the Museum Director By Wayne Pitard, Director

The Spurlock Museum staff is in a flurry of The Museum also continues to play activity preparing for the numerous events an important role in the University cur- that will be part of our Centennial Cel- riculum. Last year, the Museum was used ebration during 2011. We are in the final by 55 University classes from units like stages of developing the exhibit Collecting classics, religion, anthropology, nurs- and Connecting: 100 Years at the Spurlock ing, veterinary medicine, art and design, Museum, which will present the history of and English, as well as the James Scholar the that became the Spurlock Program. In a major new expansion of from their origins in the early 20th cen- our role within the University, members tury to today. Other events, including lec- of our staff have begun teaching upper- tures, a film festival, and a birthday party level University classes on the subjects on July 9, are falling into place. We want of Collections Management, Museum to invite you to each and every element Registration, and Learning in Museums of the celebration and encourage you to for the University’s new Museum Studies invite your friends to join you. graduate minor. Beyond our work on the Centennial Our research programs also continue s p r i n g 2 0 1 1 events, the staff continues to expand its to expand. For example, this year Profes-

WILLIAM R. AND CLARICE V. regular educational and research pro- sor Qu Tianfu of Xiamen University, , SPURLOCK MUSEUM grams. During the past academic year, the is studying our collection of ancient clay University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 600 S. Gregory St. Education Section served nearly 11,000 tablets from for the entire Urbana, Il 61801 Phone: (217) 333-2360 students, from pre-kindergarten through year as a University of Illinois Freeman Fax: (217) 244-9419 high school, both within the Museum Fellow. He is taking advantage of the Director, Wayne Pitard and in outreach programs at schools Museum’s extraordinary Artifact Imaging Museum Hours: that could not afford buses for field trips. Center to make groundbreaking images Tuesday: Noon - 5 pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am - 5 pm School groups came here from as far of the tablets that he will be able to use Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm Sunday: Noon - 4 pm north as the Chicago suburbs, as far west in publications, as well as in continuing Monday: closed as East Peoria, as far south as Charleston his study back at home. He also plans to www.spurlock.illinois.edu and Mattoon, and as far east as Danville. incorporate the images into new teaching The newsletter for Spurlock Museum is published through This fall, every first grade class in the materials for his students there. the generous support of the Spurlock Museum Guild and the Spurlock Museum Board. Spurlock Museum Board Champaign public schools came to the 2011 looks to be a banner year for Publication Committee: Allan Campbell, Robin Fossum (chair), Wayne Pitard, James Sinclair, Yu (Ian) Wang, and Spurlock for a special program on Native the Spurlock Museum. I hope that you will Beth Watkins. The newsletter is produced for the Museum by the College of Liberal Arts and Scitences Office of American cultures. join us in making it so! Communications and Marketing (11.035). One of the few artifacts that came into the Museum in 1979–80: the "Written Word" scene from the collection of dioramas loaned by the Illinois State Museum.

g R a s p e d f ro m t h e b R i nk : H ow C o m m un i t y, U n i v er s i t y d E pa rt m en ts , a n d Facu lt y S av e d t h e Mus SEU m i n 1 9 8 0 By Wayne Pitard

The museums in Lincoln Hall that eventually the Museum reached the public, and numerous Office of Continuing Education and the Depart- developed into the Spurlock Museum had a members of the community began writing letters ments of Classics, History, Anthropology, and very complex history during their first 90 years. to administrators and the newspapers express- Art and Design—and thereby saved the Museum After about 20 years of strong University support ing their shock at the situation and urging the from extinction. The departments provided the (1911–1932), the Great Depression led to a seri- University to save the Museum. equivalent of another one and a half staff mem- ous decline in the fortunes of the Classical and Once Humphreys received the evaluation of bers, enabling the Museum to always have three European Museums for about the collection, he appointed an people on duty during open hours. Community three decades. Even after the ad hoc committee to deter- volunteers also stepped in to take up additional appointment of a full-time mine if and how the Museum shortages in this skeleton operating crew. director, Oscar Dodson, in might survive with a budget of The weathering of this crisis marked the 1966, funding periodically approximately $22,000 (down beginning of a great turnaround in the fortunes improved and declined with from a previous level of around of the World Heritage Museum. In the fall of the changes in the economic $70,000). The committee was 1981, Barbara Bohen arrived to become the situation and in the University headed by David Bright of clas- new director. With the extremely limited budget administration. Throughout sics and included the evaluators at her disposal, she immediately began a series these decades, the museums Bateman, Giles, and Mitchell, of steps designed to bring the Museum to the survived because of the dedica- This Spanish coin minted in Mexico in as well as Pola Triandis of con- attention of a much wider audience, both at the tion of generations of cura- 1740 and was recovered from the wreck tinuing education and Jerrold University and in the community at large. She tors, faculty, administrators, of the Reijgersdaal, a merchant ship of the Ziff of art and design. It became began talking to the administration about raising Dutch East India Company headed from students, and members of the the Netherlands to Indonesia in 1747. clear immediately to the com- funds for a new, independent building for the community who understood The wreck was first discovered off the mittee that the Museum could Museum, a goal that had been unsuccessfully the value of the collections and coast of South in 1979 and this not survive on the tiny budget pursued by generations of curators and direc- coin was acquired by the World Heritage were willing to step forward Museum later that year. (1979.03.0001c) that the college could offer. But tors. By late 1983, Bohen had received official when necessity arose. they were determined not to approval to begin the fundraising that resulted in Perhaps the most critical moment in which allow it to slip into oblivion. the Spurlock Museum you visit today. the very survival of our Museum came into Their solution was brilliant. First, they What a stunning turnaround in a matter of question occurred just 30 years ago in 1979–80. proposed that the college of Liberal Arts and three years! In 1979 and 1980, the Museum was This crisis was fed primarily by serious budgetary Sciences budget be increased slightly to cover the in danger of being closed; by 1984 the University problems within the University. In the face of a salary of an entry-level director (this led to the was prepared to support a full-scale fundrais- million-dollar budget deficit, Acting Dean Lloyd unfortunate result of van Buitenen being let go) ing campaign for a freestanding building. The G. Humphreys was faced with little choice but and a half-time assistant. But the Museum could extraordinary alliance of community, faculty, de- either to cut the budget of the World Heritage not possibly stay open even partments, and administra- Museum by about 66 percent or to consider 30 hours a week with only tion to save the Museum closing the Museum entirely and dispersing these two positions there. illustrates the debt we owe the artifacts to other state institutions. Before Their answer was to turn to to the people who have making the decision, Humphreys asked four several academic depart- loved it and have dedicated professors, John Bateman and James Dengate ments to see if they would themselves to its preser- of classics, Eugene Giles of anthropology, and donate a teaching assistant- vation and betterment. Richard Mitchell of history to work with Direc- ship from their own funds Olympic commemorative pins donated in 1980 As we reach our 100th tor Georgette Meredith van Buitenen to evaluate to the Museum so that to complement the Avery Brundage Collection. birthday, the current staff (1980.09.0022, 1980.09.0053) the collection. Submitted in January of 1980, these graduate students of the Spurlock want to their report argued in very strong terms that the would work in the Museum as their jobs. This sincerely thank those supporters during the crisis collection had great strengths for educational and was a significant sacrifice to ask of departments of 1979–80 for their vital role in leading us to research purposes, as well as for public exhibition. during rough economic times. But amazingly, our current healthy, vibrant state. In the meantime, word of the potential closing of five units offered to contribute the TAs—the

3 Pola volunteering as an artifact cataloger at the World Heritage Museum.

Pola Triandis, a Museum Superstar By Robin Fossum

As we approach the 100th anniversary of the The details of the solution to the financial crisis In l986, the 75th anniversary of the Museum, we can all think of many people who that threatened the Museum can be found in the Museum was celebrated with an elegant black tie forged ahead to keep the Museum alive for all to article “Grasped from the Brink” on page 3. event that included a gourmet buffet, dancing enjoy and learn from. One very special person is Once adequate funding had been secured, to 1950s and ‘60s music performed by the Lee Pola Triandis. Spending an afternoon with Pola Barbara Bohen, the new director, with the Pondell Strings, and a modest silent auction. The is always a delight. Not many have contributed support of LAS Dean David Bright suggested fourth floor of Lincoln Hall was packed with to the Museum in so many ways: founder of the organizing a Guild as part of the requirements supporters and many local Museum enthusiasts. Spurlock Museum Guild, twice its President, for eventual accreditation by the American As- Guild members prepared the food and enlisted member of the Museum Board, working as a sociation of Museums. Pola, along with Guild family members to bring up loads of ice and volunteer in the Museum’s Registration section, member Iris Swanson and LAS budget, planning, drinks in the rickety old elevator of Lincoln donor of artifacts and financial supporter, and and development officer, Jim Schroeder, met Hall. Following this success, the Guild was faced chairing several of the Guild’s annual auctions. with the Dean. He was enthusiastic and offered with the problem of coming up with a bigger Pola has a life-long interest in museums. “Muse- the Guild $1,000 seed money to get things fundraiser. At a Guild planning meeting, Claire ums have always been part of my life,” she says, started. “The Board and Guild were critically Skaperdas, with the help of local antique expert “but what really got me interested was a visit to important in organizing and implementing and auctioneer Barbara Peckham, came up with my uncle [archaeologist Franz Miltner]’s ‘dig’ the outreach and development programs of the the idea of a more ambitious combination live at a Roman camp in the Austrian Dolomites. I Museum. To my knowledge, they were the first and silent auction, a sort of “Sotheby’s on the actually had a chance to use a little shovel and groups of their type to be created [at Illinois],” Prairie.” Despite many qualms and fears that a brush, but most challenging was trying to fit recalls Jim Schroeder. nobody would come—and that if they did, they fragments of Roman pottery on a special chart Pola, along with Museum Director Barbara wouldn’t buy— “Spring into Auction” was an in hopes of reconstructing a pot or unexpected success. Two decades and a pitcher. When I found the old World number of venues later, Guild members, Heritage Museum, I was amazed that many of whom have been involved since right here on the top floor of Lincoln that very first auction, have embarked Hall was a mini-Smithsonian—with on what they hope will be the best ever Greek and Roman pots and, as they say, Guild event: Auction XX, to be held much, much more.” October 22 at the Alumni Center. Since Reminiscing about the 1980s and that first auction, the Guild has con- 1990s, Pola recalled that the college of tributed some $400,000 to educational Liberal Arts and Sciences Acting Dean programs at the Museum and has helped Lloyd Humphreys was leading the to raise countless friends for it as well. college through difficult financial times Following the generous gift from Pola and her husband, Harry, explore the new galleries at the Spurlock opening in 2002. and it was suggested to close the World the Spurlock family that made possible Heritage Museum located in Lincoln Hall. Bohen, first enlisted friends, and friends of the new Spurlock Museum building, there were Pola, along with many faculty and community friends, with special recruiting efforts among real concerns that there would not be sufficient members, was distressed by this possibility. their Greek acquaintances with an interest Ralph Fisher, Director of the Russian and East in the classical collections. Guild members, European Center, advised Pola to write a letter to encouraged by Joy Thornton-Walter and Bar- the Dean, which she did. Dean Humphreys then bara Ford, put together a multicultural Guild put together a committee representing many cookbook, spending many hours collecting University departments with academic connec- and testing the recipes. It was the Guild’s first tions to the Museum. Pola represented continu- fundraising effort, with Judy Ikenberry, wife of ing education and public service, which, along the president of the University, at the launch of with the other departments, contributed staffing The World Heritage of Cooking. support to help keep the Museum doors open. Pola (far right) and friends at a Guild Auction.

4 S p url o ck Mus SEU m N ew sletter resources to display the much-loved casts of the Parthenon frieze in the new Museum. Pola Spurlock Museum Board Update and the Guild, along with Jim Schroeder, Joan Volkmann, and retired diplomat Phillip Fawcett, The Annual Board Meeting was held on October 1, 2010, in the Board Room of the organized the “Adopt a Panel” campaign to target Alice Campbell Alumni Center. There was a moment of silence in memory of a Board this special collection. All panels, as well as other member and Museum volunteer, Terry D. Hamrick, who passed away on August 1, 2010. Greek artifacts, were generously adopted by The new Board Manual was distributed and discussed. Three new Board members were Museum supporters and are currently on display accepted: Ms. Peggy Anderson, Dr. Sari Aronson, and Dr. Antonios Michalos. It was pro- in the Workman Gallery of Mediterranean posed and accepted that Board dues must be paid by March 1. The Treasurer’s report Cultures. was presented by Wayne Weber, and FY11 budget was accepted. Kathy Kinser, Guild Pola Triandis is a hero to the Museum and President, reported on the success of the Annual Guild Auction and other efforts. is thanked by all for her generosity of time and heartfelt contributions. Jim Schroeder says: Charles Hundley presented the report of the Advancement/Centennial Committee, “Pola’s strong and consistent leadership on the Board and with the Guild has been a bright spot including the $25,000 raised for the expansion feasibility study and proposed budget for for the World Heritage and Spurlock Museum. the Centennial Year events. Joyce Wright and Ian Wang, co-chairs of the Promotion and She was always thoughtful, creative, energetic, Outreach Committee, presented a report of their activities. Robin Fossum presented and a delight to partner with on many programs the report of the Publication and Garden committees with special recognition of the and activities.” Our Museum is here today due work of Jane Myers with the Spurlock Museum gardens. Wayne Pitard, Museum Direc- to the dedication of so many Museum staff tor, gave an excellent report on the accomplishments of the Museum staff and his re- members and very special volunteers such as Pola search activities, including the establishment of a photography lab in Cyprus. His report Triandis. Thank you, Pola! included a review of the adverse budget situation and the retirement of Dee Robins, Assistant to the Director/Business and Building Manager. Her long and excellent service Spurlock Museum was recognized and her continuing part-time support appreciated—and will be profiled Guild Update in a story in the fall magazine. By Beth Watkins

The 2010 Guild Auction, “When in Rome...,” A Board Orientation meeting was held on December 7 to was a great success. We wish to thank ev- New Board Members provide new Board members an opportunity to better under- eryone who supported the auction, whether Ms. Peggy Anderson stand the structure and function of the Board and its relation- by donations, tickets, or event organization. Dr. Sari G. Aronson ship to the Museum and the University. That presentation was Among the items purchased in support of Dr. Antonios Michalos followed by the introduction of the Museum staff and a tour Museum educational and interpretive activi- of the Museum. The quarterly meeting of the Trustees was ties were flowers for the newly redesigned New Honorary Members held on December 7 as well. The semi-annual Board meet- Mrs. Jill Knappenberger cultural gardens, funds to cover field trip bus ing is scheduled for April 28, 2011. As you will note from the Mrs. Adlon Rector fees for schools whose budgets have been event calendar, 2011 will be an active and memorable year. I Dr. Charles R. Shepardson hard hit by the current economy, and foldable hope that you will have the opportunity to participate in many of the events and continue to support the Spurlock Museum. stools that can be used by visitors who wish Board Officers to sit in the galleries for sketching, close Allan C. Campbell, President Allan C. Campbell, M.D. study of artifacts, and lectures and concerts. Robin Fossum, President-Elect President We hope you’ll join us for Auction XX on James Sinclair, Secretary Saturday, October 22! You can read more Wayne Weber, Treasurer about the history of the Guild in the profile of Pola Triandis, one of the Guild’s original members, on page 4. 5 Spurlock Museum

Spurlock Museum

February 20, 2011 — February 26, 2012

Collecting and Connecting: and legal standards in the area and This event rededicates these landscape how courts are being used in violation areas and features Mr. Handel’s talk 100 Years at the Spurlock Museum of those standards, increasingly by U.S. Medicinal Plants of Illinois Past, Present, To mark our 100th year as a vital part of edu- museums. Ms. Kreder has published Future. cational and cultural missions of the University extensively and been invited to speak on legal issues affecting the international and as a resource to local communities, the 100th Birthday Bash Centennial Celebrationart market in many domestic and Spurlock Museum celebrates the people, col- Saturday, July 9 foreign venues. Please join us for this free lections, voices, and ideas that have made our 12:00-4:00 p.m. public event. century of service meaningful. We’re having a party! There will be birthday food from around the world, All events are free unless otherwise noted. Reel Connections to Culture games for all ages, and the opening Movie Marathon celebration for the lobby exhibit New Collections, New Connections Friday, May 20–Sunday, May 22 Warriors, Guardians, and Demons. Let’s Exhibit Rededication Titles and times TBA start the second hundred years with Sunday, March 6 Have you ever watched the movie a party they’ll still be talking about in 1:00-4:00 p.m. Spartacus and noticed that some of 2111! Professor Norman and Mrs. Dorothea the slaves were wearing wristwatches? Whitten, curators of Commonalities in Historical accuracy in period movies Spurlock Museum WorldFest Diversity, the Museum’s feature gallery is always an interesting conversation. Saturday, September 10 exhibit of South American cultures, have Spend the weekend watching and 12:30-4:00 p.m. worked over the past two years to bring discussing a variety of films that Suggested donation: $5 highlight the cultures celebrated in the new artifacts and information into its For this special Centennial year, we’re Museum. In addition to Spartacus, films interpretive scope and design. This is offering a second WorldFest event. Join currently planned include The Lion in a public celebration, including gallery us for performances from around the Winter, The Mummy (1932), and Max exploration, a brief talk by Professor world. Whitten, and refreshments. Havelaar.

Annual Spurlock Museum Guild Growing Cultural Connections Collections in the News Rededication of the Spurlock Museum Gardens Auction Nazi-Looted Art and U.S. Museums Saturday, October 22 Sunday, June 12 Spurlock Museum Guild Lecture and Performance 2:00 p.m. Series Save the date! Tuesday, March 8 Through the combined efforts of our 7:00 p.m. dedicated Spurlock Museum volunteer Connecting with the Past horticulturalists, U of I Facilities & For this talk, Professor Jennifer Kreder Identity Regained: The Boy in the Iron Coffin Services, and William Handel from Dr. Allan C. Campbell Family Distinguished Speaker of Northern Kentucky University will the State Natural History Survey, our Series draw upon her experience in Holocaust- gardens are looking better than ever. era art litigation. She will discuss ethical Centennial Celebration6 S p url o ck Mus SEU m N ew sletter Spurlock Museum

Spurlock Museum

February 20, 2011 — February 26, 2012

Tuesday, November 1 Allan Campbell, Associate Professor 7:00 p.m. of Pathology and Dermatology at Physical/forensic anthropologist Dr. the University of Illinois College of David Hunt is Collections Manager of Medicine at Peoria (retired); Dr. Emily the Physical Anthropology Division at Teeter, Assistant Curator, The Oriental the Smithsonian’s National Museum Institute Museum, The University of Centennial CelebrationChicago; Dr. Carter Lupton, Egyptologist, of Natural History. His early museum career included time as a student worker Milwaukee Public Museum; and Dr. at the World Heritage Museum. Dr. Hunt Sarah Wisseman, Director, Program on will talk about the two-year investigation Ancient Technologies and Archaeological that led to the identification of the Materials, Illinois State Archaeological remains of a boy whose corpse and coffin Survey. Dr. Wisseman was the project were discovered while digging a gas line coordinator of the first mummy study in Washington, D.C. in 1990–1991 and is author of The Virtual Mummy, which documents this research. This event is co-sponsored by the Collecting Identity Program on Ancient Technologies and The Return of the Mummy: New Imaging Results Archaeological Materials. on the Spurlock Museum’s Egyptian Mummy Wednesday, November 2 4:00 p.m. Warriors, Guardians, and Demons Over two decades ago, extensive Special Exhibit research was done to gather as much June 28, 2011-February 26, 2012 information as possible on the ancient An important part of our Centennial Egyptian mummy that had entered the Celebration is honoring the many Museum’s collections. Still, questions like generous people who have supported “Is it a boy or a girl?” have persisted. A the Museum through the donation of multi-disciplinary team was gathered artifacts. This lobby exhibit features to increase our knowledge of this child a selection from the large collection through the performance of updated of Asian carvings donated by Mr. medical techniques during the spring of Fred Freund. The Spurlock Museum’s 2011. At this event, a panel of experts changing exhibits are made possible will discuss the new techniques applied through a gift from Allan C. and Marlene to the mummy and will reveal the S. Campbell and supported in part by information gathered. the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Members of the panel include Dr. David Hunt, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Dr. Centennial Celebration7 S p url o ck Mus SEU m Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign PA i d 600 South Gregory Street Permit #75 Urbana, IL 61801 Champaign, IL

CALENDAR OF Events

AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary performance arts. Check the Museum’s Ghost Stories Film and Discussion Series at the online calendar for a list of individual Saturday, October 29 events scheduled. Spurlock 2010-2011 Two ghost story concerts for Halloween March 1, April 5, and May 3 will feature local favorite tellers Dan 7:00 p.m. Castles, Catapults, and Coats of Keding, Kathe Brinkmann, and Kim Free Arms Sheahan, as well as tellers from U of I This series of public film screenings June 2011 (exact dates TBA) faculty, staff, and students. All donations and lecture/discussion programs is 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and admission fees will support the organized by the Asian Educational Admission: TBA Museum’s educational programs. Media Service (AEMS) at the Center This hands-on, three-day, summer for East Asian and Pacific Studies. It enrichment program blends science Gruesome, Gory, and Ghastly Ghosts is planned in collaboration with the and history and focuses on the lifestyles and Ghouls Spurlock Museum and presented in and scientific ideas ofM edieval . 2:00-3:30 p.m. the Knight Auditorium. Guest scholars Participants will build (towers, catapults, Suggested donation: $5 and members of the campus and local water wheels), create (jewelry, shields), communities will introduce the films and This afternoon family event will feature and spend time in the Spurlock multicultural ghost stories told in the lead post-screening audience discussions. Museum’s Gallery of European Cultures. Check the Museum’s calendar of events Museum’s galleries. The stories will be Museum educators will supplement club appropriate for children grades K-5. The for individual film confirmations and activities with books, video, and artifact www.aems.uiuc.edu for descriptions and children will leave with bags of candy to handling. Registration is open to children start their trick-or-treating off right. trailers. entering grades 3-7. Space is limited to 16 participants. Contact Brook Taylor at (217) 265-0474 or [email protected]. Stories from the Other Side Spurlock Museum WorldFest 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5 Admission: $5 12:30-4:00 p.m. Wrapped Up in Suggested donation: $5 Sunday, July 31 This ghost story concert features tales with adult themes or heightened fear Six performances for the price of 1:00-4:00 p.m. Admission: $3 factors. It is for adults only (age 16 and one! During WorldFest, the Museum above). Don’t worry—everyone still gets celebrates the wonderful variety of This will be the fourth year for one candy. performance arts practiced around the of our most popular events. Kids ages world and offers hands-on activities for 8-13 and their chaperones are invited everyone. to visit hands-on stations that highlight More events are in the works! Make sure to the mummy-making process and head visit the www.spurlock.illinois.edu often. To The Boneyard Arts Festival at the home with their own “tomb-to-go!” sign up for our events email list, please contact Pre-registration is required, and space Spurlock Museum Karen Flesher at [email protected]. is limited. This program is supported by Thursday, April 7–Sunday, April 10 the Center for South Asian and Middle Each year, the Museum participates in Eastern Studies. this countywide celebration of visual and