Summertime in Collections

June, July, August 2011 Waterlines NEWS FROM THE MARITIME MUSEUM OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SummertimeTatiana Robinson in Collections We have been very fortunate to in May and started off by helping may have ownership issues such hire three students for a summer to move artefacts back to their as Permanent Loans or Temporary inventory project in Collections, original locations in 3.7. Repairs to Loans. courtesy of Young Canada stabilize the roof in that room are Works and Canada Summer Jobs now complete after almost a year The students are doing extremely programs. Three extra pairs of of upheaval and objects are now important work in performing hands (and minds!)meant that we returned to their rightful places. A the inventory and cataloguing the were able to launch the ambitious number of weeks later, our third artefacts as this information is now project of attempting to catalogue student, Devon Drury, was brought available on the database. Museums items in our main storage room, in to work on the project as well. value the data associated with an 3.7, before the end of August. Our artefact as much as the object itself. first two arrivals, Lyn Atkinson First was a crash course in the Col- In many cases, apart from intrinsic and Chelsea Wilson, were hired lections database, Past Perfect, then value, the story associated with an the students set out eager to get start- object, or who used it, is justifica- ed with the inventory - updating and tion for its retention in a collection. Events creating catalogue records. In many The museum will now be closer to at the Museum cases, records were fragmentary and having accurate numbers on how Tilikum Reception it was the first time that Saturday, Sept 3rd 3:00-5:00pm information had been brought together in The students are doing She has been almost around single record. the world and back and she extremely important work is one of the Museum’s most The students cata- notable vessels. logued directly from the object for many artefacts are really in the mu- Now you can see her com- the description, dimensions and seum collection as well. When done plete journey from start to fin- condition of the object. Important thoroughly, catalogue records can ish along with accompanying issues of ownership, provenance provide the foundation and inspira- tales of the adventures she saw. and current condition were to be tion for exhibitions. Who knows Join the Maritime Museum recorded when found in paper what may come out of storage to go as we unveil new panels docu- documentation files, catalogue on exhibition now? menting the journey and life records and donor cards. For those of the Tilikum. For more in- objects whose documentation is Without further ado, I will let the formation please call 250-385- incomplete or incorrect a separate students introduce themselves. In 4222 “Anomalies” file was created for alphabetical order, of course. future reference for objects that Events continued on page 10 continued on page 4 EDITORIAL The Medium is the Message I’ve been blessed with good the 1960s, and that the English century since he was at the height teachers. I learned how to sail professor suffered some abuse, in of his intellectual prowess. And from my brother Paul (whose keeping with prophets everywhere. yet it is remarkable how the sage iconic single- predictions of a grey flannel-clad handed voyage Norman Mailer once remarked English teacher resonate within from Panama to that Marshall McLuhan “had the these walls. With our museum set Victoria, non-stop, fastest brain of anyone I ever met, a little off the beaten tourist track survived gribble- and I never knew whether what we exemplify “the medium is the eaten planks he was saying was profound or message” to ensure that visitors and delaminated garbage.” The German essayist and find their way to our door. If masts); to cook poet Hans Enzensberger billboards, the rear ends Martyn curried omelets by my father, denounced McLuhan of busses, t-shirts Clark trained at the best hotels in as a “reactionary” and sandwich Photo by Switzerland, whose career and a charlatan boards don’t seem Marianne Scott With our museum set a emerged unscathed after who promoted McLuhanish little off the beaten tourist depositing a bowl of soup in a “The salvation enough (believe track we exemplify “the Swiss mayor’s lap. The same of man me they are medium is the message” to father insisted that a young man, through the all grist to ensure that visitors find interested in English Literature, technology of his mill) what their way to our door. 2 had only one option in the sixties television”. The about Facebook, – the University of Toronto. American novelist YouTube, Twitter, Tom Wolfe, however, Flickr, LinkedIn, Those of us enrolled in E.L.L. put him on the highest Four Square, Yelp and (English Language and Literature, pedestal, along with Darwin Google ads? Every one employed although some called it H.E.L.L.) in biology, Marx in political by our hardworking and had a range of colleges to choose science, Einstein in Physics and creative Marketing, Events and from – St. Michael’s, New, Freud in psychology claiming, Communications Coordinator, Victoria, University, Trinity – “There has been only McLuhan in MaryAnne Dieno. and an equally impressive list of communications studies.” faculty. Robertson Davies (the For those of us who first heard the Deptford Trilogy) was Master of His mantra, “the medium is the “message” it is the next generation Massey College. Northrop Frye message” will be easier understood who actually understand the was shaking up the world of today by the Facebook aficionado “medium”. As a result, despite the literary criticism, first with Fearful or the tweeters on Twitter than tourism sector taking a direct hit Symmetry and then Anatomy of by his students of the sixties: our this year, our admissions are up Criticism. Perhaps best known tools aren’t separate from us “but by 30% over last year. MaryAnne was Marshall McLuhan who was interact with us and alter, be it ever has quietly, but firmly, led the emerging as one of the freest and so slightly, who we are” (Jeet Heer, museum and this scribbler (a self- finest thinkers of the last century. “Divine Inspiration”, The Walrus.) confessed lover of foolscap and We must remember, as we recite 2-B pencils) through the maze So what has all this to do with the litany of McLuhan’s brilliant which is the social media to hit the Maritime Museum of British observations, that what have now the jackpot. become realities in terms of the Columbia? You might well ask. “global village” and social media, This year we celebrate McLuhan’s As I say, I’ve been blessed with in fact were only prophesies in birth a century ago and a full half- good teachers. Waterlines: The Maritime Museum of British Columbia ShaliniPirates, Kennedy-Reymond Explorers and Sea Serpents...Oh My! Depending on when you visit character and get excited about and tattoos, doing scrimshaw and the Maritime Museum you might these topics. creating their own pirate maps. be forgiven for thinking we’ve been over-run by crews of pirates, We were lucky to have our own As summer slowly dwindles away innocent looking five-year-old dedicated summer student to our attention turns to the new pirates, but pirates with mighty assist in and develop programs school year. We are updating our ‘arrrrrrrs’ nonetheless. this summer. Deirdre Campbell, current lesson plans and aim to among other things, developed a present a variety of curriculum- “Imagination” has been the catch- number of stand-alone activities based education programs, both word for the Programs department which have kept visitors of all ages at the Museum and in schools, as this summer, and with this in entertained – these include knot part of our Museum without Walls. mind we set about developing and tying and hemp bracelet making, These programs are developed delivering programs that spark a semaphore activities, model boat to match BC Ministry Learning sense of fun and play. Individuals building and pirate treasure bags. Outcomes and can complement and holiday camp groups have been Deirdre is also the Museum’s Pirate and enhance classroom learning. coming in for guided programs in School Coordinator and has led a Education programs can be “stand alone” or combined with our which they learn about life at sea, merry band of pirates to a number Overnight Adventure sleepovers, whether as a pirate, a navigator or of events such as the Oak Bay Tea enabling a class or community even as a kraken! These programs Party and Canada Day in the inner group discover to experience the provide groups with historical or harbour. Pirate School has been Museum after lights out. 3 folklore information presented by designed as an outreach program our very own costumed interpreters, for the Museum sponsored by All in all it is a busy and exciting a chance to explore the Museum, Coast Capital; the aim is for the time for programs at the Maritime activities and crafts associated with young and young at heart to “learn” Museum; we hope to continue to the theme. It has been wonderful how to be a pirate by getting kitted engage and entertain visitors and to see groups of children get into out with pirate balloon swords locals, young and old alike. Keeping the Museum Alive With little funding from the Federal making a monthly donation, which Businesses can show their and Provincial levels, there are three reduces our administration costs.

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