DOCSLIB.ORG

William Sherman Reese

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
William Sherman Reese September 2018 Number 96 American Antiquarian ALMANAC Society In Memoriam: William Sherman Reese (1955–2018) With the passing of AAS councilor Bill Reese on June 4th, the world of rare books lost a remarkable man, widely respected as the greatest antiquarian bookseller of his time. To honor him, at its June meeting the AAS Council held a remembrance gathering and passed a resolution designating that funds given in memory of Bill be used to support the building and the capital campaign (see page 3). The following resolution Replacing the copper roofing on Antiquarian Hall. and tributes gathered from his colleagues and friends pay fitting All Hands on Deck: tribute to an extraordinary man. Antiquarian Hall Construction Resolution of the AAS Council “One of the great bookmen of Project Nearing Completion his or any other generation, Bill Reese was unmatched in his nyone who has had the All the activity is a sure sign multidimensional generosity as a opportunity to drive by of the progress being made scholar, collector, dealer, educator, AAntiquarian Hall in recent toward completion of this and philanthropist. Perhaps no months will have seen the transformative project. Th ough institution benefi tted as much building addition start to take they can’t convey the sounds and from his counsel and support in shape—fi rst with excavating, then energy that have accompanied as many ways and for as many a bare steel frame, followed by a the building project, the years as the American Antiquarian shell prepped for its glass window following features provide a Society. and copper façade. Visitors and glimpse of the progress made (continued on pages 2-3) readers who have spent time over the last several months and inside Antiquarian Hall during the excitement around AAS’s these months may talk about future. banging and grinding noises coming from somewhere in the • Capital Campaign Update, p. 3 bowels of the building, scaff olding • Construction Photos, pp. 4-5 erected in the foyer, and an ever- • Staff Perspective on changing array of furniture and Construction, pp. 6-7 equipment in the reading room • History of Antiquarian Hall (see pages 6-7 for more about Additions, pp. 10-11 working in a construction zone). Above: Bill Reese over his years with AAS, including at the White House ceremony for the National Humanities Medal in 2014, speaking at the annual meeting in 1989, and discussing the travel fund for newspaper acquisitions with curator Vincent Golden in 2014. (continued from previous page) Bill became one of our youngest members ever at twenty-fi ve; served as a councilor for over two decades; was a longtime member of the executive committee; and took more than a little pleasure in his offi cial positions, which alternated between the Society’s Secretary for Foreign Correspondence and Secretary for Domestic Correspondence. Every aspect of the American Antiquarian Society—our collections, our fellowship programs, our cataloging profi ciency, our strategies, our overall governance, and our treasury— has been enriched by Bill. He will long be celebrated as one of the AAS ‘greats’—an exemplary leader who fused gravitas, imagination, curiosity, common sense, and the good humor needed to help the Society move with confi dence into our third century. Bill was deeply committed to the essential importance of the current capital campaign: in particular, the system renovations needed to protect our collections; the technically sophisticated community room to broaden access to our collections; and the new conservation lab to preserve our collections. In an especially touching gesture, Bill and his wife and dear friend, Dorothy Hurt, directed that gifts in his memory be directed to the American Antiquarian Society. Knowing how instrumental Bill was in shaping the scope and focus of the campaign, we, the Council of the American Antiquarian Society, resolve that all contributions to the Society in Bill’s memory be designated for the construction of the new addition and the completion of the capital campaign.” Right and opposite: AAS councilor Jock Herron, AAS President Ellen Dunlap, and AAS members and friends gave tributes and explored Bill’s legacy at the June remembrance gathering. 2 Tributes to Bill “Bill was a man of integrity and intelligence, a rarity in any fi eld.” —Leonard Milberg, AAS Member “During the twenty-plus years I served with Bill on the Council, I came to admire his keen insights, vast knowledge, and remarkable judgement. To me he was the exemplar of what a councilor should be. He shared his brilliance and his patience with the Council. And his strategic impatience moved AAS forward at critical times. His generosity in small things and large exemplifi ed character traits that are all too rare. It was inspiring to be a colleague of Bill Reese.” —Richard D. Brown, AAS Councilor “Bill was a giant in the book world and he was a giant in our AAS world. He will long be remembered as one of the fi nest, smartest, and most infl uential people we have ever had the privilege of knowing. He will be so sorely missed by all who knew him.” —Sidney Lapidus, AAS Council Chair “I admired Bill enormously. I always thought of him as the wunderkind of books, rare books especially, who had magic at his fi ngertips and knew what was good and what wasn’t good, and got most of [the good things] himself.” —John Hench, Former AAS Vice President for Collections and Programs and AAS Member “It’s been said many times and it will be continually felt that we will For a full memorial by AAS miss him a great deal. What a wonderful gentleman and good friend to President Ellen S. Dunlap, institutions and people all over this country and abroad.” links to other obituaries, and —Gigi Barnhill, Former AAS Curator of Graphic Arts and AAS Member to donate to AAS in Bill’s memory, please visit “Bill was a wonderful person with a generous spirit. We will always americanantiquarian.org/ appreciate the Reese Fellows, who will carry on that spirit.” reese. —Nan Wolverton, AAS Director of Fellowships Update: Safeguarding the American Story Campaign hile the construction project continues (see page 1), please know that the fundraising eff ort to support it is keeping pace! Th is ambitious project—our largest capacity-building initiative in more than a century— hasW been making steady progress thanks to the leadership of our Council and generous early contributing members and friends. With the inspiring encouragement of these farsighted donors, the Safeguarding the American Story Campaign is moving strongly toward its goal. Th e fund now stands at 74 percent ($14,753,000) of our $20 million goal (as of August 21, 2018). While progress has been steady and successful, we are reliant on everyone who knows and appreciates the mission of AAS to help us reach our goal. Now is the time to consider your gift to this singular undertaking. It is only through the full participation of all our supporters and friends that we will be able to succeed. We have just over $5 million left to raise, and every gift is important in advancing this project to transform AAS and greatly improve the ways we fulfi ll our mission for generations to come. To contribute to the Safeguarding the American Story Campaign, please visit americanantiquarian.org/campaign. 3 Construction Photos (continued from page 1) A. B. C. D. E. F. This page: A. Foundation work with excavator (June ’17) B. Foundation wall formwork (Sept. ’17) C. Steel between two floors of addition (Nov. ’17) D. Frame for conservation lab skylight (May ’18) E. Pouring the concrete for the pits (July ’17) F. Ironwork on steel frame (Nov. ’17) G. New air handling unit in addition basement with piping (May ’18) H. Addition roof rebar with mesh (Apr. ’18) I. Protection on exterior with trenching for utilities (Winter ’17–’18) J. Crane truck framing the structure (Feb. ’18) G. 4 H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. This page: K. Scaffolding on mezzanine with boxed printing press (June ’18) L. Steel detailing on skylight structure (Feb. ’18) M. Addition with completed elevator shaft (Apr. ’18) N. View of Park Avenue from inside the first-floor addition (May ’18) O. New wiring and lighting in the collection stacks (July ’18) P. New ductwork in the stacks (Jan. ’18) Q. Removal of old boilers (Summer ’18) R. Vapor barrier installation on expansion (July ’18) S. Demolition and abatement work in basement (Nov. ’17) T. Copper fabrication for façade of Q. building (June ’18) 5 R. S. T. The View from Here: A Staff Perspective on Construction rom dodging scaff olding to the boxing up of Isaiah Th omas’s press to the perpetual shifting of collectionF materials, staff has been up to the (sometimes quirky) challenges of continuing work in a construction zone. Th e shifting of collections alone has involved— from time to time—nineteen regular staff members and three seasonal staff members from ten diff erent departments. During that process, some materials have been reorganized to create nine new collection categories. And we won’t even mention the excellent exercise involved in all that moving. Th ese pages provide a glimpse into a day in the life of AAS staff during construction. To-Dos: ❐ Contact the art handlers ❐ Pack up Staffordshire ❐ Measure Old No. 1 for protective box ❐ Move desk for fl oor drilling ❐ Assign AAS staff to cover weekend construction work ❐ Protect ranges 121-147 ❐ Photograph cases in Council Room ❐ Stop the clocks because of vibration ❐ Take construction pictures for website ❐ Move air purifi er to different space ❐ Attend (so many) building meetings ❐ Write weekly update reports for staff ❐ Change call number range labels on stacks ❐ Make redirection signs to avoid construction ❐ Update staff on temporary collection locations ❐ Try out chairs for new spaces ❐ Set up temporary entrance to Antiquarian Hall ❐ Set up cart of fl ashlights for paging This page: Plastic sheeting protecting the ❐ collections in the stacks; moving artwork with Test electrical outlets for power outages curatorial assistance in June ’17; moving the book ❐ Choose colors for the new staff lockers press out of the old conservation lab in Dec.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ANNUAL REPORT 2014 the Ecotarium Fun Facts a Special Thank You Goes To
    Annual Report 2 14 Transformation through Collaboration Dear Friends and Supporters, We all know the saying “two heads are better than our work as lead organization on two federal grants with one.” Or how about “many hands make light work?” At the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and as a the EcoTarium, working together as a team is essential partner site on two National Science Foundation grants, to everything we do. During popular events like Great bear fruit, paving the way to improving how we serve our Pumpkin Fest, Earth Day, or Free Fun Friday when more diverse audiences. than 5,000 visitors can be on campus, we couldn’t do it without the help of every single member of our staff and a It is our hope that when the stewards of the EcoTarium great many volunteers. Working together, we make great of tomorrow look back on 2014 and all that we have things happen. accomplished through collaboration, they will see it as a turning point, the pivotal moment at which this Collaboration is even more important at the organizational iconic Worcester treasure transformed to become an level. As a mid-sized science and nature museum, the indispensible national asset, securing the strongest of EcoTarium’s resources are limited. We are just one of many futures as we rapidly approach our 200th anniversary similarly sized cultural sites, competing for audience, in 2025. funds, and recognition in a world rich with entertainment and educational possibilities. And by collaborating with local, national, and internationally-renowned organizations we are able to make wonderful things happen.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplement to the History and Social Science Curriculum Framework
    Resources for History and Social Science Draft Supplement to the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education May 15, 2018 Copyediting incomplete This document was prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members Mr. Paul Sagan, Chair, Cambridge Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke Mr. James Morton, Vice Chair, Boston Mr. James Peyser, Secretary of Education, Milton Ms. Katherine Craven, Brookline Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington Dr. Edward Doherty, Hyde Park Dr. Martin West, Newton Ms. Amanda Fernandez, Belmont Ms. Hannah Trimarchi, Chair, Student Advisory Ms. Margaret McKenna, Boston Council, Marblehead Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner and Secretary to the Board The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an affirmative action employer, is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Inquiries regarding the Department’s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be directed to the Human Resources Director, 75 Pleasant St., Malden, MA, 02148, 781-338-6105. © 2018 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Permission is hereby granted to copy any or all parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes. Please credit the “Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906 Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370 www.doe.mass.edu Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3000 TTY: N.E.T.
    [Show full text]
  • Making a Difference
    Making A Difference 2013 COMMUNITY REPORT The Hanover helps connect our employees with volunteer opportunities to make a meaningful difference in our home communities — including these Howell employees, who helped Habitat for Humanity build a new home for a local family. The mission of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the communities where our companies have a major presence, placing special emphasis on helping to build world class public education systems, and inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their full potential. For additional information about our foundation, The Hanover Insurance Group, or its subsidiaries — Citizens Insurance Company of America and The Hanover Insurance Company — please visit our website at community.hanover.com Table of Contents 1 President’s Message 2 Education and Youth 6 Community 38% Youth and Education 8 Giving by the Numbers 2013 32% Community 10 Environment GIVING 30% United Way 11 Volunteerism 12 Community Heroes 14 Foundation Grants 16 VIP Grants CORPORATE COMMUNITY RELATIONS Jennifer Luisa Becky Best Vice President, Community Relations Manager, Community Relations The Hanover Insurance Group Citizens Insurance Company of America 440 Lincoln Street, S251 808 North Highlander Way, HWC340 Worcester, MA 01653 Howell, MI 48842 [email protected] [email protected] 508-855-2524 517-540-4290 The Hanover Insurance Group includes The Hanover Insurance Company and Citizens Insurance Company of America, and sponsors The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. Message From Our PRESIDENT Every day, across our company, more than 5,000 employees are building a world class property and casualty insurance company — one that delivers exceptional value to our agent partners and their customers.
    [Show full text]
  • Jw-8507 the Artistic Presentation of Scientific
    Project Number: JW-8507 THE ARTISTIC PRESENTATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AS A MEANS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS An Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By ____________________________ Ian Anderson ____________________________ Andres Lopez ____________________________ Mark Lindblad Date: April 24, 2008 _____________________________________ Professor George Pins, Major Advisor _____________________________________ Professor Jennifer Wilcox, Co Advisor _____________________________________ Professor Andrew Klein, Co advisor 1 Acknowledgements We thank the all the researchers at WPI who shared their time and knowledge with us and with out whom this exhibit wouldn‟t have been possible. They devoted time to interviews and email correspondence with students whom for the most part they had had no previous contact. This is a testament to the quality and enthusiasm of the faculty at WPI and their generosity in sharing their research and labs with us made this project the success that it was. The guidance of our advisors throughout the conception and execution of the project kept the team productive and on track. Their enthusiasm and support helped the team persevere through the tremendous workload an exhibit and project of this nature requires. We also would like to thank: Vangy Tool Co., Worcester,MA National Glass Works, Worcester MA D.B. Cotton, Putnam, CT EcoTarium, Worcester, MA A special thanks goes to
    [Show full text]
  • Discover Central Massachusetts Regions
    Discover Central Massachusetts www.discovercentralma.org Social Media Facebook: @DiscoverCentralMA Instagram: @DiscoverCentralMA Twitter: @VisitCentralMA YouTube: Discover Central Mass Media Contact Colleen Onuffer [email protected] 585-394-0787 x2 | 716-864-1263 Regional Contact Stephanie Ramey, Executive Director [email protected] 508-753-1550 x300 Explore the regions of Central Massachusetts Worcester | 395 Corridor | Blackstone Valley | Sturbridge Townships | Wachusett Jump to the activities found across Central Massachusetts Dining Destination | Arts & Culture | Fun Experiences & Outdoor Adventure | Craft Beverage Meetings, Event & Convention Destination Regions A seamless balance among historic treasures, peaceful scenery, urban and country landscapes and trendy establishments await in Central Massachusetts. Located in the heart of New England, Central Massachusetts encompasses Worcester and the surrounding 34 communities that fall into five main regions, each with its own vibrant personality. WORCESTER The heart of the Commonwealth, Worcester is located 45 minutes west of Boston and north of Providence, Rhode Island, and home to the Worcester Regional Airport. With a strong entrepreneurial culture, Worcester is packed with chic small businesses, unique experiences and ground-breaking discoveries. Its expansive food scene ranges from historic diners to inventive eateries. Museums, theaters and galleries are found throughout the city, and street art complements the historic cityscapes. Must-See Stops: The city of Worcester is the second largest city in New England, combining the historic charm of a small town with the conveniences and attractions of a thriving metropolis. Over 70 cultural venues await, including world-class museums, premier concert halls and sport complexes. Walk around the Canal District for one-of-a-kind shops and tasty treats or dine along Restaurant Row on Shrewsbury Street where you will find over 50 unique options.
    [Show full text]
  • Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund
    2016 Cultural Facilities Fund Annual Report MassDevelopment DECEMBER 31, 2016 The Honorable Steven T. James The Honorable William F. Welch Clerk of the House of Representatives Clerk of the Senate The Honorable Brian Dempsey The Honorable Karen Spilka Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means Chair, Senate Committee on Ways and Means The Honorable Eileen Donoghue The Honorable Joseph F. Wagner Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies The Honorable Cory Atkins The Honorable Eric P. Lesser Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council are pleased to submit the ninth annual report on activities of the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, as required by Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2006, An Act Relative to Economic Investments in the Commonwealth to Promote Job Creation, Economic Stability, and Competitiveness in the Massachusetts Economy. This report presents the Fund’s financial statements and chronicles Cultural Facilities Fund grants as of June 30, 2016. In 2016, we were pleased to announce $9.3 million in grants awarded to 91 cultural organizations across the Commonwealth. This latest round of grants comes from a $50 million bond authorization approved by the Legislature. These new grants provide continuing support for the state’s creative economy. In a comprehensive survey conducted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2016, Cultural Facilities Fund grantees reported: • 27.4 million visitors. Of these, 36 percent traveled more than 50 miles.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2012
    Dear Friends and Supporters, As the new stewards of the EcoTarium, we are delighted to have come on board at a time when the museum is steaming ahead to become a community leader Todd Brodeur and Joe Cox and informal educational resource in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). The year 2012 saw us moving forward in so many ways: Working as one of three sites on a cutting-edge National Science About the EcoTarium: A Few Fun Facts Foundation grant that adds Art to the STEM mix, exploring how to spark creativity in science education and develop an innovative 21st Century In 2012 the EcoTarium welcomed 140,582 guests, a 10% increase in visitation STEM workforce – a role that resulted in the EcoTarium receiving the since 2011, and a thrilling 25% increase since 2005 Massachusetts Cultural Council’s 2013 Commonwealth Award for Art / Science Collaboration. As one of Central Massachusetts’ leading informal educational resources, the EcoTarium welcomed 24,398 people visiting as part of an educational group Designing new exhibits and programs with assistance from some of our region’s most exciting and inventive companies, researchers, and experts 2012 saw memberships to the EcoTarium increase for the 12th year in a row that will help our museum guests understand and interact with today’s fast-moving world Kudos: 2012 saw the EcoTarium once again named the “Best Place to Take Kids” in Worcester Living Magazine! Teaming up with Hanover Insurance Group Foundation to present The Hanover Matching Gift Program that will help us complete Phase One of our Third Century capital campaign Partnering with our community to increase accessibility to the museum, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the EcoTarium as A Conductor Extraordinaire part of our Special Community Outreach Programs of the EcoTarium (SCOPE) Eight years after joining the EcoTarium as Interim President, Stephen Pitcher stepped down as President in September 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Ocn748592652-2015.Pdf (391.7Kb)
    2015 Cultural Facilities Fund Annual Report December 31, 2015 MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council are pleased to submit the eighth annual report on activities of the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, as required by Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2006, An Act Relative to Economic Investments in the Commonwealth to Promote Job Creation, Economic Stability, and Competitiveness in the Massachusetts Economy. This report presents the Fund’s financial statements and chronicles Cultural Facilities Fund grants as of June 30, 2015. In 2015, we were pleased to announce $13.7 million in grants awarded to 74 cultural organizations across the Commonwealth. This latest round of grants comes from a $50 million bond authorization approved by the Legislature. These new grants provide continuing support for the state’s creative economy. In a comprehensive survey conducted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2015, Cultural Facilities Fund grantees reported: l 28.2 million visitors. Of these, 34 percent traveled more than 50 miles. l More than 8,170 full-time jobs and $372 million in wages and salaries. l 21,472 architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers employed on Cultural Facilities Fund projects. l 1,958 new permanent jobs projected in Massachusetts as a result of Cultural Facilities Fund projects. The survey also identified construction projects currently in the planning stages. In total, 133 cultural organizations reported plans to proceed with $606 million in capital projects over the next two to three years. We thank you for entrusting MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council with this landmark program. Together we pledge our continued commitment to making the Cultural Facilities Fund a cultural and economic development program that truly works for Massachusetts.
    [Show full text]
  • Growing Season
    Growing Season Community Roots, National Reach Dear Friends and Supporters, About the EcoTarium: A Few Fun Facts It’s Growing Season at the EcoTarium! In 2013 the EcoTarium welcomed 143,376 guests, the highest attendance in recent history Nearly 190 years old, the EcoTarium has strong historic roots in our community. Established by local natural history buffs six years before Darwin famously sailed As our region’s foremost informal education innovator for science and nature, off to the Galapagos Islands, the museum has seen many changes over the years: the EcoTarium welcomed 24,540 people visiting as part of an educational group in name, location, exhibits, and how we understand the world. What has remained constant is our focus on science and nature, our passion for education, and our In 2013, EcoTarium memberships totaled 2,237 connection to our community. If those pioneers of 1825 visited the museum today, we think they would still recognize the essential character of the EcoTarium and Over 6,500 EcoTarium fans are now following us on Facebook. endorse all that we seek to accomplish as exemplified by our mission: to inspire a Check us out on Pinterest and Instagram too! passion for science and nature. Kudos In recognition of the EcoTarium’s historic roots, our Board of Trustees recently approved a new four-year Strategic Plan, calling for the museum’s continuing In February the EcoTarium received the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s 2013 commitment as an essential community resource. We remain invested in Award for Art / Science Collaboration
    [Show full text]
  • Biographical Summaries of Nominees for Ywca Board of Directors
    BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARIES OF NOMINEES FOR YWCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS The following individuals are nominated to serve their first three-year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA Central Massachusetts: Lori Dawson, Ph.D. Dr. Lori Dawson is a Professor of Psychology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Worcester State University, where she has also served as the Interim Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs; Interim Associate Vice-President for Institutional Assessment and Planning; and as the Inaugural Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her scholarly work focuses on interpersonal violence; gender and sexuality; and prejudice and discrimination. Her work in institutional assessment led her to become a national Teagle Assessment Scholar and Association of American College & Universities Fellow. These professional experiences, combined with her passion for social justice, led her to become the Director of Evaluation at the Collaborative for Youth and Community Justice. She is currently the co-chair of the YWCA’s Domestic Violence Services Committee and a member of Nominating and Governance Committee. Previous volunteer work includes work as a rape crisis counselor, an Our Whole Lives youth sexuality educator, a town council member, and a YWCA board member where she served on its Racial and Gender Equity Task Force and Public Policy committees. Natalie Anumba, Ph.D. Dr. Natalie Anumba is a forensic psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She conducts evaluations of adults involved in criminal proceedings, serves as a violence risk consultant to state psychiatric hospitals, provides expert witness testimony, and supervises postdoctoral trainees and new professionals.
    [Show full text]
  • Engaging the Visitor with Digital Technology in the Arms and Armor Collection
    ENGAGING THE VISITOR WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE ARMS AND ARMOR COLLECTION Submitted by: Ian Converse Patrick Long James O’Hara Anthony Ratte Julia Szemiot Project Advisors: Corey Dehner Laura Roberts Project Sponsor: Jeffrey Forgeng Worcester Art Museum May 2, 2016 This report represents the work of WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review. For more information about the projects program at WPI, please see http://www.wpi.edu/academics/ugradstudies/project-learning.html ABSTRACT The Worcester Art Museum is seeking to incorporate the Higgins Armory collection into its galleries and simultaneously increase visitor engagement by implementing technologies appropriate to the exhibit and target audience. In addition to developing an iPad implementation, our project provided recommendations for accomplishing this in the Meyer Idea Lab and the Medieval Gallery. To accomplish our goal, we visited museums with interactive exhibit designs, interviewed museum staff, observed visitors, and surveyed visitor responses to the available media. Our project culminated with a promotional video on arms and armor, the informational iPad implementation, analysis of visitor survey data, and recommendations for future exhibits at the Worcester Art Museum. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following for their contributions to our project: Worcester Polytechnic Institute Harvard Museums of Science and
    [Show full text]
  • For Immediate Release
    CONTACT: Matthew Shakespeare, Executive Vice President for External Affairs American Antiquarian Society (508) 471-2162 (direct) | (310) 488-3991 (cell) | [email protected] October 2, 2015 Myles & C. Jean McDonough Foundation Announces More than $15 Million in Commitments to Seven Leading Cultural Institutions in Worcester and Central Massachusetts WORCESTER, MASS. — The McDonough family, on behalf of the Myles & C. Jean McDonough Foundation, is pleased to announce $15.25 million in commitments to seven leading cultural institutions in Worcester and central Massachusetts. In a sweeping philanthropic act that will have profound and lasting benefits to Worcester and surrounding communities, the commitment will be used to support initiatives at the American Antiquarian Society, EcoTarium, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Music Worcester, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Worcester Art Museum, and Worcester Historical Museum. C. Jean McDonough and her late husband Myles, founder of Spencer, Mass. manufacturer FLEXcon, have shown their passion for these seven institutions for decades, through philanthropic generosity and direct involvement. “These extraordinary institutions have long been a part of the cultural heart of central Massachusetts. We felt the time was right to present each with a gift to show our continued adoration of the role each plays in our community, with the desire to support their initiatives for years to come,” said C. Jean McDonough. “Worcester takes great pride in our cultural institutions and in the city’s support of all things creative and historic. These organizations are the lifeblood of the heart of the Commonwealth,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “This gift is perhaps the biggest to the Worcester cultural community this century, if not of all time.
    [Show full text]