The Wilson Museum’S 100Th Year; This Exhibit Will Be Located in the Center of the Museum’S Main Hall
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Wilson Museum COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE — Minutes January 19, 2021 — Zoom Meeting Attending: Trustee/Chair Marianne Buchanan; Trustees Temple Blackwood, Kay Hightower; Community Member Jeanmarie Reed; Collections Manager/Curator Abby Dunham; Administrative Assistant Heather Rose Martinez; and Executive Director Patricia Hutchins. Strategic Plan Prior to the meeting, a version of the Museum’s Strategic Plan focusing on Collections related activities and updated to the current year (year five) was shared with the Committee. Responding to questions regarding the videos: the cost was around $3,000; the second video is focused more on the family; and, currently, the first video is used in the Museum Gallery for visitors. Deaccessioning The staff brought forward some textiles from the Collection and recommended deaccession. These materials had been reviewed by textile conservator Lynne Z. Basset about 10 years ago, at which time her recommendation was to deaccession. The pieces are in poor shape and similar items exist in better condition and with fuller histories in the Collection. The items under consideration: w00992 (dress with separate skirt and bodice), w01015 (skirt), w01172 (piece of lace), w01195 (collar), w01220 (sleeve), w01235 (13 small pieces of lace fragments), w01239 (collar). Kay Hightower moved to take this recommendation for deaccessioning to the Board; Marianne Buchanan seconded; unanimous. There was further discussion on what to do with these items if deaccessioned. General consensus was to offer any part of it to the Museum’s Education Collection if interested and consider options for donating or disposal; it was agreed that any possible donation options should not be time-intensive for the staff. Staff shared that along with this material there were two nautical flags that Basset had recommended for deaccessioning, but due to the Museum’s recent focus on maritime materials, the flags have renewed relevance for exhibit and program potential. Recent Gifts Gifts to the Collection since our last meeting are: Powell – WWII letters from G.B. Sabine to his Aunt Dorothy (Blake) of Castine, also related military service documents and photographs Offered gifts that are awaiting signed Deeds or determination on whether to accept into Collection: Powell – service medals of G.B. Sabine (see above) Vandiver – fishing weir from Penobscot Tumblin – spinnaker whisker pole Hutchins – Wilson Family related objects Sebelist – local history archival and object materials Staff also made the determination to decline accepting offers of a skiff built in 1995 and a door and bench that has an association with the Museum’s hot-air pumping engine. Exhibits Two new summer exhibits are planned for the 2021 season. One will be focused on the Wilson Family in recognition of the Wilson Museum’s 100th year; this exhibit will be located in the center of the Museum’s main hall. The other exhibit will be on the Bowdoin in honor of its 100th and as part of our joint celebrations this year. Captain Will Mclean will be lead on this, involving students in the exhibit creation; Abby and Haley will coordinate and assist. Kay mentioned that she has some materials related to the Bowdoin that may be of interest and suggested she be contacted when developing the exhibit. Volunteers The Committee was updated on the continuing work by the volunteers working with the Mark Honey archival material. Through the year 2020 one of the volunteers devoted over 200 hours to this project. There was also an update on Mark Honey’s health status and how much it means to him that we are housing his materials and facilitating this work. Object Numbering This winter Abby and Jocelyn are both putting a significant amount of time into labeling objects directly with their accession numbers. Abby is working on the artifacts in the Perkins House and Jocelyn those in the Blacksmith Shop. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Collections Committee is Tuesday, March 30 (2:00 p.m.). Respectfully submitted, Marianne Buchanan, Chair .