O.e 927 C,unt-t M i/O,5 Expansion of a New England Museum: The Martha's Vineyard Historical Society at a Crossroads An Interactive Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By Michael Whiteman Date: October 15th, 2003 Approved: Project Number: WTM-MV03 Professor Weslef T. Mott, Advisor Abstract New collections constantly being acquired by the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society have created the pressing need for a new facility. The project team conducted a benchmarking exercise to compare them with other area facilities. Both to help the museum and to become familiar with their operation, a prospective maritime collection was inventoried and assessed, and an existing collection for mentally challenged children was bolstered. Data from all three activities were the basis of recommendations to the MVHS regarding their operations and relocation. 1 Acknowledgements Adam, James and Mike would like to extend thanks to the following people: Matthew Stackpole, MVHS Executive Director Arthur E. Flathers, MVHS Board member and former GE executive Jill Bouck, MVHS Curator Linsey Lee, MVHS Curator of Oral History Maria Van Vreede, MVHS Curatorial Intern The Rest of the MVHS Staff Professor Wesley T. Mott Mrs. Linda Sibley and Vineyard Electronics A special thanks goes out to our parents. Without them, this wouldn't have been possible. James, Mike, Adam ii Authorship Page Abstract James Glavin, Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman Acknowledgements James Glavin Authorship Page James Glavin M.V. Historical Society at a Crossroads Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman Goals Adam Chandler, James Glavin Benchmarking Survey Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman Proposed Baseline Benchmarking Data Mike Whiteman Seamen's Bethel Collection James Glavin, Adam Chandler Camp Jabberwocky Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman Results Mike Whiteman, Adam Chandler, James Glavin Bibliography Adam Chandler, James Glavin Appendices James Glavin, Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman Jabberwocky Transcripts Adam Chandler, Mike Whiteman iii Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgements ii Authorship Page iii 1. The M.V. Historical Society At a Crossroads 1 1.1. Humble Beginnings 2 1.2. The Martha's Vineyard Historical Society 3 1.3. Factors affecting Relocation 4 2. Goals 6 2.1. Society Goals 6 2.2. Project Goals 7 3. Benchmarking Survey 9 3.1. Defining Characteristics 9 3.2. Comparable Museums of the Cape 11 3.2.1. Nantucket Historical Association 11 3.2.2. New Bedford Whaling Museum 12 3.3. Returned Survey Analysis 13 3.3.1. Falmouth Historical Society 13 3.3.2. Adirondack Museum 14 4. Proposed Baseline Benchmarking Data 16 4.1. Mailing and Logistics Issues 16 4.2. Operating Budgets and Museum Size 16 4.3. Programs Offered 17 4.4. Published Materials 18 4.5. Projects Undertaken 19 4.6. Collection Size 19 4.7. Attendance 21 4.8. Facilities 23 5. Seamen's Bethel Collection 25 5.1. Understanding Inventory 26 5.2. The Inventory Process 27 5.3. Conditions 28 5.4. Comparing Inventories 31 6. Camp Jabberwocky 33 6.1. Efforts to Keep History Alive 34 6.2. Building an Island Escape 35 6.3. Group Involvement 38 7. Results 40 7.1. Survey of Comparable Museums 40 7.2. Seamen's Bethel Inventory 41 7.3. Camp Jabberwocky Summary 42 7.4. Recommendations 43 7.4.1. Our Recommendations 43 7.4.2. Future IQP Recommendations 44 7.5. Technology/Society Discussion 45 iv Bibliography 47 Appendices 48 Appendix A: Survey Template Sent to Selected New England Museums 49 Appendix B: Survey Results 55 Appendix C: Museum Culture, According to Arthur E. Flathers 76 Appendix D: Inventory of Seamen's Bethel Collection 115 Appendix E: Selected Pictures of Seamen's Bethel Collection 122 Appendix F: Previous (1996) Inventory of Seamen's Bethel Collection 126 Appendix G: Inventory Discrepancies 132 Appendix H: Jabberwocky Transcripts 134 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/19/96 1 of 3 135 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/19/96 2 of 3 137 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/19/96 3 of 3 139 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/25/96 1 of 2 143 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/25/96 2 of 2 148 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/2/97 153 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/19/97 1 of 2 156 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/19/97 2 of 2 158 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/24/97 160 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/9/01 - 1 of 2 163 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/9/01 - 2 of 2 166 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript 7/23/01 170 Camp Jabberwocky Transcript — Summer 2001 178 Appendix I: Jabberwocky Display Pieces 181 Appendix J: Jabberwocky Display Pictures 198 Appendix K: Selected Tables From Museums USA: A Survey Report 202 v 1. The M.V. Historical Society At a Crossroads The Martha's Vineyard Historical Society is faced with an opportunity, which has forced them to make the important decision to move to a new location. Recently, a tract of land became available to the Society for development of a new facility. At this time, the Historical Society finds itself with no more available storage or exhibit space in the current facility. Before the move takes place, many details must be examined such as accessibility, cost, projected attendance, and other concerns. In an attempt to make the move as smooth as possible, the Historical Society wishes to compare itself with many other historical societies, museums, and organizations in New England. By gathering responses from a prepared survey sent to these other historical institutions, the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society will be able to best prepare themselves for the move and reorganization within the museum. The efforts undertaken to provide the MHVS with a more prepared plan before the move includes three separate projects. The first of these projects is to transfer the oral histories of camp Jabberwocky sponsored by the MVHS, from audio cassettes to a longer lasting and easier stored media. The results of this project will make it easier to distribute this information to interested visitors and will also alleviate the currently limited storage space. The second project is to inventory a new collection in an effort to solidify the transaction between the MVHS and Sail Martha's Vineyard. By inventorying this collection, the MVHS hopes to instill confidence in Sail Martha's Vineyard that the MVHS is prepared to care for such an extensive collection. Lastly to prepare the MVHS for future undertakings, a benchmarking survey will compare the MVHS with its surrounding institutions. These efforts will give the MVHS a better idea as to where they need improvement before they undertake their proposed move to a new location. 1 1.1. Humble Beginnings Martha's Vineyard, an island of barely more than one hundred square miles, which is separated from the mainland by only a seven mile stretch of water, has drawn visitors and interest from the shore since before it had even become an isolated chunk of glacial moraine. Early Native Americans used land bridges to move across to the island in search of better hunting and fishing territories. By the arrival of Europeans the value of the land had only grown. Settlers, whalers, and traders realized the economic and logistic significance of an island centrally located with respect to the growing colonies of the New England shores. These colonies, which were the oldest of the original Thirteen Colonies, were later made into states and are now part of America. For the nearly four hundred years since the Europeans' arrival, the island has continued to evolve and grow as its role for New England has changed. As a base for water transportation, the main means of shipping and travel until the 20t h century, the island served as a cog for the flourishing colonies. Indeed it was once the breadbasket of New England, providing grain for the growing seaside colonies. With the advent of whaling, the first global industry, it again served a key role as a base of operations. Until 1900, the Martha's Vineyard Sound was one of the busiest sea-lanes in the world, aside from the English Channel (Arthur E. Flathers, 6/18). Today, over a million people each year travel across the Vineyard Sound on ferries to the island, whose population swells to over 100, 000 in the peak of the summer season. Over the years, the growth and development of the Island accumulated to transform it from a sparse, open farming community known best as the "Breadbasket of New England" to the bustling resort and cultural epicenter it has become today. 2 1.2. The Martha's Vineyard Historical Society In 1922, a group of individuals set out to maintain the growing collection of artifacts from around the island and consequently, the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society was founded. Only a year later with its incorporation, it became the main private, nonprofit group dedicated to preserving and sharing the Island's history. Their goal of preserving the memories, observations, and traditions of island life has been mostly manned by volunteers for these many years. Currently the collection stands at some 25, 000 artifacts, housed at the central site amidst the maze-like one-way streets of Edgartown. Of the ten buildings there, the 18t h century Thomas Cooke House erected in 1720, and the Huntington Reference Library, which alone houses some 10, 000 volumes, have stood for well over a century (MVHS Brochure, 2002). Along with the books and exhibits, the Society houses the Vineyard Oral History Center, which includes some 300 interviews with native Islanders, and the Dukes County Intelligencer, published quarterly since 1959. Aside from the Edgartown campus, the Society maintains three lighthouses in Gay Head, East Chop, and Edgartown.