VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL 2 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL VOLUME 7 20162014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL 3 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL The University Museums and Collections Journal (UMACJ) is a peer-reviewed, on-line journal for the proceedings of the International Committee for University Museums and Collections (UMAC), a Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Editors Nathalie Nyst Réseau des Musées de l’ULB Université Libre de Bruxelles – CP 103 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50 1050 Brussels Belgium Barbara Rothermel Daura Gallery - Lynchburg College 1501 Lakeside Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501 - USA Peter Stanbury Australian Society of Anaesthetis Suite 603, Eastpoint Tower 180 Ocean Street Edgecliff, NSW 2027 Australia Copyright © International ICOM Committee for University Museums and Collections http://umac.icom.museum ISSN 2071-7229 Each paper reflects the author’s view. 4 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL Basket porcelain with truss imitating natural fibers, belonged to a family in São Paulo, c. 1960 - Photograph José Rosael – Collection of the Museu Paulista da Universidade de São Paulo/Brazil Napkin holder in the shape of typical women from Bahia, painted wood, 1950 – Photograph José Rosael Collection of the Museu Paulista da Universidade de São Paulo/Brazil Since 1990, the Paulista Museum of the University of São Paulo has strived to form collections from the research lines derived from the history of material culture of the Brazilian society. This focus seeks to understand the material dimension of social life to define the particularities of objects in the viability of social and symbolic practices. The objective of one of the fronts in the research line “Quotidian and Society” is to develop historical issues related to domestic space. One of the guiding questions in the collections formation concerns the constitution of feminine identity associated with the simultaneous production in the domestic space. For the past five years, hundreds of objects have been collected in the light of these ques- tions, among them are the two items on the cover of UMAC Journal volume 7. The painted wood napkin holder used in 20th century has the shape of a woman peddler, a constant character in many Brazilian regions, but one that across time has been typified as a baiana – a feminine character from the northeastern state of Bahia, Brazil. The baiana is associated with the tra- ditional chore of selling fresh and prepared foods by Afro-descendants, both slaves and free citizens, throughout 18th and 19th centuries. In 1998, this practice became a registered profession and, in 2012, intangible heritage. The baiana’s typical dress is completed when the white paper napkins are placed in the holder. The porcelain bowl that imitates the weaving of organic fibers is a constant decoration piece in 19th century interior design until the end of the 20th century. The technique was developed to foster the nostalgia for a pre-industrial era, which the bourgeois home constantly references in trying to place itself as a refuge against the anonymous crowds, mechanical work and buzz of urban societies. Vânia Carneiro de Carvalho Curator Interior design objects collection at the Paulista Museum of the University of São Paulo, Brazil 5 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL Evaluating change The University Museum Proceedings of the 13th Conference of the International Committee of ICOM for University Museums and Collections (UMAC) Rio de Janeiro, 10–17th August 2013 6 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL Table of Contents 1. Evaluating change - The University Museum Proceedings of the 13th Conference of the International Committee of ICOM for University Museums and Collections (UMAC) – Rio de Janeiro, 10–17th August 2013 De Carvalho, Vânia Carneiro: Interior Objects collection in a history museum: Shifting from donations to research-based acquisi- tions Corradini, Elena; Campanella, Luigi: A national project for the Italian University Museums network Hammond, Gina; Simpson, Andrew: University museum spaces, soft power and cross-cultural communication Nelson, Christopher G.: Digitisation, 3D printing and the future of museum space Scholten, Steph: Nothing ever changes, really Marcelino, Louise Anne D.: A Tale of Two Collections Nizio, Thomas F.S.; Orlandi Meira, Ingrid; Sand França, George: New museology and museum education at the University of Brasília’s Seismologic Display Maza, Maria del Carmen; Weisinger Cordero, Graciela; del Carril, Tomás: University museums diagnosis by fuzzy logic Mkrtchyan, Marine: The revitalization of museums of University History in the Republic of Armenia Rico Mansard, Luisa Fernanda: New scenarios to evaluate changes in university museums 7 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL 2. Positioning academic heritage. Challenges for universities, museums and society in the 21st Century - Ghent, 17-20th November 2013 Segers, Danny; Dedobbeleer, Willem: Positioning academic heritage: Challenges for universities, museums and society in the 21st Century Curtis, Neil: Challenging collections: The public engagement role of the University of Aberdeen’s Museums Mourits, Monique: Academic heritage and science communication Gesché-Koning, Nicole: Communicating scientific information to the general public Schramme, Annick; Debruyne, Laila: Quality management for cultural heritage organizations from a European perspective. The case of Flanders Gryseels, Guido: The renovation of the Royal Museum for Central Africa Curtis, Neil; Dedobbeleer, Willem; Gesché-Koning, Nicole; Kremer, Richard; Springuel, Myriam: Conclusion of the Parallel Discussion Groups. Recommendations for the future of university museums and collections in the 21st Century 8 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL 1. Evaluating change - The University Museum Proceedings of the 13th Conference of the International Committee of ICOM for University Museums and Collections (UMAC) – Rio de Janeiro, 10–17th August 2013 9 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL Interior objects collection in a history museum: Shifting from donations to research-based acquisitions Vânia Carneiro de Carvalho Abstract Ever since it was established in 1890, the Museu Paulista has been building up a collection of household objects through donations from affluent families whose names echo through the political and economic history of São Paulo, Brazil. The outcome of this spontaneous donation process was the formation of a collection that accurately portrays local urban elites. However, from 1989 onwards, the absorption of methodologies and themes derived from studies of material culture in order to interpret historiographic issues has allowed this Museum to reshape the social profiles of its collec- tions. This paper explains how an exhibition project grounded on these new parameters altered the profile of its interior objects collection. The purpose of this exhibition project is to revitalize one of the three permanent exhibition galleries at this Museum, which will re-open on completion of the restora- tion of its XIX century building. The changes in this collection were possible because this exhibition features historical objects that are the raw materials of the research project in question. Historical exhibitions need not be only a means of presenting research projects conducted previously, as this specific characteristic allows research activities and displays to provide mutual feed- back, thus prompting a return to other field surveys and issues addressed through research. This two-way relationship between research and display allowed the interior objects collection built up by the Museu Paulista to be extended and diversified significantly in terms of its social representativity, effectively implementing an acquisitions policy associated with research for this segment of the collections housed by this Museum. 10 — VOLUME 7 2014 UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS JOURNAL Back to basics The existence of an acquisitions policy associated with research in a university museum seems to be a basic pre-requisite. For the Museu Paulista – today specializing in the history of Brazilian soci- ety, and part of the University of São Paulo – the implementation of an acquisitions policy was a complex and difficult process, with many stumbling blocks. Initially, because this Museum has kept alive its role as a Memorial to Brazil’s Independence from Portuguese colonial rule. As such, part of its museographic configuration (which was originally established during the first two decades of the XX century) offers its visitors messages with powerful ideological content. Second, because three-di- mensional documentation is still today relegated to the background in Brazilian historiography. Finally, because squabbles among vested interests within the vast teaching body of the university delayed the effective transformation of this Museum into a showcase for the History of Brazil. Such broad-ranging issues will be merely outlined here, in order to ensure an adequate understanding of the changes introduced by research projects to a single segment of the Museum’s permanent collections: its interior objects collection. The transformations presented here arose from the lengthy implementation process of an acquisitions policy grounded on lines of research introduced at this Museum