iSCHOOL EVENT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: INTERPRETIVE PLANNING PANEL

BY: ANYA BAKER

Last Thursday, November 20, the Faculty of Information was host to a wonderful panel of speakers, presenting various approaches to interpretive planning, and a large crowd of museum professionals, academics, Museum Studies students, and other interested parties. It was a great evening. There were cookies the size of your hand.

The panel, organized by Professor Irina Mihalache and Andrea Ott, was called "Reflections on Contemporary Practices in Interpretive Planning"and included speakers Maria Piacente from Lord Cultural Resources, Judith Koke from the Art Gallery of Ontario, Katherine Molineux from Lord Cultural Resources, and Courtney Murfin from the Royal Ontario Museum. The event was moderated by Prof. Mihalache.

Prof. Irina Mihalache, Maria Piacente, Katherine Molineux, Courtney Murfin, and Judith Koke.
Photo credit: Anya Baker

Getting a peak at someone else's work process--how they work around challenges and constraints, and how they bring their most creative ideas in to a coherent plan--is always a thrill, and the speakers that evening had some really interesting case studies to share. From Piacente's work with the Heritage Center and State Museum of North Dakota in developing a thematic exhibit of the state's history, to Koke's work at the Art Gallery of Ontario, to Molineux's involvement with the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, to Murfin's work developing the ROM's popular "Forbidden City" exhibit--these professionals had some great advice and opinions about the role of interpretive planning in the museum experience.

As the evening moved in to a question-and-answer period, the speakers were able to go into more detail about challenges in establishing intellectual pathways into exhibits that did not alienate too many audiences, tensions between museum departments, incorporating interpretive planning into smaller museums that have limited budgets and time, and the intersections between interpretive planning and other fields like museum education and visitor research.

I was able to speak to a few attendees about their thoughts on what was being presented about interpretive planning. One attendee was very interested in the tensions between different departments as interpretive planning becomes more prominent in museum environments; it certainly helped me to hear from both consultants and one-site staff about fitting into institutions unused to having a planner. It was also eye-opening to hear the speakers suggest interpretive planners can act as defacto project managers, given the depth of knowledge they have on the project and exhibit story as a whole, and the overlap the field has with so many other departments. I can see where tensions might develop as interpretive planning is making a space for itself in the museum, but it's also very exciting to see how far people are pushing the practice.

Karla Corrigan, from the Halton Region Museum was happy to have a chance to talk to people in the field and see what kind of interpretive plans were being developed and used; she thought it was nice to build resource sharing into the field, which I agree with completely. One of the speakers, Piacente, actually had a new resource available for sale: Manual of Museum Exhibitions, which she edited with Barry Lord. Corrigan also said that an event like this was a nice entry point for people interested in starting interpretive planning practices in their museums.

I had a hoot speaking to the ladies from the Lang Pioneer Village Museum: Julia Gregory, Audrey Caryi, Carol Hamilton, and Laurie Siblock. They said they had been instinctively implementing many of the practices suggested throughout the evening, but with an interesting twist. As a small museum dedicated to live historical interpretation, they changed the interpretive plan constantly. That is, according to season, time period represented, special events, theme weeks, and in keeping with any new information they developed through these interpretations or from research. They noted that as time passes, visitors get further and further away from the time period and practices represented in the museum; what would seem at least familiar to a visitor fifty years ago needs a much more in-depth interpretation for a visitor today. They see the need to interpret continuously, providing as many intellectual pathways into the exhibit as the day requires.

I'll be thinking about this panel for a while, and I'll surely be drawing on what I learned from the speakers and attendees in any future interpretive planning I do.


Note: Because they really were so good, I have to mention the cookies again; they were from Almond Butterfly Gluten-Free Bakery on Harbord Street, which is becoming the Museum Studies' favourite bakery. Coffee was from the Innis Cafe, which I feel most Museum Studies people already know about because it's right across the street from the Bissell building and everyone goes there for lunch.

FIVE BEST CANADA: A PEOPLE'S HISTORY EPISODES

THROWBACK THURSDAY

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

When I think back to my schoolroom Canadian history education two things come to mind, the Canada Revisited textbook series and the CBC’S television documentary series Canada: A People’s History. If you were not a student of the television series, I highly suggest that you watch one or two episodes over the holidays. If you are familiar with the series, I also suggest that you watch a couple over the holidays. The experience will allow you to both relax and brush up on your Canadian history.

                                                               The iconic theme song of the series

The CBC created the 17-episode television series over the period of October 2000 to November 2001. The series ambitiously covers the large span of Canadian history from 15,000 BC to the 1990s. The episodes are fairly lengthy, ranging from just over an hour to just under two hours. The series tells the story of Canadian history through the voice of a narrator and the onscreen reenactment of historic places, events, and people. 

The series provides a rather impressive overview of Canadian history, despite the fact that it covers such a large length of time in approximately 32 hours. It is not surprising that not every single historic event is mentioned and not every event is portrayed as accurately as some may believe it to have happened. Nonetheless, Canada: A People’s History supplied me with a great base knowledge of Canadian history and inspired me to continue to learn about it.

What follows is my personal ranking of five Canada: A People’s History episodes (listed chronologically). 

#1 Episode 2: Adventurers and Mystics (1540-1670)
This episode highlights the travels of Samuel de Champlain, the beginnings of New France, European interaction with Aboriginal peoples through the fur trade and Jesuit missionaries, and Louis XIV’s ‘filles du roi’ population solution. 

Les filles du Roi
https://ancestryquebec.wordpress.com/category/filles-du-roi/

#2 Episode 5: A Question of Loyalties (1775-1815)
This episode covers the province of Quebec’s choice to not become involved in the American Revolution, the migration of Loyalists to Canada, and the War of 1812. This episode was a particular favourite because of the many actor portrayals of historic figures such as Isaac Brock and Tecumseh.  

Death of Sir Isaac Brock, Battle of Queenston Heights (1812) Painting by John David
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-queenston-heights/

#3 Episode 9: From Sea to Sea (1867-1873)
This episode features the finalizing of Confederation, the beginning plans for the transcontinental railway, and the appearance of Louis Riel with the Red River Rebellion.

Louis Riel
http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP10CH4PA2LE.html

#4 Episode 12: Ordeal by Fire (1915-1929)

This episode focuses on Canada’s role and courage in WWI through trench warfare and battles such as Ypres and Vimy Ridge. Oddly the episode does not end with peace but continues to highlight  events after the war, including labour unrest in Winnipeg and the Great Depression. 

Second Battle of Ypres (1915) Painting by Richard Jack
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-ypres/

#5 Episode 16: Years of Hope of Anger (1964-1976)
Many would probably argue that the WWII episode is the natural choice for a top five ranking, but I disagree. While I did enjoy the WWII episode, I found the episode documenting the 60s and 70s to be more engaging. This episode highlights the adoption of the Canadian flag (that we still use today), Expo’ 67, the cry for Quebec sovereignty, the FLQ Crisis, and the onset of Trudeaumania.

Expo' 67, Montreal
http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_montreal_overview_p1.html

Did you watch this series? What episodes stuck out for you? If you didn't watch the series, what do you remember about your Canadian history education?

WHAT'S HAPPENING WEDNESDAYS

BY: CAMERON CRAWLEY

T'is the season Musings readers! And by that I mean t'is the season for perilously close deadlines, unceasing cold, and the relentless assault on our ears that is festive-themed music. With these horrors in mind, please see below for some stress relievers in the upcoming week!

First up is the Mix with Museum Masters event happening Wednesday November 26th (that's today!). The event will allow you to mix with MMSt alumni and current students, as well as blow off some steam. Now for the next sentence, I want to make sure you are sitting down because I am about to utter the sweetest words in any language; the event includes free food and one beverage of your choosing (followed by a cash bar.)

This is the face you should be making when informed there is free food at an event.
Source: http://www.tiff.net/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/stanley-kubrick/about

It is open to both first and second year MMSt students and will be hosted at the Elephant & Castle pub at 212 King Street West between 6-9 p.m. Between 8-9 p.m. the event organisers have also rustled up some $12 tickets to get a tour of the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. You can register for the event here.

In the interest of keeping you relaxed throughout the week, the AGO has an event that might be of interest. On Friday the 28th the AGO will be screening four movies in Jackman Hall. First is Sarah Polley's Stories We Tell at 2 p.m., followed by Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom (Bill Murray is in this movie, what a surprise...) at 4:30.

Basically I want you to be as relaxed as Bill Murray is in this picture. Or as relaxed as the three children are, especially considering they are being confronted by a shirtless man with an axe and a bottle of wine. Either level of relaxation is acceptable.
Source: http://www.virginmedia.com/images/billmurray-moonrisekingdom-590x350.jpg

If these movies don't have enough themes of melancholy and horror for your taste, then you can wait until 6:30 for the Coen brother's No Country for Old Men, or Stanley Kubrick's The Shining at 9. Tickets cost $10 for members, $12 for students, and $8 for students. Further information about the screenings can be found here.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the poster session run by the students of the iSchool's Curating Science class, occurring next Wednesday, December 3rd (especially since my editor is presenting on that day, gotta keep the boss happy!). The session runs between 6:30-9:30 on the 7th floor of the Bissell building and features the work of the students from throughout the year. Each project is like a miniature museum exhibit, and I can speak from experience that the students put in a lot of work, and would appreciate the support for their informative and entertaining projects.

So dear readers, I wish you the best of luck in the coming weeks. Stay strong, and don't let work get the best of you! See you next time!

A VICTORIAN CHIRSTMAS

BY: KATIE WILSON

It is officially one month until Christmas and to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season I decided to investigate how Torontonians would be celebrating this time of the year, in the 19^th century. Fortunately for me the City of Toronto’s Historical Sites all have special programming ongoing to January 4. I stopped by Mackenzie House, residence of former Toronto Mayor and infamous rebel William Lyon Mackenzie, for some Scottish Christmas Flair.

Mackenzie House Gift Shop: Gifts for the Rebel in Everyone 

Due to the cultural diversity of Toronto in the 1800s, there was no single traditional style of holiday celebration. The Scottish Presbyterian Church, discouraged the boisterous celebration is the holidays, associating it with the Roman Catholic Church. The staff at Mackenzie House believes that the Mackenzie family probably celebrated Christmas quietly, perhaps enjoying a family meal and exchanging a few small gifts. Therefore the decorations, objects, and food on display at Mackenzie House for the holiday season are meant to be representative of a more traditional Victorian celebration, although not one the Mackenzie’s would have necessarily participated in.

Victorian homes were decorated for Christmas, especially when guests were expected. The rarely used parlour and dining room were dressed up to receive guests and Mackenzie House has captured this feeling.

The custom of decorating with cedar ropes dates back to pre-Christian
celebrations of the Winter Solstice. 

The practice of gift giving assumed greater importance during this time and Christmas became increasingly commercial. Homemade gifts such as lace handkerchiefs, socks and gloves were popular, as were store bought toys on display in the parlour at Mackenzie House. 

Gifts on display include a miniature china cabinet, a tea set,
a china doll, a pair of skates, a toy cannon and books. 

The meal was (and still is) arguably the most exciting part of Christmas day and Mackenzie House delivers on this front too. In the dining room, or back parlour, Christmas treats are laid out for guests to admire including Scottish shortbread, meat pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding, plum pudding, and candied orange peel. While these treats are for display only, in the basement kitchen guests will be offered cookies and cider from the wood stove. 

Food on the table includes Christmas Pudding, Fruit Cake, Assorted Fruit Tarts,
Scottish Shortbread, and Turkish Delight

Oranges were rare in 19th century Toronto and candied orange peel
would have been a special Christmas treat.

Finally, Mackenzie House also makes use of their fully operational printing press and guests are encouraged to print their own souvenir Christmas Card to take with them. The custom of sending Christmas Cards gained popularity in England throughout the 1840s and continues to be popular today.

It’s always fun to take a step back in time, and what better time to visit than at a festive time of the year. Visit any of Toronto’s Historic Sights to experience the houses of Christmas Past (and hopefully not the ghosts).  

NOW IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING SWEET...

MUSEUM MONDAY

BY CADY MOYER

Remember reading Winnie the Pooh as a child, watching the tv shows or movies, or playing with Winnie the Pooh toys? Sweet nostalgia. Recently, the Pavillion Gallery Museum in Winnipeg won a bid for a new acquisition--the only existing oil painting of Winnie the Pooh by Ernest Howard Shepherd, the original artist for the books by A.A. Milne. The price tag for this painting? $243,000.

The oil painting of Winnie the Pooh by Ernest H. Shepherd, 1879-1976,
that was recently acquired by the Pavillion Gallery Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

When I came across this news story I found it particularly interesting for two reasons:

1) the exciting world of museum acquisitions!
2) it makes me think about who’s heritage does a story belong to.

The most obvious question to me is how a museum in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg came to be in the position of spending almost a quarter million dollars on an oil painting of Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh was written by a British author, A.A. Milne, who encountered Winnie the Bear at a zoo in London, England in 1927.

The story here seems to start in 2012 when the museum acquired a collection of 200 items of Winnie the Pooh paraphernalia through the efforts of an art dealer for Winnipeg, David Loch. The collection became the base for a new exhibit, The Pooh Gallery, as well as series of programs for children and families. The curator, Peter Heymans, spoke about how the collection could teach about this amazing history of a bear named after the city by the bear’s keeper--a veterinarian and World War I soldier from Winnipeg who bought the bear in Ontario on his way to training in Quebec and took it with him to England--that involved different parts of Canada, across the Atlantic, and eventually coming to include generations of people across the world.

Statue of Winnie the Bear with Lieutenant Harry Colebourn,
in the Nature Park beside the Pavillion Gallery Museum.

The story of how the museum acquired the painting is a little bit thrilling. The painting first came up for sale 14 years ago, and a group of Winnipeg citizens wanted to purchase it, and raised the funds through various efforts including the getting all levels of government involved. In pursuit of the artwork David Loch went took part in a Sotheby’s auction while on a trip to Toronto. The CBC commentary from the article mentioned above, paints a picture of the event: "[David Loch] made the winning bid over the phone while on a trip to Toronto. He was hooked up to Sotheby's as journalists hovered around him, waiting to find out if the painting would be heading to the Prairies." (Winnipeg outbids art lovers for painting, CBC, November 16, 2014).

As a museum enthusiast and student, this story of what a professional can get up to in their career, in the pursuit of telling a story inspires the imagination of what I could do during my own. This tale of Winnie the Pooh is not written by A.A. Milne obviously, but it is written by the community that strongly values this part of its heritage, and became a driving force for a relatively small museum to acquire a significant artwork.

This is only one story of an acquisition, but I know that readers of this blog probably have their own experiences with interacting with the intake of a new museum collection item. If you have a story about museum acquisitions that you would like to share, please post below!

ANDREW CARNEGIE: INDUSTRIALIST & PHILANTHROPIST

WALK OF FAME

BY: MALLORY HORRILL

Throughout my childhood, I regularly visited my hometown library. Second to the books I checked out at the library, the favourite part of my visits was the gorgeous architecture of the building. I grew up in a small town in the Niagara region of Ontario. The town is quaint, with the majority of the architecture being simple and dating between the mid twentieth century to the present. But the library was built in the early 1900s from the funds of American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/peopleevents/pande01.html

Carnegie came from a modest working family, which immigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1848 seeking a better chance at steady employment. Carnegie excelled in America, quickly rising through the ranks in industrial business. In 1901 Carnegie sold his business, Carnegie Steel Company, for $480 million (a deal that today is estimated as being valued at $310 billion). Carnegie is known as one of the builders of America and is still ranked as one of the top ten richest of all time.

After the sale of his company, Carnegie devoted the remainder of his life to family and philanthropy. The self-made millionaire donated $350 million to charities that focused on the advancement of learning, teaching, and technology. One of Carnegie’s main causes was the funding of library building. He built 2,509 libraries throughout his lifetime, 125 of which were built in Canada. Libraries were an important philanthropic cause because in the period access to the institutions was not free but through an annual subscription fee. Therefore the wealthy were primarily the ones that had access to library materials.

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/about-the-library/library-history/carnegie-riverdale.jsp

In spite of Carnegie’s significant philanthropic efforts, he should not be viewed entirely through rose-coloured glasses. The industrialist was not known for being the kindest to his workers; demanding long hours, paying low wages, and standing by his managers that locked out workers and intimidated strikers.

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Nr=p_cat_branch_name:Riverdale

Philanthropy is also not a trait that is unique to Andrew Carnegie, but actually has a long American history. These acts of humanitarianism are rooted in religion but were undertaken as a means to correct and ‘better’ society. This is similar to museums of the period that became more accessible to the general public with the goal of instilling good habits and refinement.

Only a handful of Carnegie’s libraries still serve as libraries today, for in present day we require larger facilities. However, the beautiful buildings are still used for community purposes such as the storing of local history. To this day when I pass by the Carnegie library in my hometown I think of a different world, a world that shaped what I know today. That past world was a place of developing industrialism, extreme poverty and wealth, and limited education. While I don’t entirely agree with Carnegie’s life choices, I acknowledge his actions within the period that he was living and applaud his beautiful libraries.

THE FOLLOWING SOURCES WERE CONSULTED:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/peopleevents/pande01.html
http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/pages/34_carnegie.aspx
http://www.history.com/topics/andrew-carnegie

INTERLOVE: A DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

RESEARCH COLUMN

BY: JENNIFER RODRIGUES

Annie, a Catholic, was teaching in Malaysia at an international school when she met Sunder, a practicing Hindu. Both of their families have embraced the fact that they are together in an interfaith relationship and are enjoying the opportunity to learn more about their differences. - Interlovepoject.com pic, November 7, 2014.

I am the project manager of a recently launched documentary photography project, INTERLOVE, founded by Canadian Photographer and creator of Cosmopolis Toronto, Colin Boyd Shafer.

The goal of the project is to show love is happening in complex situations here and Canada, and we aim to show this by photographing and sharing the stories of 100 interfaith couples across Canada. In order to achieve this goal we’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo. If we surpass our funding goal, we will produce a documentary about the project and an exhibition. You can read the first five moving love stories on our website.

Based on stories we’ve from heard friends, stories on the news, and what we’ve learnt through research, we have found that interfaith relationships is still very much difficult topic to discuss for many people and faith communities. In many countries around the world, it is not safe to have interfaith relationships, and in many the topic is not open for discussion.

It is this need to break down barriers and create a civil dialogue that nurtures and supports the social good that drives this project. We want to show how couples learn to celebrate and cherish their differences rather than squabble over them. We want create a critical dialogue about the complexities of interfaith relationships, while celebrating how people with differing beliefs come together in love in Canada.

Editor's Note: Jennifer Rodrigues is a second year MMSt student who graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Anthropology. In addition to INTERLOVE, she has also worked as the Sponsorship Coordinator for Cosmopolis Toronto. If you are a Museum Studies student engaged in research for a work, volunteer, or school project that you would like to share, please contact Robin Nelson.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WEDNESDAYS

BY: JENNIFER MAXWELL

Hello everyone! I hope that all is well with you this cold and windy Wednesday? For this upcoming week, I have decided to focus on events happening within the iSchool. All of the events listed here sound phenomenal and are sure to please. So keep warm, grab some coffee or tea, and enjoy your week. :-)

I. iSCHOOL COLLOQUIUM
Date: Thursday, November 20th
When: 12 - 1 pm
Where: Room 728, Bissell Building, 140 St.George St.
What: Please join fellow students for the second iSchool Colloquium of the year, entitled, Science in the Age of Social Media: How Radical Openness is Changing Climate Science, with guest lecturer Steve Easterbrook (Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto). Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no charge. Click here for more info.

II. REFLECTIONS ON CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES IN INTERPRETIVE PLANNING
Date: Thursday, November 20th
When: 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Where: Room 728, Bissell Building, 140 St.George St.
What: Everyone is invited to attend a panel of museum professionals and global leaders in interpretive planning who will present different contemporary approaches to interpretive planning in Canada. Speakers discuss case studies from three leading Canadian cultural institutions, and share best practices, successes and challenges developing interpretive strategies for exhibitions and museums. Click here for a complete list of speakers. Note: Space is limited so make sure to arrive early!

Source.

III. HERITAGE MINUTE MOVIE NIGHT
Date: Monday, November 24th
When: 7 - 11 pm
Where: Magic Lantern Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St.
What: Heritage Minutes are part of our shared heritage, and now there's an entire evening devoted to them! Come out to Heritage Minute Movie Night and watch all your favourites in one gloriously geeky Canadian history evening. See the event page for ticket info (link).

What is your favourite Minute? Source.

IV. TECH FUND SPEED DATING
Date: Tuesday, November 25th
When: 12 - 2 pm
Where: Inforum, Bissell Building, 140 St.George St.
What: Want to know more about awesome technology you can borrow? The Tech Fund is organizing a technology showcase at the Inforum. Come learn about all the awesome technology you can borrow, "speed-dating" style! They will have information about extended holiday loans, delicious treats and free USB keys to pick up!

Try it Tuesday and meet your match! Source.

V. MIX WITH MUSEUM MASTERS
Date: Wednesday, November 26th
When: 6 - 9 pm
Where: Elephant and Castle Reception, 212 King St. West (Enter through Simcoe Street Entrance)
What: The Faculty of Information invites you to join in for an evening of connecting with Museum Studies alumni, 2nd year MMSt students, and colleagues. Enjoy an evening of networking, taking the opportunity to reconnect with peers, and new friends. Mixer followed by optional tour of the Stanley Kubrick exhibition at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Follow the link to register - spaces are limited! Note: Free hors d'oeuvres + 1 beverage (cash bar thereafter).

I leave you now with one of my favourite Heritage Minutes, The Bluenose. Cheers!

COVER, TEXT BLOCK, HEADBAND, SPINE: WELCOME TO BOOK REPAIR 101

CONSERVATION TIPS & TRICKS

BY: MADELINE SMOLARZ

I really love books, and I really love to read...

...so you will not be surprised to learn that when I heard about a volunteering opportunity at the Hart House Library, I couldn’t reply fast enough. It has been a wonderful experience thus far – who wouldn’t want to decompress among stacks of beautiful old books in one of the most charming silent study spaces on campus for three hours every week? As an added bonus, the Library’s student curator arranged a Book Repair Workshop for volunteers during the afternoon of November 1^st, which I was able to attend.

An undated archival photo of the Hart House Library. The doors and shelves still look the same. Source.

As you may already be aware, libraries and museums converge in many ways (an overview of which is definitely beyond the scope of this article). Therefore, I thought it would be an excellent idea to share what was covered in the workshop to give you all a glimpse into what conservation looks like when an artefact in your care happens to be a book.

Lauren Williams, a second-year LIS student from the iSchool in the Book History and Print Culture concentration who also has a background in book binding, led our group through several conservation and repair techniques in order to make some of the older books in the Library's collection more accessible to users while also maintaining their integrity. She explained that there has been a shift in the world of book repair from completely rebinding damaged books to making as few changes as possible, which is what we tried to achieve during the workshop.

The basic anatomy of a book. Source. (for both photos)

  

Handling Books

Do NOT grab the headband / head of the spine. The proper method is to pinch the sides of the book’s spine when you are pulling it out from a shelf. Also, do not lay it flat and flip the top cover open, which puts a lot of pressure on the front cover’s joint and the book spine. Instead, open both sides and fan out the pages. To stabilize particularly old books when you don’t have a small fortune to spend on triangular supports, fold a clean towel in half, then roll both of the short edges inwards to support the book’s covers.

Tying Books

When books are sitting on shelves, those with heavy text blocks may experience a pulling away from the spine starting at the head and the top of the joints. The spine will then start to peel away. To help stabilize them, you can use thick string or archival tape (which is not sticky, despite its misleading name). A book should not be tied too tight and the knot should be made at the top edge of the book, or a divot will appear over the years in the book’s cover. To get the right length of string, measure along the book’s long side twice, its short side twice, add a few more centimetres, and then combine those numbers together.

My repair partner in the process of tying a book with archival tape. Photo Credit: Madeline Smolarz.

Taping Loose Pages

For the love of all that is literary, set aside your Scotch tape – you want to use acid-free document repair tape for this. Use only just enough tape so that you are adding as little width as possible to the text block to avoid unnecessarily increasing the pressure on the spine. Measure and cut an appropriate length of tape. Also, only put tape along one side of the page, not both.

Hollow vs. Flat Spines: To Glue or Not To Glue?

There are two types of spines: hollow and flat. You cannot glue books with hollow spines because it will work against how the book is supposed to open and cause more damage, so these should be tied or placed in a book shoe (which will be discussed below. For flat spine books, there are three kinds of glue that can be used:

1. Wheat / rice paste – has less binding agents and is therefore a weaker glue

2. “Mix” – a mixture that is ½ methyl cellulose and ½ white glue and creates a stronger bond

3. Non-acidic white glue / “PVA” – this is the strongest possible glue and is used for big jobs

Applying "mix" to a damaged flat spine. Photo Credit: Madeline Smolarz.

Smoothing out bubbles with a fancy Martha Stewart bone folder. Photo Credit: Madeline Smolarz.

Once you’ve applied and smoothed your glue, wrap the glued area with wax paper and a tenser bandage for a couple hours.

Book Shoes

This was the most involved and time-consuming part of the workshop, the end of which I unfortunately missed because I had to catch a train home. Book shoes prevent abrasions, cradle books without putting stress on them, and totally enclose them, which means that they are especially beneficial for hardcovers.

A book shoe. Source.

You need to choose acid-free, lignin-free board that is strong but able to fold well for your book shoes. The process involves a lot of precise measuring and cutting with a strong X-Acto knife. I invite you to visit the Northeast Document Conservation Centre’s free resource page if you would like to read up on the details of constructing a book shoe.

Making the first measurements and cuts for a book shoe. Photo Credit: Madeline Smolarz.

Feel free to check out the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG) on their website or like the GTA chapter’s Facebook page to get updates about workshops in the area.

A heartfelt thank you to Lauren for sharing her knowledge and resources with me!

"THE LITTLE CHAPEL THAT COULD": THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CHAPEL PRESERVATION PROJECT

AFRICAN CANADIAN HISTORY

BY: BLAIR NEWBY

As future museum and heritage professionals, we all know that funding for culture can be precarious. Grants may not be given, donations and sponsorships can decrease and admission and gift shop sales can decline. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to procure funds for a museum. As the Director of the Chatham-Kent Black Mecca Museum, I had to go before Council and ask that our Community Development Grant be granted year after year. In our case, I am thankful that the Council saw the value in our museum. But I know that this is not always case, as I saw in 2013 other cultural institutions lose their funding as the budget for cultural initiatives decreased. I have also seen community activists and supporters band together to prevent the closing or the demolition of historic buildings and museums. One such initiative includes what many have referred to as the “Little Chapel that Could”.

London's first Black Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

To prevent the demolition of the first Black Church in London, Ontario, a group of like-minded individuals from London’s African Canadian, Heritage/ Historic, and SoHo communities initiated the Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project (FSCPP). Built in 1848, the AME Church was a refuge for Fugitive Slaves. It was a place where they were able to heal both spiritually and psychologically from the horrors of slavery. The goal of FCSPP was to raise enough funds to move the African Methodist Church from its present location to a lot located next to the Beth Emmanuel Church in London. Once relocated, FSCPP members intend to install a small exhibit as well as create a small African Canadian History library.

The Move!

The FSCPP estimated that stage one and two of the project would cost $165,000.00. Receiving a $60,000.00 grant from the City of London, the FSCPP raised the rest of the funds through a public donation drive and by hosting events, such as plays and concerts. Although, the FSCPP has not raised the entire $165,000.00, the project team had successfully raised $133,621,88. And this past Wednesday, November 12, the Fugitive Slave Chapel was finally moved.

Its new home.

 The FSCPP truly embodies a community driven fundraising project. So in conclusion, I would like to say congratulations to the Fugitive Slave Church Preservation Project team members. Moreover, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to you. Because of your efforts a piece of Canada’s history will not be lost.

LUNCH, WITH A SIDE OF HERITAGE

FEATURED OBJECT

BY: KATHERINE HANNEMANN

One of the reasons why I love to write for the Featured Object column on Musings (and one of the reasons why I entered the Museum Studies program in the first place) is rooted in a great joy of mine: to wonder about, research, and uncover secrets and stories about the places we live in and the objects we encounter on a daily basis.

So you can imagine my delight and surprise while eating lunch at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws recently, when a story itself jumped out from the lunch table and served up a side of heritage with my spicy rapini salad.

Public lunch table at Maple Leaf Gardens. Source: BlogTO

I sat at a public table on the second floor of the 60 Carlton Street Loblaws, finishing my meal and planning my next move into Joe Fresh for some post-lunch browsing. Suddenly I noticed that the table was covered not only in a collage of hockey photographs, but also featured a small square of text (or, to draw upon museum terminology -- a text panel!). On this panel I began to read about Bill Barilko, a legendary player for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1947 to 1951. Within the span of a few minutes, I not only received my daily vitamin C intake, but also learned that Barilko scored the winning goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1951 Stanley Cup -- his final goal before his tragic death in a plane crash in August 1951.

This brief yet informative heritage lesson in the middle of my day was a welcome and unexpected addition to my routine. While providing an interesting moment in Toronto’s sport history, this lunch table collage also prompted me to reflect on how heritage buildings can remember and share their own rich history, as the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws does here.

Maple Leaf Gardens floorplan. Source: Heritage Toronto

Maple Leaf Gardens exterior. Source: SportsNet

Let’s take an even bigger step back from the table and take a look at the whole building itself. While newcomers to Toronto may only know Maple Leaf Gardens for its flagship Loblaws and Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre, the building’s life has encompassed so much more. Opened on November 12, 1931, Maple Leaf Gardens was, for many years, the primary sports arena in Toronto. Perhaps best known as the home rink for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, Maple Leaf Gardens was also the site of multiple other sports games, such as Toronto Raptors (NBA) and Toronto Rock (National Lacrosse League). It also held major concerts (among them, The Beatles -- swoon) and events, such as Winston Churchill’s 1932 speech in Toronto. The original arena held its last function in 2000, a Toronto Rock lacrosse game.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens, 1964. Source: Heritage Toronto

In 2011, Loblaws opened its flagship grocery store in the historic Maple Leaf Gardens building. Amid the overwhelming amount of food and departments in this complex, including the “Amazing Wall of Cheese,” sushi bar, bakery, and cooking school, among others, it might be easy for shoppers to forget quickly the long and rich history of the original building.

Yet the store appears determined not to let the history of Maple Leaf Gardens fall by the wayside: in addition to the images and texts on the lunch tables that I encountered, evidence of the building’s heritage is peppered all throughout the store. Posters of The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and other stars who performed at the Gardens wave above the aisles. Behind the main escalator hangs an unmissable larger-than-life maple leaf, crafted entirely out of the blue folding chairs that once lined the stadium -- an innovative display of artifacts, if I’ve ever seen one.

Stadium chairs on display at Loblaws. Source: Urban Toronto

All of these displays and artifacts work to retain memories of a building, whose current purpose varies significantly from its years as Toronto’s sports and entertainment hub. So go ahead, enjoy a side of heritage with your lunch -- and don’t forget to hit the Patisserie on your way out.

Cupcakes at Loblaws. Source: Suzie the Foodie Blog