by Ann Mary Quarandillo
Helping Appalachian history come alive is just one function
of the Appalachian Center Artifacts and Exhibits Studio. As part
of Berea’s Appalachian Center, the Studio works to integrate
the College’s collection of Appalachian artifacts and materials
into the curricular and cultural life of the College, and make
the collection available to the general public, part of the Appalachian
focus emphasized in the College’s strategic plan, Being and Becoming. Preserving the legacy for future generations by
teaching students about their culture and history and developing
their museum and artifact preservation skills is a key part of
the Studio’s mission.
During short term 2001, numerous students benefited from programs
which were created or assisted by the Studio. Classes examined
quilts, student curators developed and installed exhibits, and
one student, Renee Poteet ’01, interned at the Kentucky History
Center in Frankfort, Ky.
"Working here is ‘hands-on’ history," says Poteet.
The Jonesville, Virginia native spent her short term interning
with the Adult Programs division of the Museum Education Branch
at the History Center, under the tutelage of Joan DiMartino,
director of Adult Programs.
The internship was arranged after Poteet visited the History
Center through a history course she took at Berea, part of which
was a museum studies course. Christopher Miller, College curator
and director of the Artifacts and Exhibits Studio, helped connect
her with Vicky Middleswarth, the Museum Education Branch Manager
at the History Center.
Poteet’s family has a long history of maintaining artifacts.
Her great grandfather, Dr. Andrew Jackson Osborn, is featured
in an exhibit of his 19th century medical instruments,
medicine bottles and supplies at the Museum of Appalachia in
Norris, Tenn. Renee herself has collected artifacts since she
was barely old enough to walk. Now, she wants to give back to
history what history has given to her.
"When I decided I wanted to pursue a career in museums,
I knew I would need an internship to even be considered," she
says. "Now, curators can see that I have real world experience
with artifacts and education."
Although most internships are part time, for a few hours per
day, Berea’s short term system allowed Poteet to work full time
at the Center for four weeks.
"It’s been wonderful to have Renee here every day," says
Middleswarth. "Since she’s here daily, she can get involved
and learn more – it’s a real immersion experience."
Because of this unique schedule, Poteet has been exposed to
numerous aspects of museum work, including marketing and media
relations, working with patrons on educational programs, helping
to design a program for middle schools, and working with the
artifacts and archives at the Center. It’s helped her to look
at exhibits from the audience’s perspective, and learn more about
the behind the scenes work that makes a museum successful.
The opportunity to work with so many different aspects of museum
helped her crystallize her future plans. "I want to work
behind the scenes in the care and tracking of artifacts," Poteet
says. "Something as simple as a pen can have such a unique
story, showing what people in other times had to work with. It
makes me feel good to help preserve something so future generations
can learn."
"Working with the Studio is a curatorial experience that
few undergraduates at any institution ever get to experience," says
Christopher Miller. "But at Berea it fits, because integration
of classroom learning and work experience is a hallmark of Berea's
unique brand of education." The Studio’s student workers
not only care for artifacts, but are involved in the planning
and development of exhibits across campus. Cross-disciplinary
initiatives allow students across campus to benefit from the
Appalachian artifacts collection.
Dr. Judy Rector, ‘73 associate professor of math, taught "The
Geometry, Art and History of Quilts" during short term,
utilizing the Studio’s quilt collection. Students learned about
quilting’s history, geometry of patterns, artistic and cultural
value and educational opportunities quilts could provide, and
quilted their own wall hanging.
"The history of quilts is really the history of women in
America," explains Rector. "After Chris Miller spoke
to the class about the importance of preserving this heritage,
each student analyzed a quilt and made detailed descriptions
for the Artifacts Studio. They estimated dates, researched designs,
and figured out ways to teach others about what they’d learned."
"Quilting is similar to women’s literature as uniquely
women’s art," agrees Ginger Hicks ’02, an English major
in Rector’s class. "They are both expressions of feminine
themes and emotions, which often had no other outlet."
"To a curator, artifacts are just a kind of primary source;
they carry information about people, places, and events," says
Miller. "Our Appalachian Artifacts Collection is a rich
resource for teaching and learning about the Appalachian Region.
As students interact with the collection, they learn about the
region, but they also grow in their ability to work with primary
sources – to examine them critically, to extract data from them,
and construct knowledge from the experience. This in turn goes
back and enhances their experiences in the classroom."
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