Richard Collins loads a song into the player piano in the parlour at Benares House Museum in Mississauga, Ontario.
Richard is our MVP this month: Museum Volunteer Profile —Page 12
Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada.
December 2013
MuSEEuM
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
Feature article
MVP: Museum Volunteer Profile
www.issuu.com/museeum
Mississauga’s Richard Collins
MuSEEuM is published by Don Beaulieu of Springwater Township. Don can be contacted at:
museeum@bell.net 705-322-3323
4
Mailing address is:
1497 County Road 92, Elmvale, Ontario L0L 1P0
12
Arthur Lismer Collection returns to Canada
6
Moreston by Candlelight Winter Evening
9
Art Gallery of Missauga events
8
December 2013 • Page 2
Orillia Museum of Art and History events
10 Chatham-Kent Museum activities
10 Niagara Falls History Museum
11 Explore 150; Celebrate Canada’s nature, culture & history
Speciman jar at Royal Ontario Museum Photograph by Don Beaulieu
16 McLaren Art Centre
16 Benares Historic House name explained
18 Chatham-Kent Museum host 1812 war memorial
20 MuSEEuM Notes: Publisher regrets calling it quits
December 2013 • Page 3
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
Media Sponsors
Classic Coachworks
Community Community F Futures utures D evelopment C Development Corporation orporation est.1989
o hatham-Kent off C Chatham-Kent
The Cultural Centre
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
Arthur Lismer Collection Returns to Canada
The Arthur Lismer CollecThe Arthur Lismer Colcartoons, to photographs, films, dition–a treasure trove of art and lection is a valuable rearies, manuscripts, and corresponarchival material held by the essource for scholars and dence depicting all aspects of Listate of one of the country's most researchers, and an immer's life, extending as far back as iconic artists–has been purchased portant piece of the his childhood in Sheffield, England. by the McMichael Canadian Art Canadian legacy. The One of its most unusual and fasciCollection with support from the McMichael will assess, nating items is a series of more than Government of Canada. catalogue, digitize, 100 sketches found on menu cards The Arthur Lismer Collection repand exhibit the coland passenger lists from Lismer’s travresents a rare source of insight into lection in order to els, mostly aboard ocean cruise liners. the life and personality of one of the provide access to The sketches depict Lismer’s fellow Group of Seven’s founding members. and share the passengers, their on-board activities, The collection is currently in the pospersonal collecand the various ports of call. session of the artist’s family, who are tion of one of The collection also includes some of based in the United States. The GovernCanada’s most Lismer’s original writings, including a ment of Canada has provided the important thirty-page autobiography, two notebooks McMichael with $73,820 in funding through and influenoutlining his ideas on art education, and the Moveable Cultural Property Program tial artists an unpublished manuscript entitled Drawof the Department of Canadian Heritage and teaching and Sketching for Men of Action. in order to repatriate and preserve this siners. Funding for the collection was angular collection of national significance. nounced on October 28, 2013, by the Ho“The McMichael is thrilled to be returning nourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Vetthe Arthur Lismer Collection to Canada,” erans Affairs and Member of Parliament said McMichael Executive Director and CEO, (Vaughan), on behalf of the Honourable Victoria Dickenson. “Long regarded as the Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage spiritual home of the Group of Seven, the and Official Languages. gallery recognizes the national importance of “Our Government is proud to invest in this intimate collection and its potential as an projects that contribute to our collective educational resource. It is the McMichael’s identity and define who we are as Canadians,” mission to encourage research and scholarship said Minister Glover. “This acquisition will by sharing and preserving material that contributes inform Canadians about one of the country's to a better understanding of our national history. most important artists. Our Government is The gallery is honoured to provide this unique proud to have contributed to bringing back collection with a permanent home.” this valuable element of our national herThe items range from drawings, sketches, and itage.”
December 2013 • Page 4
About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information: mcmichael.com.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 5
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 6
Moreston by Candlelight Winter Evening On December 14, 2013, from 4-8 p.m., Moreston Heritage Village opens for the last time in 2013 with a special evening of ol’ fashioned holiday fun called the Moreston by Candlelight Winter Evening. On that night, the historic buildings of Moreston Heritage Village come alive with costumed volunteers, twinkling lamps, a roaring fire, and historic, seasonal decorations. Visitors delight in hearing stories of Christmases long ago, the songs of roving carollers, taking a ride in an open sleigh, and enjoying a cup of steaming apple cider and cookies. This event is a truly unique Christmas experience for all ages and has become an annual tradition with many local families. Because the event takes place outside, visitors are reminded to dress for the weather. Regular admission rates apply.
About Grey Roots Museum & Archives:
Grey Roots Museum & Archives has grown and developed into a unique facility from the County Museum's beginning in 1955 and the later establishment of a County Archives in 2000 in order to promote and preserve the heritage of Grey County. With the consolidation of the Grey County Museum, Grey County Archives, and Tourism in 2004, Grey Roots has become a multi-faceted attraction. Innovative and informative interpretive programs and demonstrations, rotating exhibits, a heritage village, archival resources and superior customer service come together to create an exciting and educational visitor experience. Grey Roots Museum & Archives is located at 102599 Grey Road 18, south of Owen Sound. After Thanksgiving, until Victoria Day, Grey Roots is open Tuesdays to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be closed for the holidays from December 22, 2013 until January 2, 2014.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 7
Farm View extends a large
THANK YOU
Monthly farm newspaper
to all of our local museums for preserving farming heritage, tools, buildings and legacies!
Connect with the farm community! www.farmviewonline.com Publisher, John Beischer
Telephone: 705-722-0138 • 1-800-467-7804 Facsimile: 705-722-6036 • 1-800-467-7808
Email: farmview@on.aibn.com
5266 Thirtieth Sideroad, Utopia, Ontario L0M 1T0
Delivered to farms in the District of Muskoka, Simcoe County, Dufferin County, York Region, Peel Region & neighbouring communities.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 8
THIS IS TOMORROW High School Art Show December 12, 2013 — January 11, 2014 Coffee House & Open Mic Reception: Thursday December 12 6–9pm Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 – 4pm ORILLIA, ON (NOVEMBER 7, 2013) COME TO OMAH FOR THIS IS TOMORROW, an Art-stravaganza featuring food, music, spoken word poetry, performance, prizes and enough art to tide you over 'til the spring thaw. Orillia-and-area High-School students have put aside cross-regional differences to collaborate on this once-in-a-year chance to see some of the very best work produced by young local artists and support the Sharing Place Food Bank. Don't miss opening night to look, listen, eat, vote and cheer for the winners of the People's Choice Awards for Best Artwork in Show and Best Open Mic Performance. And don’t forget to bring along a nutritious non–perishable food item to support Orillians in need. The Orillia Museum of Art & History The Orillia Museum of Art & History is home to thousands of artefacts from Orillia and its surrounding area. From scientific specimens and photographs, to archives and oral histories, OMAH offers a wide range of research possibilities and educational programs complemented by a body of rich and exciting exhibitions. The Museum's program of art exhibitions showcases some of the best work from Orillia alongside some of the most important Canadian artists working today. OMAH’s exhibition schedule is committed to featuring work that is challenging, diverse and relevant to Orillians and the wider community in an effort to create a supportive environment for culture to thrive. For information: Matt Macintosh, Curator 705 326–2159 | exhibitions@orilliamuseum.org Orillia Museum of Art & History | 30 Peter St. S, Orillia, ON L3V 5A9 | 705 326–2159 | www.orilliamuseum.org
your TYPE of magazine
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 9 LOCATION Art Gallery of Mississauga 300 City Centre Drive. Mississauga
Now | AGM
HOURS M, T, W, F 10am to 5pm Thur 10am to 8pm Sat & Sun 12pm to 4pm
CONTACT Tel: 905-896-5088 agm.connect@mississauga.ca Admission: Free | Donation
Winter Holidays | AGM
November 21, 2013 - January 1, 2014
Allegory of the Cave presents artworks from the current AGM Permanent Collection and envisions how the act of collecting will be reanimated as the AGM embraces the future. The exhibition sheds light on the methods and truth of industry standards as the AGM launches a digital archiving project for its collection and invites the public to see the process in motion.
Did you know? The AGM's collection features a number of Mississauga artists, including Lila Lewis Irving, Lynn Huntley-Wyczolkowski, Jiri Ustohal and George Hunter! See their work at the AGM this December!
Computers
9-A Queen St. W., Elmvale, Ontario Phone: 705-322-1997 Fax: 705-322-0910 e c Email: gscom@simcoe.net n tena Mainntracts! Monday to Friday - 9:00am-6:00pm co Saturday - 9:00am-4:00pm
Warm up with contemporary art this winter!
Have fun with family and friends at the ice skating rink in Celebration Square... then, just steps away, warm up at the Art Gallery of Mississauga! View rarely seen works from the AGM's Permanent Collection, and see how a gallery documents its collection for a digital archive. Admission is free!
NOTE ON GALLERY CLOSURES: CLOSED for winter holidays: December 23 - January 5 OPEN for the Mayor's Levee: January 1, 1 - 4 pm - LAST day to view Allegory of the Cave and Nataliya Petkova: tracings, in collaboration with NAISA CLOSED for installation: January 6 - 16
Visual Arts Mississauga 36th Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts opens on Thursday, January 16, 6 pm
Steam engine gears, Coldwater Canadiana Museum Photograph by Don Beaulieu
Allegory of the Cave
Jan–May–closed Monday, June to Dec–open 7 days a week
Unique Christmas Décor items, jigsaw puzzles, educational games and toys, Christmas tree ornaments, greeting cards, candles, baby toys, family board games and so much more.
10 Coldwater Road, Coldwater, Ontario L0K 1E0 705-686-3883 • cvillager@eastlink.ca www.thechristmasvillager.ca
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 10
Christmas Activities with the Chatham-Kent Museum Greetings! The Christmas Card Workshop
For those looking for a way to capture the feeling of an old fashioned Christmas, a card making workshop is being offered. Participants will make three Victorian inspired Christmas cards and an ornament. Stacy Suitor, our instructor, will teach participants different techniques to create unique cards for giving. Beginners are welcome. The evening will include refreshments and supplies. The workshop is $25, and takes place on Friday, December 6, at 7 p.m. in Studio Two of the Cultural Centre.
Gingerbread House Workshops
Adults may construct their home for gingerbread men on Thursday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Studio One of the Cultural Centre. The museum staff will serve up hot hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while participants construct their houses. Tickets are $23 each and include a complimentary beverage, and all building materials. Children can spend an evening decorating their very own gingerbread house while parents get some of their shopping done. Children will also enjoy refreshments and a Christmas story with museum staff. This workshop is for children aged 5 to 10 in Studio One at the Cultural Centre on Friday, December 13, from 6-8 p.m. and costs $17. All materials are included. Tickets for the workshops may be purchased at the Chatham Cultural Centre Box Office, 75 William Street North, Chatham by calling 519-354-8338, or at www.cktickets.com. More information on all the Chatham-Kent Museum events may be found on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent website www.chatham-kent.ca or by calling 519-360-1998
Niagara Falls History Museum
5810 Ferry Street Niagara Falls, Ontario Phone 905-358-5082 Fax 905-358-0920
Celebrate the Christmas season with Niagara Falls History Museum and The Baker Street Victorian Carollers. The Baker Street Victorian Carollers are a professional singing group, performing across Southern Ontario, bringing Victorian Christmas classics to life. The a cappella group dressed in historically accurate period costume, began as a trio in 2005 and now have over 20 performers. They have a wonderful talent and the Museum is pleased to include them in A Victorian Christmas holiday event. Christine Girardi, Assistant Curator of Niagara Falls Museums says, “We’re thrilled to have the Baker Street Victorian Carollers here to perform some Christmas classics and modern favourites. This is a wonderful event to bring together all ages of the community and spread some holiday cheer!” A Victorian Christmas will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 7:30 p.m in the Niagara Falls History Museum theatre space. It will be an evening of traditional and modern carols sung by professional singers in Victorian costume. There will be song books for sing-along, solo performances and theatrical readings of Christmas stories befitting to the Victorian period. This event will be held at the Museum, 5810 Ferry St. Seating is limited so reserve your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $10 each and must be purchased in advance at the Museum or order by phone at 905-358-5082.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 11
Explore 150
Artistic, souvenir photography at your museum or heritage site Contact: Don Beaulieu 705-322-3323
The new initiative Explore150 celebrates Canada’s 150th Anniversary by sharing the beauty of its natural, cultural and historical sites. Supported by a youth-led outreach campaign, the content is gathered by a team of Digital Media Explorers to inspire Canadians to visit places of importance to Canadian heritage and identity. Users can contribute their own photos and writing to the celebration of Canada’s diversity, as well as check-in when they visit sites as a way of earning points and winning prizes. You can follow Explore150 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, where Canadians can share their favourite places. The corresponding mobile app is available for download, in iOS and Android OS. Check out explore150.ca
Don@Donshots.ca www.Donshots.ca
See the MUSEUMS gallery.
Exterior detail of Fulford Place, Brockville. Photograph by Don Beaulieu, November 2008.
Pillow Lace at the Simcoe County Museum, 2007 Photograph by Don Beaulieu
Public performances:
uest! l b Liveits bes at Photograph by Don Beaulieu
Wayne Buttery 705-718-5637
info@waynebuttery.com www.waynebuttery.com Full band • 4 piece
Friday & Saturday, December 6th & 7th 6:30–10:30 Shirley’s Bayside Grille 150 Dunlop St. E., Barrie Thursdays in December 7–11 p.m.
Special guest: Lisa Hutchinson on Dec. 12th
Harbour Street Fish Bar 10 Keith Street, Collingwood
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 12
MVP: Museum Volunteer Prole
Richard Collins, Storytell A.K.A:
• Private Benjamin Monger of the 2nd York Regiment • town founder (and certied lunatic) Timothy Street • mill owner Francis Silverthorn • various traitors, land swindlers or cholera victims as required.
Richard Collins is seen here at work, giving a tour of Benares Historic House on Clarkson Road North in Mississauga last month.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 13
e
ler extraordinaire Richard Collins has been interested in history from about the time he was in grade 7, in Gravenhurst. His grade 11 teacher, Bill Reddall demonstrated that history can be educational, opinionated, and entertaining all at once. He didn’t force his students to memorize names and dates. Reddall told stories that were humorous and informative. He made 2,000 year old Greek history relevant to kids in the 1970s by contrasting and comparing the past and present. “I owe a lot to him, though I had long left Gravenhurst before I realized it” Collins says. While he was still in high school in Gravenhurst, Collins volunteered to raise funds to help restore the steamship Segwun. At the time he moved to Mississauga he wasn’t volunteering at a museum. “I didn’t know many people when I moved to a big city from a small town, and didn’t know we even had two museums”. His instincts soon lead him to new outlets for his passion for historical storytelling. Collins began as an historical interpreter 1999 as an employee of the City of Mississauga which operates the Museums of Mississauga. He is part of a team of wonderful team of interpreters. There were two museums at that time; Benares Historic House and the Bradley Museum. Benares was built in 1835. The house is restored to how it looked during World War One. That particular time period was chosen because, just before the war, the Harris family (who had bought & lived in the house) was the first in the area to get electricity, plumbing, a telephone and central heating. Collins joined the Mississauga South Historical Society in 2000. He was moved into the president’s office in 2004-2005, and when no one else wanted the job in 2009, he was asked to be president again. “It was
Benares Historic House kitchen. Photograph by Don Beaulieu
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
eping g ball, or ke in k c re w e : from th ation preser v ld buildings o n g o in v s a s in t s of: ou Coll tep proces s not just ab e is t re s a th p a e th y vation is Preserving nities toda u cts. Preser m fa m ti o r c a r f f u o ers efine o s greasy fing past that d e th f o s and place ts g n at are e in m th le e e s e g the past th of th f e o lu ts a v n - identifyin e e m th ut those ele people abo to protect r e th e - educating g to ome people to c nities. - engaging our commu in e u iq n u nd important a
either that or take the vacant treasurer’s role, but I’m a terrible accountant so president seemed easier. It’s six years now and the membership can’t get rid of me. I’m hanging on to the job like a senator”, he explains. Collins doesn’t have much interest in artifacts. The stories families have left behind fascinate him so much more than the objects. Some artifacts like Benares’ teddy bear have a story to tell that kids can understand. The sampler at the Bradley Museum is rich with stories. Collins explains: “A sampler is art, but it’s also a girl’s diploma. It displays one of the most important trades a young woman needed in pioneer life. Showing off her finished sampler to a potential suitor (and his parents, if they’ve been invited), after years of work, fine tuning it as a teenager by ripping out old stitching to replace it as her skill improved, is not unlike going to a job interview. Someday, when young students who have come to the museum go on their first job interview, I hope they’ll remember the young girl who made our sampler”. The Bradley House is the 1830 house of Lewis Bradley; a Loyalist who came to Canada at the end of the American Revolution to stay loyal to the British. Both houses are located in Clarkson, which is one of the historic villages that make up modern-day Mississauga. A third historic house added to the roster in 2011 is the Leslie Log House, south of Streetsville. Visitors to the museums range from senior kindergarten to senior citizens. Rather than having a standard tour, Collins customizes each
December 2013 • Page 14
one. “I like to discover where my guests’ interests lay (history, genealogy, architecture, old furniture and silverware), and take my tour in that direction” he says. School programs are more rigid because it’s important to meet the provincial guidelines. “That doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of humour to keep young students engaged”. Collins’ naturally entertaining ways keep everyone’s attention; they don’t want to miss anything. Each tour group feels like they are getting inside information; his presentation sounds like it’s the first time he’s had a chance to tell it, and he’s excited to share what he knows about the properties and the families. Collins believes the key to preserving history is to celebrate those elements of the past that are important to us. To encourage people to connect with the past, it is important to make the past relevant to the present. To achieve this initiative, his endeavours go beyond the limits of the Museums of Mississauga. He is involved in a number of projects to put currently underutilized historic places to use for the community. “An old building preserved as an empty shell is an eyesore and target for vandalism”. He continues; “An historic building revitalized for use by the community can be a treasured element of that community”. Collins thinks of history as a clutter of individual puzzle pieces that can’t stand alone. They must be linked to create a complete pic-
s s a p m o c a s i t s a p e e s h r u “T o c e u r t a s t e s t a h t . ” e r u t u f r u o o t s d Colli n –Ri cha r
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 15
Electronic word processor available
ture. Collins likes to create historic images through community walking tours, multi-media presentations and live, interactive historic reenactments. To this end, he is a re-enactor (a lowly private, as he puts it) with the militia forces of the Thompson’s Company of York 2nd Regiment, which is sponored by Heritage Mississauga. This dedicated group of volunteers performs educational presentations and honours the heritage and traditions of Mississauga’s War of 1812 veterans. “I like to bring history alive at community events by taking on the role of a personality of the past”. Walking tours of many of Mississauga’s historic villages are another way Collins shares his historical knowledge. But all that’s not enough; he also offers education programs and slide show presentations. In his multi-media arsenal, he has a wide variety of slide show presentations on local communities which include aboriginal culture, preservation of our natural environment, historic sites, transportation and even ghost stories. December is a quiet month for heritage events, but Collins is volunteering with heritage groups in Hamilton, Mississauga and Toronto helping plan a number of events in 2014 to celebrate our past. You can keep up to date with his upcoming activities at www.chessie502.com. Information on Museums of Mississauga can be had at www.museumsofmississauga.com .
May have a place in an office or technology exhibit.
Free to a good home in a museum! Sells online for $35—$50
Note:
Benares Historical House, basement, 2013 Photograph by Don Beaulieu
The player piano in the cover shot, with Collins loading a roll into it, is not the Harris family’s player piano, but which is still in the family. The piano we see in the picture was purchased to be hands-on and is very similar to the original. The piano rolls used for demonstration are also newer, as the original rolls are too fragile to be handled.
Smith Corona model XD4800 (Late 1990s): An electronic portable unit. It uses daisy-wheels, carbon ribbon and can do bold. Type into its internal memory to have text justify automatically to your specified column width! It was an excellent way to produce news letters for photocopying! Auto-correct words or sentences. Built in dictionary. Plus other features!
Contact Don at 705-322-3323 (Elmvale, Ontario)or at
3323@bell.net
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
Mûr, Montréal; (bottom) Duane Linklater, 2005 Grand Jeep Cherokee, 2013.Courtesy of the artist.
(from the Museums of Mississauga webwsite http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/benareshistorichouse)
2012, digital print, 112 x 112 cm. Courtesy of Nadia Myre and Art
About Benares Historical House in Mississauga:
(top) Nadia Myre, from the series Meditations on Black Lake,
December 2013 • Page 16
What’s in a Name?
Edgar Neave, the original builder of the house, named the home ‘Benares’, a Holy City in India that is now known as Varanasi. There had been a British military garrison at Benares, and although Captain Harris did serve in India, he was closer to Kanpur, not Benares. However, the Harris family adopted the name that had been given to their new home.
So, Why ‘Benares’?
Neave was clever to use the name of a British military garrison. After all, he was a land developer who profited by selling ‘improved’ farms to established buyers. At the time, the most likely buyers for readymade farms were men retiring on a military pension or, in Benares’ case, to a man who had sold his rank for cash. Retired soldiers had wealth but had little prospect of fitting into the established nobility in Britain, so most of these officers moved to Canada to start a new gentry. The Harris’ neighbour, George Truscott, was also a retired army officer who had served in India.
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 17
Benares Historic House, Mississauga: Despite being surrounded by suburbia, this historic home sits in a picturesque setting complemented with original outbuildings.
Photograph by Don Beaulieu
December 2013 • Page 18
On Sunday, December 15 at 1:00 p.m., Chatham-Kent Museum will host a War of 1812 Bicentennial Memorial at the “Skirmish at McCrae's House” memorial cairn on Riverview Line west of Chatham. Two hundred years ago, on December 15, 1813, British militia from Norfolk and Middlesex Counties and the Loyal Kent Volunteers attacked the American outpost at Mr. McCrae's house near Chatham and captured a defending force made up entirely of US Army regular troops. It was the only time in the war that a unit comprised solely of British militia defeated a unit of US Regulars. Several Americans were wounded, one was killed, and
Friends Good Will sailing into Penetanguishene Harbour, 2013. Photograph by Don Beaulieu
one escaped. They were marched into captivity in the east. Their equipment was taken for use by the militia, and their supplies, including cattle and other foodstuffs, were delivered to the British Army. The Chatham-Kent Museum will recognize this action with a symbolic skirmish and memorial presented by local re-enactors. The cairn is located on Riverview Line, south of the Thames River, approximately 2 km west of Bloomfield Road. The public is invited to attend. For more information, please contact our event coordinator, Doug Robinson, at 519-436-6220, or email storyteller@mdirect.net .
Window image from Bygone Days Heritage Village, 2008. Photograph by Don Beaulieu
Chatham-Kent Museum to host War of 1812 Memorial
December 2013 • Page 19
Enticing fans to travel to see your museum!
MuSEEuM
Photograph taken at Coldwater Canadian Heritage Museum by Don Beaulieu
MuSEEuM • Promoting museums in Ontario, Canada
December 2013 • Page 20
MuSEEuM publisher
Don Beaulieu:
—by Don Beaulieu, Publisher of MuSEEuM This issue of MuSEEuM is the fifth, and final edition. I had grossly underestimated the time and effort it would take to put it together each month. This puts stress on just about everything else here, so I must call it quits for personal reasons. I must say though, that the time I spent interviewing museum professionals and enthusiastic volunteers was very enjoyable, and educational, as I knew it would be. I already had the impression that most museum folk believed they had their dream job, and that impression was reinforced every time I met someone new along the way.
At least a few museum visits were gained as a result of people reading MuSEEuM. The magazine has received many positive comments from the museum community, and from the public. At the time of writing, I am not sure if the issues currently online will live forever, or if they well disappear when I stop paying for the web service. I will keep them alive until the end of January, at the least. Back issues continue to be read, offering insight to local museums and exposure for the advertisers. MuSEEuM has been read around the globe; all hemispheres. Remember: I am an avid
“My enthusiasm and ambition exceed my ability” he sums up, ceasing production of the magazine with this edition.
photographer, a fan of museums, and a writer of sorts (The feature articles in MuSEEuM were greatly improved by the editing skills of the curatorial staff concerned). I’ve had archaeological experience on a couple of different sites in Ontario and continue to learn about photography as it relates to museums. I mention this in the event you have occasion to hire a photographer and/or reporter for special events, for souvenir images of your museum (think; gift shop), or for recording your artifacts. I will continue to enjoy receiving news of what is happening at Ontario museums— there’re so darned many I want
to visit (as in ALL of them). Perhaps, MuSEEuM will rise again, but for now I will be breathing a sigh of relief with large smattering of regret. Thanks for reading!
—Don Beaulieu