Whaling Museum

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Whaling Museum Report

When I took over from Ripley. Nelson as chairman last October I broke out in a cold sweat, induced, I am sure, by an almost total ignorance of both whaling and museums. I am still perspiring freely, but at much closer to normal body temperature now that I realize what should have been obvious from the start: the great reservoir of experience, talent, and good old-fashioned elbow grease that were at my disposal merely for the asking.

First and foremost, "Rip" has responded with unfailing generosity to all requests for information and guidance drawn from his 20 years of dedicated and highly productive leadership. He couldn't have made me feel more comfortable about -calling on him.

Charlie Sayle, "Bud" Egan and Marriott King, all long-time members of the Advisory Committee of the museum, each went over plans with me on the ground and gave me their encouragement and helpful suggestions. If I were a more sensitive man I would be downright embarrassed about the heavy demands I made on Charlie's time. He spent many hours working with me at the museum and also gave me some much needed basic education in Nantucket whaling lore. At least a little of what he told me did sink in, if I do say so myself. I now know the difference between a whaleship and a whaleboat!

As new members of the Advisory Committee, Paul Madden and Barbara Johnson are bringing us a high degree of competence and personal interest and they have already made valuable contributions to our planning and its implementation. Paul is not not only a knowledgeable antiquarian but he will roll up his sleeves and hang a picture correctly without the use of a slide rule or strong language. Barbara has been a collector of all things whaling for many years and is in great demand as a lecturer on the subject. I am sure that the museum will benefit a great deal from their active participation.

Finally, Ed Stackpole, George Jones and Roy True have all done their best to keep me out of serious trouble. I have made it a point to touch base with one or more of them before making any decision I felt to be important but, in retrospect, not even I myself like everything I have done and it stands to reason that, even if they haven't said so, none of them does either.

All of which sounds as though I had turned the museum upside down and had to be physically restrained from tearing it apart. To this I plead "not guilty." I have an ex-banker's respect for a healthy income account and an instinctive reluctance to fool around too much with a winning combination. Besides,.

WHALING MUSEUM REPORT

25

the unpretentious, ante-bellum simplicity of the museum is a rare quality these days and I certainly intend to keep it that way. However, the Advisory Committee did seem to be in general agreement with my feeling that space limitations coupled with the many additions made to our collection over the years had caused overcrowding in some areas. This made it difficult to display some of our material to best advantage, or so it seemed to me, and I have tried to do something about this.

The new Peter Foulger Museum has provided a perfect setting for quite a few items unrelated to whaling. We have also thinned out and consolidated certain exhibits and relocated others when this seemed desirable for a better overall effect. It should be feasible to rotate exhibits from time to time so that nothing worthwhile is left to gather dust in the archives. No doubt mistakes have been made but none of them is irreversible and the new arrangements will be re-examined after we have had a chance to live with them over the next few months. So drop in, look the place over carefully and then let us have your views.

During the past year there were several changes in staff at the museum; Walter and Elizabeth Lindquist both retired at the close of the regular season last October, and David Allan replaced Walter as manager in December. Before retiring to the island, David had been both a teacher and an administrator in public and private educational institutions. Elizabeth Yerxa has transferred to the Peter Foulger Museum and Joan Gallagher to the Ruth Christian House; Hazel Sandsbury and Abram Niles are new permanent members of the staff which has been further strengthened for the summer season by the addition of Dorothy Hiller and Mary Lathrop.

Clarence Swift, Louise Hussey, and Bea Killen continue with us from past years in their usual key positions where they have given invaluable training to the newer hands. Jesse Dunham provides essential relief during lunch hours and Elizabeth Baird has been a faithful volunteer every Monday morning in the scrimshaw room.

Since Mr. Nelson's report last October the Whaling and Marine Manuscripts Archives, Inc., has donated to our museum an authentic Eskimo kayak, which is a most interesting ^^d unique companion piece to the narwhal skull exhibit in the whale room. The craft was built by a famous hunter of Scoresby Sounu, East Greenland, who used it personally in taking seals and narwhals. These kayaks are fast disappearing from Arctic waters and we were fortunate to obtain this specimen as a permanent addition to our exhibits. Other recent accessions include two important pieces of scrimshaw given by Fred P. Loomis of La Jolla, California.

26 HISTORIC NANTUCKET

This year, for the first time, the Council decided to open the museum every Saturday from 2-5 p.m. during the midwinter months. It was recognized that attendance would not be large during this period. However, there are an increasing number of visitors to the island throughout the year and it was felt that this additional service to the public would be appreciated. This proved to be the case. From January 13 through March 17 we had 180 visitors and we believe that the number will grow as our new policy becomes more generally known.

We continue to accommodate an increasing number of special groups from the mainland and, of course, the usual visits from our local school and scout organizations. It is our traditional policy to admit such groups without charge when they make,, the necessary prior arrangements through the office of the association. For the past fiscal year ended May 26, 1973, free admissions totalled 5211 compared with 4329 in the preceding period. Both figures include all children under 5 years of age, all members, and the multiple visits of those holding season tickets, as well as the special groups mentioned above.

Paid admissions of 34,413 for the year ended May 26 included 28,850 adults and 5,563 children from 5 to 12 years of age compared with 30,026 and 6,081 respectively in the preceding year. The decline is partly accounted for, at least, by the larger number of season tickets sold by the central office and other exhibits of the association which are not recorded as paid admissions by the Whaling Museum. Our sales of books, candles, post cards and whaling novelties amounted to $17,226, an increase of $3,528 for the year.

During the current year we plan to give special attention to the conservation of some of our paintings, prints and documents, and a fund has been provided by the Council to pay for this essential activity.

Hugh R. Chace, Chairman