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March 15, 2001
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Considering the Source
One of the most important functions museum collections serve is to provide access to primary source material. Mummification is a fascinating process to read about, but seeing
the actual mummy-with its viscera jars, elaborate carving, and painting-brings the practice to life (as it were) in ways that nothing else can. Meteorites remain an abstraction until you walk around one and realize that it came from the far reaches of space. Paul Revere was a silversmith, a fact which truly comes home when you examine the cutlery made in his forge.
"Providing access to source material is one of our primary goals," says Julia Forbes, a senior educator with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum for American History in Washington, D.C. "For instance, in our recent online presidency project we digitized 300 of the 900 objects used in the actual exhibit. We want to make sure educators get access to what's most unique about the Smithsonian: its artifacts, documents, and objects."
The exhibit Forbes describes, The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden (americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/index.html/), provides a thoughtful examination of the presidential relationship with the American people and what it means to be president for the individuals who assume the title. Forbes developed the educational components for the real-world and virtual exhibits, by collaborating with curators, researchers, and the Smithsonian's exhibit designers to create an experience that mirrors processes used by historians.
"We first consider the topic and brainstorm themes associated with it," says Forbes. "For the presidency, this included the different phases of the position-the campaign, the vote, the assumption of power, congressional wrangling, and so forth. Because we're an object-based medium, we then look at the objects we have in the collection to support the themes."
The next step is to refine the themes based on what the objects will support and develop interactive elements to be used within the exhibits and in online components. "Interactivity is an important tool for us," she says. "We always include something interactive to highlight the theme and to help visitors approach it in a fresh way."
Forbes sees to it that activities correlate to curriculum standards. The American Presidency site's resources include a timeline of presidents, each with a short profile as well as objects associated with the era or the man. (For instance, you can see the top hat Abraham Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre.) There are also lesson plans developed in conjunction with The History Channel, activities, guides for using the site with students, a bibliography, and resources for planning a visit to the exhibit.
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