My Last Day at the Museum

For my final blog post, I thought it would be fun to edit Carroll Ward’s (Mamie McFaddin-Ward’s husband) discharge papers as I am “discharged” from my duties at the McFaddin-Ward House. I have enjoyed my time at the museum and look forward to what the future holds.

As I sat down to write this final entry and reflected about my time here, all of the things that I have learned over the past ten weeks amaze me. When I arrived at the McFaddin-Ward House two months ago, I had only studied the theory used to run a museum. I have seen that the theories taught in the classroom at a university can only carry you so far in the real world.

During my time here, I have come understand of the challenges that museums face on a daily basis. These challenges range from a lack of resources to concerns over the institution’s public image. However, the staff members at the McFaddin-Ward House have shown me that for every roadblock that I may encounter in the museum, there is always a practical solution. One of the funniest examples of this was constructing the sandbag wall, which is set up in the museum’s carriage house. When trying to figure out how to construct this, I had two ideas. First, I thought we could use actual sandbags to create our representation of a World War I trench, but then I realized that the bags would have created a sandy mess in the stalls. A local artist then suggested that we could sculpt scenery out of foam, and then apply earth-tone paints to create the appearance of the trenches. However, with time and financial limitations, I knew that this would not be possible, either.  

We settled on a design, which involved using sandbags we picked up from a local army surplus store and newspaper. This worked out well for several reasons. The bags are light and can be moved easily, the newspaper could be molded to the shape of the bag, and it was inexpensive.

Learning to be adaptable was one of the most valuable lessons that I learned here. The experiences I have enjoyed at the McFaddin-Ward House will surely serve me well as I continue to seek employment in the museum field. Tomorrow is my final day with the McFaddin-Ward House, and in closing, I would like to wish the best for the museum, and all of my friends and colleagues that work so tirelessly to ensure that the house continues to be a source of joy and learning for many generations to come.

Installation: From Concept to Reality

Installation day for my exhibit was an exciting day. It is time to take “World War I: Home and Away” from conception to execution. I believe that we have selected some great artifacts to fill the two spaces allotted to this project. The artifacts range from some of Ida McFaddin’s personal belonging associated with her service in the Red Cross, to an actual World War I-era field kit.

This phase of the project has been an eye-opening experience for me. I am reminded of a quote that has been attributed to one of Germany’s most famous commanders, Field Marshal Helmuth Von Moltke, the Elder , who was instrumental in training the German officer corps that were responsible for leading troops during the First World War. He reportedly said, “A plan never survives first contact with the enemy.” 

Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke, the Elder was one of the most influential military thinkers of the late-nineteenth century, and is credited with developing some of the strategy used by the German army in the Great War.

Although I have spent a great deal of time planning the exhibit down to the last detail, I have encountered several setbacks, mostly relating to the size of the carriage house space. These problems involve mostly lighting and other environmental aspects that are unique to the space. If I have learned one thing throughout this experience, it has been that an exhibit designer must be flexible and able to make compromises between their grand vision and capabilities as well as limitations of the assigned space. This quality is necessary for any modern museum professional.

In regard to lighting, the carriage house has lattice work around the outside of the building which blocks most outdoor light, making the space wall dark. To help make the photos and posters more visible, I placed them on the right and left walls where they receive the most natural light, and placed small artifacts near the back of the space. The bright colors of the posters work well with the low light and their placement will allow visitors to enjoy the many recruiting posters and family photographs better, which are major components of this exhibit.

Learning to organize an exhibit display was such a great experience. I learned to place the photos in a balanced grouping rather than a straight line, making the display more pleasing to the eye.

I am pleased with the final exhibit and its configuration and feel that my goals have been met, which was to build an exhibit that accurately depicted the activities of Beaumont and the McFaddins during the Great War, both at home and abroad. We have also accomplished this while remaining within the parameters that the administration set for us. If I have learned one thing through this experience, it has been that an exhibit designer must be flexible and able to make compromises between their vision and the limitations of the space. These qualities are necessary in a modern museum professional. Teamwork is also a vital component of any museum activity. “World War I: Home and Away” would have never been completed without the assistance of every staff member from the Curator of Education and Public Relations Coordinator to the museum technicians. Their help and knowledge have been of the utmost importance, while completing this project.

Designing an Exhibit

The past few days have seen a flurry of activity at the McFaddin-Ward House’s Curatorial Office Building. My research is complete, and my exhibits on the McFaddins’ contribution to the First World War are installed. The installation process is something that can only be described as organized chaos. When I was given an opportunity to build an exhibit at this museum, I already knew that I wanted to work on something dealing with World War I. I have always been fascinated by the conflict, which proved to be our nation’s first steps on the road to becoming an international superpower. However, I was also sure that visitors would enjoy seeing something that displayed the small, but important role that their town played in this exciting episode of World History. 

I have been working toward designing the ideal exhibit, which was mostly in my head, for the past eight to nine weeks. I have researched the period thoroughly, and used archival materials as well as objects within the museum’s collections to construct the exhibit. Yesterday, we moved the “At Home” segment of my two-part exhibit into the case at the Visitor’s Center. This process involved placing items such as documents and other materials into the case in such a manner that the arrangement was both pleasing to the eye, and easily visible. It was a great experience, despite the fact that my “ideal” exhibit has been changed in several ways, owing to limitations within the space, lighting, and other environmental concerns. I also had a similar experience this morning, when the registrar and I prepared the “Away” portion of the exhibit for the carriage house. Despite the difficulties associated with working in these two extremely different spaces and the changes that were needed to take “Home and Away” from concept to reality, I came away with a greater understanding of the problems faced by exhibit designers, and how solutions to these problems can improve your display.

The display will be up through December 2013 in the museum’s visitor center, located at 1906 Calder Avenue. I hope that you will enjoy exploring it as much as I enjoyed making it, and I hope to see you in the trenches.

Predicting the movement of guests within the exhibit in the carriage house, I placed the posters where they can best be seen with the size of the space and the lighting available. 



Research...Research...and More Research!

This week, I have worked with a lot of the sources held by the McFaddin-Ward House. These items include Mamie and Ida’s letters, journals, and a great number of the McFaddins’ family photos. This has been a really good experience that has allowed me to gain precious skills that relate to museum work, but it has also allowed me to get to know this prominent family. Furthermore, working in the museum’s archives has also allowed me to take a more human view of historical events that I had previously only studied in books.

While the McFaddin-Ward House is a virtual treasure trove of information on the McFaddin family and the city of Beaumont, I have also had the privilege to work in several other wonderful places. The Gray Library at Lamar University has been indispensable to me in terms of placing the McFaddins and their war experience in a more global context.

One of the best places in Jefferson County to conduct academic and personal research is the Tyrrell Historical Library in downtown Beaumont. This library holds many genealogical records, which can be used to track a person’s movements and activities. For example, the Tyrrell has recently come into possession of seventy-six letters from Mr. Tom Woods, who served on the Western Front and as a part of the American Army of Occupation. Tom’s letters display a more human side of the tragedy of the First World War, ranging from constant bombardment by German guns to cases of “Shell Shock,” which was an early name for PTSD. We also see his desire for home-knitted clothing like sweaters and socks, which were quite common requests from frontline soldiers during this conflict. 

The scope of the Tyrrell’s holdings, along with those of the McFaddin-Ward House and Lamar, makes all of them invaluable sources for research and enjoyment for both professional academics and history buffs.



A graduation roster and final examination for Red Cross membership administered by Mrs. WPH McFaddin in 1918.

Not In School Anymore

I was thrilled to get the experience of composing a project proposal yesterday. You may have noticed my intense interest in war history. After spending some time in the McFaddin-Ward House Museum archives, I was able to compile research on the McFaddins’ contributions to war and thought it would make an interesting exhibit. Part of my duties as an intern at the museum include researching and planning an exhibit for public display. I was thrilled I had come up with an idea that fit with my interest!
 

I set up an meeting with Judy Linsley, Curator of Interpretation and Education to propose the idea. She thought it would make an interesting exhibit and asked me to compose a project proposal to see if it would work with the amount of time I had left in my internship, what the costs of the projects would be, and if I had the time to devote with my other duties. (I am also in charge of assisting with collections inventory, education programming, and other research projects.) She also set up a meeting with the museum director to propose my secondary idea: to expand the exhibit to include a display in the carriage house, which would include a simulation of a war trench so visitors to the museum could see what it was like for a soldier in these extreme environments.

 

Composing the proposal was a great exercise and experience for me. I had grand ideas and plans, but after seeing just how much time I had to devote to the project and realizing how much it would cost, I had to rethink my plan and scale back. I will still be able to employ aspects of the original plan, but I look forward to the challenge of curating two exhibits—something that has not been done by any of my intern predecessors.

 

The project has made me value the internship even more by realizing I was not able to gain valuable real-world experience in the classroom. My projects in college did not prepare me for the realities of financial and time restraints, so I was glad to have this experience. Though I wanted to pull out all the stops with this exhibit, I realized that I can still have a good, educational display to share the personal stories of those who contributed to the war effort.

 

 

I have learned to make do with what I have from my internship, as the gentlemen in this humorous take on flight practice did.

 

 

 

Anchors Aweigh!

For the last couple of weeks, I have been working to construct a two-part exhibit on Beaumont’s and the McFaddins’ contributions to World War I. I look forward to the exhibit opening the first week of August and seeing the whole project put together. I have learned a great deal while doing my research and how much Beaumont and Texas sacrificed to help win the war.

 

I was amazed to learn that during the war, Texas mobilized over 128,000 men for service overseas, and Beaumont sent two National Guard companies to the newly-formed 36^th Infantry Division. They trained at Camp Bowie near Fort Worth, Texas. Also during this time, many enlistees from the surrounding area were assigned to the famous 90^th Division, which was largely composed of men from Texas and Oklahoma.  

 

Even civilians in Southeast Texas “did their bit” to help with the war effort. Beaumont was also a producer of food for the military and contributed rice, beef and other commodities. Many women and children helped by volunteering for war relief programs, such as for the Red Cross to roll bandages and assemble first aid kits.

 

One of the most interesting facts that I learned so far about Southeast Texas’ efforts has been that Beaumont had a major shipbuilding facility and was a major producer of fuel because of its proximity to massive oil deposits at Spindletop and the rest of the Gulf Coast. Even today, Beaumont remains an important refining center.

 

With my exhibit, I plan to showcase not just the men and women in uniform, but all those on the home front who contributed in so many important ways.

 

 

 A photograph of a newly constructed ship, the City of Beaumont, during its launch.

 

 

Hello! I am Arthur Garrison, the one of the summer interns at the McFaddin-Ward House this year. I am from Fort Worth, Texas, and must admit that Beaumont is a welcomed change of both scenery and climate for me. I have received a Master’s degree in history from the University of North Texas, and am currently working towards the completion of a museum’s studies program at the University of Oklahoma.

I have previously worked as a guest services representative at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. I have also volunteered as a docent, collections manager, researcher, and overall “gopher” at the Military History Museum of Fort Worth. I am looking forward to working with the staff and volunteers at the McFaddin-Ward House, and learning the many necessary and sought-after skills that are required to work in a museum.

Throughout my internship, I will be posting updates of my projects and the various happenings at the museum. Aelish, the museum’s previous intern started this blog and shared information on the research she did on the McFaddins’ collection of Blenko glass. I plan to take my research in another direction by focusing on Beaumont’s involvement in the First World War and include an in-depth look at the McFaddins’ contribution to the war effort and have begun work on designing an exhibit on the topic. I am extremely interested in military history and how it affected so many aspects of American life, even a wealthy family like the McFaddins. I am excited about learning more about Southeast Texas during the World War and the knowledge I will gain from the project.

I will continue posting weekly updates during my internship and give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it is like to work for a history museum. Feel free to comment and ask questions as I go along, and please continue to follow my progress on this exciting project.