MUSEUM STUDIES - December 2008

 

Trip to the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield

During the same month that Americans voted in one of the most significant presidential races in our history, our first museum studies regional field trip visit to the Lincoln Presidential Museum seemed a fitting destination. Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson, curator of education at the Figge Art Museum and adjunct faculty member, and Ann Rowson Love, museum studies director, planned the trip to Springfield.

In the photo, two of our graduate students, Joshua Terronez and Melanie Stimmel pose with Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson, Figge Art Museum, and Ann Rowson Love, Director Museum Studies Program, along with the First Family. We also had the opportunity to meet with the director of museum visitor services, Clare Thorpe, to learn more about the opening of this important new museum.

With a degree in history, Josh critiqued the museum experience by looking at the quality of content presented. He stated, "I thought the museum did a wonderful job of portraying many characteristics of Lincoln and his family that most people don't know or learn about. I was also pleased with the layout of the museum; most notably I thought the amount of text was not too overwhelming. In my experience I've found that people get intimidated or overwhelmed with large amounts of text."

Melanie commented on the impressive use of multimedia and technology when she acknowledged the following: "I liked the section of the Soldier's Story with the last letters sent home from soldiers who died and the wall of pictures with the interactive screens that told the history/story of picture you selected. Other sections I enjoyed were the room of dresses with Mary Lincoln and the room of political cartoons."