Today, was the first day of research week, the Cooperstown Graduate Program's crash course in how to effectively research. Coming up to New York with a History degree, I walked in this morning thinking that it was going to be an onerous day. Really, how much is there to know about research? You choose a topic and you find documents and evidence to support the claim that you make.
I have used libraries, archives, databases before to research for both classes and internships. Research is something new, and at the beginning of the day I certainly didn't feel like I needed a week of learning the basics of how to go about researching information.
I changed my mind a bit by the end of the day. We started with a tour of the library and the location of different items and books. While it was a little tedious, it was nice to actually know where to go find things, and what we had access to and when. The afternoon consisted of a "Research Challenge." We were given a question and in groups had to go find primary documents that helped us answer it. While the process of looking up information on books and finding them is by no means new, it was an opportunity to have a chance to see what kind of resources the library had. and learn a little something new. Its hard to believe, but I even got excited about a sermon written by John Edwards the younger. Finding something with Connecticut origins (home state) was definitely cool.
We will have to see if my opinion about research week is revised by tomorrow.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
"Garlic Festival"
One of our professors warned us to go with low expectations, and if we did that we would enjoy ourselves. What he should have done was just warned us not to go at all. We spent about 20 minutes on back roads that twisted and turned through the back countryside. All of the scenery was very beautiful, we were however, excited about the garlic festival.
Eventually, after following a trail of yellow signs that read "Garlic" we arrived at a barn on the side of the road stating we had reached the Garlic Festival at Dancing Veggies Farm. The festival was one barn and three tables. One table you could buy garlic, the other you could taste a few recipes and the final you could be soap at. That was the whole festival. And when we piled out of a car, a bunch of twenty-somethings, and they saw a Delaware licence plate the locals gave us quite a look. The locals being about the 5 girls at the table and the 3 people buying garlic.
I'm a girl from Southern New England, and to me festivals are big events, with parades, rides, games, and most importantly food to eat. Not being from the up-state New York area, this was quite a let down. There wasn't even food to buy really, only garlic. I suppose if a person liked garlic it would be a great trip to get some, but otherwise it was not worth our time, except for the fact we got a funny story out of it and we now need to decide if we want to send the new students next year there as a joke.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
What is Museum Studies and Why am I Studying it?
According to the Smithsonian's Website Museum Studies "the field that encompasses the ideas and issues involved in the museum profession—from the practical, day-to-day skills needed to operate a museum to theories on the societal role of museums."
To me Museum Studies is a program of learning that focuses on preparing students to work in a professional museum environment. It is the study and understanding of museum education, material culture, exhibit development, and museum management. A museum studies program should train students to be able to take on different roles in museums, and still understand different departments that they will interact with. It should allow students who work in smaller museums, to do all the cross-departmental tasks that are required of them.
Why did I choose to study Museum Studies as a 22-year-old who not only got a degree in History, but also one in Accounting. Quite frankly, when I was in High School and bored a teacher of mine suggested that since I loved History I should volunteer at a Local Museum. The curator there was really nice, and since the museum was so small I had the chance to try out a bunch of different things, and the experience was a blast.
When I got to College, I took up Accounting with History, because it seemed like a practical back-up, but as graduation grew closer, I realized I owed it to myself to try to follow the dream and do what I learned I loved. So instead of accepting the Accounting job, as crazy as it sounds, I started Grad School. My theory is that we spend much of our waking lives at work, why not make it as enjoyable as possible. Besides, there are so many museums that do not have good business people in them, especially accountants. A museum is just like most other businesses, it need a well-trained and organized finance department.
Soon I discovered the specialty of exhibit development, which allowed me to combine both my interest history and accounting, while being allowed to be creative. I could use my history knowledge to creatively form an exhibit that would interest visitors, while using accounting skills to manage a tight budget.
Really to me Museum Studies is about following a dream and having the chance to combine and use all the skills that I have gained so far, while trying to entertain and educate a larger public. Museum Studies is also about the public, and finding a way to educate and interest them in history, science, art, or numerous other things.
To me Museum Studies is a program of learning that focuses on preparing students to work in a professional museum environment. It is the study and understanding of museum education, material culture, exhibit development, and museum management. A museum studies program should train students to be able to take on different roles in museums, and still understand different departments that they will interact with. It should allow students who work in smaller museums, to do all the cross-departmental tasks that are required of them.
Why did I choose to study Museum Studies as a 22-year-old who not only got a degree in History, but also one in Accounting. Quite frankly, when I was in High School and bored a teacher of mine suggested that since I loved History I should volunteer at a Local Museum. The curator there was really nice, and since the museum was so small I had the chance to try out a bunch of different things, and the experience was a blast.
When I got to College, I took up Accounting with History, because it seemed like a practical back-up, but as graduation grew closer, I realized I owed it to myself to try to follow the dream and do what I learned I loved. So instead of accepting the Accounting job, as crazy as it sounds, I started Grad School. My theory is that we spend much of our waking lives at work, why not make it as enjoyable as possible. Besides, there are so many museums that do not have good business people in them, especially accountants. A museum is just like most other businesses, it need a well-trained and organized finance department.
Soon I discovered the specialty of exhibit development, which allowed me to combine both my interest history and accounting, while being allowed to be creative. I could use my history knowledge to creatively form an exhibit that would interest visitors, while using accounting skills to manage a tight budget.
Really to me Museum Studies is about following a dream and having the chance to combine and use all the skills that I have gained so far, while trying to entertain and educate a larger public. Museum Studies is also about the public, and finding a way to educate and interest them in history, science, art, or numerous other things.
End of Week 1: Introduction to the CGP experience
Well, my first week as a student in the Cooperstown Graduate Program has come to an end, and boy was it a busy first week. I arrived in Cooperstown, NY, population about 2,500, last Saturday, making the move from Connecticut to NY for two years.
I grew up in a town, with a population of 40,000, so coming to Cooperstown, which has a population that is about 5% that size is an adjustment. The town, however, is beautiful, and I live next to the Farmer's Museum and the Leatherstocking Golf Course, so when i look outside every morning I see both sheep grazing in the fields and hear golfers teeing off.
This past week was know as Orientation week. We were shown the basics of the program and had the opportunity to get to know the other students in our class. The CGP (Cooperstown Grad Program) is a small, exclusive program so there are a total of 17 students in my class, and only about 30 in the entire program. That means you have little choice about meeting everyone, and better be able to get along with them all.
The first week consisted of us learning about all the resources available to students, the NYSHA library, Farmer's Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Baseball Hall of Fame, and SUNY Oneonta main Campus. Not only are there many organizations working closely with the program, but there are so many great people all around the town that have been welcoming and more than ready to help answer questions and let students be involved in the community and the museums.
More to come!
I grew up in a town, with a population of 40,000, so coming to Cooperstown, which has a population that is about 5% that size is an adjustment. The town, however, is beautiful, and I live next to the Farmer's Museum and the Leatherstocking Golf Course, so when i look outside every morning I see both sheep grazing in the fields and hear golfers teeing off.
This past week was know as Orientation week. We were shown the basics of the program and had the opportunity to get to know the other students in our class. The CGP (Cooperstown Grad Program) is a small, exclusive program so there are a total of 17 students in my class, and only about 30 in the entire program. That means you have little choice about meeting everyone, and better be able to get along with them all.
The first week consisted of us learning about all the resources available to students, the NYSHA library, Farmer's Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Baseball Hall of Fame, and SUNY Oneonta main Campus. Not only are there many organizations working closely with the program, but there are so many great people all around the town that have been welcoming and more than ready to help answer questions and let students be involved in the community and the museums.
More to come!
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