[Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational institutions?
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Tue, 4 Sep 2007 19:57:15 -0700
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Re: [Bcma-l] War MuseumWhat an apology for the diplomats!
This is not the path for objective history which museums should be =
presenting!
Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5
1-250-365-5327
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
----- Original Message -----=20
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 11:43 AM
Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and =
interpretation for educational institutions?
I believe that an educational institution is usually accountable to =
its funders and is not really autonomous. Any granting agency or =
benefactor has its things they want to fund. If you don't want to do =
those things, then of course you don't have to . but you also don't =
receive their funding.=20
A city museum is accountable through the administration to its City =
Council which in turn is accountable to the citizens. Such a museum =
might wish to address issues of racial prejudice for example in that =
city, but the reality is that they might not be able to do so in the way =
that staff might want to. Sometimes it is in the timing. The Vancouver =
Museum now has an exhibit about the Japanese in Vancouver but the issue =
of the forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed by them =
at the time. Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) might =
face censorship if staff decided in the name of educational freedom to =
address a very controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is =
self-censorship - reading the situation and realizing that discretion is =
the better part of valour sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum =
Director could stick their neck out.
Colin MacGregor Stevens,
Manager,
New Westminster Museum and Archives,
302 Royal Avenue,
New Westminster, BC,=20
V3L 1H7
Phone Office: 604-527-4639
Work Cellular : 604-830-6965
Fax: 604-527-4641
E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca=20
Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca=20
-----Original Message-----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca =
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
Sent: September 1, 2007 2:23 AM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum
This is an important issue and all of us as museum professionals =
should be concerned. Irregardless of the source of funding we need to =
be autonomous in the research and interpretation that we offer as an =
educational, not a political, institution.
James Tirrul-Jones
Railway and Forestry Museum
=20
=20
I believe that BC Museums and CMA should lend what little weight =
they have in support of the War Museums independent ability to present =
history.
The idea of political and single interest groups lobbying in such a =
case is reprehensible, and I believe we should make our views known.
In a land where people died over the issue of free speech, where is =
it, and where is the free [and independent prerogative] in doing our =
job objectively?
Our museum was subjected to such pressure and caved in due to an =
in-camera meeting by our city council, which went on to dictate as to =
what we could or could not exhibit. No members of the public or =
delegations were allowed to debate such an important issue.
To our shame, we accepted their ultimatum in, but it still does not =
destroy the principle and concept of museum independence,.
Our alternative would have been to close the museum.
This is an important issue and I am surprised that I have not heard =
any pronouncements about this by our museum organizations.
Are we too busy planning conferences and workshops and patting =
ourselves on the back to pay attention to such an important issue?
Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5
1-250-365-5327
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>=20
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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.=20
Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.13.2/983 - Release Date: =
9/1/2007 4:20 PM
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<BODY lang=3DEN-US vLink=3Dblue link=3Dblue bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>What an =
apology for=20
the diplomats!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" color=3D#808000>This is =
not the path=20
for objective history which museums should be presenting!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Franklin Gothic Demi Cond" =
color=3D#808000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General Manager<BR>The Doukhobor =
Discovery=20
Centre<BR>112 Heritage Way, Castlegar V1N 4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</A><BR>=
</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #808000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dbcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
=
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dbcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 04, =
2007 11:43=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum -=20
Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational =
institutions?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I believe =
that an=20
educational institution is usually accountable to its funders and is =
not=20
really autonomous. Any granting agency or benefactor has its things =
they want=20
to fund. If you don=92t want to do those things, then of course you =
don=92t have=20
to =85 but you also don=92t receive their funding. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A city =
museum is=20
accountable through the administration to its City Council which in =
turn is=20
accountable to the citizens. Such a museum might wish to address =
issues of=20
racial prejudice for example in that city, but the reality is that =
they might=20
not be able to do so in the way that staff might want to. Sometimes it =
is in=20
the timing. The </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Museum</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> now has an =
exhibit=20
about the Japanese in </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> but the =
issue of the=20
forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed by them at the =
time.=20
Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) might face =
censorship if=20
staff decided in the name of educational freedom to address a very=20
controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is self-censorship =96 =
reading=20
the situation and realizing that discretion is the better part of =
valour=20
sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum </SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Director</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> could =
stick their=20
neck out.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Colin MacGregor=20
Stevens,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Manager,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster Museum and=20
Archives,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">302 Royal =
Avenue,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster, BC, =
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">V3L 1H7</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Phone Office: =
604-527-4639</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Work Cellular :=20
604-830-6965</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy">Fax: &nb=
sp; =20
604-527-4641</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">E-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</A>=20
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Web Site: <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</A></SPAN></F=
ONT><FONT=20
color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy">=20
</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original=20
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B>=20
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca] =
<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> September 1, =
2007 2:23=20
AM<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B>=20
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca<BR><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Bcma-l] War=20
Museum</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DVerdana size=3D1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana">This is=20
an important issue and all of us as museum professionals should be =
concerned.=20
Irregardless of the source of funding we need to be =
autonomous in=20
the research and interpretation that we offer as an educational, not a =
political, institution.<BR><BR>James Tirrul-Jones<BR>Railway and =
Forestry=20
Museum<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face=3DVerdana=20
size=3D1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><BR> <BR><BR> <BR><FONT=20
color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">I believe that BC Museums =
and=20
CMA should lend what little weight they have in support of the War =
Museums=20
independent ability to present =
history.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT=20
color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">The idea of political and =
single interest groups lobbying in such a case is =
reprehensible, and I=20
believe we should make our views =
known.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT=20
color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">In a land where people =
died=20
over the issue of free speech, where is it, and where is the free =
[and=20
independent prerogative] in doing our job=20
objectively?<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">Our museum was subjected to such =
pressure and=20
caved in due to an in-camera meeting by our city council, =
which went=20
on to dictate as to what we could or could not exhibit. No members =
of=20
the public or delegations were allowed to debate such an important=20
issue.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">To our shame, we accepted their =
ultimatum in, but=20
it still does not destroy the principle and concept of museum=20
independence,.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">Our alternative would have been to =
close the=20
museum.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">This is an important issue and I am =
surprised=20
that I have not heard any pronouncements about this by our =
museum=20
organizations.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">Are we too busy planning conferences =
and=20
workshops and patting ourselves on the back to pay attention =
to such=20
an important issue?<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: green">Larry A. Ewashen, Curator & General =
Manager<BR>The Doukhobor Discovery Centre<BR>112 Heritage Way,=20
Castlegar V1N =
4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR>www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org"><http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.=
org></A>=20
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free =
Edition. <BR>Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.13.2/983 - Release =
Date:=20
9/1/2007 4:20 PM<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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