In higher education, we often equate student life and campus life. Last year, I found myself questioning this notion on my frequent shortcuts through the student center on campus. Absent from most of the archival photos hung in the student center’s hallway chronicling milestones in the building’s history are black students. Student life does notContinue reading “If Objects Could Talk History Harvest at the African American Museum of Iowa”
Category Archives: African American Museum of Iowa
It’s a small world
Friday, May 18, 2012 I always love when things come together to remind us how small the world really is. I have been working on a Bible from the African American Museum of Iowa that was damaged in the flood. The Bible was in pretty bad shape. The binding had totally failed and it wasContinue reading “It’s a small world”
Good-bye Caitlin, Hello Kathleen
Good-bye Caitlin, Hello Kathleen Caitlin Moore, our Flood Recovery Conservation Technician, is moving on to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. We are sad to see her go but are so thankful for all the work she has done for the past three years. Good Luck, Caitlin! We welcome Kathleen Tandy to fillContinue reading “Good-bye Caitlin, Hello Kathleen”
Banner Repaired
Thursday, April 15, 2010 This banner from the African American Museum was signed by Jesse Jackson. The signature and surrounding illustration were sprayed with some sort of fixative which didn’t end up being very sound. The large part of the banner was fine but the areas with the fixative were detached and curling up away fromContinue reading “Banner Repaired”
Moving On!
Thursday, March 4, 2010 The long awaited day arrived at last. We moved out of our “dirty room” at Oakdale Hall, took down our sign, and turned in our keys! Over 18 months ago in the midst of finding space for faculty and students, University of Iowa officials took time to find us a roomContinue reading “Moving On!”
Banner Solution
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 For months we’ve looked at the Jesse Jackson banner trying to figure out what to do with it. It was obvious from inspecting the banner that part of the damage was from folding the banner and not from the flood. Once repaired or at least stablized we didn’t want to foldContinue reading “Banner Solution”
Cleaning Busts
Thursday, February 11, 2010 One project that Kallie is working on is cleaning a collection of busts. After Caitlin tested a couple different treatment methods she settled on using a mixture of water and photo flo roughly a 4:1 ratio. Kallie has been using swabs and cotton pads to remove the mud covering the busts.Continue reading “Cleaning Busts”
Two Vernons and a Typewriter
Monday, January 4, 2010 One of our quandaries was how to clean Vernon Smith’s typewriter, an important artifact from the African American Museum. We found our answer when we contacted Vernon Steve at Steve’s Business Machines (formerly Steve’s Typewriter) in Iowa City. Vern cleaned and repaired the typewriter but did not repaint it. The typewriterContinue reading “Two Vernons and a Typewriter”
Endless Possibilities Grand Opening
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Last night I attended a reception for the grand opening of the African American Museum of Iowa’s permanent exhibit “Endless Possibilities” which traces the journey of Iowa’s African Americans. This event was also a farewell to curator Susan Kuecker who is moving to Pittsburgh. Susan and I have crossed paths manyContinue reading “Endless Possibilities Grand Opening”
Suitcase Saga Part 4: Conclusion
Thursday, December 12, 2009 After lots of fussing and fiddling the suitcase is finally done. I removed all the rust from the exterior and cleaned up the metal. The interior was trickier. I removed the paper lining and lined it with a heavy japanese paper and wheat starch paste. Underneath the paper the metal ofContinue reading “Suitcase Saga Part 4: Conclusion”