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Dear all,

Does anyone know where you can get magnifying stands for e.g. coins/small jewellery etc.  I've found boxes for collectors, but nothing that could be used in a display case setting.  Dauphin has plenty of mirrored stands and blocks, but I haven't been able to source ones that can magnify.

THanks,

Kirsty Hartsiotis
Curator
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
Bath Road
Swindon
SN1 4BA





-----Original Message-----
From: Social History Curators Group email list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Sarah Schmitz
Sent: 27 March 2006 17:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SHCG-LIST] Help with AMA


This is an email sent via the SHCG List. If you reply to this message, your message will be sent to all the people on the list, not just the author of this message.
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Hello there, Neil. I hope the following is of use:

My work is slightly off the usual idea of social history curation, but not 
that far, so I shall endeavour to help you answer your AMA questions (keep 
up the good work - it took me 5 years to pass mine!)

>1) How would you define a social history collection?

Items that are not strictly fine art, and typically not large industrial 
type objects maybe. A social history collection might show aspects of day to 
day life, sometimes in the setting where they were used but often in a 
slightly 'set up' context eg gallery.

>2) What are the typical duties of a social history curator/keeper?

My role isn;t particularly typical, but it includes care against disasters, 
conservation cleaning, documentation, helping the public understand and 
enjoy the collection, environmental monitoring, insect pest monitoring, 
security considerations, health and safety.

>3) What skills do you require to become a social history curator/keeper?

Academically, maybe a qualification in something related to the collection, 
eg history of some variety, although this isn;t always a must-have. A 
museums course is also desireable, usually. A good eye for detail, ability 
to work in difficult circumstances (eg lack of money, but also dark, cold, 
at heights), good with people - other staff above and below you, plus 
volunteers, able to manage your time well  (ideally so that you have some 
life-work balance in there some time!), and love of your subject and desire 
to make it available for all customers.

>4) What experience do you require to become a social history 
>keeper/curator?

Practical museum-related experience of some sort, including publicity, 
volunteering, production of exhibitions, research, working with schools and 
other groups.

>5) What would you is the role of the social history collection in a modern
>museum?

To encourage people to value their past, and so the value of the rest of the 
museum, by realising that there is much worth remembering for varying 
reasons. That history is about people, and their relation to objects - so 
social history collections are more about the practical, everyday items that 
we interract with on a more presonal basis, perhaps, than, say, a sculpture 
or wall-painting.

>6) What skills are necessary to conserve a social history collection?

Abilities in: insect pest identification, object handling, presentation, 
exhibitions, visitor services, basic conservation techniques (preventative 
and remedial), initiative, patience, working in the cold and dark and dirty 
areas others might not want to, attention to detail, willingness to learn 
new skills and to contribute to debate on the future of collections as a 
whole.

>7) What practical/ethical issues surround a social history collection?

Try disposal, acquisition, and just about very other topic covered by the MA 
ethics guidance book! Practical issues for me usually involve money, time, 
staffing, and the rigours of balancing conservation against access, oh, and 
the fact that we operate in a Victorian country house.

>I also need to carry out a work shadowing project with a social history
>curator/collection keeper outside of the organisation I work for as a part
>of my AMA, If anyone is prepared to undertake this could they please send 
>me
>contact details so that we can discuss details

If you could work for free, for a few weeks or months, and have somewhere 
you could stay nearby, then you might like to consider something a little 
further north with the National Trust here at Cragside - we're in the middle 
of a rewiring project at the moment, so things are somewhat out of kilter, 
but in the future we'll resume more 'normal' running, so you could learn 
about a very different environment to a museum. You can contact me on e-mail 
at [log in to unmask]

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The SHCG list is provided for members of Social History Curators Group to discuss subjects relevant to social history in museums. To join SHCG visit www.shcg.org.uk . Opinions expressed in this email are the responsibility of the author and are not necessarily shared by SHCG.

To leave the list do not reply to this message but send an email to [log in to unmask] with a blank subject line and these words as the body of the email: SIGNOFF SHCG-LIST