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  • 1.  I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-05-2025 12:49 PM

    Dear All

    I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?  I have been in sessions at the meeting that discuss this, and I am wondering what other insights are out there on the subject. 

    Thanks,

    Rachel



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    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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  • 2.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-05-2025 12:59 PM
    Without knowing what you mean by problematic it is hard to say what to do. If it is a FIC so the problem is there is no provenance there is no problem displaying it if useful.

    If it is culturally sensitive you should consult with people from that culture to see if it is appropriate to display or not and under what circumstances. If it is sacred the above applies, or an institution may choose to just not display those items outright.

    If something is blatantly racist a discussion should be had to see what the benefits of displaying it are. Is the goal to expose and educate about harmful stereotypes and racism? Then it might be worth it. If it is just one of many trinkiets shown without context on a desk in a room recreation it is probably better not to display it. 

    I'm not sure there are many hard and fast answers. YMMV

    Mandy Langfald
    Curator of Collections
    Wyoming State Museum
    307-630-0063




    E-Mail to and from me, in connection with the transaction
    of public business, is subject to the Wyoming Public Records
    Act and may be disclosed to third parties.



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-05-2025 01:06 PM

    Dear Mandy

    I am talking about for example chairs with a symbol associated with 'white supremacy' as the back. There are so many examples I am sure.

    I hope that helps. I don't think there is just one answer.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



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    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-06-2025 11:12 AM

    Hi Rachel, Happy to help. Can you be more specific, there are far too many "problems" to cover with a blanket reply. What issue are you currently having, let's get it solved!



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    Matthew Isble
    Exhibit Designer & Founder of MuseumTrade.org
    misble@crockerartmuseum.org
    Crocker Art Museum
    Sacramento CA
    misble@crockerartmuseum.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-06-2025 12:26 PM

    Dear Matthew

    I wish I had a problem with a complicated object. I am asking all of you for your problem object stories. 

    I hope that helps. I always value you alls insight.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-07-2025 04:31 PM
    In my view, inanimate objects are not inherently controversial, but their origins or uses may or may not be rooted in, or reflective of, controversy. For museums that acquire, hold and conserve objects, it's essential that they make all efforts to record and document these varied contexts for their holdings. I suppose the most potentially controversial objects found in museums might be human remains, as living humans ascribe so many levels and types of inquiry, meaning and significance to them. Depending upon cultural context, reactions to our species' remains range from shock or dread to intense curiosity. Such a spectrum of views means it's essential that organizations dealing with collections, records or descriptions of human remains do so in ways that do not exploit, but instead respect and inform.

    James Bryant
    SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
    Santa Fe, NM
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-08-2025 11:27 AM

    Rachel -

    Great question and highly relevant for our times.

    The short answer - Make it relevant and purposeful. Explain why the "thing" is there. 

    We currently are hosting the ExhibitsUSA exhibit "I am a Man!". The exhibit is photographs from the Civil Rights Era (1960-1970). It was adapted from an exhibit originally curated for a museum in France by William Ferris while he was at the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    The photos on their own are mostly the standard fare when looking at the period. There are a few images that could provoke some strong reactions from different groups of visitors - Klan robes/iconography, effigy hangings, protest-related police violence, etc. I wasn't concerned with these for the most part as most people who would raise an issue normally choose not to look at the exhibit.

    During our exhibition period, I wanted to supplement it with materials from our collection. As the United States Marshals Museum mission is to tell the story of the Office of United States Marshals, we hold more than a few items from the Civil Rights era. Amongst these items are a few Klan robes - one from the Civil Rights era, one  from the 1990s-2000s, and a facsimile made for a traveling exhibit in 1989-1992. I chose to include the more recent authentic robe as it has a story tied to a deputy United States marshal who grew up during the Civil Rights era (present at MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech) and later went into law enforcement. An acquaintance of his was a Klan member who, through this acquaintance, was inspired to change. This klansman gave the robe to the deputy, knowing the deputy would understand what it meant and that the deputy would not do anything questionable with the robe. 

    After internal discussions and a chat with friends of mine who represent various elements of the local Black community, I decided exhibiting the robe was a good thing - especially as I explained the presence of the robe amongst the subject matter of the exhibit. 

    I hope this answer is helpful.

    Cheers, 
    Dave K.



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    David Kennedy ()
    Curator of Collections and Exhibits
    US Marshals Museum
    Fort Smith, AR
    dkennedy@usmmuseum.org
    (479) 709-3766
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-11-2025 08:42 AM

    Desr David

    I agree, Its important to put things what ever they are in context.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: I know many museums have problematic objects, how would you display those objects?

    Posted 08-14-2025 10:36 AM

    Rachel,

    When the museum I work for did an exhibit for the 150th of the CW we had a section at the end called "reflections".  The point was what happened afterwards was just as chaotic as what led to the war and the war itself.  The them, how has the war impacted life in the state since it ended, how has it been remembered. There was a section set up like an attic and included what objects you might find there, somethings you might expect others you might not and how would you react if you found something you weren't expecting? I.e. we had a KKK robe donated to us after family members found it in an uncle's attic after his death.  We wanted to display that.  But the how was the question.  No matter where our museum was physically located we didn't feel it would be appropriate to display the robe on a mannequin and possibly catch people off guard as they came around a corner and came face to face with it. But because the location of our museum is not just a museum but a high traffic government building we really didn't want to put the robe on a mannequin.  We decided to fit the attic theme we would display it folded in an open trunk (covered with plexiglass). Which would require people to step up and peer into the case to see the display.  I think it worked well based on the circumstances and the theme of the area was displayed. We say folks having discussions about the object etc.

    Hopefully that all makes sense.



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    Katherine Owens
    Curator of Collections
    Missouri State Museum
    Jefferson City, MO
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    Original Message


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