Saturday, November 8, 2008
Welcome!
Hello, fellow Tufts Museum Studies students! The purpose of this blog is to introduce you, visitors, and members to Faith Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Hartford, Connecticut. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a stop on Connecticut's Freedom Trail Tour. It is also the third oldest African -American Congregational Church in the United States. One of the first pastors of this church and central to its history ,was Rev. J.W.C. Pennington, a former slave who is remembered as an eloquent orator, preacher ,and freedom fighter. Faith Church is celebrating it's 190th year in 2009. The church was built around 1872, and was originally the Windsor Avenue Congregational Church. As the newly nominated Historian of this historic church, I am charged with documenting, collecting ,and preserving the church's history. Many material objects, portraits, letters, photographs, ledgers, newspaper clippings, etc. are currently in boxes, storage files, and bags. These items are not centrally located and many are inaccessible for public viewing. There are several approaches that I have considered in the maintainance and presentation of these items. The first is to create a small museum in a central location within the church. My idea is to rotate ,from storage , a display monthly or every two months or so. Secondly, my thought is to create a photo journal publication or dvd of items, with text and resources for additional information. The journal will be given out to members and anyone else who requests one. My third idea is to create a museum- type website that would include the major items that I think would be of interest to visitors to the site. This third idea would allow me to keep items in storage, archived and in a central location. My question is: which of the three above ideas would you choose? Any and all comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I hope you have enjoyed this brief history of Faith Church. For additional historical information regarding this church, please click on the links, provided on this blog.
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7 comments:
Firstly, congratulations on being appointed the Historian of the Faith Congregational Church. And what an exciting role you have now with so many options! If I were in your position I would create a gallery space in the church, provided there is room for it. However, I would stray from labeling it as a "museum" rather I would just call it a "gallery". That way you are not tied down to certain roles that museums have to play. With a gallery you can rotate the work however often you like and you have the ability of making the exhibition more freely tied in together, such as a cluster of work rather than a full on exhibition. Also, I think that a gallery, again if you have to space for it, could be constructed fairly quickly in comparison to the publication/DVD and website. I do think that both of those ideas are wonderful and you should consider them both provided that you have the time and ability to see them come to fruition.
I am excited for you! Please do keep us posted on your decisions.
Hi Yvonne-
I agree with Lenka, a gallery space would be the easiest to implement in the short term. I think that if you are a stop on the Freedom Trail in Hartford it would be a great addition for visitors and help them to understand the significance and history of your church. However, I also think the website is a great idea. You could even adapt your blog which might be a good way to encourage more members of the congregation to become involved since blogger is so easy to use. Your church seems to have so much history and as families have moved over time it would be a great way for ancestors or even former members to find you and mainain a connection to the church even when they cannot visit. Congratulations on your new role as church historian. I'm sure that whatever you decide to do will be incredibly thoughtful and will use your archives to the best of their ability.
Congrats! You'll make such a great historian, and it sounds like something you're really excited about. Depending on the church needs, I like the idea of a website or the gallery space. A website could expand the church's reach to members who don't have the opportunity to come to church every week and you could create a "blog-type" environment (now that you now how!). But the gallery space is a great way to showcase some of the church's tangible items that don't normally get displayed. How about a post-it wall where members can contribute their thoughts about the history of the museum? Congrats again and you'll have to post some pictures!
I love your ideas on utilizing the relics from your church in a variety of ways! I especially like the DVD and website possibilities, and imagine those can be some very cost effective ways to share your church's heritage. Congratulations, and can't wait to hear how your project develops!
Kate B.
This is awesome! Great Ideas...
Jasmine
Excellent idea. As several others have noted I think calling it a "gallery" or "history gallery" is a good idea. Maybe you can do some podcasts of active church members and use these both for historically documenting their work (sort of like an oral history) but also for giving active inspiration to others. I would also use it as a source of education for the underground railroad. Good luck!
I'm from the Hartford area and excited to hear about such a project!
I think that a small exhibit space in the church would be a great first step -- it'd be much more immediate than the research required for a website, and it would allow anyone who is at the church to view the items, rather than requiring everyone to have internet, etc., access. Once you got one exhibit up and maybe began planning the second, you might also put out a monthly or bimonthly newsletter featuring an item or two you couldn't include in the exhibit.
Good luck!
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