Nothing Better on a Winter Day

Where: American History Museum

When: closing January 20, 2020

From the 1870s through the 1920s, silk manufacturing increased, while silk prices fell, and American women made a lot of quilts.  It was a way for them to express their individual imagination - to be artists in a way that was permissible in a society that frowned upon female expression.  And it was a way for them to decorate their parlors.

In case you don't know, silk is a filament extruded by a silkworm as it creates the cocoon where it will mature from a caterpillar to a moth.  Fun fact!

Quilts were made with pieces of silk left over from the dress-making process.  Early on, women made quilts in elaborate patterns.  Of those on display, I thought they were the nicest.  As time passed, crazy quilts came into fashion - no pattern necessary, which allowed for more artistic license.

The Museum houses the National Quilt Collection (I didn't even know there was such a thing until this week), with over 500 examples of American handmade quilts and quilt-related items.  Only a fraction of those items are on display in this show, in part because they are fragile.

Verdict: If you're a fan of needlework, this is a must see.

Up, Up and Away

Where: American History Museum, First Floor East display cases

When: closing September 2, 2019

If you're a fan of superheroes, make sure to see this display on their history.  What started in comic books in the 1930s has become a major entertainment industry, including TV shows, movies, graphic novels, merchandise, etc.

Superheroes are now more diverse than ever; it's not just white he-men who are saving the "good people of [wherever]," now women and people of color are getting in on the act.  Did you know that Wonder Woman is also known as Princess Diana?  I'm sure this is common knowledge among superhero fans, but since I'm on the outside looking in (for the purposes of this blog) at that community, this was new information for me.

On display is the costume that George Reeves wore on the "Superman" TV show in the 1950s.  Although it originally aired before I was born, I remember watching old reruns of it when I was a kid.  It seemed a little hokey, and the special effects were nothing in comparison to today's movies, but the basic premise of good triumphing over evil was the same.

Verdict: Worth a look, if you're in the museum to see a larger show.

Medical Care is One of Those Things That Keeps Getting Better

Where: American History Museum

When: closing February 3, 2019

When I think of the great march of human history, three things seem to get better and better as we move along: transportation, communication and medicine.  This small display in one of the cabinets of the American History Museum shows what medical care was like during World War I, and how the conflict provided an opportunity to test out new advances.

Granted, there were certainly major strides made during the war in the treatment of injuries and the development of prosthetics, but I'm really glad I'm living now and not then.  Of course, someone 100 years from now will think the same thing about the early 21st century, so there's that to consider.

This display also highlights the work of female medical workers in the war, and how they were not considered "real" veterans - something I had learned about at the Postal Museum's show on their work.  Considering the horrible conditions these women endured to provide medical care to soldiers, it's ludicrous that they were so often denied recognition.

Verdict: Another interesting little display to see if you're at the museum.

You Can Use Advertising for Anything

Where: American History Museum

When: closing February 6, 2019

The American History Museum has large glass-fronted cabinets in the middle of the first floor, as you enter the building from Constitution Avenue.  They contain small displays of objects that change from time to time.  I think of them as giving you a "flavor" of the museum.  Right now, the Smithsonian is winding up its shows on World War I, which ended 100 years ago last November.  "Advertising War" tells the story of how Americans, who had a strongly hands-off view of the European conflict, were convinced to enter WWI.

Propaganda learned from commercial advertising - you play on people's emotions and tell them what to do.  Works for soap; works for war.  Enemies were depicted as dark and ape-like, preying on vulnerable light-skinned women.  Interestingly enough, women were also depicted as strong workers who could contribute to the war effort.  So they could take over the farm, but had to be protected from danger.  Who says advertising has to be consistent?

Verdict: Give this a glance if you're at American History in the next few days - we can all use a reminder to turn a skeptical eye towards those who want to sell us something. 

And...We're Back!

Where: American History Museum

When:  closing March 5, 2019

So, as I type this, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over, and the Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art are open.  I went to see nine shows in four days, as the possibility exists that we could be right back in the soup by mid-February.  So frustrating!  I really hope the government stays open, because when there's a shutdown, innocent people suffer.  Plus, it actually costs us more money to close the government than to keep it open.  I'm really fuming over this, as you, dear reader, can doubtless tell.

But, while I have the largest museum complex in the world (and the National Gallery) available to me, I intend to make the most of them.  I've seen everything currently closing in February and am making headway into March.  If, in the next two weeks, I can get to all the shows closing before June, I'll feel pretty comfortable.  Will I be able to do it?  Stay tuned friends!

My first stop on my "welcome back tour" was American History.  My favorite museum when I was a child on class trips, I still love this place, as much for its small tucked away shows as for its "big ticket" displays.  I went to the Small Documents Gallery (which is named after the Smalls, who I'm assuming are donors, not for its size) to see a show on the Japanese internment camps.  An excellent display on a serious topic, the exhibit started by explaining the anti-Asian prejudice that has existed in America since at least the late 1800s.  Frankly, I was reminded of the current climate, as I read about fears of a "yellow horde" taking over the country.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, that fear turned into hysteria, and off went over 100,000 people to internment camps, losing their homes, their businesses and most of their possessions.  Even Dr. Seuss, who I had always thought of as a person urging tolerance, drew an anti-Japanese cartoon - shameful.

Amazingly enough, there were many young people of Japanese descent who served in the U.S. armed forces during the war, despite the fact that the families they left behind were incarcerated.  Being forced to live in primitive conditions was difficult, and it is a testament to the resilience of the Japanese-Americans in this situation that they created the art they did, formed the schools they did and fought for their rights after their release as they did.

Because the display doesn't end with the war.  It goes on to show the work that was done afterwards to get the government to acknowledge the wrong that was done.  President Ford rescinded Executive Order 9066, which created the internment camps; President Carter established a commission to issue a report on what should be done about the incarceration, and President Reagan signed a law admitting the wrong and issuing reparations to survivors.  A dear friend of mine who was born in an internment camp received one of those checks.

Verdict: Really fine display of a story that needs telling, especially when certain groups are demonized as scapegoats for our nation's problems.

Another Fantastic Show at the NMAAHC Gallery

Where: American History Museum

When: closing January 6, 2019*

Several years ago, when the National Museum of African American History and Culture was still under construction, the American History Museum devoted one of its exhibit spaces to shows about African American History and Culture.  I've seen all of those shows, and they have, without exception, been terrific.  The curators are phenomenal - every show, and they've been quite different from each other, is set up so well, and the stories are told so clearly.  Based on this experience, I had very high hopes for the NMAAHC itself, and, as long time readers of this blog know, they were well exceeded.

I had thought that perhaps American History would turn that gallery to other purposes once the museum opened, but happily, it has not.  The current show, which will have closed by the time this post appears, tells the story of the "City of Hope" which was set up in 1968 on the National Mall, as a way to bring attention to issues of poverty in the United States, and to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, and his legacy.

Although the U.S. was a prosperous nation after the privation of WWII, many Americans were suffering in this land of plenty, especially persons of color, the elderly and those with disabilities.  The Southern Christian Leadership Conference set up a six week long "live-in" demonstration on the land between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, a literal city, with housing, schools and other places for residents to gather.

This display has many artifacts from this time period, including the TIME magazine cover with the Lichtenstein portrait of Robert F. Kennedy.  You walk through a wagon, like the ones that many people used to travel to DC from across the country.  You hear and see recordings of people living in what was called "Resurrection City."  There's a 3D printed model of the city, so you can get a sense of the scale of what was built.  My only criticism, and I mean this to be constructive, is that it was quite dark in the exhibit.  I assume this was in part due to the fragility of various items on display, but if the wall notes could have had some additional lighting, that would have been great.

Verdict: Another triumph for the NMAAHC Gallery at American Art.  Although this show has ended, do not miss whatever comes next!

*Due to the government shutdown, the Smithsonian is currently closed.

This is What Despair.com is Satirizing

Where: American History Museum

When: closing February 6, 2019

I think the Smithsonian must have changed the closing date for this Archives Center display, as I saw it in my mad rush to see as much as possible before the shutdown, when I was trying to see everything I could that was closing in January.  [Spoiler alert: I managed to see all the shows closing this month!]  This is now scheduled to run until early February, so I hope there will be plenty of time to see it.

I know Archives displays are not everyone's cup of tea; I'm frequently the only person looking at them, even when the museum is crowded with school groups and families.  But, having worked in libraries for 30 years now (how can this be?!?) I have a great fondness for the displays that librarians and archivists put on, so I make a point of going to see them.

Are they all fascinating?  Well, no.  Some of them only an archivist could love.  But sometimes, they are pretty good, and this is one of those times.  If you've ever rolled your eyes at an inspirational poster, and you think nothing could be more annoying than a Jonathan Livingston Seagull picture, you ain't seen nothing yet.

The 1920s were the heyday of these hangable bromides; work hard, pay attention to detail, care about the quality of your work - and you will get ahead.  In 1929, that was revealed to be a questionable assumption at best, and the posters disappeared.  Not that I have anything against hard work, attention to detail or caring about quality.  I care about those things a lot.  But I'm also a cynic, and looking at these made my eyes roll so far back in my head, I was afraid they would never roll forward.

In particular, I noticed one of a series of posters with the sayings of a fictional salesman, Bill Jones.  Jones advised workers to keep their nose to the grindstone and never slip up in what were called his words of wisdom.  One of them went: "Mistakes in every language cost money / The more interest, the less mistakes."  I would have been more willing to follow his advice, if he hadn't made a mistake in the English language in his own poster!  It's "fewer" mistakes Bill, not "less."

Verdict: Lots of fun, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't like motivational posters.

Best American History Archives Exhibit Ever

Where: American History Museum

When: closing April 29, 2018

The folks at the Archives Center in the American History Museum have outdone themselves with their current display of artifacts related to Ella Fitzgerald.  They've got more space, and they've made the most of it.  Having spent time putting up displays at a library where I used to work, I have a lot of sympathy and fellow-feeling for those who have to do what they can with less immediately interesting materials.  This time, they've done a lot.

A word about Fitzgerald: discovered at an Apollo Theater amateur night, she was one of the first female orchestra leaders.  She was an incredible vocal improviser; she literally made it up as she went along.  One of the items on display is an album cover from 1986, featuring a drawing of her by Picasso.  Pictured is a dress she wore in one of her performances, and there are several of her many awards on view as well.

But the real draw is a video, showing her singing.  How better to introduce Ella Fitzgerald to those who don't know her than by her voice?  Great idea and well executed.  The volume is loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to be disruptive to the rest of the wing.

Verdict: This display is worth a trip to American History all on its own.

From Fact to Fiction

Where: American History Museum

When: February 26, 2017

The Dibner Library sits on the first floor of the American History Museum, and the staff puts up a display in the outermost room to show off some of their holdings.

The current display is on 19th century science fiction, which was inspired by the tremendous discoveries of that time period in a wide range of scientific fields.  Flight, machines, exploration and electricity all played their part in advancing human knowledge and in serving as the basis for exciting reading.

Of course, viewed from the 21st century, it's clear that science fiction in tern inspired a new generation of scientists, inventors and explorers - a great example of a virtuous cycle.

Verdict: Have a glance at this small display while you're at the museum.

The Lengths People Would Go to Gather Bird Droppings

Where: American History Museum

When: through January 29, 2017

To be honest, I don't usually expect an exciting show when I go to the Small Documents Gallery at American History.  Not that the displays can't be interesting, but documents don't generally lend themselves to blockbuster exhibits.  The current display pushes the arcane aspect to the limit, I think.

In the 1800s, people began to use bird droppings (guano) as fertilizer.  Apparently, the stuff is tremendous, increasing yields exponentially.  And if there's money to be made, people will do anything, including sailing to remote islands to gather bird crap and cart it back home to sell.  Which they did.

The centerpiece of the display is the Norie Marine Atlas, which is considered the pinnacle of the printmaker's art, and the only copy in a public collection.  It's quite large (a double elephant folio) and not in the best of condition, but it's impressive nonetheless.  Coastlines were well filled out, but the interiors of South America were largely blank.

Of course, the guano trade ended in the way so many of these stories do: humans stepped in and harvested all of the bird crap (which was 200 feet high to start), destroying the sea birds' habitat in the process.  Sort of like the passenger pigeon, except with droppings.

Verdict: If you skip this, it's okay.  Unless you're interested in 19th century navigation or the history of man's relationship with birds.  Then you should see this.

A Day Brightener

Where: American History Museum

When: through January 8, 2017

I really love the Muppets.  I loved them when I was a kid watching Sesame Street, I loved them as a teenager when The Muppet Show was on, and I love them still.  I headed over to American History last week to see what I thought would be Fozzie Bear and the Swedish Chef, but somehow, turned out to be Cookie Monster and Elmo.  Since the Swedish Chef is one of my absolute favorites, I was somewhat disappointed, but seeing Cookie Monster from 1969 was pretty amazing.

The original Kermit is also on display; I'd seen him before, but if you haven't seen him, you really need to do so.  The Muppets attracted quite a crowd, which gladdens my heart.  Miss Piggy is still in the front display case with Carole Burnett's scrub woman costume and a dress belonging to Phyllis Diller, and she (Miss Piggy) generated a lot of interest from those in line making their way through security.

I took a photo of the incredibly long line to get into American History, but my phone and my email are not on speaking terms at present, so just imagine a line stretching from the door all the way to Constitution Avenue, and you have an idea of what the crowds are like.

Verdict: It's always a good idea to see a Muppet whenever you can.

Several Exhibits at American History

Where: American History Museum

When: until November and December, 2016

I took the afternoon off on Friday, just because you need an afternoon off every once in a while.  I met some friends for wine and pastries in Georgetown later in the day, and spent the time between work and my gathering at several museums.  Because that's what I do with a few free hours - I go to museums.

I saw three small shows at American History: one on giving in America - about philanthropy.  There was a time when the very wealthy and successful felt an obligation to give back to the society which had given them so much, and some of the great cultural and artistic institutions we all enjoy today, like the Smithsonian to take but one example, are the result of this giving back.  I was particularly happy to see a mention of Andrew Carnegie and his support for what came to be known as "Carnegie libraries."  The industrialist believed that libraries were a path to good moral character and self-improvement.  A noble sentiment that greater funding for public libraries would help to continue.

The second show I saw was from the archives and was on the subject of Cyrus Field and the first transatlantic cable.  Running a wire from England to the North America still strikes me as an amazing undertaking, even though I'm typing this on a desktop computer and sending it out over the Internet, accessible to billions of people worldwide.  The humble cable was the basis for modern telecommunications, and really did make the world a smaller, more connected place.

The final display I saw was on celebrations in African-American culture during segregation.  It's in honor of the opening of the new African-American museum and features many photographs from the Scurlock Studio, which was the subject of a large exhibit at American History several years ago.  The photos were chosen by a poll of Smithsonian staffers and visitors to the museum's website, and they chose well.  Birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries - all of them happy occasions - just what I needed to lift my spirits during what has been a contentious and stressful election year.

Verdict: The pick of this litter is the photographs - they're on display through December 27, on the lower level.  Who doesn't need a little extra joy?

Who Says Women Don't Have a Sense of Humor?

Where: American History Museum

When: through October 3, 2016

The only thing better than a trip to see a museum exhibit is a trip to see a museum exhibit featuring a Muppet.  The one I saw recently had memorabilia from Carol Burnett and Phyllis Diller, including Burnett's famous charwoman costume and Diller's fright wig.  I remember watching The Carol Burnett Show when I was a kid - those skits where Harvey Korman would crack up were a riot.  The charwoman was more than a comic figure; she was an intelligent person, hampered by her class and her gender. 

Diller made an entire career out of skewering the ideal vision of the wife and mother.  No happy homemaker she!  She pulled back the curtain and revealed that things were not all "Ozzie and Harriet" on the home front.

The best part of the display for me though, was Miss Piggy.  She's a hand and rod puppet, but she's so much more!  She's a high-maintenance diva, unafraid to speak her mind since she was first introduced in 1974.  In June 2015, she won an award from the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.  Of course, I had to look up Elizabeth A. Sackler, and it turns out she's a public historian and activist, as well as the daughter of Arthur Sackler, of the Sackler Gallery.  A juxtaposition of two of my favorite things: the Sackler and the Muppets.

Verdict: I hope you got a chance to see this fun display.

Bits and Pieces of American History

Where: American History Museum

When: through late August and early September

I went over to the American History Museum and saw several things, all easily managed in a lunch hour.

The first was a Tucker automobile, a great idea that flopped due to insufficient financial backing.  It stressed its safety features,  but what stuck with me was how great it looked.

Another small display is on the role of glass in science, in the center cases on the first floor.  The Smithsonian has a collection of over 1,000 pieces of scientific glassware, which is pretty impressive.  It makes you realize what a tiny fraction of the institution's collection you see when you go to the museums. 

Also on display at present is Prince's Yellow Cloud guitar, which I think is the guitar pictured in the portrait that was up at the National Portrait Gallery.  The black and white photograph really didn't do this instrument justice - when I say it's yellow, I mean it's YELLOW.

Verdict: If you're at American History, it's worth seeing the guitar and the car.  The glassware, well, that's more of an acquired taste...

More Musicians at American History

Where: American History Museum

When: through July 1, 2016

If you're interested in musicians, now's the time to visit the American History Museum.  In addition to the displays on Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles I discussed earlier, the Archives Center on the first floor has devoted their cases to photographs by Francis Wolff, a co-founder and the official photographer of Blue Note Records, an important American jazz label.

Wolff and his co-founder, Alfred Lion, first heard jazz in their native Berlin, and after they moved to the United States, they made a career of producing jazz albums.

The display consists of Wolff's gorgeous photographs and album covers that feature his images.  Even though I'm pretty ignorant of jazz and its history, I could still appreciate the talent behind the pictures.

Verdict: If you are interested in jazz history or photography, have a look at this display.  You could see it and the Sinatra and Charles displays in a lunch hour very easily.

Musicians at the American History Museum

Where: American History Museum

When: Charles through June 26; Sinatra through June 30, 2016

On the first and second floors of the American History Museum, there are large glass cases in the main entrance halls.  It's easy to pass by these without seeing what they contain, and that's what most visitors seem to do.  They are worth a look however, as they are full of interesting objects, which change from time to time. Two displays currently on offer showcase items associated with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.

Frank Sinatra was born in 1915, and the museum is marking the 100th anniversary of his birth with a sampling of his recordings, sheet music and clothing worn by the singer-actor.  Sinatra was perhaps the quintessential American popular singer, who managed to combine crooning with jazz.  The Smithsonian calls his work "America's finest body of recorded songs."  The small exhibit shows Sinatra's transformation from fresh-faced kid to Vegas headliner; in a way, he's a microcosm of America itself, all wide-eyed innocence in the 1940s, and more worldly-wise in the 1970s.

My one complaint about this display?  They mention "Anchors Aweigh," but they don't point you in the direction of the George Sidney exhibit at the Archives.  Blockbusters can attract people by virtue of their size; small shows need to help each other out!

Ray Charles also gets some space, in the cases on the second floor.  He managed to overcome racism, poverty and blindness to become a fantastically successful singer.  Even one of these obstacles would be a challenge, never mind all three.  He managed to combine many genres of singing over the course of his career; he can't be pigeon-holed into one type of sound.  He was also a very smart businessman, who was one of the first singers to negotiate the rights to his own master recordings.  Among other artifacts is a customized braille keyboard - it's interesting to see that technology up close.

Verdict: If you're at American History, be sure to allow a few extra minutes for these display cases.

Still There?

Where: American History Museum

When: through March 21, 2016

Yet another long period between blog posts - more bad weather, more work craziness, but also a new dog in the Museumgoer household, I'm happy to say.  All time consuming, but I'm hoping that I'll be back seeing and reviewing exhibits on a regular basis going forward.

The archives center at American History has a display up now on George Sidney, an Oscar-winning director from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood (roughly the 1930s - 1950s).  He pioneered new techniques in film, including underwater sequences, think Esther Williams for those of you old enough to know who she was, the mixture of live action and animation, shooting on location and 3-D (no, youngsters, that's not a new invention).  It's the 100th anniversary of his birth, so out of storage come documents about his life and work.

Among his more famous works was "Anchors Aweigh," starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.  The advertisements for the film exhorted moviegoers to "Get Gay!"  Ah, how slang has changed...

Sidney did a lot of the cinematography himself, and his sequence with Gene Kelly and Jerry the Mouse was groundbreaking.  Later in his career, he became one of the founding members of Hanna-Barbera.

Verdict: Another interesting, if not wildly exciting exhibit from our friends at the archives center - if you're a fan of old Hollywood, or if you'd just like a moment's rest from the crowds, give this a look.

The Archives Explores Jazz History

Where: American History Museum

When: through January 18, 2016

If you're not a jazz aficionado, you can be forgiven for not knowing much (or anything at all) about Billy Strayhorn.  An important figure  in the history of the genre, he was overshadowed by his far more famous contemporary and one-time partner, Duke Ellington.

In fact, their 28-year partnership was one of the most important in American musical history.  Ellington had what the exhibit notes describe as a "forceful persona" (wonder what exactly that's a euphemism for?), and Strayhorn seems to have gotten pushed into the back seat in their joint enterprises.  Scholars are now taking a closer look at Strayhorn and his contributions to America music, and this exhibit is on as part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth, on November 29th.

This show, which includes sheet music with notes, albums and photographs, depicts Strayhorn as enormously talented, but content to stay in the background, allowing others to take all the credit for work that was partly his.  It was only in his later years that Strayhorn went out on his own, away from Ellington.  The question I have is why was he content to remain in the background?  Why did he allow his contributions to be unattributed or treated as second-best?  Sadly, the exhibit doesn't provide an answer, which is unfortunate.  I checked on Amazon and there is a new biography out; clearly I'll need to read that in order to learn more about him.

One little piece of information I was able to take away was that arguably his most famous composition, "Take the A Train," was based on directions to Ellington's apartment - one of those neat facts to trot out at cocktail parties.

Verdict: If you're at all interested in jazz or in American musical history, this is worth a look.

50 years old and still topical

Where: American History Museum

When: through January 20, 2016

The Hart-Celler Act may be 50 years old, but the issue of immigration could not be more current.  This act shaped modern American society, by allowing people from Latin America and Asia to immigrate in large numbers to the U.S.

Prior to 1965, U.S. immigration policies favored white people seeking to come here from Northern Europe.  The Hart-Celler Act enabled immigrants from all over the world to come, and our food, popular culture and way of life generally have been changed (in my opinion, for the better) in many ways.  This is a far more diverse nation than it was before 1965, and I think many people are more open to learning about the experiences of those different from themselves than they were when they lived only with those who looked and lived just as they did.

The people you might recognize in the picture above include not only President Lyndon Johnson signing the legislation, but also his wife Lady Bird Johnson, Vice-President Hubert Humphrey and both Ted and Bobby Kennedy.

Verdict:  If you're at American History, stop and have a look at this display in a case on the 2nd floor (it's off to the side, not in the main hall).

It's a Grand Old Flag

Where: American History Museum

When: through September 28, 2015

On opening day of the Innovation wing of the American History Museum, visitors and LEGO Master Builders created the world's largest American flag constructed out of LEGOs.  This flag is now on display in the center of the first floor of the museum.

I happened to be there that day and saw people putting the bricks together, so I guess this is the first time something I've seen an artifact being created.  If I'd realized it was going to go on display, I would have joined in! 

It's great, although if I were a nitpicker, I would point out that stars don't really look star-like.  Other than that, it's quite an achievement, especially when you consider it was put together in a matter of hours.

One question: how exactly does one get to be a LEGO master builder, and is it too late for me to choose that as my career path?

Verdict: If you'll be at American History any time before the end of September, make sure you have a look at this.