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Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant smoked at least 20 cigars a day and, after a brilliant war victory, a nation of well wishers sent him more than 10,000 cigars. He later died of throat cancer.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Posted February 16, 2012
Brooke Sloan, Manager of Retail and Guest Services
The name alone inspires images of serene beauty, strength and style.
Recently, I asked one of our multi-talented Guest Service Associates, Samantha Deitz t, to paint a picture of the Queen of the American Camelot, as part of a Museum Store display. We offer a unique collection of Jackie O collectable replica jewelry by Camrose and Kross. I wanted something interesting and relevant to fill the space on the wall above the case.
I knew Sam was a talented artist, but I didn’t expect to be deeply moved by the expression and beauty she captured in her painting of Jackie. I think it must be the eyes. When you consider the joys and triumphs and tragedies the first lady endured and witnessed with those eyes, it amazes me that she was always able to maintain such a stoic grace. Her inward beauty was reflected outward by her elegant and occasionally bold fashion choices. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis never failed to inspire the country with her beautiful sense of style, even in the darkest of hours.
When you visit the Frazier History Museum, please stop in the Museum Store and take a look at our Jackie O Jewelry collection. Every piece of jewelry has a unique history of its own and the styles truly stand the test of time, just as Jackie O’s style and grace remain timeless in our hearts.
The Ultimate Reward—Volunteering
Posted February 14, 2012
Kristina Kimmick, Frazier History Museum Volunteer
I could not begin to count the number of times since I began volunteering with the Frazier Museum that people have asked me why? Why are you here? Why volunteer? What’s in it for you? Apparently volunteering is for retired school teachers who have grown bored with their gardening, not 23 year old college students who already have too much on their plate.
Well, I’m a big enough person to admit that when I initially contacted the museum about becoming a volunteer, it was for my own selfish, self-serving reasons. You see, I’m a History Major and I thought that spending the summer volunteering at a museum would look good on my resume. I know, I know, shame on me. But it’s a tough world out there, and you need any leg up you can get. Anyways, that one summer was about two years ago, and I’m still here.
That brings us back to the initial question of why? Well honestly, I fell in love with this place. I’ve walked through the galleries literally dozens of times, and I always find something new. There is no end to the treasures you’ll find here if you just stop and look. One of my absolute favorite artifacts in the entire museum is the Italian Armor in the Tudor Gallery of the Royal Arms Collection. The etching on this armor is absolutely beautiful, if you take the time to stop and actually look. I could go on and on about my favorite artifacts for days, but I’ll spare you that. (Click the photos for a larger image.)
Aside from being a happy little history nerd who likes to stare at 16th Century armor for hours on end, it also became about more than just myself. I do most of my volunteering with the Education Department and rarely miss a SECOND SATURDAY program. The people I’ve meet, the relationships I’ve built working with this department and doing these programs, have become much more important than resume building. Don’t get me wrong. I have learned so much more than I had ever anticipated. The staff has been fantastic in realizing that this is my chosen field, and they really go out of their way to help me learn and excel. But when it comes right down to it, it’s about the kids. I look forward to Second Saturdays probably more than the kids do. There are few things that bring me more joy than watching their little eyes grow wide and their mouths drop open because they are so in awe of what your showing them or what your teaching them. The best part is when they come back and they remember you, something you did or something you taught them. That is what’s in it for me. That is the ultimate reward.
The Only Constant in Life is Change!
Posted February 8, 2012
Kelly Wilkerson, Curator of Collections
This week, staff members from the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England are visiting the Frazier to help finish the transition to our new third floor layout. As many of our Museum regulars already know, we are expanding the third floor temporary gallery so that the Frazier can host even bigger and even better exhibitions. First, we moved the tournament ring to the first floor and now we are rearranging the Royal Armouries exhibition to occupy the tournament ring’s old third floor location.
Royal Armouries staff carefully removing artifacts from exhibition before the big case move begins!
Ten cases from the Armouries exhibition are being moved to new homes and over 100 objects had to be de-installed for the transition.
Such a big move requires a case specialist from Belgium, two Armouries staff members from England and a Frazier team of six staff members… not to mention all the staff, architects and construction workers who have helped with the project!
Frazier staff moving the Zulu case to its new location. The cases weigh over a ton with the large glass doors still attached. The doors are carefully taken off with large, industrial size suction cups that allow staff to grip the glass. The cases are then rigged up to special moving dollies, strapped into place and rolled to their new home.
Nyssa Midwaters (an Armouries conservator) and Giles Storey (an exhibition technician) are using this opportunity to inspect the condition of the Armouries’ objects. Nyssa and Giles are meticulously cleaning the artifacts and inspecting the mounts to ensure that all the artifacts are still properly supported. There are a couple of mounts that Giles may re-fabricate to provide even better support to fragile items. We’ll post pictures of his work if he builds new mounts!
Giles inspecting a sword in the Collections Storage area.
Nyssa cleaning a rifle from the Armouries collection.
Keep checking the blog over the next two weeks for more updates on the work being done at the Frazier by the Royal Armouries staff. Later this week we will be blogging about how we moved an eighteen-foot pike through the Frazier!
Use Your Imagination
Posted February 2, 2012
Mick Sullivan, Assistant Manager of Guest Services
Meeting many of our members at the Frazier History Museum is an education in and of itself, and one of the absolute best aspects of my job. The diversity our members represent, and the wide net of interests they cast, makes for enlightening moments nearly any day. One of my favorite encounters was with an older gentleman who came back to the admissions counter after spending the day enjoying the museum. He and his wife decided they’d like to join as members and we began chatting. I could have listened to him all day.
He was a retired history professor from a very reputable east coast school who had just relocated to Louisville and was dealing with some serious medical issues. Nonetheless, he was still very eager to share some of the most recent knowledge he’d gained about an obscure episode in British History. In listening to him share his new learnings, I could hear and see a near child-like excitement in him. It was obvious that he had a deep love for what he did – which in and of itself was refreshing and inspiring – but one sentiment in particular has lingered with me since that day. He told me how he would always tell his students, “The 
only way to truly understand history is to use your imagination.” It’s a concept I understood in action, but to hear it stated so simply, and by such a distinguished fellow was nearly earth shattering to me. It’s true – imagination is what turns dates and words in a book into a real story that can unfold in our minds. Through the visualization of this story, we become interested, even hooked, on the learning process. Hopefully it snowballs from there.
Our museum, with its fantastic collections and team of educators and interpreters, brings history to life as well as anything I’ve seen. It’s this life that often sparks imaginations and creates lifetime learners. Seeing this process continue daily is exciting and rewarding – and a constant reminder that even as adults, we should always use our imagination and always be learning. It’s a great example to set for younger generations – just as this gentleman set a great example for me.
Taking a Break
Posted January 31, 2012
Gwen Kirchner, Education Associate
I love working at the museum and the reason why is you just never know who you’re going to meet or what you’re going to discover from day to day. Case in point, I was up in the galleries with the school kids when I happened to glance into the theater space on the 2nd floor and saw four figures lying on the floor. It took me only a moment to realize it was our missing 3rd floor “Nansemond” tableau figures.
When construction started on the museum’s 3rd floor space the tableau had been taken apart. I assumed, wrongly, there was some super secret place in the museum the figures were going to be stored. Well, I guess that place is the old theater, which isn’t a bad spot. It’s quiet, out of the way … and totally open to the public’s viewing pleasure. Or, at least, it was for about 2 days.
Anyway, as long as it was open I felt it was my duty to give these guys a great photo opportunity. It had been so long since they’d gotten to relax I’d figured they would enjoy themselves. Lounge about, take a much deserved nap, chat, but I guess that isn’t in their nature. Even out of the public eye they maintain their stoic reserve. Or something like that.
The next time someone asks you about if the tableau move when no one is looking you can answer an emphatic no. They are totally professional and “on” all the time.
