Friday, August 28, 2015

Children's Corner work begins

Today I started dressing the mannequins and dress forms with children's clothing!  We have a wonderful collection of adorable pieces from all time periods. 

In addition to dollhouses, games, and toys, the next Keller Gallery exhibition "Children's Corner" will feature some selections from our children's clothing collection that have never been on view!  Here is a sneak peek...




Friday, August 21, 2015

McKinley's favorite poem

Chris is busy working on a new McKinley book that will be sold exclusively in our Museum Shoppe!  Today he had us read some of what he had written, which includes some diary entries McKinley made during the Civil War.

He mentioned that "The Tear" by Lord Byron was one of his favorite poems.  I looked it up, and I can see why a young soldier would be enamored with it.

Here is a picture of William McKinley at age 18, followed by the text of the poem:





The Tear
Lord Byron


When Friendship or Love
Our sympathies move;
When Truth, in a glance, should appear,
The lips may beguile,
With a dimple or smile,
But the test of affection's a Tear.

Too oft is a smile
But the hypocrite's wile,
To mask detestation, or fear;
Give me the soft sigh,
Whilst the soul-telling eye
Is dimm'd, for a time, with a Tear.

Mild Charity's glow,
To us mortals below,
Shows the soul from barbarity clear;
Compassion will melt,
Where this virtue is felt,
And its dew is diffused in a Tear.

The man, doom'd to sail
With the blast of the gale,
Through billows Atlantic to steer,
As he bends o'er the wave
Which may soon be his grave,
The green sparkles bright with a Tear.

The Soldier braves death
For a fanciful wreath
In Glory's romantic career;
But he raises the foe
When in battle laid low,
And bathes every wound with a Tear.

If, with high-bounding pride,
He return to his bride!
Renouncing the gore-crimson'd spear;
All his toils are repaid
When, embracing the maid,
From her eyelid he kisses the Tear.

Sweet scene of my youth!
Seat of Friendship and Truth,
Where Love chas'd each fast-fleeting year;
Loth to leave thee, I mourn'd,
For a last look I turn'd,
But thy spire was scarce seen through a Tear.

Though my vows I can pour,
To my Mary no more,
My Mary, to Love once so dear,
In the shade of her bow'r,
I remember the hour,
She rewarded those vows with a Tear.

By another possest,
May she live ever blest!
Her name still my heart must revere:
With a sigh I resign,
What I once thought was mine,
And forgive her deceit with a Tear.

Ye friends of my heart,
Ere from you I depart,
This hope to my breast is most near:
If again we shall meet,
In this rural retreat,
May we meet, as we part, with a Tear.

When my soul wings her flight
To the regions of night,
And my corse shall recline on its bier;
As ye pass by the tomb,
Where my ashes consume,
Oh! moisten their dust with a Tear.

May no marble bestow
The splendour of woe,
Which the children of Vanity rear;
No fiction of fame
Shall blazon my name,
All I ask, all I wish, is a Tear.

(October 26, 1806)

NEW DATES for Keller Gallery!

After working on 2016 planning last week, I have revised and organized my plans for the Keller Gallery and wanted to share it with all of you!

Children's Corner
October 16, 2015 - March 13, 2016
This exhibition will feature the Museum's vast collection of vintage toys, as well as a special section dedicated to dollhouses borrowed from miniature enthusiasts from our community.  Contact our Curator if you would like to participate.

Wise About Eyes
April 1 - June 12, 2016
Wise About Eyes is designed to educate Ohio's children and their caregivers about ways that they can keep their eyes healthy and safe. Presented by Prevent Blindness Ohio and the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in partnership with the Ohio Association of School Nurses, the Opticians Association of Ohio, the Ohio Optometric Association, and the Ohio Ophthalmological Society.

Through the Lens:  
The Photography of Frank Dick
June 25 - November 6, 2016
Frank Dick, whose story was featured in the book and exhibition A Secret Gift as a B. Virdot letter writer, was also a meticulous amateur photographer.  He captured forgotten images of Canton*s past, as well as artistic landscapes and still lifes.   This exhibition will feature his work from the late 19th century through the 1920s.

Norman Rockwell's Home for the Holidays
November 18, 2016 - January 31, 2017
During his forty-seven year affiliation with The Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell was celebrated for his special holiday cover illustrations, from Thanksgiving, Christmas and The New Year to Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day.  This exhibition featuring original Saturday Evening Post cover tearsheets includes many of Norman Rockwell*s most memorable and enduring holiday images. (A traveling exhibition from the Norman Rockwell Museum)

Mom, What's That?
March 2017 - August 2017
Many items that used to be commonplace are now quaint nods to the past.  You might remember them, but do your kids know what they are?  This exhibition will feature artifacts from the late 20th century, such as rotary phones, typewriters, VCRs, and lots more!

The Pan-American Exposition
September 2017 - January 2018
While shaking hands at the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, President McKinley was shot.  This exhibition will explore what happened in the eight days between the assassination and McKinley's death.  We will also examine the Exposition itself, what it was, why it was held, and what new technologies were on display.

Inverted Intersections

February - August 2018
This exhibition will feature vintage photos of downtown Canton from the Ramsayer Research Library that were used in Archivist Mark Holland's popular Inverted Intersections lecture series.

Ida McKinley's Dresses

September 2018 - January 2019
Ida McKinley's gowns are currently undergoing conservation treatment to stabilize them so we can safely display them.  This will be the FIRST TIME this many Ida McKinley gowns are on exhibit all at once! 

All dates and topics are subject to change.  Please check the Museum's website to see what is currently on view before you plan your visit!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

It's a wrap!

Movie Camp was last week and WOW did we have fun!  This year's theme was McKinley Terminator.

Special thanks to the crew of Nightwine Productions for donating their time again this year.  The kids had a fabulous time and learned so much from pariticpating in this camp.  There is at least one who wants to work in the film industry when he grows up, so this experience will be invaluable to him!

Jim did a really neat thing with the script this year. He left it open ended, and let the kids come up with how they wanted to fight the Terminator.  They came up with some REALLY creative ideas!

Here are just a few of the highlights from Movie Camp.  Visit our Facebook page for lots more, including video clips.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the date and location of the World Premiere!