Week 4: Memorial Exhibit Preparation and Research
Hello Reader,
This week marked my first full stretch of hands-on work at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, and it was incredibly rewarding. I originally planned to be in on Wednesday and Thursday, but I ended up going in for five hours on Friday as well. I was fully invested in the project I had started and wanted to make progress while Katie, the curator, was available to support and guide me.
Research on Wednesday
When I arrived on Wednesday, Katie and I sat down to discuss four upcoming projects that the museum is preparing to take on. The first is the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Exhibit, which will be installed in the Music Room to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Helen’s passing. The second involves redrawing the docent tour map to reflect updated exhibit labels and room descriptions. The third project is updating the museum’s signage system, transitioning from QR codes (which are rarely used by visitors) to more accessible and permanent physical signage. Finally, the fourth project involves researching three pieces of European artwork from the late 1800s to the early 1900s collected by the Bartletts. The museum needs to verify the provenance of these works to ensure they weren’t displaced during or after World War II.Katie and I agreed that the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Exhibit should take priority since 2025 marks her centennial, which means the exhibit should have already been underway.
After settling on the memorial project, I joined another in-depth tour, this time led by a different guide to gain a broader perspective on the historical narrative shared with the public. The extra context was helpful as I began preliminary research back in Katie’s office. I spent the remainder of the day reading through materials related to Helen’s life, including her work in music and poetry, and started brainstorming the themes we might explore in the exhibit.
Thursday of Preparing and Organizing
On Thursday, I joined a morning tour for a Montessori elementary school group to observe how the museum’s history is shared with younger visitors. It was a valuable experience that gave me a better sense of how to make exhibits accessible and meaningful across different age groups.
Once the tour concluded, I returned to Katie’s office and began identifying the artifacts, photographs, and written materials we could include in the exhibit. My focus was on a selection of Helen’s sheet music, some of her personal belongings, excerpts of her poetry, and photographs of her with Frederick, her father, and her close circle. I also began drafting the exhibit signage, which includes a short biography emphasizing Helen’s love of nature, her artistic interests, and her impressive art collection, which was donated in its entirety to the Art Institute of Chicago. Her collection included major works by artists like Van Gogh and Picasso, highlighting her lasting impact on the arts.
Friday in the Archives
Although Friday wasn’t on my schedule, I decided to return to continue the momentum I had built. Katie was away most of the day in Miami for a conservation meeting, so I worked independently. I spent the day going through Helen’s poetry book to select pieces we might display alongside her other items, giving visitors a chance to engage more directly with her voice and creative work.
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Chicago World's Fair Program |
The Mystery of the Rooster: Solved? Maybe?
Before wrapping up on Friday, I took another look and may have found the elusive metal rooster sculpture from my original assignment. I was staring at the sculpture (angrily) when it suddenly reminded me of a weathervane. I looked it up in the system and found an unphotographed "Rooster Weathervane" that was allegedly sold a few years ago.
While I’m not ready to confirm it just yet, this could be a promising lead, and I’ll be following up next week to verify the details.
This week was a great reminder of how archival work and exhibit planning often go hand in hand. It’s been a privilege to begin telling Helen’s story in a meaningful and tangible way.
Maria Formoso
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