We’re all counting down the days until March Break, and I couldn’t be more excited to have a week full of fun events lined up to keep your families entertained! This year we’ll be blasting off with daily space-themed activities that coincide with our Astrophotography and Vintage Space Toy exhibits currently on display.
I had to update my personal information form at the dentist recently, and I smiled at myself as I wrote archivist under profession. I knew what was coming as soon as I handed the form over the counter. As predicted, the receptionist scanned the page to make sure every field had appropriate content, and said, “Archivist, oh, what’s that?”
After another month (mostly) working from home, with only my cat to keep me company, I am thrilled to be back in the archives! In January, I devoted most of my time to bringing more content online, specifically photographs. I’ve been busily updating descriptions in the collections database to get as many digitized photographs up online as possible. I’ve also spent a lot of time scanning photographs on loan from some of our community members, continuing the quest to preserve snapshots of everyday life in L&A throughout the twentieth century.
I am writing this blog on the day the biggest snowstorm has hit in years! I honestly sit here in a bit of awe that we are still in the midst of this pandemic almost 24 months later and that I am yet again working from home. But alas, here we are and do want to know the most scary thing of all? - I am left alone with my curatorial thoughts… so many of those and let me tell you... yikes!
Do you know that feeling of joy when you’re unwrapping a gift and you’re pretty sure you know what to expect? You open the gift box, you unwrap the object and suddenly you’re holding something completely different in your hand! That was exactly what I felt this past week when opening a box of artifacts.
Let me start by saying I feel a bit like the guy who has been on the end of the bench most of the hockey game, but late in the 3rd period with everyone else tired and sore I am put in and I happen to be in front of the net when a shot from the point deflects off my leg and goes into the goal and we win the game. Will I be recorded as scoring the winning goal? Yes. Was my play the main reason the team won? Not really. Will I tell the story of my winning goal for years to come? Of course, I will!!
Please note that the L&A County Museum & Archives is currently closed until January 27, 2022. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
It’s looking very festive in the Museum! Community Christmas Trees are now on display until December 31st. View trees decorated by some of our amazing community groups and organization, including:
When the Covid-19 pandemic began so too did the sweeping war metaphors to describe the global and personal situations we were facing. Our armies of front-line health care workers led the charge against the enemy, leaving the rest of us to navigate the home front (literally in our homes). The list goes on. The similarity between war and this pandemic I can’t get out of my head this Remembrance Day is that of how the world continues after an event that irrevocably changes it.
Over the years, you may learned - without even realizing it - that your real life is ‘ordinary’.
We have all seen those photographs. Of families on blankets at golden hour. Those photographs are beautiful. They are to be cherished, for sure. But photographs like that - studio or posed photos - teach us that only special things should be photographed. You, in your best clothes. You, with your best smile toward the camera. The kids, hugging and grinning, squared on to the photographer.