By Libby Goodreau, 2018 Tom Desilets Memorial Intern
June 15, 2018
Hi! My name is Libby Goodreau and I am the 2018 Tom Desilets Intern for this summer. I am so grateful to be chosen for this opportunity that will allow me to gain insightful experience about how a museum functions. Within my first few days here, I was already doing museum work. The Framingham History Center will be undergoing several changes this summer and one of those is implementing new climate-controlled display cases. In order for this to happen, the objects from the existing cases must be removed. This involved opening the cases and wrapping the existing objects in acid-free tissue paper and then storing them in blue archival boxes. I did this in both the Edgell Memorial Library, as well as the Old Academy building. I had already learned so much in terms of how museums care for their objects.
The next day, I was introduced to their catalog database, PastPerfect, which is where the objects are recorded electronically. This was what I was most eager about because I hope to become a registrar in a museum one day. Stacen, the Curator, trained me about how accession and object I.D. numbers are used, but due to many cataloging inconsistencies in the past, several records are wrong and must be updated. This is the bulk of what I will be doing with PastPerfect. It was hard to get used to the system the first few tries, but after having done it for a few days, I feel comfortable and I like it a lot. Sometimes, I get to look at the original registers for reference and do some detective work to figure out why something was cataloged incorrectly.
Aside from PastPerfect, I have been working with the Collections Manager, Katie, on taking inventory of a cobbler’s bench. Also, working with Katie means that I am surrounded by so many beautiful garments. Historical fashion is something that interests me and I think it is amazing to actually see the clothing in person. I can appreciate the braiding, applique and lace of these garments because unlike today, they weren’t mass-produced cheaply in a factory, but instead show the hands of the artisans. After working on the cobbler’s bench, it proved difficult for me, so I have switched to a different task. It makes me realize that when you have an internship, it is really about what you want to get out of it. I have already learned so much about how a museum works and this is information that isn’t found in a book or online. I think the best way to learn is to actually simulate yourself and acquire knowledge through experience. I am really enjoying my time here and I’m excited to see what I’ll learn next.