The mock-up of the CBS studio from Election Night in 1960 was pretty cool.
The "Ich ben ein Berliner" note card. Very cool.
Robert Kennedy's desk when he was AG. I am sure that you have followed some of the controversy about Bobby's legacy at the Museum.
Family, in a time of crisis.
JFK's Desk. From the HMS Resolute. JFK was the first PotUS to use it in the Oval Office.
A copy of a diplomatic cable regarding the First Lady's visit to India. There is a great line here about shopping for clothes.
My mother remembers this day with a clarity that I can not describe.
If you can make out the sign, those museum specialists move quickly.
Victura.
This is why I love presidential libraries. :) (What is controversial? RFK's legacy, or RKF's place at the library?)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hope you took those pictures with the flash off.
Sarah, of course the flash was off! The signage said "No Flash Photography" and that is to protect the exhibits! See, I can be reasonably persuaded by simple requests.
ReplyDeleteThe controversy is about what the family thinks RFK's legacy should be at the library.
The Times had a piece a week or so ago.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/us/12rfk.html?pagewanted=all
Ah, I missed that!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm very glad the JFK has a sign about flash photography. Last time I was at the LBJ, they didn't. People who use their flash in museums make me insane. Regardless of whether or not there's a sign, flash is bad, bad, bad. Light damage is cumulative and irreversible.
Which would you prefer to get rid of? Flash photography or the binding of documents with rubber bands?
ReplyDeleteBOTH!
ReplyDeleteBoth are terrible and destructive to the historical record.
Apart from stupidity, and followed closely by avarice, what do you think the biggest challenge is to maintaining a version of the historical record?
ReplyDeleteIt's a tie between money and space. Papers and records take up a lot of room, and most archival repositories eventually run out. Everyone has collections in off site storage at some point. But it costs money to build new buildings to house the records. It costs money to pay professionals to arrange, describe and serve them out. Archival quality storage folders and boxes are expensive. It's expensive to install and maintain adequate environmental controls. And more and more, donors want to sell their papers rather than donate them. And frankly, there are only a very few repositories in the States that can afford to purchase.
ReplyDelete