<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse; "><ul dir="LTR"><ul dir="LTR"><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">2) Minimal interpretation of the objects. Studies show that layers of content serve to desensitize the visitor. So for this exhibit, the Ohio Historical Society felt it was important to allow these objects to stand on their own. </font></span></p>
</ul></ul><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p></span>A rather unfortunate choice of words vis-a-vis the sheepskin condom. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; border-collapse: collapse; ">Desensitize? perhaps; stand on their own? not in my limited experience.</span><div>
<br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM, Angela O'Neal <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:aoneal@ohiohistory.org">aoneal@ohiohistory.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">Dear</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <font size="2" face="Arial">SOA Members,</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">I wanted to give you information about a new exhibition that will be opening at the Ohio Historical Center on April 1</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><sup><font size="2" face="Arial">st</font></sup></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">. Official announcements of the exhibition will go out to the media and the public on Tuesday,</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <font size="2" face="Arial">March 8</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><sup><font size="2" face="Arial">th</font></sup></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">, so we are asking that you not share this information widely until that time.</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> </span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">The real stuff of history is not contained in textbooks, but in the communities and in the lives of the real Ohioans. At the Ohio Historical Society we are opening a new exhibit,</font></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i> <font size="2" face="Arial">Controversy: Objects You Normally Don’t See</font></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">, that presents some of the real stuff of Ohio history. We will be exhibiting objects that if discussed, often are discussed in whispered tones. The objects are</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">:</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> the electric chair from the old Ohio Penitentiary, a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, a sheepskin condom, a “crib-bed” human cage used to restrain adult patients at a state mental institution, and a thumb mitt once used to prevent children from sucking their thumbs.</font></span></p>
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<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i><font size="2" face="Arial">Controversy: Pieces You Don’t Normally See</font></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> will be in an exhibition gallery that is separated from the main gallery space. The exhibit will be open from April 1 – November 20, 2011. It is open to adults 18+ or those accompanied by an adult. There is a Special Admission fee of $5 that is in addition to the General Admission fee, for members and the general public. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">You may be asking why would we choose to display these objects? In reality, these are all elements in Ohio’s history. As we know, history can be complex, controversial and messy. It’s important to find a safe space to explore controversial subjects. We think this is one of the attributes of this exhibit, to generate conversations about difficult issues in Ohio’s history. Discussion groups at the Ohio Historical Society will be a part of the community-based elements of this exhibit. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">In addition, this exhibit is innovative for the Ohio Historical Society in that it embraces two important emerging trends in the museum world. These are:</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> </span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<ul dir="LTR"><ul dir="LTR">
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">1) A move toward a more participatory dialog between the museum and the visitors. In this exhibit we are encouraging the visitors to bring their thoughts and voices to the museum. We are embracing a diverse broad-based community by thinking outside the box in how we operate. Hopefully this will expand the general awareness about the relevance of history, and specifically about the resources available for all visitors at your Ohio Historical Society.</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> </span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">2) Minimal interpretation of the objects. Studies show that layers of content serve to desensitize the visitor. So for this exhibit, the Ohio Historical Society felt it was important to allow these objects to stand on their own. </font></span></p>
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<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">We recognize that these objects may stir strong reactions in some of your communities, with your colleagues, or with you and your family. History is not just a part of the past, it is alive and it influences our lives today. So our intent is not to cause distress but to allow the power of historical objects to create meaningful discussions which are vital to a free and democratic society. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">If you have questions or concerns about the exhibit we encourage you to first visit the exhibit. Additionally, we want to respond to your concerns so please call or email</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> me or Sharon Dean, Director of Museum and Library Services at</font></span><span lang="en-us"> </span><a href="mailto:sedan@ohiohistory.org" target="_blank"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><u><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Arial">sedan</font></u></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><u><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Arial">@ohiohistory.org</font></u></span><span lang="en-us"></span></a><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> or (614) 297-2501. </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">Angela</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><a name="12e8c5229b708bf5_"><span lang="en-us"></span></a></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">Angela O’Neal<br>
Director,</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <font size="2" face="Arial">Collections Services</font></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">Ohio Historical Society<br>
(614) 297-2576 </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><a href="http://www.ohiohistory.org" target="_blank"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><u></u></span><u><span lang="en-us"><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Arial">www.ohiohistory.org</font></span></u><span lang="en-us"></span></a><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial"> </font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR" align="CENTER"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font size="2" face="Arial">OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY Connect with the past. Create a better future.</font></span></p>
<p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><font face="Arial"> </font></span></p>
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