Croquet and Costumes

Being a public history student and having just moved to London, Ontario, I was anxious to check out some of the local museums. This past weekend, Doors Open London provided the perfect opportunity and I participated both as someone who works in a museum and someone who visits one.

One of the things I found myself noticing was how visitors were engaging with historical content. What quickly became evident is that everyone has their own style when it comes to visiting museums. There are the people who methodically move from room to room, reading each panel and looking at each artefact. There are the people who have really good, detailed questions which can be challenging to answer. Others go back and forth between rooms, making connections and double-checking information. Some people make their way quickly through each display, pausing briefly to take pictures of various artefacts. Parents try to engage their children and seniors are willing to share their past experiences.

I found myself thinking about the ways we present history and methods used to engage the public. Here are some of my favourites from the weekend:

The first was a question from museum staff: “which room was your favourite?” Initially, I didn’t really give much thought to the question. But as I went through each room, I found myself really examining each display because in the back of my head, I knew I might be asked this question and I wanted to have an answer ready. What is the feature in this room that most stands out to me? Do I like the colours and decor? Are there books in the room? Toys? What about the bed—does it look comfortable? And what is that over there in the corner by the window? The seemingly simple question had me noticing things that I may otherwise have passed over and it got me thinking critically about why I liked (or disliked) each room.

Another technique that I noticed in my museum travels was much more hands-on, aimed at getting kids (or those who are kids at heart) involved in period activities. A game of croquet was set up on the lawn, bringing visitors outside, and other hand-held toys were available for all ages to play with.

Short films drew in visitors with captivating images or footage and provided succinct overviews of the significance of a person, event or building. Interpreters dressed in costume were ready to talk about historic buildings and technologies. And, visitors were encouraged to write notes to the inhabitants of a house.

Beyond the practical “how?” for public engagement with history is the more theoretical “why?”. When I tell people I am studying history, I usually get one of two responses:

“That’s interesting! Can I tell you a story about…?”

Or

“Oh…history was my least favourite class in school.”

While it is not uncommon for people to dislike taking history in school, many enjoy learning about the past, especially when it is story-driven, personal, hands-on, or the topic is of interest to the individual. Genealogy and family history, for example, are subjects that are very popular, especially with services such as Ancestry or 23andMe. Another reason to learn about history is its impact on the present and potential for the future.

I am currently working at Banting House National Historic site. Known as the “Birthplace of Insulin,” Dr. Frederick Banting lived and worked in London where, in 1921, he woke up in the middle of the night with a hypothesis that would change millions of lives. As one of the co-discoverers of insulin, Banting is an incredibly significant figure for many who are affected by diabetes.

It is particularly interesting how the past, present and future all blend together to form one big story at Banting House. Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was a death sentence and insulin literally saved millions of lives. But insulin is just a treatment, not the cure and today research is being conducted all over the world to end diabetes. Outside of the Banting House is the Flame of Hope. Lit in 1989 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the flame will continue to burn until a cure is found. When that happens, the scientists responsible for the discovery will travel to London to extinguish the flame and receive the contents of a time capsule created in 1991, in honour of what would have been Banting’s 100th birthday.

In this way, history becomes relevant, connecting the past to the future and hopefully providing a reason to engage. I’m looking forward to my next round of museums, especially as I think more about how we can use technology and digital techniques to further engage audiences.