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Community Corner

"Controversies: The More Things Change..."

Contact:
Ryan Hyman, F.M Kirby Curator /
rhyman@maccullochhall.org / (973) 538-2404 ext. 12



 



“Controversies: The More Things Change…”

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Currently
on display at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a new exhibition about
topics that helped shape our world.  “Controversies: The More Things Change…” opens new territory for the Museum,
presenting challenging subject matter that may not be suitable for casual
dinner conversation. This new exhibit explores topics
that helped shaped our world through local history events which had national
significance: medical experimentation, immigration, and the right to die.



 

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“Controversies: The More Things Change…” inspires people to consider,
even reconsider, the ways in which they think about these important, frequently
debated issues. The exhibit explores local history events which had national
significance: the 1833 Antoine LeBlanc murder trial and public execution; the
immigration issues of the late nineteenth century as depicted by political
cartoonist Thomas Nast, a Morristown resident, and the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlan
“right to die” case.



 



The
Museum is making a major departure in exhibit presentations with
“Controversies”.  Where most exhibits
typically provide detailed information about the objects on view,
“Controversies” offers limited information about the objects, essentially
forcing personal thought, and inspiring discussion, about the areas
represented.  Each object and concept in
the exhibit represents a part of New Jersey’s history —specifically Morris
County’s history.  The ideas expressed
through the historical objects in the exhibit, however, are not confined to New
Jersey boundaries— the significant concerns raised by the important and
controversial issues showcased in this exhibit continue to be debated
throughout the United States and the world.



 



“We
wanted to give our visitors a chance to participate in an exhibit in a new way—
to have a reaction without being guided by the institution’s interpretation of
what the objects represent, which labels typically provide,” said Executive
Director Carrie Fellows.  Instead,
curator’s books of supplementary information will be available within the
exhibit, should the visitor want to learn more, drawn from primary sources like
news articles, contemporary commentary, and images.   Visitors
are encouraged to leave comments about the themes presented.



 



The
exhibition was inspired when Fellows and Ryan C. Hyman, the Museum’s curator,
heard Burt Logan, Executive Director of the Ohio Historical Society speak at a
conference about the organization’s groundbreaking “Controversy: Pieces You
Don’t Normally See” exhibit, and its sequel, “Controversy 2: Pieces We Don’t
Normally Talk About”.  During his talk,
Mr. Logan strongly encouraged other museums to adapt the concept and develop similar
exhibits.  Inspired by the presentation, Hyman
and Fellows began discussing how they might create an exhibit using themes from
the Morris area’s rich history.



 



“Controversies: The More Things Change…” will be on view during
Museum touring hours through June 2014. Please note the subject matter may not
be suitable for all audiences. Visitor discretion advised.  Recommended for visitors 12 years of age and
up.



 



Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the
history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the
legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections,
exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house
and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The
last tour leaves at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12
$4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens at Macculloch Hall
Historical Museum are open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and Sundays 1pm - 4pm
unless posted otherwise. The gates are secured at all other times. Please check
our website for any holiday closings. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our
website www.maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook.  Macculloch Hall
Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.  Macculloch
Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey
Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.  Macculloch
Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons
Todd Foundation.



 



Image:
The Ignorant Vote ―Honors Are Easy, Thomas
Nast, Engraving Harper’s Weekly, December 9,
1876.  Collection of Macculloch Hall
Historical Museum, Morristown, NJ

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