Heather Millard, Social History curator explains what she and the rest of the curatorial team were up to on the 12th of September.
It’s that time of year, where our curators join in the international #Askacurator day on Twitter, and we do a recap every year.
People ask us (and other curators) why we do these events….
Absolutely. Let me just tell you… https://t.co/xRT6if6ltF
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
It allows us to share our love for the collections, and share some of the exciting and entertaining stories that are associated with our sites and our collections.
We started off the day with our traditional tweet showing the (essential) supplies for the day….
Traditional picture of our supplies ready for #AskACurator day. Kettle is on and we’re ready to answer your questions pic.twitter.com/Sgimd14nTf
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
It normally gets at least one other museum asking to come share – this year it was the Black Country Living Museum
Can we have some please? We have only got Nice biscuits left 😱
— BCLM Curators (@BCLMCurators) September 12, 2018
Of course, we said yes.
Then we got busy answering questions – as ever there was an interesting range to inspire a range of answers from the curatorial team.
1 – We’ve got the Wife Taming Cradle (pictured), or the gooseberry measure. We’ve also got a heart studded with nails (protective charm) that’s currently on loan to @AshmoleanMuseum for Spellbound pic.twitter.com/EojtBt9sy6
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
Our Colleagues in the council got in on the act of asking questions too
Oooh, good questions! One of the bigger objects we have is Nellie – a train on display in #BradfordIndustrialMuseum a train that ran on processed human waste… https://t.co/0JtkehjnEV – for more info
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
#AskaCurator who’s the best doggo or pupper in your collection? Like this good boy raising money for the hospital in 1924 pic.twitter.com/YgIgp84C7C
— Madeline Odent (@oldenoughtosay) September 12, 2018
With a question like that, we had to talk about Bloss….
OMG I LOVE HER
— Madeline Odent (@oldenoughtosay) September 12, 2018
It’s always lovely to get responses like that!
Humour plays a great part in the day. However Those of a nervous disposition might want to look away for the next exchange. It began with a relatively innocent question
#AskACurator What is the creepiest thing you’ve come across?🕷️🕸️🦴☠️
— Molly Raycraft (@molly_b2b) September 12, 2018
It escalated quickly.
There is ALWAYS a doll!!! #AskACurator pic.twitter.com/IZ20jKBiHv
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) September 12, 2018
“Give me an accession number” (spooky voice) #AskACurator
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) September 12, 2018
Dolls are Creepy. Fact. We took great glee in packing up some of ours into acid free boxes and covering them with more acid free tissue…
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
You will never have a chronological timeline. xoxo The Dolls. pic.twitter.com/foESLABoJ5
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) September 12, 2018
They can see us. #TheDolls #AskACurator pic.twitter.com/fnoKDiCpQc
— Nova Scotia Museum (@NS_Museum) September 12, 2018
As ever, the day was a mix of humour, enquiry and sharing the love of museums and collections worldwide – as ever, we can’t share in this blog everything from the day, but we hope you’ll join us for it next year!
That’s us officially finished for the day – thank you for all your lovely questions, As ever, it’s been great fun getting to interact with everyone – same time next year? (Of course, we don’t mind being asked questions anytime!)
— Bradford Museums & Galleries (@BradfordMuseums) September 12, 2018
One Response
Hi,
I am very interested in the life and paintings of James Arundel1895-1960. I believe he was born in Bradford.
If I can find where they are I would like to come to Bradford to see them.
I have four of his paintings and just discovered one rolled up in a grandfather clock.
Would love to hear from you if you know where in the Bradford galleries they can be seen.
Kindest from John Beverley Green.