2005 Year in Review

What Is Happening at Morrison’s Heritage Museum?

If you ask this question of the dedicated people working at Morrison’s Heritage Museum during the past several weeks, they will probably roll their eyes or sigh. A detailed answer would take too much time to explain, but Orville Goodenough and I will try.

Imagine handling EVERY SINGLE ITEM in your home to decide whether or not to keep it, what category it fits, and where it will be stored on your lettered-and-numbered shelves. Then, record this information on detailed, color-coded note cards.

A large portion of the museum’s inventory of artifacts has been recorded on a new card file and cross-referenced with books that record our acquisitions. When that is completed, this information will be transferred to a computer database.

Much new shelving is in place, with hundreds of artifacts and materials assigned to specific locations. Dozens of acid-free, textile boxes are stacked nearly to the ceiling, awaiting photographing and storage of garments, quilts, furs, and rugs.

The goal of Morrison Historical Society is to create a place for everything and have everything in its place. Then, we will remove them from their storage places and build new exhibits for our opening Friday, April 29. The museum will be open Friday through Sunday from 1-4. After Memorial Day and through Labor Day, we will be open on Wednesdays, also.

Your support through membership in the Historical Society or donations is always needed and appreciated. Contact new Board president Judy McCulloh at 772-3224 or the museum via mail: P.O. Box 1, Morrison, IL. Individual and business memberships are $10 per year; a couple may join for $20. If you are age 65 or older, purchase a lifetime membership for $100.

Reorganization, cataloging, and interesting programs for the 2005 season lead us to expect an exciting year at Morrison’s Heritage Museum. Become a part of it.

by Stephanie A. Vavra, Guest Columnist
March 4, 2005