|
Dear Friends, On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library AND the 25th Anniversary of the Society of Winterthur Fellows, 224 graduates of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation from 23 states and 2 foreign countries returned to the museum on September 21 for a three-day reunion, to reconnect, be inspired, share, learn, and celebrate. And what a celebration it was! From the first class of 1954 through the class of 2004, graduates and current students had the opportunity to listen to presentations about ground-breaking research and imaginative approaches to exhibitions and collecting, to visit the museum, library, gardens, conservation laboratories, and estate, to reconnect with past and present faculty and staff, to examine (and purchase) publications by graduates, and to talk. Boy, did they talk! (see the Photo Gallery) The organizers were constantly trying to shepherd participants to one event from another, only to find people engaged in conversation that could NOT be interrupted! Believe me, this is what the planning committee had hoped for--an event where everyone did what he or she wanted to do and where there was really something for everyone. This event was the result of months of planning by a host of Winterthur staff members as well as other SOWF volunteers. The planning committee was ably chaired by Margaret Little (WUDPAC 1988), vice-president of the SOWF), and the symposium was chaired by Lois Olcott Price (WPEAC '73, WUDPAC '80). These two extraordinary volunteers were assisted by Gretchen Buggeln (WPEAC '87), Alex Carlisle (WUDPAC '95), Connie Hershey (WPEAC '66), Charles Hummel (WPEAC '55), Mary McGinn (WUDPAC '94), Page Talbott (WPEAC '74), Neville Thompson, and John Sweeney (WPEAC '54). Further assistance came from Tracey Beck (WPEAC '92), Leslie Green Bowman (WPEAC '80), Wendy Cooper (WPEAC '71), Joy Gardiner (WUDPAC '88), Gary Kulik, Katrina Nelson, and Debra Hess Norris (WUDPAC '80). Of course, Pat Elliott was an invaluable source of assistance throughout the entire planning of the event, as well as during the actual reunion when she enthusiastically greeted and assisted attendees all weekend long. The symposium, "Educated at Winterthur: A Half-Century of Achievement," was a resounding success. All 21 presenters (on 15 subjects) were thorough, mindful of the time, and conscientious in their preparation, as they spoke on a wide variety of topics that suggested the breadth and depth of our graduates' impact on the museum field. The keynote talk by Charles Hummel, "The Winterthur Program, '51 to '01: Are We There Yet?" was both entertaining and stimulating, as we learned about the history of the program, saw pictures of us as students, and listened to Charles's analysis of the challenges that lie ahead. The only non-Winterthur Fellow to speak was Stephen Weil, emeritus senior scholar with the Center for Education and Museum Studies at the Smithsonian Institution and former Deputy Director of the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, who, in "Training for Tomorrow's Museums," urged Winterthur, and other institutions training museum fellows, to offer as part of their curricula preparation in three areas: community relationships, interdisciplinary collaboration, and accountability and evaluation. In fact, many other speakers had addressed these issues in their talks earlier in the symposium, suggesting that Winterthur graduates are well aware of the importance of these issues. Other speakers included Morrie Heckscher (WPEAC '64), Jane Nylander (WPEAC '61), Catherine Croft (WPEAC '90), Christine Leback Sitwell (WUDPAC '77), Wade Lawrence (WPEAC '87), Susan L. Buck (WUDPAC '91), Richard C. Wolbers (WUDPAC '84). Christopher Bensch (WPEAC '81), Ellen Snyder-Grenier (WPEAC '83), Margaret K. Hofer (WPEAC '91), Ellen Paul Denker (WPEAC '78), Cary Carson (WPEAC '65), Beth Twiss-Garrity (WPEAC '83), Tracey Beck, Amber Auld Coombs (WPEAC '98), Debra Hess Norris, Nora Kennedy (WUDPAC '86), Leslie Guy (WUDPAC '95), and Marian Kaminitz (WUDPAC '84). In addition, Wendy Cooper, Mark Bockrath (WUDPAC '81), Mary Jane Taylor (WPEAC '92), Brock Jobe (WPEAC '72), and Joy Gardiner, served as session chairs. Abstracts of many of these talks are posted on the Society's web site, www.sowf.org. Another presentation, that given on Saturday night by Leslie Greene Bowman, Winterthur's Director, was met with rapt attention and keen interest. Many who attended the reunion had not yet had the opportunity to hear Leslie's vision of Winterthur: An American Country Estate. Told through slides and vibrant word pictures, this vision, enthusiastically endorsed by Winterthur's board at its retreat in September, will be costly; but most who have heard it agree that H. F. du Pont's wishes for his legacy will be carried out when once again visitors have the opportunity to learn about and visit the multiple facets of America's premier great country estate. A primary goal for the reunion planners was to attract as many participants as possible, with cost being kept sufficiently low to encourage those with limited resources to attend. Registration was kept at $75, and Wendy Cooper and Joy Gardiner located free housing with local alumnae and staff for all who wanted this option. In order to keep the price of the weekend low, contributions from a small number of graduates were solicited, resulting in a substantial subsidy that will help underwrite the difference between the costs and the income for the event. The planning committee would like to recognize and thank these generous individuals, groups, and institutions for their financial support: Leslie Greene Bowman, Patrick Butler (WPEAC '81), David Dangremond (WPEAC '76), M'Lou Fales (WPEAC '54), Nonnie Frelinghuysen (WPEAC '78), P. L. Harrison, Morrie Heckscher, Charles Hummel, Gary Kulik, Greta Layton, Millie McGehee (WPEAC '75), Kathy Menz (WPEAC '76), Sumpter Priddy (WPEAC '77), Jules Prown (WPEAC '56), Damie Stillman (WPEAC '56), Page Talbott, Gib Vincent (WPEAC '72), Greg Weidman (WPEAC '74), the Office of Advanced Studies, the SOWF Board of Directors, the University of Delaware/Winterthur Program in Art Conservation, and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. So what's next? We're energized and excited about the future! Plans are still in progress, but stay tuned for an invitation to a cocktail party in New York City during Antiques Week, when Winterthur will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a variety of events, including the opening of the loan exhibition Shells, Scrolls & Cabrioles: American Furniture from Winterthur at the Winter Antiques Show. We are also planning a seminar, open to all, in late February or early March, on the subject of how to publish your research in a variety of venues and formats. Furthermore, we hope to schedule an event in conjunction with An American Vision: Henry Francis du Pont's Winterthur Museum, opening in May 2002, at the National Gallery, that will feature highlights of Winterthur's collection. Those who attended the reunion were encouraged (incessantly) to return their evaluation forms and to give us their input about future programming. For those who couldn't make it to reunion, please let us know your thoughts. At the annual meeting on September 22, Lisa Lock, WPEAC '92, ably demonstrated the multiple aspects and capabilities of the SOWF web site. Included there are the addresses of all the Society's officers and board members. Please feel free to write any of us. Also please take advantage of the web site as a place to post (for free) upcoming events at your institution, news about your research and articles and books you've written, and general information about you and your family. In conclusion, I'd like to personally thank all those who contributed to the success of this past weekend and all those who found time to attend. In this difficult national period of mourning, fear, and loss, I was heartened by the desire of so many of us to connect with colleagues and friends made at Winterthur. As Mary Ellen Hern (WPEAC '87), so beautifully wrote to Leslie Bowman on September 13, "In this time of national crisis and confusion, we in the field need to be reminded of why we are in the culture business, how we can inspire and elevate our society, how we can put the present in context, and how we (and our organizations) support our communities through good times and bad." Reunion weekend at Winterthur served as a needed affirmation for us all and we are so glad that more than one third of our alumnae were able to join us. We look forward to welcoming more of you back in the future. Page
Talbott |
Reunion
Weekend and Conference