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Re: display cases



1/18/02

Daniel and list,
      
      Soon after starting work here at UFT (Sept. 1990) I started pushing for exhibit cases here in our lobby.  I did a thorough search of both archival and library supplies catalogs, as well as art supplies stores, and discovered that the University Products catalog listed standing portable exhibit stands and upright cases and that Highsmith had  upright exhibit cases with locking, sliding glass doors, etc.  At the time, I was told to wait awhile to order until we figured out our archives and records center space needs.

        In April of 1993, I was approved first to buy the portable exhibit stands (for around $1,067--3 mauve colored panels with grey metal sides and feet--4'x6' high made by Multiplex--ordered from University Products catalog) and in 1995 I was approved for two of the glass-fronted exhibit lobby cases  for more permanent historical displays (for around $2,422--upright walnut-grain cases with 3 adjustable glass shelves and cream velcro fabric on back of cases made by Waddell and ordered from Highsmith catalog, 1995).  Both the portable exhibit stands and display cases have velcro backing to mount labels and matted photos/graphics upright and have worked out beautifully for their different purposes.

        The portable modular display stands are borrowed from the archives and used by other UFT functional groups--school secretaries, paras, retired teachers, etc.--here at headquarters to highlight related UFT photos/materials from the archives for a specific event. The lobby cases allow the archives to prepare small historical exhibits that remain up for months on UFT historical topics.  This, of course, interests and educates UFT members about our teacher union history here in New York and NYC.  UFT members and staff are constantly telling me how much they like our lobby  history exhibits.     

        There are, no doubt, pros and cons for built-in versus moveable "permanent" display cases, but having worked in many academic libraries and special collections, over the years, I think that moveable exhibit display cases have the edge, in that you have flexibility in design when it's needed for certain display reasons.  

      Most of you will have the University Products archival catalog information but maybe you aren't familiar with Highsmith.  I will list the websites/addresses/phones for both companies below:

                  University Products
                  517 Main Street, P.O. Box 101
                  Holyoke, MA   01040-1101
                  Phone: 800-628-1912       I
                  Website: www.universityproducts.com
                  (f.y.i.  Multiplex Exhibits Systems, portable exhibit stands,
                   can now be contacted directly at:   1-800-325-3350)

                  Highsmith, Inc.
                  the Complete Public, Academic & Special Library Catalog
                  W5527 Highway 106
                  P.O. Box 800
                  Fort Atkinson, WI  53538-0800
                  1-800-558-2110
                  website: www.highsmith.com  (permanent exhibit cases)

      Good luck with your exhibits cases question--I'm sure others will have additional suggestions.                    Sincerely,   Lucinda

Lucinda Manning
UFT Archives & Records Center
United Federation of Teachers
260 Park Ave. South                  
NY, NY  10010
212-598-9213