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Re: Presidential Libraries



Dean may be barking up the right tree with the dog memorabilia. Oddly, I
attended a display of dog collars at Leeds Castle, England, on one of my
jaunts there. Collars of all sorts...glittery ones, those motorcycly-looking
studded ones in black leather associated with Rottweilers, braided ones,
etc. The exhibition drew quite a crowd as lots of people like canines. They
were selling dog sketches, collars, treats, etc., like crazy.

On another note, the Presidential Aircraft Display at Wright-Patterson is
well done. I recall that in Truman's plane there were newspapers of that
time, and some of President's memorabilia. We had entered the nuclear age.
Those things really brought home the gravity of the burdens that our
presidents bear, the things they are privy to and the weighty decisions that
they make. Perhaps the curator at Wright-Patt might offer some other
suggestions.  JFK's plane is there now, as is LBJ's (I recall something
about Lady Bird...don't recall specifically), and one of Dwight D.
Eisenhower's. Perhaps some others have been added since I was there last
time. Wright-Patt does a swell job of display....lots of neat things
suspended from the ceilings. If ever in the Dayton area, find time to take
that museum in. It is free, has great outer buildings with fantastic
displays, and the bookstore is heaven. Great IMAX as well.

Sharon Lee Butcher
Reference Librarian
AEDC Technical Library
100 Kindel Drive, Ste C212
Arnold AFB, TN  37389-3212
931-454-4430
Fax:  931-454-5421
sharon.butcher@arnold.af.mil


-----Original Message-----
From: Dean DeBolt [mailto:ddebolt@MAIL.UWF.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 10:50 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: Presidential Libraries


Having visited six or seven Presidential libraries, here's my
comments for the average tourist.

(1)  Most folks that I've seen on visits to Truman, Eisenhower,
FDR, etc., like to see the objects of art that were given to the
President.   If there is a biography section, it should not be
too long or too detailed....and should hit on the highlights of
the Presidency or career.   Visual seems to predominate
over text.

(2) You should plan for various audiences.  I visited the FDR
Library when my daughter was only 5 and to her it was another
boring history stop of Daddy's...but she got really interested
when she found the exhibit case about Fala, FDR's dog for
on display was his collar, water dish, blanket and clothes,
etc....and the display case was LOWER--just right for kids.
THAT...to me was a fantastic piece of museum expertise.

I have a former U.S. Representative who has talked about
an "exhibit" of his career but it has been difficult to identify
"highlights" of a man who served his area and constituency
well, but was not a heavyweight in terms of conflict, or intro-
ducing and shepherding major national legislation.

Dean


Dean DeBolt
University Librarian
Special Collections and West Florida Archives
John C. Pace Library
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL  32514-5750
Tele:  850-474-2213;   Fax:  850-474-3338

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