National Army Museum, Chelsea - cap badges

[MH331]

Steve,

Point noted but in my direct experience employing ex officers looks good but they also in many cases knew little about the artefacts they were looking after and consequently conservation of history did not take place and many attractive items walked out of museum back doors. Employing a professionally trained curator is in my view essential for a number of reasons

1. Proper accountability of our history
2. A conservation plan
3. A prerequisite for drawing on funds is often conditional on having professionally trained staff.
4. The museum trustees (A blend of talent from serving and retired Officers and Soldiers and professionals such as lawyers accountants and marketing experts) should direct the curator's work.

I speak as a current Regimental Museum Trustee.

Mark

Originally Posted by Gurkha

Sadley this is the situation in the major museums. In the past Ex officers etc were curators and staff you now have to have a degree. Whilst they may have degree's they just apply for a job with no knowledge of the museum. Hence why we are getting pink and fluffy military museums leaning more towards social rather than military history. The IWM has gone that way and so has the Nat Army museum. When I visited the NAM just befoe it closed I was appaled that the downstairs display area had become a playgroup for the local wealthy children and their nannies.
But then I suppose I'm a grumpy ole' bugger and one of the 'friends of the NAM' from when it opened!

Steve

[KLR]

I work for a museum and we find that there aren't enough hours in the day. There is a considerable skill base amongst the staff BUT if we need extra expertise we try to encourage them. We have quite a few volunteers who contribute greatly.
There's been a lot of negative comment here - it would be nice if 'our experts' would like to contribute their knowledge !!! Museums welcome any advice on material they hold. Museums are also academic institutions and we'd like researched references for future generations to appreciate.
I went to the NAM (and the IWM) a few years ago to look up material on the regiment I collect to and passed on a lot of detail to (both of) them for which they were grateful.


Quid Pro Quo - if there are any experts on Merovingian coins, I'd welcome their help !

[NorthStafford]

Sad to say , the REME Museum has just moved from Arborfield to Lyneham and several ex REME chaps have been and simply don't recognise the corps even to the extent of it having some weird designed logo instead of the REME badge.

[leigh kitchen]

Yes, I've seen illustrations of the logo, terrible, & I'm surprised that it's been authorised, turns the crown into something resembling a toy worn by a Lego man.

[grenadierguardsman]

Just thought i'd put these on here. Left grenade is 45/40mm and is gilding metal, middle grenade is 56/42mm and is also gilding metal and the last grenade is 45/40mm and is white metal.
Andy

[leigh kitchen]

A fine display including a couple of RA badges (hehehehehe).

[grenadierguardsman]

Ha cheers Leigh.
Andy

[John Mulcahy]

Originally Posted by KLR

... it would be nice if 'our experts' would like to contribute their knowledge !!! ...

I went to the NAM (and the IWM) a few years ago to look up material on the regiment I collect to and passed on a lot of detail to (both of) them for which they were grateful.

hear, hear.

[Staffsyeoman]

Originally Posted by John Mulcahy

hear, hear.

They have to want to listen first.

[leigh kitchen]

Speaking as a collector whose level of expertise can be attained by anyone prepared to pick up & flick through K&K & whose contact with museums extends to the very occasional visit to IWM Duxford, it appears to me from reading various posts that the real complaint is that basic mistakes are being made by museum staff who don't know the subject (nobody knows everything) but aren't prepared to listen to those who do.
This leads to the suspicion that "set dressing" to lure in the punters (who can argue that museums don't need "bums on seats"?) is given priority over accuracy in identification of some exhibits such as badges.

[Toby Purcell]

Not all museums are as conscientious and open to assistance as KLR's. Sadly I have had very poor experiences with the NAM and RWF museum, despite my being careful to be courteous and patient. Conversely some tiny museums have been very helpful, sometimes via professional curators and sometimes ex military and other volunteers. I guess it would be unfair to label all the same, but I agree that highly qualified generalists can often be unhelpful to unqualified, but highly experienced specialists who are seeking some assistance.

[KLR]

Although .......

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by KLR

Although I don't wish to cut my nose off, I am very well aware that the way that some museums etc try to appeal for wider audiences backfires. Leigh, I would go further than "set dressing" and say "dumbing down"! Museums are supposed to be educational and Mark, I find that the well intentioned curators usually lose out to the "lawyers, accountants and [particularly] marketing experts."

Well said. That’s very true in the current financial environment with so much competition for ever shrinking public funds.