A Museum Day Visitor Blogs about the Rosenbach

Everyone who worked on Saturday at the Museum Day Open House may be interested in the comments of one of the visitors at a blog called Two-Penny Words. She seems to have had a good time and picked up some accurate information about the collection.

Free Books!

Sound interesting? At Sam's luncheon, Rosemarie Retacco had a great idea. Why not have a book box downstairs?

If permission is granted, and space is found, docents could have a "leave a book/take a book" place. We would have a great way to free up shelf space at home and share our good and bad reads. Are you interested?

Some Good Questions

Yesterday I was at the open house and really enjoyed it and loved the questions and found most of the visitors really thrilled and enjoying the house and the collection. It was really good for me to stay in one room for an hour too and had a chance to really look at some of the furniture and art.

One person asked- what kind of air conditioning did the house have in the 1950-s. Central air ? Didn't know the answer to that.

What type of wood is the Gratz desk/bookcase. Maker?- Not in the room book

The room books are helpful in some cases but in others- your best guess is probably just as accurate.

Marianne Moore room book needs to be updated!!.. I was thinking photos of different spots in the room and then identify the different art / nick nacks.

Came away yesterday with a many questions myself and wished I had a more knowledgeable docent or curator with me.

My knowledge of Ezra Pound is very limited and I need to read up on his life. It's really interesting of the opinionated reactions you get when you point out the photo of him and Moore. I've heard things like What a nut. Anti Semite- Traitor etc.

What kind of day did you have?

Sam's Fans Salute The Man

Yesterday the docents surprised Sam Schafer with a birthday luncheon to celebrate his 80th birthday and to express their appreciation for all the knowledge, intelligent conversation and, yes, even the puns and shaggy dog stories he has shared with them over the years.

Getting a chance to honor Sam made it a wonderful occasion for the 22 docents who were able to attend and we were delighted that Sam seemed to enjoy it too. Janet Heller read a clever poetic tribute, and Barbara Zimmerman some Sam-centered limericks which were both funny and true. The group presented Sam with a gift certificate to the Joseph Fox Book Shop and a card which included the names of many of those who couldn't be there but still contributed to the present.

Putting this luncheon together was very much a grass-roots effort which met with enthusiasm from the entire docent community. Thanks to Barbara Zimmerman, Mickey Portnoy and Jesse Ruhl whose initial enthusiasm for the project got it off the ground, and to Katherine Sullivan who visited restaurants in search of a good room and a reasonably priced menu and organized the party -- good intentions are laudable but the person who actually gets the meal on the table is a real hero. And special thanks to Emilie Parker, RML's Director of Education who joined us at the luncheon -- she had the trickiest job: getting Sam to the restaurant.

Sort of an Answer to Barbara's Question

Farrar is on vacation now, so we'll probably have to wait for an answer.
It would be a fairly simple matter to link to something that's online elsewhere, but you would have to check it regularly for updates. What we really need is a docents' portal to the RML website, which is coming eventually....Until then one of us would probably have to maintain such a calendar. And since very few docents are using this site, I'm not sure it would be worth the effort. 

What does everybody else think?

Question

Is there any way we could get a monthly calender here? It would be nice to keep track of inservices, social events - etc.

Ulysses Course Starts October 6

Hey Gang!  I have signed up for the Ulysses reading group and want to encourage you to join me.  I did it last year and learned a tremendous amount. Most significantly, I actually read (and enjoyed!) the whole book, something I had avoided for years.  It was a great experience and could only have been improved by the opportunity to discuss the book, over beer, with friends.  C'mon - you know you want to read on Bloomsday!

Docents' Night Out - Wed., Sept. 29

Have we decided where we'll be going on the 29th? I have the 12-4 shift that day, and then I'll probably take a yoga class that ends at 5:45. So I'll be ready to meet up at 6. Any ideas for the venue? So far I have a RSVP from Christina, but I'm assuming Susan, BAZ and Andrea will also be coming. Mickey I know can't make it.

As soon as we decide on the place I'll send out another email to staff and docents.

Season Opening Reception

Susan and I had a nice time last night at the SOR at RML. I met a number of trustees and "friends" of the museum, and, once again, I was impressed by the interesting group of people who were assembled. Sorry more of you couldn't make it! It was really fun. I wish I had some pictures to post. Everyone seems to be very excited about the upcoming season at RML and the events planned.

My only regret was that I did so much talking I didn't have much time to enjoy the food. But I think Susan ate enough for the both of us. (Just kidding, Susan.)

Beyond George or When Was Queen Anne?

Long ago, when I lived in England, I learned this schoolyard mnemonic for reciting the English kings and queens.  It never fails to impress!

Willy, Willy, Harry, Stee

Harry, Dick, John, Harry 3.                    
1, 2, 3 Neds, Richard 2
Harrys 4, 5, 6, then who?
Edward 4-5, Dick the Bad
Henry, Henry, Ned the Lad.
Mary, Bessie, James the Vain
Then Charlie, Charlie, and James again.
William and Mary, Anna Gloria

Four Georges, William,
And Victoria.
Edward 7, Georgie 5,
Edward, George,
and Liz alive.

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus is playing at the Plays & Players Theatre at 1714 Delancey Place, and I'm going to go to one of the upcoming shows. The play is part of the Fringe Festival, but I won't be able to go until after the festival ends. But the show continues to run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. from Sept. 23 through Oct. 2. There is a Sunday 4:00 performance too, but I cannot make that one. And the company also has an 11:59 p.m. performance on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, which sounds interesting. Reminds me of The Rocky Horror Picture Show performances. Think we can throw popcorn at the stage if we go then?

If anyone would like to go with me, check you calendar and shoot me a date. You can also check out the theatre and show at www.playsandplayers.org. Jesse

Books we are reading....

I just started a book titled London, the Novel by Edward Rutherford. It spans over 2000 years in the history of one of my favorite cities. It's not a new book - over 10 years old - but I am really enjoying it. Has anyone else read it?

BZ

Good Morning

What a pleasant surprise to wake up to! Thank you, Shawn, for your quick work.

Just yesterday the Rosenbach Docent Council agreed on setting up this blog to give us a forum for discussing any and all things Rosenbachian and to foster more social links among docents.

So feel free to report on or ask questions about anything of interest to docents. The Docent Council exists to advocate for our concerns but it needs to know what they are before it can do so. This blog may give voice to some issues which have been below the radar but need attending.

Just as important for this blog is its social dimension. Rosenbach docents have more in common than their work at the museum, but we do not get very much face-to-face time to get to know those who work different days and shifts. Get to know people better by using the blog to:

find a movie buddy for those genre films that no one else you know likes, discover

someone who wants to read the same new book you are interested in, get some

expert advice from a good cook, gardener, etc.; start a knitting class or a book club

Hope you find the blog useful!

Susan Sklaroff

President, Docent Council

Thank You, Shawn!

Shawn: This is fantastic! Thank you so much for setting this Blog up so fast. But what about Phillip? Shouldn't he get a docent or two too?

Has anyone signed up for the 2010-2011 Ulysses reading course? I had such a great time participating last year that I'm thinking of doing it again.

Welcome to Our Blog

Welcome! This is the initial posting of Rosie's Blog, the online social community of the docents of the Rosenbach Mueum and Library. We hope this will be a forum for RML docents to share questions, insights and musings about the museum collections and related matters. Everyone is welcome to post and comment to posts. This blog was set up by Shawn Maeder, but it is for all of us. If you feel that the settings need to be changed, please email Shawn (shawn.maeder@gmail.com) to let her know.