Day 6: 20 January 2011

 

Shoes and Flying Solo

 This is where I get to park. Movin' on up. Today was my first real solo day. I arrived, had some coffee with Andrea and Kaila, the other intern, and arranged my workspace.

 

The shoes today were not quite as beautiful as those yesterday but I am not here to judge... These red guys, however, were amazing. 1920s red slingback pumps. Yes please. 

I measure each pair and try to figure out as much as possible about them. We have written intake records in another part of the museum and they can vary from detailed and informative to saying "red shoes". When I started on the white pair of t-strap heels I was interested in what the pattern might be called. I found out that they were decorated with "broguing" and so were the shoes I was wearing. [I liked it...] Broguing is the hole punched pattern that one finds on most oxfords and wing-tipped shoes. It originated in Scottland and was more functional that fashion. It allowed water to drain out of their shoes. 

Drawer 167/1

Drawer 167/2

This is the room where I work. It is a restoration room as well as set up with photography equipment. The artifacts on the table closest are being pulled to display in the museum president's office. [Jealous] I work in the very far right corner taking pictures and the computer I use is behind me... exciting right?

This is the cage. It houses artifacts in transit. They either don't yet have a home, are in use [like mine] or are being restored. The rack of dresses was just donated by a woman and were worn by her and her sister growing up in Grand Rapids in [I believe] the 50s. Very cool. 

I think I have mastered the database! I didn't get frozen out and I didn't ruin anything. There are several different pages of information I edit for each shoe. What it looks like, who donated it, where its been, where it might go, and so many others... I think I love it here.