URBAN MUSEUM COLLABORATIVE

Contributed by Mary Elizabeth Grimes, MHC Board Member

“More than bricks and mortar, containers of memory, the keepers of our stories, touchstones of our common humanity—places rooted in time but alive within the complex vibrant landscape of today—a museum without walls in our midst…”

Mary Elizabeth GrimesCan you imagine life in nineteenth-century St. Louis? With all of our technological conveniences, most of us would consider it a hard life. Nevertheless, when you examine the history and the stories of that time we discover complex narratives that help us understand the communities in which we live now.

These historic treasures have been unearthed, common threads have been found and the stories have been woven together by The Urban Museum Collaborative project. Three museums, The Campbell House Museum, The Eugene Field House Museum, The Griot Museum of Black History, and museum consultant Barbara Decker developed something greater than the sum of its parts, a “museum without walls” in downtown St. Louis. This project was funded by the Missouri Humanities Council, and I think it was a worthwhile investment.

I am a native St. Louisan. Perhaps I should not confess that I have not visited any of these museums before now. I’ve driven by them often with great curiosity, and I promised myself one day I would take the time to visit. The Urban Collaborative made it worth the wait! The Collaborative members realized it would take “out of the box” thinking to attract new visitors to their individual sites, and together they could accomplish more than they could individually.

I applaud Barbara Decker and her cohorts for their innovative hands-on approach to “tell the story” of history through specific artifacts within each of the museums’ collections. Within these stories are collections of textured accounts individual struggles, aspirations, and cultural differences encompassing a common humanity of those who built and shaped the city with their contributions. I am also pleased students will be motivated to experience this treasure trove of history in exciting new ways. These artifacts are also used in conjunction with a teaching curriculum to illuminate the past and make it relevant to life today. For teachers who have computers in the classroom and anyone with a home computer you can take a virtual tour by visiting their wonderful web site tour before heading downtown. All three museums are prominently featured on the main page. The homepage also features a series of artifacts to explore. Visitors can enter each museum’s site and discover the ways stories are connected to one another: The web site address is: http://www.urbanmuseumcollaborative.org.

I visited the museums along with the staff of the Missouri Humanities Council. The museum staff shared enchanting stories about the characters and history captured in each museum. We first visited The Eugene Field House Museum, the oldest of the three members. There’s something magical about this place. I guess it’s because it was Eugene Field’s boyhood home, and he was the “Children’s Poet.” One of the many charming features inside is an antique toy collection begun by Eugene Field. Outside is a fantasy garden representing some of Field’s literary work. It is also at the Field Museum where we connect events and characters with others in the Collaborative. Eugene Field’s father, Roswell Field, represented the Dred Scott family in their suit for freedom in St. Louis. These stories are also shared at The Groit Museum.

Our next stop was The Campbell House Museum. If we were traveling back in time, your trip from the Field House would be considered on “the other side of town” in comparison to the location of the Campbell House. This three story Victorian townhouse was the home of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1854 until 1938. The Campbell family represented opulence at its best. This museum contains hundreds of original Campbell possessions including furniture, paintings, clothing, letters, carriages and a unique album of 60 photographs. Their stories mark time as they chronicle the growth of their family in the midst of the turbulence of slavery up to the Civil War.

Our third stop was The Griot Museum of Black History located in a former school. It is the youngest of the three museums founded in 1997. In some African countries the griot (pronounced GREE OH) is a highly respected member of the community who collects, preserves and shares the stories and objects of the community. It is in that same spirit that the Griot Museum serves the community. It is a rich collection of stories and life-size likeness of African Americans with connections to the St. Louis region whose contributions have impacted our lives locally and nationally. The Griot also features artifacts and exhibits. The authentic slave cabin and the scale model slave ship brought tears to my eyes.

You owe it to yourself to take time and learn more about life in St. Louis in the nineteenth century as well as the contribution of African-Americans in and around our community. Experience the Urban Collaborative Museum for yourself. It is one of the best examples of what the Humanities is all about.

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