Museletter IGNITE your curiosity. DISCOVER your story. MARCH 2019 [DIS]INFORMATION: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed New Exhibit Opens March 30
[DIS]INFORMATION: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed New Exhibit Opens March 30 We are thrilled to announce the opening of our newest exhibit, [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed which opens on Saturday, March 30, 2019. The exhibition includes dozens of stunning large-scale reproductions of the work of photographer Roland Reed (1864-1934). Drawing from his work in the early twentieth century, we feature an array of images that exemplify Reed’s Pictorialist style; a type of photography which sought to artistically interpret subjects rather than strictly document them. Roland Reed in Kalispell, Montana, ca. 1912 MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 2
Reed devoted years of his life photographing American Indians and received significant contemporary critical acclaim, yet today his legacy remains largely unknown. As a result, retired business executive Ernest R. Lawrence authored a biography titled, Alone With the Past: The Life and Photographic Art of Roland W. Reed in 2012 and brought the artist to our attention. While researching his book, Lawrence worked extensively with Leon Kramer of Kramer Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota who maintains the largest Reed archive in the country. Both Ernie Lawrence and the Kramer Gallery generously provided the CSPM with Reed materials for this exhibit. However, as we look at these photographs today, they are deeply problematic. Reed constructed romantic scenes that situated American Indians in an imagined past versus contemporary reality. In other words, Reed took photographs of American Indians that were created or posed according to his own memory or artistic vision. They do not represent indigenous people as they were in the early twentieth century, but how they perhaps used to be. As a result, the images can create misunderstandings, myths, and a false sense of history. The [Dis]Information exhibit will encourage visitors to examine the role “retrospective photography” plays in shaping our understanding or misunderstandings of American Indians. Reed constructed romantic scenes that situated American Indians in an imagined past versus contemporary reality. To accomplish this goal, the CSPM is honored to work with Guest Curator, Gregg Deal, Pyramid Lake Paiute, an extraordinary artist and activist whose work challenges misconceptions of indigenous people and asks viewers to reexamine stereotypes. It is essential that the voices of indigenous people be heard in museums in the twenty-first century. Instead of telling history about them, this exhibit places the indigenous perspective in the forefront. Gregg Deal provides us with words, images and ideas about how to interpret and provide meaning to Roland Reed’s photographs. It will be Deal’s voice that you hear, see and read in the [Dis]Information exhibit. Filming the [Dis]Information gallery introduction video with Guest Curator Gregg Deal. Also pictured, Jennifer Schreuder (on left) and Frank Bokoski behind the camera, both with the City of Colorado Springs Public Communications, SpringsTV team. Exhibit open March 30, 2019 – January 5, 2020 MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 3
UPCOMING EVENTS Silent Film Soiree: Roaring 20s Costume Party Friday, March 22 6:45 to 9:30 pm (Doors open at 6:45pm, the film starts at 7:45pm) Join CSPM for our third annual Silent Film Soiree! In honor of Women’s History Month this unique program will feature the 1921 comedy-drama Miss Lulu Bett, based on the wildly successful novel by author Zona Gale, the first woman playwright to win the Pulitzer Prize. Enjoy the silent film and live accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra in the beautiful 1903 El Paso County Courthouse. Included with admission is VIP access to museum exhibits, a Roaring Twenties themed costume party and contest, photo booth and more! The event is open to adults (21+). Tickets include 2 alcoholic beverages (beer or wine), soft drinks and a fruit, cheese, and dessert bar. For details, or purchase tickets, visit: CSPM.org New Exhibit: [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed Saturday, March 30, 2019 – January 5, 2020 10:00 am - 5:00 pm On March 30, 2019, CSPM will open its newest exhibition, [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed. The exhibit includes dozens of Pictorialist photographs of American Indians taken by Roland Reed in the early twentieth century. Reed saw himself as both an artist and an ethnographer; his images are strikingly beautiful but deeply problematic. Reed constructed romantic scenes that situated American Indians in an imagined past versus contemporary reality. The new exhibit will encourage visitors to examine the role “retrospective photography” plays in shaping our understanding of American Indians. To accomplish this goal, the museum is honored to work with Guest Curator, Gregg Deal, Pyramid Lake Paiute, an extraordinary artist whose work challenges misconceptions of indigenous people and asks viewers to reexamine stereotypes. [Dis]Information will include original artwork and commentary by Gregg Deal in addition to contemporary American Indian photographs alongside historic images that celebrate the power and beauty of photography while challenging the assumptions of viewers. [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed will run from March 30, 2019 – January 5, 2020. Please RSVP for events at: www.cspm.org/rsvp-for-an-event or 719-385-5990 Museum Hours: Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 4
Children’s History Hour – The Day the Crayons Quit Wednesday, April 17 & Saturday, April 27 9:00 – 10:00 am Program at CSPM The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is full of color! In our celebration of color we’ll read “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt, sing songs and play color games, explore the museum exhibits, and make a colorful craft. Children ages 3-6 and their favorite adult are invited to explore regional history through story time, a family-friendly tour, activity, and craft. Reservations required. $3 suggested donation Make a morning of it! After the event learn through play in our interactive “Trade at Bent’s Fort” children’s exhibit or explore the museum with Max the Marmot by picking up a Picture Hunt at the front desk. PIKES PEAK REGIONAL HISTORY LECTURE SERIES: Panel Discussion: [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed Saturday, March 30 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm In celebration of the opening of our newest exhibit, [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is proud to present a fascinating panel discussion of authors, scholars, curators and artists who will contextualize the work of Pictorialist photographer Roland Reed and examine the role “retrospective photography” plays in shaping contemporary understanding of indigenous people. Artist, scholar and activist Gregg Deal, Pyramid Lake Paiute; Ernest R. Lawrence, author of Alone in the Past: The Life and Photographic Art of Roland Reed, Viki Eagle, Sicangu Lakota, photographer and founder of Real Life Indian project; Ambrotypist Shane Balkowitsch of Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Bismarck, North Dakota; and CSPM Curator of History Leah Davis Witherow. Program Location: Division I Courtroom. Reservations required. CLOCK TOWER SOCIETY We are so grateful for the generous support of the Clock Tower Society these past several years. Created in 2016, the Clock Tower Society brings together a group of individuals passionate about the cultural history of the Pikes Peak Region. Their multi-year commitment provides vital resources to ensure CSPM’s bright future. We really appreciate their dedication in positioning the museum as the source for igniting curiosity and inspiring discovery among all residents and visitors. Would you like to be a part of this group? Support the museum’s future and enjoy insider access to CSPM. Clock Tower Sociey >> CLICK HERE Join today! Learn more online or contact our Development Director: Diane Barber T: 719-385-5633 E: dbarber@springsgov.com MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 5
DID YOU KNOW? 24 Years of The Marshall and E.J. Sprague Scholarship Did you know that each year the CSPM awards a $3,000 scholarship to a deserving high school student? Established in 1995, The Marshall and E.J. Sprague Scholarship was created in honor of the Spragues, who for generations served the people of the Pikes Peak region and delighted in documenting and preserving the area’s rich heritage. The scholarship is intended to recognize students who show a dedication toward and appreciation of the study of history. Marshall and E.J. Sprague were dedicated to family, community, and learning. Their work exposes generations of people to the fascinating history of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region and encourages people to explore and protect the world around us. Their commitment to education is carried on through this scholarship. In an effort to honor the legacy of the Spragues, the museum chose to connect the scholarship to History Day. National History Day is a program dedicated to engaging students and teachers in historical research and skills development. At the February 23 Colorado College Regional History Day, the museum’s scholarship committee was pleased to consider 12 applications. We read papers, explored websites, viewed exhibits and enjoyed performances. Matt Mayberry, CSPM Director; Ellie Schueler, 2019 Sprague Scholarship Recipient; Kathy Lindeman, Regional History Day Coordinator After a very challenging day of deliberation, the committee unanimously agreed to award the 2019 Sprague Scholarship to Ellie Schueler, William J. Palmer High School 10th grader. Ellie’s performance entry was titled, “Me Too 100 Years Earlier: The Triumphs and Tragedies of William Slocum’s Colorado College Presidency.” We were not only impressed with Ellie’s passion and well-developed historical research, but also her ability to explore such a challenging regional story in a national context. We also appreciated how this topic brought history into the present day. Selection Committee: L’Bertrice Solomon, Judy Cross, Lynn Barber, Bruce Wadman, Meg Poole MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 6
We asked Ellie to share more information about her project and the process of planning a History Day entry. Tell us about your History Day entry: William Slocum was the President at Colorado College (CC) from 1888-1917. When he was recruited by a CC professor to move from the East Coast to Colorado Springs, Colorado College was in very bad shape. The college served 50 students, had only one building, and was in severe financial debt. In the years following his arrival to the school, Slocum instituted a series of sharp reforms that bolstered the student body, resulted in the building of 10 new college structures, and saved the school from a path that was said to have been leading to bankruptcy. The tragic part of this story comes in the personal relationships that William Slocum formed during his time at Colorado College. From 1900-1916, over 100 women came forward with charges of sexual assault. As a result of the women’s bravery, the Board of Trustees at CC forced Slocum to resign from his presidency. Still, due to his great accomplishments at the school, written accounts of wrongdoing were covered up and William Slocum was positively memorialized on the campus. Two buildings at the school even bore his name up until 2017 when college archivist investigated his story and discovered accounts from the women he assaulted. In a unanimous decision, Slocum’s name was stripped from the buildings adding yet another interesting detail to this already complicated story. Why did you choose this topic? Living less than a mile from Colorado College, I have been heavily exposed to the new developments surrounding the story of William Slocum. When Slocum’s name was removed from the campus buildings a couple of years ago, the story was heavily reported on by the local press. This was when I had first heard of it. When coming up with a topic for NHD this year, I remembered a little bit about the story of Slocum and realized it would for perfectly with this year’s theme: “Triumph and Tragedy”. I decided to do a performance because I figured it would be the most fun, and would emphasize some of the emotion regarding this story. Why do you think History Day is important? History Day gives kids an opportunity to get an experience to learn about history in a way that they could not from a textbook or in a classroom. Through NHD, students are able to discover the value of the past as well as its relationship to the present. How do you plan to use the Sprague Scholarship? I really have no idea what I want to do with my life yet. I plan to use the Sprague Scholarship to help with the cost of a higher education. Right now, I’m thinking about attending a smaller liberal arts school in the Northeast. I may study something having to do with politics or government, but I’m not completely sure. Congratulations to Ellie and all of the students who participated in the Regional History Day contest! We are pleased to announce that Ellie also placed at the Regional Contest and will move on to the State Contest this May in Denver. MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 7
MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT LAUREL PRUD’HOMME – VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH Laurel has volunteered for the past 10 years in various roles from serving on the museum’s subcommittees to then joining the Board of Directors in August of 2017. When asked why she volunteers for the museum, Laurel stated, “I really believe in the mission of the museum, ‘to build a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history.’ It is an honor – and it’s fun – being part of an organization that does such a great job with programs, lectures, and exhibits that really bring our history to life, making our past relevant to our lives today.” “Laurel is a pleasure to work with. She brings a unique perspective to the Museum with her passion about history, her background in Marketing and her involvement with the Downtown community. I always appreciate the new ideas she brings to the Board and Marketing Committee. ” Diane Barber, Development Director. Laurel Prud’homme with service dog in training, Meeks Laurel shared a special memory of her time at the museum that happened long before she began volunteering, “As a high school student, I came with friends to see a jukebox exhibit – not exactly something you would expect from a local history museum – but it was FABULOUS. There were dozens of jukeboxes, lights glowing, and several in working order that you could play. Looking back, I realize it was probably the first time I ever went to a museum and was able to really interact and engage with an exhibit. To this day, I continue to be impressed by the innovative ways the museum displays and shares the unique stories of our past.” Laurel has always been interested in the role tuberculosis treatment played in the early days of our city, probably because that’s what brought her ancestors here in the late 1800s. Laurel’s great-aunt was born here in 1905, and she would tell her stories about being in school with, and then later teaching the children of some of the city’s founders. When her great-aunt was in her 90’s she could take her for a drive through the Old North End, where houses still have the sleeping porches designed for tuberculosis patients, and she’d point out which houses were boarding houses for single female teachers, which ones had prominent families, gossip of the day, and that sort of thing. It was always so exciting for Laurel to hear the first-hand account of what our city was like during that time period. Laurel’s career has always been in graphic design, marketing, and communications. She is currently the Vice President of Communications for Downtown Partnership, an organization that works to ensure the city’s center serves as the economic, civic and cultural heart of our region. Outside of work, she is a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, an organization which provides highly trained dogs to recipients free of charge. She is currently raising Meeks, a yellow lab who accompanies her to museum meetings and events as part of his training to become a service dog. Laurel, we are truly grateful for all that you do for CSPM. Thank you! MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 8
MUSEUM STORE NEW BOOKS “Alone with the Past-The Life and Photographic Art of Roland Reed” by Ernest R. Lawrence $50.00 “Go Show the World—A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes”, by Wab Kinew $17.99 LOCALLY MADE HOT SAUCE: Cooper’s Small Batch Hot Sauces (Made in Denver) Congratulations Carole Denning, Museum Store Manager She and the Museum Store were mentioned in the February issue of Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties Magazine article “Cave and Museum Bauble Best-Sellers.” Carol describes her best-selling jewelry as, “80% made-in-Colorado. We’re a local history museum, so the state is what we try to promote. The local nature attracts buyers, who want to take home something that represents their trip here.” Learn more: https://sgnmag.com/2019/01/31/february-2019/ MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 9
CSPM HAPPENINGS Great turnout for our Black History LIVE: Maya Angelou event! CSPM’s Annual Luncheon honored Helene Knapp as the Lucky Herzberger Award Recipient Follow CSPM on social media! MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 10
CSPM HAPPENINGS LtoR: Collections staff: Heather Poll, Christian Palma, Caitlin Sharpe help preserve & care for the Rockway Carriage “The End of an Era” sculpture in the snow on March 4 Caitlin Sharpe helps preserve and maintain the Division 1 Courtroom MUSELETTER MAR 2019| PG 11
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