Amanda VandenWyngaert became curator of the Aylmer Malahide Museum & Archives in April 2014. Under her direction, exhibits have included ones which transformed sections of the museum into a Victorian home and into a World War I trench. As we sat upon a quite lovely, very yellow kitchen set which will become part of the upcoming Fabulous 50s exhibit, she shared some of the “behind the scenes” at the museum. |
Amanda grew up in Aylmer and Copenhagen and completed studies in Near Eastern and Classical Archeology at Wilfrid Laurier University. As part of that program she spent time in Jordan working on a dig at an Iron Age tell. She went on to complete Sir Sanford Fleming’s Museum Management and Curatorship program and in her final week there was invited to apply for the curator’s job in Aylmer.
What background prepared you for working at the Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives?
A lot of what I knew about the area came from working here for several summers. I helped out with cataloguing, database entry, exhibit preparation and installation – anything Pat [Zimmer, past curator] needed help with. That helped when I ended up taking over – I already knew many of the ins and outs.
A lot of what I knew about the area came from working here for several summers. I helped out with cataloguing, database entry, exhibit preparation and installation – anything Pat [Zimmer, past curator] needed help with. That helped when I ended up taking over – I already knew many of the ins and outs.
Do you still pursue your interest in ancient history? How does it compare to local history?
It is still an interest so in my spare time I try to head out to those museums and sites – the Acropolis Museum in Greece, sites in Italy and when I was in Jordan we did Petra, the Dead Sea, all those sites. As much as I love that, I also love the small town Ontario histories. They are just as interesting in different ways, especially when you know many of the families.
What exhibits have you planned since you started?
“Unearthing Aylmer” looked at the area’s archeological past. “With This Ring” covered 150 years of bridal fashion. A 2015 exhibit remembered the Fire of 1965 on its 50th anniversary. Last summer we did a children’s exhibit with a bedroom scene and popular toys. Then we did “Victorian Christmas” to finish the year. In 2016 on the anniversary of WWI we looked at the history of soldiers in the area. The present exhibit is “Mourning Customs”.
How are the exhibit themes decided?
We survey a lot to gauge public interest and try to cover a variety of interests. The Victorian exhibit last year had a hair wreath and mourning dress. A lot of people had questions about those and said they would be interested in learning more – that gave us the idea to do an exhibit on mourning customs. If there is an anniversary, we try to commemorate that – like the Fire of ‘65 one and the World War I exhibit. Or sometimes we like to showcase new acquisitions, like when we received a large collection of children’s furniture.
It is still an interest so in my spare time I try to head out to those museums and sites – the Acropolis Museum in Greece, sites in Italy and when I was in Jordan we did Petra, the Dead Sea, all those sites. As much as I love that, I also love the small town Ontario histories. They are just as interesting in different ways, especially when you know many of the families.
What exhibits have you planned since you started?
“Unearthing Aylmer” looked at the area’s archeological past. “With This Ring” covered 150 years of bridal fashion. A 2015 exhibit remembered the Fire of 1965 on its 50th anniversary. Last summer we did a children’s exhibit with a bedroom scene and popular toys. Then we did “Victorian Christmas” to finish the year. In 2016 on the anniversary of WWI we looked at the history of soldiers in the area. The present exhibit is “Mourning Customs”.
How are the exhibit themes decided?
We survey a lot to gauge public interest and try to cover a variety of interests. The Victorian exhibit last year had a hair wreath and mourning dress. A lot of people had questions about those and said they would be interested in learning more – that gave us the idea to do an exhibit on mourning customs. If there is an anniversary, we try to commemorate that – like the Fire of ‘65 one and the World War I exhibit. Or sometimes we like to showcase new acquisitions, like when we received a large collection of children’s furniture.
Displays from past exhibits on World War I (left), 150 years of bridal fashion (centre, top & bottom), Victorian customs (right, top) and the Aylmer fire of 1965 (right, bottom)
What’s the next exhibit?
The next will be on the 50s. “Mourning Customs” was more serious but the fall one will be more fun.
Towards Christmas the displays will be decorated for Christmas – we have an aluminum tree, 50s ornaments and plastic candlesticks. Many of the volunteers and Vicki Hull, our Collections Registrar, remember the 50s – they are excited about the exhibit and are going to be a big asset in preparing it.
What is your favourite artefact?
For me personally, I would say a doll named Dorothy. When I was a summer student a woman saw a doll which had been donated, I think by her mother. She hadn’t seen it since she was a kid and had quite an emotional reaction. For the exhibit on children’s toys I called her and asked if we could bring the doll over and she could talk about her memories of it. She was 93 at the time … it was nice just seeing her reaction and having her photo and story to go along with the artefact. Also, many of the collections from Aylmer Canning, Imperial Tobacco, the RCAF WWII airfield and Carnation Milk are important to the history of the town since a lot of those things are gone now.
What are the students working on this summer?
Our two students have been doing a lot of database entry – they are working through the collection one box and photograph at a time – about 1,000 items this summer! It’s a slow process and we wouldn’t be able to do that without help from students. It will make it easier for researchers, for setting up exhibits and for planning a move if that happens.
What is in the future?
Hopefully, a move. The volunteers have done an amazing job keeping the museum going and alive. There are 30 active regular volunteers and many more who help out with exhibits. It would be great to have a more central location with more exposure, more space and opportunity to grow. I get too excited if I start thinking about it – but no date or location has yet been decided.
What was the biggest surprise since you started working here?
The amount of effort to maintain the museum financially – how much we have to fundraise, and apply for grants and rely on the generosity of people in the community, and in people buying memberships. I didn’t realize how much fundraising our volunteers did until I saw it first hand – without it we wouldn’t be able to operate.
What are the sources of funding?
We have two luncheon fundraisers, the Christmas tour of homes (the 2nd biggest source of funds), a Canadian Museums Association grant (the largest funding source), grants from the municipalities of Aylmer and Malahide and two summer student grants (CSJ and YCW). This year we are extremely grateful to have been selected to receive proceeds from the annual Tornado Fun Run hosted by the Ontario Police College.
Are you able to do programming along with your exhibits?
A lot of what I do is with program exhibits. We do children’s programs and like to have kids in here as much as possible. We get calls for different programs and we love to try and modify them – we’re often asked for senior’s hands-on programs. Pat Zimmer now volunteers at Terrace Lodge and Chartwell once a month, which is great because they know her and she enjoys doing those programs.
What do you find most interesting about local history?
How diverse our history really is, all the different people who came to settle at different times. That is still on-going, most recently with the Mennonites. There has been a lot of industry – Carnation’s first Canadian plant was built in Aylmer 100 years ago. It has been always changing and there are different aspects and businesses to study. For a small town it has a huge history!
Amanda is helping to ensure the continuation of the legacy of many volunteers who have been dedicated to preserving Aylmer’s past. With creativity, energy and passion she is helping to bring that “huge history” to life.
Find more information at www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum. The Fabulous 50s exhibit runs from Mon Sept 5th - Fri Nov 25th. AMMA will be one of the participating sites on Doors Open East Elgin, September 24th.
The next will be on the 50s. “Mourning Customs” was more serious but the fall one will be more fun.
Towards Christmas the displays will be decorated for Christmas – we have an aluminum tree, 50s ornaments and plastic candlesticks. Many of the volunteers and Vicki Hull, our Collections Registrar, remember the 50s – they are excited about the exhibit and are going to be a big asset in preparing it.
What is your favourite artefact?
For me personally, I would say a doll named Dorothy. When I was a summer student a woman saw a doll which had been donated, I think by her mother. She hadn’t seen it since she was a kid and had quite an emotional reaction. For the exhibit on children’s toys I called her and asked if we could bring the doll over and she could talk about her memories of it. She was 93 at the time … it was nice just seeing her reaction and having her photo and story to go along with the artefact. Also, many of the collections from Aylmer Canning, Imperial Tobacco, the RCAF WWII airfield and Carnation Milk are important to the history of the town since a lot of those things are gone now.
What are the students working on this summer?
Our two students have been doing a lot of database entry – they are working through the collection one box and photograph at a time – about 1,000 items this summer! It’s a slow process and we wouldn’t be able to do that without help from students. It will make it easier for researchers, for setting up exhibits and for planning a move if that happens.
What is in the future?
Hopefully, a move. The volunteers have done an amazing job keeping the museum going and alive. There are 30 active regular volunteers and many more who help out with exhibits. It would be great to have a more central location with more exposure, more space and opportunity to grow. I get too excited if I start thinking about it – but no date or location has yet been decided.
What was the biggest surprise since you started working here?
The amount of effort to maintain the museum financially – how much we have to fundraise, and apply for grants and rely on the generosity of people in the community, and in people buying memberships. I didn’t realize how much fundraising our volunteers did until I saw it first hand – without it we wouldn’t be able to operate.
What are the sources of funding?
We have two luncheon fundraisers, the Christmas tour of homes (the 2nd biggest source of funds), a Canadian Museums Association grant (the largest funding source), grants from the municipalities of Aylmer and Malahide and two summer student grants (CSJ and YCW). This year we are extremely grateful to have been selected to receive proceeds from the annual Tornado Fun Run hosted by the Ontario Police College.
Are you able to do programming along with your exhibits?
A lot of what I do is with program exhibits. We do children’s programs and like to have kids in here as much as possible. We get calls for different programs and we love to try and modify them – we’re often asked for senior’s hands-on programs. Pat Zimmer now volunteers at Terrace Lodge and Chartwell once a month, which is great because they know her and she enjoys doing those programs.
What do you find most interesting about local history?
How diverse our history really is, all the different people who came to settle at different times. That is still on-going, most recently with the Mennonites. There has been a lot of industry – Carnation’s first Canadian plant was built in Aylmer 100 years ago. It has been always changing and there are different aspects and businesses to study. For a small town it has a huge history!
Amanda is helping to ensure the continuation of the legacy of many volunteers who have been dedicated to preserving Aylmer’s past. With creativity, energy and passion she is helping to bring that “huge history” to life.
Find more information at www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum. The Fabulous 50s exhibit runs from Mon Sept 5th - Fri Nov 25th. AMMA will be one of the participating sites on Doors Open East Elgin, September 24th.