Day 30

Today instead of being in Collections, I was down the hall in the Library. I didnt have access to Excel so I couldnt work on my spreadsheet and most of the time I was unable to log into ARGUS because there was already two people signed in, but I did have the list of rejected artifacts that Trevor gave me and I was still able to research artifacts, which I did.

Day 29

Today was spent in Collections again working on the spreadsheet for the WWI rejected artifacts list. I dont know what went differently than other days, but I made more progress today than before.

Day 28

Today was spent in the back room of Collections working on the artifact list for WWI rejected artifacts.

Day 27

Today was spent on the computer back in Collections working on the list for rejected WWI artifacts. Im basically researching more information about all the artifacts and entering the information into a spreadsheet that I created. That way when I'm done, I can merge the spreadsheet into Microsoft Word and create a report that Trevor can have.

Day 26

Today was a short one since I needed the afternoon off to take a final exam for a 1-credit course which ended today. I started a project which involves organizing all information pertaining to rejected WWI artifacts into a database or spreadsheet so it can be posted to the Web or archived for easy retrieval.

Day 25

Today I showed Trevor my Artifact Report and added a few things to it, but overall he said it was good. Louise taught me how to photograph artifacts and upload the photo to ARGUS (collection software) and install it onto the profile for the object.

Day 24

Today was pretty slow. Trevor was out during the morning and I cant think of anything else to do with my Artifact Report, so I began researching information for my Internship Paper. There wasn't a whole lot available in a digital sense regarding Capt. Francis Redfield, but I havent began my archival research so Ill have better luck there.

Day 23

This afternoon was spent in Collections working on my Artifact Report. Its basically done.

Day 22

Today was spent in the back again working on my artifact report. Its been "done" since yesterday, but I figured it won't hurt to review everything and make sure all bases are covered. Ive never done one of these before, so Im sure there is something I didnt do right. Ill have to wait and see.

Day 21

Today I basically spent the day back in Collections working on my research project for the Hohner Accordion. I took a break mid-day for my class.

Day 20

Today I arrived and started helping Louise clean out the storage cage down on the first floor. There is an accreditation committee coming next week and they will be inspecting the entire museum and there was a foot of dust on top of all the artifacts stored there. It was mostly an old horse buggy and some farming equipment. That pretty much took up my day, but I was able to continue my research project later in the afternoon.

Day 19

Today I started an artifact research project. It was a nice change of pace from what Ive been doing. Trevor assigned me an old M. Hohner Accordion which little was known about and had me answer some questions about it. I also filled out a condition report stating the condition that the artifact was in. The whole thing was boring and monotonous and I LOVED IT. I am one of those people where the more boring something is, the better I like it. It was nice to search the world for information about this object, even if its only an accordion.

Day 18

Today was a shorter day as I had class in the morning. The afternoon was spent finishing the book on artifact handling.

Day 17

Today was spent reading the revised Nomenclature and a book on handling, cataloging, and preserving artifacts. I still have a little left to go.

Day 16

Today when I arrived I went right to work with Trevor to clean up the workshop. I normally wouldnt be so excited about such a job, but Im a clean freak and it was nice to put everything in its place. It was also nice to throw away piles of dust and dirt from the floor and to actually be able to move around the workshop easily. When I returned from class, I walked the museum and tried to write down twenty questions I had that had to deal with the museum. Around 4:00 I started to read the Nomenclature and will have to finish it tomorrow.

Day 15

Opening Day of WWI Exhibit

Today when I arrived I went right to work helping John hang the signs that people will see when they first enter the exhibit, basically giving a title to the exhibit. I helped him center and level the signs and he suspended them with wire from the pipes. Since Im so tall, they always ask me if I can reach things when they hang them, so that way if I can't, the chances of someone else reaching it is unlikely. I spent the most of the day with some buffing compound and tried to polish scratches out of the cases. It would have been easier to move the moon. I made a few touch ups with the paintbrush and did a final cleanup. Travor did a really good job putting this exhibit together. Everyone I talk to about it is really excited. I left at 5:00 to head to my Accountant to have my taxes done and I came back at 6:00 for the opening and Ellen met me there. It was nice for her to meet everyone I work with and I talk about her so much, all the guys could put a name to the face. Everyone seemed real impressed with the exhibit and I think Trevor was pleased.

Day 14

Today I started hanging posters all around the bayonet area and started to piece together various parts of the exhibit and its almost done. We finished putting the plexiglass on all the display cases and the AV stuff is coming along and working well. I spent most of the afternoon cleaning the cases and flipsigns and began to take much of the tools and equipment to the workshop.

Day 13

Today was a shorter day since I had morning classes, but when I arrived I went right to work painting the top portion of the arch. It didnt take too long and then all of us got together and slowly rolled the huge archway into the gallery. It looks really nice all setup and we went to town afterwards bringing artifacts down from Collections and setting up the displays. Its nice to see that Trevor isn't worrying about the deadline so much and everyone seems to be satisfied with the way the exhibit looks. Itll only take a few little odd jobs and a couple larger tasks and it will be complete.

Day 12

Today I basically spent the entire time painting this huge arch that will span one of the entrances to the exhibit. It is a smaller recreation of an arch that was setup downtown in which returning troops would march underneath it in a parade. Its really coming along nicely.

Day 11

Today I arrived and went right to work helping out Dennis. I spackled the screw holes on the manican display and painted red over it. I then did a few odd jobs around the exhibit, such as securing the padding to the floor of the bayonet assault course. I then wrapped barbed wire around the top of the interactive section where the bayonet course is and it really looks like its starting to take shape. Towards the end of the day, I secured the carpet down in the house and helped the guys in the backroom bring the Arch into the other workshop and begin the finishing touches on it before we went home.

Day 10

I began my day by cutting and laying down padded matting for a bayonet assault course that is going to be in the WWI exhibit. It is where children can use a rifle-silhouetted object with a foam ball at the end and practice bayonet techniques on a dummy. I then helped Bob with some WWI signs for the exhibit. I cut out squares of foamboard and he used them to pad the signs and framed them. Later on that morning, a Howitzer arrived from the National Guard Armory in Two Rivers. This is the same model as the one in WWI, and I think it might have even seen action there. When I cmae back after class I cut smaller sections of foamboard and framed smaller signs for the exhibit.