Although there has been an increase in the size and scope of academic museums, many teaching collections are not displayed to the general public. Museums have an opportunity to grow academic-public engagement in their communities by partnering with colleges and universities. At the Greeley History Museum, we recently embraced these types of beneficial partnerships by teaming up with both the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College to display two separate engaging exhibitions.
These two projects varied greatly in scope and content, but resulted in meaningful partnerships between our institutions. The collection was varied, but included pottery collected by southwestern archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett These artifacts made up a central display in their Anthropology Museum until it unexpectedly and mysteriously closed in , and the collection was dispersed.
In , over artifacts were returned to the university. Our Exhibits Department was contacted for advice on best practices regarding storage and display. In addition to the display at the university library, it was decided that an exhibition at the Greeley History Museum would be appropriate and well-received.
Museum staff alongside three Anthropology students created Made for the Tourist Trade , which explores how the expansion of railroads into the American West created tourist demand for Native American art. Over the course of a semester, these dedicated students learned object handling and display guidelines, and conducted extensive research including an exclusive interview with a former university staff member.
University professors also utilized the exhibition as a teaching opportunity, sending students to the museum and writing class reports. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Aims Community College, the first community college in Northern Colorado. The school created an anniversary exhibit with memorabilia and photographs highlighting the last half-century, and asked us to host a traveling portion.
