[ARC5] A.R.C. stuff - Museum-worthy?

[Dennis Monticelli]

FYI.  Just to let you guys know that not all museums will fall prey to the
aforementioned issues, which I agree are very real.  Here is a link to the
California Historical Radio Society, CHRS, a 40 year old non-profit.

Full disclosure:  I am a Director of CHRS and played a major role in the
recent purchase of our new permanent home.

We went all out to raise the money so we would be able to plan long term
with respect to preserving the history of radio and telling its great story
long after the current generation passes on.  Our new home is not on the
outskirts, it is right in the center of town near other museums.  Education
in the form of classes, guest lectures, and interactive exhibits, a large
research library and a very active radio repair & restoration shop will be
integral to our operations.  We transcribe historic audio media and publish
a full color journal that often includes articles on mil gear, especially
clandestine. We have a trained (volunteer) archivist on staff.

We are mostly about Radio Broadcasting but also have a collection of
military and ham gear as well as an operational ham station.  CHRS has >400
members and some are very active as volunteers on a weekly basis.  Along
with the regular flea markets, we hold a huge one day Radio Day by the Bay
event each July that draws well over 400 people.  It's also our biggest
fund raiser.

http://www.californiahistoricalradio.com/

Dennis AE6C




On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 10:31 AM, Todd, KA1KAQ <ka1kaq at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 11:52 AM, gordon white <gewhite at crosslink.net
> >wrote:
>
> > The problem with private collections is that the heirs don't care so into
> > the dumpster. Seen too much of that with radio and car stuff. Private
> > museums run out of money.
> >
>
> That's the sad reality. And public museums will only display what the
> general public will come to see. I'm betting 'old radios' aren't high on
> their list, even among those who still know what radio is. Pretty sure I've
> made reference before, my wife is a school principal and I've lamented the
> fact that the kids growing up today don't know what radio really is. She
> shot back "Radio? Most don't even know what a CD [compact disc] is!".
>
> So museum or not, there are just fewer and fewer places for this stuff to
> go that won't end at the landfill sooner or later - more often now, sooner.
> As much as radio is an important part of our history and I'd love to see
> more of it displayed, at least having some examples stored away in a dark
> box somewhere in a public institution means they should be available for
> future study, if anyone is interested. If no one is interested, it won't
> matter where the equipment ends up.
>
> ~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>