October Perspective
“Up-date on Museum Collection” by Terry Dodge – President
The “Adventist Youth Ministries Museum” started many years ago under the name of Pathfinder Museum. The Plata’s have been collecting items over the past 50 + years and using some of the items in the traveling displays. The collection has grown so large in the last 10 – 15 years that a permanent home is need to display the items and still have traveling displays.
Maxine Dodge typing information into computer
In order to prepare for the permanent home/museum it is necessary to catalog, inventory and photograph the thousands of items we have before a planning/design team would be able to know what is available to tell the stories that will be depicted in the museum.
Dixie recording and Kimm Copeman labeling the items in the display case
The traveling displays are 24″ x 30″ cases that share some of the items which helps to tell various stories. Museum displays will be larger which allows a more complete story to be told. The purpose of the AYM Museum is to tell the story of God’s leading as seen though the eyes of youth since the mid 1850’s to the present. Therefore it is necessary to have a complete list of all the items that have been collected/donated to the museum.
Display case with labels on each item
Therefore, last September, 2016, the Plata’s, Dodge’s and several volunteers spent three weeks before and after the Lake Union Pathfinder camporee starting the process that will give us the needed information and this information can be incorporated into the computer software for the permanent home/museum to be located in Battle Creek, MI.
We set up a temporary studio in the mechanic shop area (of the unheated warehouse where most of the items are stored) as you will note in the pictures. The steps were as follows: a) catalog and number each item, b) label each item, c) photograph each item, and d) enter the information into the computer.
Terry Dodge Jr. photographing a large banner with Mikahla Copeman & Arnold stabilizing the ladder
We were able to complete the 160 plus display cases along with many banners and other items that are used in the traveling displays. Photographed over 30 gigs of items.
There are 2 semi-trailer loads in the Michigan warehouse that needs to be processed next summer. Our plan is to finish this process during the first three weeks of July 2017. Therefore, we are looking for volunteers who are able to come and help during this time. We will be doing detailed recording, numbering, labeling, photographing, and handling the items from storage boxes back to storage until the permanent home/museum is built. We would like to have several teams of four or five individuals each to complete this project.
Pastor Terry Dodge Photographing the display case items
Those interested/willing to help with this project please contact Terry Dodge at https://aymmuseum.org/contact-us/. We have space for RV camping and limited housing.
Dixie Plata recording and labeling items and Arnold preparing to move the display case
While we are working on this project in Michigan the Plata’s will be working on ½ – 3/4 of a semi-trailer at there home with hundreds of boxes.
Up-date reports will be presented in the AYMM newsletter as developments progress.
Thank you for the donations that are coming in through the mail or website for this important project.
