Atlanta History Center - Week 2 [Julia Martinez]


R. Land`s iconic logo from the 80s

Greetings earthling!
I hope this finds you well, I have enjoyed reading everyone’s blog posts and it’s so awesome to see what you all are learning! My second week interning at the AHC was focused on navigating the logistics behind programming and curating exhibits. My supervisor introduced me to a software program, Rediscovery Proficio, it’s a comprehensive online database containing AHC’s artifacts and assets. Museum personnel can search through the database with keywords to find a specific item they want to find. I was instructed to use Rediscovery to find artifacts about railroad labor for the Howell Station gallery and I found a telegraph set from the Western & Atlantic Railroad, Vinings Station, ca. 1890. I took note of the accession number and location to retrieve it from the archives in the basement. Rediscovery is a useful resource and I feel comfortable using it for the rest of my research. 
Photo of the telegraph I took in the archives! 
Next, I was assigned to the #HiddenMidtown tours project, an ongoing partnership with Emory University to make interactive tours about the vibrant history of Midtown. I revised the written content for the following Hidden Midtown tours: “Foodie” discovers where food lovers winded and dined over the years, “Out and About” explores the rich LGBT history of the city, “HeART of the City” showcases the historic art and architecture, “Radical Roots” unearths the Atlanta based underground newspaper from the 1970’s. I learned about the vast history of Midtown and the significance of oral stories and photographs working jointly to accurately display the unique identity of Midtown and all of its inhabitants.

Last but not least, I have grown a deeper appreciation for the initiative my supervisor makes to integrate technology with AHC’s community work. The Hidden Midtown walking tours are accessible by a free app, thanks to Emory University’s technology, and it is an example of museums embracing technology as an opportunity to connect to a broader audience beyond AHC’s four walls. I vividly remember when the YAP cohort visited the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to learn about the #SmithsonianPepper; I can see how the AHC is using technology to engage with the visitors and enrich the visitor’s experience. 


Cheerio! 
Julia Martinez 
P.s. here are some more terms I learned! 

  • Entomology- the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects.
  • Nascent- (especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
  • Extolled- praise enthusiastically. 
  • Virulent- (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
  • Preclude- prevent from happening; make impossible.
  • View of the Swan House's backyard
    Peruse- read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way.
My supervisor lent me this book! She's an executive historian for the AHC. 



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