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By Bethany L. Hawkins
For anyone who works with collections, the AASLH/Ohio Local History Alliance Annual Conference has some great opportunities to learn from colleagues and make contact with other history practitioners.
First, there are two tours that will get you behind the scenes at some impressive collections storage and up close with its curators.
Small Museum and Archives of Downtown Cincinnati (Thursday, 1:30-5:30 p.m., $30): This tour will visit three corporate museums and archives and includes a short Q&A with their curator. The stops are the Proctor & Gamble Heritage Center and Archives, Fifth Third Museum, and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Register early as this tour is limited to 25 people.
Behind the Scenes at Cincinnati Museum Center Collections and Research Center (Friday, September 12, 8:30 a.m.-noon, $35): In this tour, you will meet with four curators who will interpret their extensive collections begun in 1818 that now hold more than six million objects.
There are also several sessions dealing with collections care and interpretation throughout the conference.
Disaster Planning, Response, Recovery: Essential Information for Institutions Large and Small (Wednesday, September 10, 1:30-5 p.m., $45): This workshop will cover aspects of disaster planning, response, and recovery.
11th Agent of Deterioration (Thursday, September 11, 8:30-9:45 a.m.): Presenters in this session will make the case for adding an 11th agent of deterioration, cultural care regarding preservation, and gather feedback from the audience to refine a proposal for the new agent into something that can be formally presented to the field.
Writing and Editing Excellent Museum Label Copy (Thursday, September 11, 2-3:15 p.m.): Despite the amount of content we release, the quality of our compositions, especially exhibit labels, is often underwhelming. This session will offer solutions for writing better label copy.
Hard Choices: Redefining Your Museum’s Legacy Through Deaccessions (Friday, September 12, 8:30-9:45 a.m.): Panelists will detail experiences with high-volume deaccessioning while navigating delicate donor, community, and political expectations.
How Many Spinning Wheels Do You Really Need? (Friday, September 12, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.): This session also looks at strategic deaccessioning and how you can focus on objects that contribute to your mission.
From a Vertical File to a Data Set (Friday, September 12, 2:15-3:30 p.m.): Staff from the University of Virginia libraries will show how they created an open-source data set from their vertical file and how you can replicate it at your institution.
Other sessions include broader topics such as financial management, community engagement, and the importance of historical thinking as we begin to commemorate America250.
Find more information about the 2025 AASLH/OLHA Annual Conference on the AASLH website. Early bird registration closes July 25.
Register for the Conference | Program and Conference Info | Become A Member
