Pitt Rivers Museum - University of Oxford

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9 March 2007: Bruce Bernstein (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC), ‘Un-Tie the Moorings, Re-Inventing and Re-Vitalizing the Museum Object’. 27 April 2007: Chris Wingfield (PRM) and Alison Petch (PRM), ‘The Other Within: An Anthropology of Englishness’. 4 May 2007: Frank Korom (Boston University), ‘Bengali Scroll Painters and the Challenge of Modernity’. 11 May 2007: Dean Sully (University College London), ‘Decolonizing Conservation, Decolonizing Hinemihi, the Maori Meeting House at Clandon Park, UK’. 18 May 2007: Gilbert Oteyo (Oxford) and Chris Morton (PRM), ‘Exhibiting Photographic Histories in Western Kenya’. ANNEX G JAMES A. SWAN FUND The Pitt Rivers Museum sponsors archaeological and anthropological fieldwork within areas of interest to the late James A. Swan, including the Later Stone Age prehistory of southern Africa and the study of the contemporary Bushman and Pygmy peoples of Africa. Research on museum collections relating to these fields may also be supported, as may the costs of publishing the results of work that has been aided by the Fund. The Fund was not open for applications during the reporting year. ANNEX H FRIENDS OF THE PITT RIVERS MUSEUM REPORT BY MARGARET DYKE (SECRETARY) After the exuberance of the past two reports this one starts rather quietly. Despite the limitations of the Narnia-style ‘wardrobe’ link between the old and the new, on 9 December the Friends were able to use the new entrance in Robinson Close to gain access, via the food and drinks tables, to the familiar, dimly lit Museum. This year the emphasis was on family members, with an earlier starting time and entertainment provided by magician Uncle Wiggy, who enthralled his young, and not so young, audience with his virtuosity. The highlight of the Christmas raffle was the Giant Lizard Lamp of which Ander Parker is now the proud owner. The evening was a happy, well-attended occasion—and someone was heard to say, ‘the Friends do a good party’. Barbara Isaac, the Programme and Events Secretary, organized a varied selection of talks throughout the year. This began in September with a gallery talk by Julia Nicholson who spoke to a group of Friends about the exhibition Treasured Textiles: Cloth and Clothing Around the World. The first Wednesday talk was then, appropriately, ‘Textiles, Dress and Identity in Kachchh District, Gujarat, India’, by Eiluned Edwards of the Victoria and Albert 32
Museum, London. Later in the month, Dr Diana Martin, of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, talked on ‘Water Buckets, Baby Baths and Coffee Tables’. In November, Dr Paul Oliver, from Oxford Brookes University, gave the first Friends talk in the new lecture theatre on ‘Vernacular Architecture in the New Century’. The New Year began with Dr Stephanie Dalley, of the Oriental Institute, on the subject of ‘The Hanging Gardens of Babylon’. Valentine’s Day was celebrated with a fascinating talk on ‘Exploring Meaning in West Polynesian Weapons’, given by Andrew Mills of the Museum. The final talk was in March: ‘Acadie: The Archaeology of a Lost Colony in North-Eastern North America’, by John Fowler from the Institute of Archaeology. In July, Barbara persuaded her daughter Dr Gwyneira Isaac from Arizona State University, to give Friends an extra talk entitled ‘Tribal Museums and Native American Knowledges’. Barbara is to be thanked for her commitment and enthusiasm in arranging such a fascinating programme for the year. On 23 May, the Beatrice Blackwood lecture was delivered by Marina Warner, writer, critic, and professor of literature at the University of Essex. In ‘Dreams of Empire, Magic Powers, Spirit Travel, Soul Theft’ she kept her audience enthralled with her expert knowledge of the supernatural worldwide and through the centuries. Our thanks go to Professor Mayer for hosting this event at the Said Business School, and to Rosemary Lee for her impeccable organization. As usual, throughout the year a faithful band of Friends continued to help at the ‘Family Friendly’ and ‘Pitt Stop’ sessions, and also to give support to the education service guiding school groups around the Museum. On 19 May, numerous Friends were also involved in helping with the main event of Museums and Galleries Month, when the Pitt Rivers joined with the Natural History Museum to celebrate ‘In a Different Light’. At the AGM on 20 June four new members were elected to Council: Terry Bremble, Martin Burgess, Rosemary King, and Colin Langton. Sally Odd agreed to continue as Treasurer. It was noted that the final payment of £7,500 pledged for the ‘Partnership with Palin Appeal’ had been given to the Museum and that £1,000 had been awarded to Gilbert Oteyo to enable him to continue his research in Kenya. The Membership Secretary Anna Kingston-Jones retired earlier in the year and was replaced by Rosemary King, who will be joined in January by Barbara Isaac. We are very grateful to Cathy Wright, who valiantly kept the paperwork under control until a new Secretary was elected. Richard Briant, the Chairman, thanked members of Council for their commitment and hard work during the year, before the evening concluded with a passionate talk from Dr Laura Peers called ‘Seeking Knowledge, Seeking Life: PRM Collections and First Nations Communities in Canada’. By the end, a year that had started so quietly was gaining momentum. The Director was able to tell us that the bid for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to remodel and improve the Museum’s entrance had been successful, and that subject to the usual conditions work should start in 2008. This was closely followed by more good news, as we learned that the Friends’ Newsletter was runner-up in the British Association of Friends of Museums newsletter competition (under 500 members category) for 2007. It is gratifying that our Newsletter finds an appreciative audience beyond the membership for the three issues produced each year. 33
Page 2 and 3: © Pitt Rivers Museum, University o
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS Director’s Introduction
Page 6 and 7: period of normal running. But I fel
Page 8 and 9: planned for the front of the OUMNH,
Page 10 and 11: goodwill towards the two museums am
Page 12 and 13: Special Exhibitions Treasured Texti
Page 14 and 15: that had been on loan to the Museum
Page 16 and 17: Research Projects Research continue
Page 18 and 19: PADMAC is a multi-disciplinary, geo
Page 20 and 21: Association and the Museums, Librar
Page 22 and 23: ANNEX C STAFF (part-time staff are
Page 24 and 25: ANNEX D STAFF ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING
Page 26 and 27: Haas Ezzet continued to represent t
Page 28 and 29: Media, Culture and Sport’s Human
Page 30 and 31: Galleries Disability Association. I
Page 32 and 33: Clare Harris, ‘The Buddha Goes Gl
Page 34 and 35: Heather Richardson, ‘Not So Frien

Pitt Rivers Museum - University of Oxford

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