Outline of Mayflower 400 Exhibition Revealed
The Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (FPCMAG), were treated to a fascinating, illustrated talk about putting together the opening exhibition at The Box for the spring of 2020. The talk was at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club on Thursday 10th January 2019, overlooking the stretch of water that was the first step of the Mayflower voyage in 1620.
Jo Loosemore, Curator of the Mayflower 400: Legends and Legacy exhibition, explained some of the challenges that she encountered in both designing the exhibition and acquiring objects, which will adequately demonstrate the story of the Mayflower voyagers and the people they met on the other side of the Atlantic.
Finding objects which belonged to the passengers of the Mayflower that genuinely sailed to America in 1620 presents some challenges. Many objects believed to have been on board are in America for the most part, and some have stories, which sadly can’t be proved.
However, there are objects in museums, libraries and archives across the UK, America and the Netherlands, which will enable The Box to tell this enduring story. These include Pieter Bast’s 1600 map of Leiden, where the Separatists planned their Atlantic journey. 17th century publications of the previous journeys which inspired them will also be on show thanks to the support of Lambeth Palace Library and the British Library. These will be on loan to Plymouth on a temporary basis, some only for 6 months. This means the exhibition will change over its 18 months’ duration as exhibits are changed as new loans come in to the city.
The context of the story will include the conflict and colonies in the “New World”. Guidance has been sought from the Wampanoag Advisory Council in both the selection and verification of text and objects relating to the American First Nation people that the English colonists encountered.
The hopes, vision and plans of the passengers will be shown in relation to the times in which they lived as well as who they were. The perilous journey must not be over-looked and it is hoped to show how confined the quarters were. How the sailing of the Mayflower has become romanticised will be another aspect; the difference between fact and fiction.
Another feature is how the story has been commemorated, especially Nancy Astor’s involvement in the 300th anniversary and her personification of the transatlantic “Special Relationship”.
“The event was an exciting taster of things to come and was enjoyed by all.” said Linda Wilson , secretary of FPCMAG.
FPCMAG, a registered charity, is sponsoring the commission of a Wampanoag traditional cooking pot and are raising money throughout the year, for more artefacts to be displayed, by holding talks and events as well as receiving donations. For more information see www.fpcmag.org.uk
The Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (FPCMAG), were treated to a fascinating, illustrated talk about putting together the opening exhibition at The Box for the spring of 2020. The talk was at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club on Thursday 10th January 2019, overlooking the stretch of water that was the first step of the Mayflower voyage in 1620.
Jo Loosemore, Curator of the Mayflower 400: Legends and Legacy exhibition, explained some of the challenges that she encountered in both designing the exhibition and acquiring objects, which will adequately demonstrate the story of the Mayflower voyagers and the people they met on the other side of the Atlantic.
Finding objects which belonged to the passengers of the Mayflower that genuinely sailed to America in 1620 presents some challenges. Many objects believed to have been on board are in America for the most part, and some have stories, which sadly can’t be proved.
However, there are objects in museums, libraries and archives across the UK, America and the Netherlands, which will enable The Box to tell this enduring story. These include Pieter Bast’s 1600 map of Leiden, where the Separatists planned their Atlantic journey. 17th century publications of the previous journeys which inspired them will also be on show thanks to the support of Lambeth Palace Library and the British Library. These will be on loan to Plymouth on a temporary basis, some only for 6 months. This means the exhibition will change over its 18 months’ duration as exhibits are changed as new loans come in to the city.
The context of the story will include the conflict and colonies in the “New World”. Guidance has been sought from the Wampanoag Advisory Council in both the selection and verification of text and objects relating to the American First Nation people that the English colonists encountered.
The hopes, vision and plans of the passengers will be shown in relation to the times in which they lived as well as who they were. The perilous journey must not be over-looked and it is hoped to show how confined the quarters were. How the sailing of the Mayflower has become romanticised will be another aspect; the difference between fact and fiction.
Another feature is how the story has been commemorated, especially Nancy Astor’s involvement in the 300th anniversary and her personification of the transatlantic “Special Relationship”.
“The event was an exciting taster of things to come and was enjoyed by all.” said Linda Wilson , secretary of FPCMAG.
FPCMAG, a registered charity, is sponsoring the commission of a Wampanoag traditional cooking pot and are raising money throughout the year, for more artefacts to be displayed, by holding talks and events as well as receiving donations. For more information see www.fpcmag.org.uk
