‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’ on display

October 29, 2009

Anonymous The Goshen News Thu Oct 29, 2009, 10:26 AM EDT

Dating from the 16th century, the earliest name in English for what is now regarded as a museum was “cabinet of curiosities.” The term refers to a room in a wealthy person’s home that displayed the owner’s collection of exotic, or “curious,” items.

The exhibit “A Cabinet of Curiosities” is on display in the Goshen College Good Library Gallery (lower level) through Dec. 11. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit emphasizes the miscellaneous rather than the exotic nature of the collection of artifacts maintained by the Mennonite Historical Library at Goshen College. The unifying connection between the items displayed in the exhibit is that they haven’t appeared before in any of the 27 exhibits sponsored by the college’s Mennonite-Amish Museum Committee.

“Some items are very new, but may not find their way into a themed exhibit for a very long time,” said Ervin Beck, researcher for the exhibit. “Some items have been in the collection for many years and, finally, can be shown to the public. And some items may never again be displayed — usually because they are ‘mistakes’ or ‘fakes.’”

New items include former Goshen College President Shirley Showalter’s ceremonial dress, a pictorial quilt by Robert Fisher of Goshen and an elaborate musical marble race game made by Eldo Buller from Illinois. Items that are finally on display for the public after being in the collection for awhile include an Elkhart Institute poster of the Coming Men of America Debating Club from 1901; a commemorative Mennonite Central Committee relief sale quilt from 1983; and a box that is one of the few items that survive from this history of the Wadsworth Institute in Ohio, the first school of higher education sponsored by U.S. Mennonites. And among the items that may be considered “fakes” are several that have been altered to seem antique rather than new.

The Library Gallery, located on the lower level of the Harold and Wilma Good Library on the campus of Goshen College, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Text Only

Entertainment

Toledo Symphony, Goshen College choirs in concert Feb. 19
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Goshen College choirs will come together under the direction of Grammy award-winning conductor and Goshen College alumnus Vance George for a Feb. 19 show.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
'Seussical' debuts Friday
Joel Lininger is a 15-year-old boy. He’s also been Tom Sawyer and the King of Hearts. Currently, he’s The Cat in the Hat.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Museum programs to focus on barns
Two events focusing on historic barns are planned at the Midwest Museum of American Art, 429 S. Main St., Elkhart:

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Band's upcoming concert will help keep Goshen festival free
Consider Gina Leichty part of the Lotus fan base.
“I have had the good fortune to see them in a number of ways,” she said. “I saw them when they first started in Newcomer (Center) at Goshen College many, many years ago, and then I’ve seen them perform in front of 20,000 people. ... They’re kind of like the Umphrey’s McGee of Goshen — the small band that is now like very famous.”

February 5, 2012 1 Photo
Lotus returning to its roots for theater benefit
So, what are your influences?
That question is straight out of Music Journalism 101. It’s the obvious question, relevant but perhaps too-familiar to the musicians tasked with answering it. In the case of Lotus, the answer is straightforward: music.

February 5, 2012 1 Photo
Comedian Daniel Tosh coming to the Morris April 18
Will South Bend get a Web redemption?

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
First Fridays to feature films, 'Mardi Gras'
Movies and events for teens are among the activities on tap for First Fridays this week in downtown Goshen.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Caught in the One Act
Goshen College’s 2012 Winter One Acts will feature a playful opera and a modern drama — each about the misconceptions of identity — directed by two December 2011 graduates.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
‘Laugh Out Local’ festival planned at Bristol Opera House
Elkhart Civic Theatre personnel announce “Laugh Out Local,” a mini-film festival via the Chicago Film Festival, at the Bristol Opera House Saturday.

January 26, 2012 1 Photo
Suzy Bogguss concert Feb. 2 in Goshen
Suzy Bogguss grew up in a household where everybody listened to music. The Bogguss family was not uniform in its musical tastes.

January 26, 2012 1 Photo
More Entertainment Headlines

The Goshen Housing Authority has a $571,050 shortfall. Should the Goshen City Council use money from its $4.7-million “rainy day” fund to pay the debt and maintain the current level of service provided by the voucher program?

Entertainment

Search Results

‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’ on display

The Goshen Housing Authority has a $571,050 shortfall. Should the Goshen City Council use money from its $4.7-million “rainy day” fund to pay the debt and maintain the current level of service provided by the voucher program?

Site Map