GUEST POST BY MUSEUM STUDIES MASTERS STUDENT - NAHM (2/3)

Have you ever visited a museum and wondered about the journey behind the exhibit? What inspirations and challenges shape the displays? To be honest, I had never given it much thought until I embarked on one of my own. It began as a student project, an exhibition for the university open day that introduced me to the fun and excitement of curation. Little did I know that this experience would ignite a passion and lead me to the school of Museum Studies, and ultimately, to Worcester medical museums, where I was entrusted with developing a display in the actual museums.

While these displays are obviously small and take no more than five minutes of visitor’s time, it is quite a complex journey requiring much time and effort. In this post, I will reveal the process behind the displays, sharing insights into how I crafted the final results you see in the museums. 

(Disclaimer: While my approach might not be the best practice, it’s a reflection of my experience and how I tackled the task.)

Let’s begin with the “ART & ANATOMY” display at George Marshall Medical Museum. This exhibit resides in a desk case for temporary displays, typically refreshed every few months. I was given a task developing a display there, no specific topics, no particular objects. It was entirely up to me, whatever I wanted to do. It sounds liberating but actually it was very challenging, especially for someone relatively new to medical history like me.

The journey started with extensive research of everything that could be helpful to my tasks. I explored previous displays, went through medical history in general, including what students do for their GCSE, looked over antique and modern medical practice and immersed myself in the history of Worcester city. As a result of this exploration, the theme of ‘anatomy’ caught my interest. It represents a big leap in understanding the human body, advancing medical practice and is now considered as fundamental for every aspect concerning the human body. So I decided to centre my display around the theme of anatomy.  

Start off with research and a note of the topics may be useful.

With the theme in place, I went through the museum’s collection, not physically but through the management system, in search of objects related to anatomy. The advantage of working in a smaller museum is that it takes not so long to look through the collection. It was during this process that I came across Alan Mann’s anatomical drawings and the compelling stories that would be great to be shared with a wider audience. I also spent a lot of time in our rare book store, where the old and rare publications are kept. As I went over most of the anatomy books in the collection, I noticed the diverse compositions - some with only text, while others featured simple or complex and detailed drawings, and some contained retouched or realistic photographs. This pointed up the importance of selecting the most suitable type of illustration which is crucial to the author. So basically, illustration, or art, played a vital role in the study of anatomy.

Getting myself comfortable sitting in the museum’s rare book store, going through anatomy books in the collection.

 This discovery prompted a secondary research, focusing on the relationship between art and anatomy. A thread can be traced back to the Renaissance period when anatomy served creating masterpieces of art, and continues to the present day where art is an implement in understanding anatomy.  

As the main concept was settled, it was the time to select objects that would convey the messages I am trying to present. Several items were chosen, each with a unique role, from a textbook of anatomy without illustrations, highlighting the significance of visual aids, to the famous Gray’s Anatomy, well known for its exceptional illustrations but the illustrator were outshined, to the story of a local pharmacist and his unique collection in our museum, and an atlas of the human body with layers that can be lifted and explored to demonstrate the body.  

At the same time, the limited space in the case is taken into account. The display case was smaller than expected which meant I had to be selective about the number of objects on display. I carefully measured the case and tried with various layouts to make the most effective use of the space.

Trying out different layouts to find the best fit.

 When the objects were chosen and the layout was fixed, it was now the time to carry out the plan. Objects were carefully removed from their places and delicately positioned within the case. The primary concern at this stage was to ensure that the objects were arranged in a way that minimises the risk of damage. It is a delicate balance, as museums aim to make their collections accessible to the public while also reserving them for future generations. Fortunately, all the objects in my display are in excellent condition, and the setup was completed without incident. 

Last but certainly not least, I turned my attention to creating interpretation labels. These labels will guide visitors to the main themes of the display, providing descriptions of the object, and sharing the stories and narratives associated with the objects on display. Also the hope is that these labels leave visitors with some thoughtful ideas after their visit. 

And there you have it - the entire process from the beginning to the final result of my exhibit. Though it may be a small display, a significant amount of time and effort has been invested in this work. So, if you have the opportunity, I encourage you to visit George Marshall Medical Museum and explore my display. Discover the tangled connection between art and anatomy and uncover the captivating stories behind anatomical art.

 I cannot be sure how long the display will remain, but it won’t be forever. So please come and experience it for yourself.  

A blog by Kanruthai Chongraks (Nahm)

Severn Rising 2222 - Interactive video game at George Marshall Medical Museum

Severn Rising 2222 is an ambitious imagining, through gaming, of what the City of Worcester might look like 200 years in the future, where Worcester has been flooded, humans have left, and the city is consumed by nature.

Dominated by the River Severn which flows through it, Worcester is already at the mercy of nature, and regularly experiences flooding which leads to residents and wildlife alike modifying their lifestyle. The Severn Rising 2222 project challenges the residents of Worcester to learn more about climate change, pollution and the direct impact it will have on their community.

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This game can now be played at George Marshall Medical Museum during opening hours (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) on the last stop of the game’s Worcester tour! Play it until Friday 13 October.

Leave the game designers some feedback to be in with the chance to win some vouchers for Worcester independent businesses.

If you’d like to know what you can do for the environment, check out the game designers’ helpful tips on their website: https://thesevernrising2222.co.uk/environment

The creators Andy Round and Sarah Millin installing the game.

Guest post by Leon McAnally: Dark Tourism

While the term Dark Tourism may be becoming more well-known through mainstream media by Netflix documentaries such as Dark Tourist as people wishing to immerse themselves in the events that have led to tragedy. However, do people really know the meaning of the term dark tourism?

When people first think of dark tourism and attractions linked to death, suffering and tragedy it’s predominantly places such as the Paris Catacombs and the Second World War concentration camps like Auschwitz that are first associated with the term. However, within Britain there is a long tradition of dark tourism that has actively taken place ranging from those who have participated in religious pilgrimages to see the likes of the relics of St Cuthbert to public executions and faithful manmade and natural disasters such as the Great Fire of London 1666 and the Lynmouth Flood.

In addition to Britain witnessing many devastating events, there are numerous museums that tell us of a darker period of British history through its exhibits and artefacts, such as the medical museums of Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Edinburgh and the Hunterian Museum, London, that demonstrates how medicine and healthcare has developed overtime, such as when surgery procedures were performed without anaesthetics. 

The term dark tourism has been adapted by attractions to market a darker chapter of their history, however there are many more attractions that are linked to death, suffering and tragedy within the UK that aren’t necessarily first thought of when we think of dark tourism. 

Leon McAnally due to publish his book: ‘A Guide to Dark Attractions in the UK,’ wants to give those interested in dark tourism a book that allows them to seek out more places that are linked to death, suffering and tragedy which tell us about Britain’s dark heritage.

While there are many popular attractions like Shrewsbury Prison and the Tower of London, there are many other attractions that are overlooked by tourists such as the George Marshall Medical Museum that exhibit an assortment of death masks from the early 19th century. It is also the way in which an attraction has been perceived such as the Barts Pathology Museum that is known for displaying over 4000 medical specimens, that don’t just teach us about death and disease but show us how close society is to death.

Alongside his book covering many museums and their artifacts his book also covers many iconic landmarks such as prisons, castles, and cemeteries. His book also tells the story of personal graves and tombs, nuclear bunkers, execution devices, memorials and many more. The book will not just take you to places that have witnessed the scenes of calamity, but also take the reader back to the Roman period, the Medieval period, and the Victorian to demonstrator how beliefs of different periods can now be perceived as dark tourism. His book will also look at disasters that have taken place in the 21st century like the 7/7 London bombs and how we have come to remember those tragically caught up in such calamities.

With his book covering over 280 places within Britain, he aims to fascinate others enough by sharing with them more about Britain's dark heritage. His hope is that the reader will share these attractions with friends and family, or when discussing about Britain while on vacation. What better way to capture the mind of someone else than telling them of Britain’s dark history!  

Check out their website: https://dark-attractions-uk.mailerpage.io/

Guest post by Museum Studies Masters Student - Nahm (1/3)

Hello everyone! 

My name is Kanruthai Chongraks. People simply call me Nahm, it is my nickname. I am originally from Bangkok, Thailand. Currently, I am doing my master’s degree at the School of Museum Studies at University of Leicester. As part of my course, I had an opportunity to come to Worcester and work across both museums in summer for my placement which has just come to an end.

My background is Language and Culture with a major in Japanese. There is no such thing like GCSE or A-level in my country and I don’t recall any medical history topics in school, so it is quite new to me. However, I always enjoyed visiting medical museums in different places and that is why I chose to come here. Working with objects I had no idea what they were or what they were for required me a lot of research and study, not only in history but language as well. I have learned many new words while working here, some of which I don’t even know what it is in my language.

Also, this placement opportunity introduced me to Worcester, a place quite different from my familiar surroundings. A bit struggling with the spelling of its name at first, I soon discovered Worcester’s loveliness and truly enjoyed my time here.

Despite a few initial challenges, my placement broadened my knowledge and experience in various aspects of museum operations, including collection management, exhibit design, objects handling and visitor experience. I was very fortunate to not just sit in the office or be in the museum. I had a chance to explore the city for a walking trail, help run a workshop at AgeUK, visit the newly opened Three Counties Medical School, attend a talk by the museum’s volunteer, do my work at The Hive and in the boardroom at the Infirmary.

Most important task of my eight-week placement was designing displays at each site. At George Marshall Medical Museum, I curated a small temporary display entitled ‘ART & ANATOMY’, which introduced the crucial role of art, including illustrations and drawings in the study of anatomy. The display showcases the stories of Henry Carter, the illustrator of the famous Gray’s Anatomy book and Alan Mann, a local pharmacist known for his passion in art and remarkable anatomical drawings. You can find this exhibit next to the apothecary’s shop, right below Blossom’s horns (of Edward Jenner fame). Don’t miss it when you visit the museum!

At The Infirmary Museum, I had the privilege to redesign a display dedicated to Lt. Col. G. H. Goddard, which focuses on medicine during wartime, as we received a new load of objects generously donated from his family. The trench coat on display has been replaced with a charming mess dress uniform together with miniature medals of Lt. Col. Goddard. The display is now holding more objects, spotlighting his life and work as an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second Boer War and the First World War, as well as his contributions to the St. John Ambulance in Worcestershire after his military service. Thanks to his collection, we are able to reflect more about medical practices on the frontline in the early 1900s. 

In the final week of my time with the museums, it was a great honour to welcome the Goddard family, who generously supported the museum with their donations, for a private viewing of the new display I had worked on. Along with the museum staff and volunteers at the museum who had been exceptionally supportive throughout my placement, joined us to celebrate the result of my endeavour.

Despite being described as small museums with limited teams, I had an incredibly enriching experience here. This was a unique opportunity that I might not have had in larger institutions and I cherished every moment of my summer in Worcester. If you are considering gaining work experience in a museum, I do recommend Worcester medical museums. And if you haven’t recently visited the museums, please make sure to drop by and explore my displays at both sites. 

This placement has been an unforgettable journey of my life and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!