Traveling Exhibits

PU-Mu. 0033

Creator(s): Grabowski, Kathryn
Date(s): [inclusive] 1983-2001
Call Number: PU-Mu. 0033
Physical Description: Extent: 11.0 Cubic feet
Language(s): eng

The Penn Museum is a renowned center for archaeological exploration, teaching and display of artifacts from around the world. Since 1887, scholars and explorers have dedicated their lives to interpreting cultures from many areas. As a part of its mission the museum is also a sponsor of cultural, educational and social programs to bring exhibits of interest to audiences in the United States and around the world. In 1985, the museum inagurated a Traveling Exhibitions Program under the auspices of the Museum Services Division in an effort to expose the collections of the museum to a wider national and international audience. The Traveling Exhibits collection is composed of exhibition records from the inception of the program through the early 2000s. There are records from fifteen exhibitions plus the administrative and financial records of Kathryn Grabowski held in twelve archival cartons.

Biography / History

The Penn Museum is a renowned center for archaeological exploration, teaching and housing of artifacts from around the world. Since 1887, scholars and explorers from the museum have dedicated their lives to interpreting cultures from many areas of the world. As a part of its mission the museum is also a sponsor of cultural, educational and social programs to bring exhibits of interest to audiences in the United States and around the world. In 1985, the museum inagurated a Traveling Exhibitions Program under the auspices of the Museum Services Division in an effort to expose the collections of the museum to a wider national and international audience.

Initially conceived as able to provide two exhibits annually, exhibits from the museum's collection as well as specially commissioned exhibitions were made available to other museums and organizations. The exhibitions were research oriented, entirely composed of objects from the museum's own collections and relied on information from the museum's rich history, curatorial knowledge and the explorer's unique interpretaton. The museum packages included materials to assist institutions to publicize, interpret and program their individual exhibit.

The initial traveling exhibition, "Life and Culture in Ancient Egypt" presented nearly 200 archaeological artifacts and art objects dating from all periods of ancient Egyptian history.

Scope and Contents

The Penn Museum is a renowned center for archaeological exploration and teaching. It houses artifacts from around the world. Since 1887, scholars and explorers from the museum have dedicated their lives to interpreting cultures from many areas. As a part of its mission the museum is also a sponsor of cultural, educational and social programs to bring exhibits of interest to audiences in the United States and around the world. In 1985, the museum inagurated a Traveling Exhibitions Program under the auspices of the Museum Services Division in an effort to expose the collections of the museum to a wider national and international audience.

Initially conceived as able to provide two exhibits annually, programs from the museum's collection were combined with specially commissioned exhibitions from other collections. The exhibitions were research oriented, composed of objects from the museum's own collections and relied on information from the museum's rich history, curatorial knowledge and the explorer's unique interpretation. The museum packages included materials to assist institutions to publicize, interpret and program their individual exhibit.

The Traveling Exhibits Collection is composed of exhibition records from the inception of the program through the early 2000s. There are records from fifteen exhibitions plus the administrative and financial records of Kathryn Grabowski held in twelve archival cartons. While not every exhibit has the same titled folders, most contain information about the contract, correspondence with the individual museums booking the show and some design elements such as labels, text or panels. Some shows were backed by grants and the information related to that is available. Budget and receipts are often present. Object lists are frequently included as are marketing/PR/publicity records. Important receipts related to shipping and packing can be found with most exhibits and the Grabowski files contain a reference folder of packing information from various sources with pictures of containers.

The Kathryn Grabowski files are those maintained by the coordinator of the traveling exhibits program. Most files contain items of correspondence, lists of objects, internal memos and some agreements. The "Packing Specifications" file holds some drawings of containers. Five of the Grabowski files relate to exhibits planned but not produced by the Museum and five files have information on exhibits from other sources that were not viable for the museum at that time.

Administration Info

Publication Information: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives, 1/6/15

Finding Aid Author:

Use Restrictions:

Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

Fong , Jon
McClendon, Sally
Wardell, Allen

Subject(s)

Museum exhibits

Collections Inventory

Kathryn Grabowski Files (inclusive: 1982-1989)

General Information	Box 1
IRS Correspondence	Box 1
Exhibition Proposals	Box 1
Budgets	Box 1
Misc. Billing and Shipping	Box 1
Packing Specifications	Box 1
Administrative-Strategic Plan	Box 1
Administrative-Task Force on Exhibits and Collections	Box 1
Man and Animal Exhibit plans	Box 1
Myth, Culture, Superstition Exhibit plans	Box 1
Northwest Coast Exhibit plans	Box 1
Samurai Armour Exhibit plans	Box 1
Women in Ancient Egypt Exhibit plans	Box 1
Jansen Mohenjo Daro Exhibit (1 of 2)	Box 1
Jansen Mohenjo Daro Exhibit (2 of 2)	Box 1
Frater-Raboris of India Exhibit	Box 1
Egypt's Ramses II Exhibit	Box 1
Fogg Traveling Sardis Exhibit	Box 1

Secrets of Science (inclusive: 1983-1985)

PR	Box 1
Grant	Box 1
Secrets/Science	Box 1
Labels	Box 1
Exhibit Set-Up	Box 1

Life and Culture in Ancient Egypt (inclusive: 1985-1986)

Taiwan-Life and Culture of Ancient Egypt	Box 1
Contracts/Insurance/Facilities Reports	Box 1
Shipping/Crating/Customs	Box 1

Tikal (inclusive: 1987-1990)

Tikal 87-90	Box 2
Receipts of Purchase-Construction	Box 2
Info./Program	Box 2
Contracts/Facility Reports	Box 2
Labels/Text/Panels	Box 2
PR	Box 2

Evocative Images (inclusive: 1988-1990)

Budgets/Receipts/Miscellaneous	Box 2
Catalogue Information	Box 2
Cleveland Museum of Art	Box 2
Miscellaneous	Box 2
Montgomery Museum of Fine Art	Box 2
Object List	Box 2
Packing and Crating	Box 2
Philadelphia Museum of Art (1 of 2)	Box 2
Philadelphia Museum of Art (2 of 2)	Box 2
Publicity	Box 2
J.B. Sped Art Museum	Box 2
Text Panels and Labels	Box 2
Allen Wardell-Correspondence	Box 2
Yale University Art Gallery	Box 2

IBM (1989)

IBM (Correspondence/Memoranda)	Box 2
Contract/Insurance	Box 2
Curatorial	Box 2
Exhibit Design	Box 2
Labels	Box 2
Object Lists	Box 2
Printing/PR	Box 2

Beauty from the Earth (inclusive: 1991-1994)

Articles about Beauty	Box 2
Borrower's Agreement	Box 3
Carlos Museum-Emory University	Box 3
Catalogue Information	Box 3
Condition Report and Drafts	Box 3
Crating Information	Box 3
Docent Office Background Packet Contents	Box 3
Crating Information-Atelier Art Service, Inc.	Box 3
Docent Office Packet	Box 3
Education Resources Packet Contents	Box 3
Events Information Packet Contents	Box 3
Exhibit Floor Plans and Case Layouts	Box 3
Grant Information	Box 3
Marketing Package	Box 3
Maxwell Museum	Box 3
Press Releases	Box 3
Shipping Info.-McCollister's	Box 3
Shop Product Packet Info.	Box 3
C-233 Lotus Flower Vase	Box 3
Tacoma-Exhibit Floor Plans and Case Layouts	Box 3
Text Panels and Labels	Box 3

River of Gold: Pre Columbian Treasures from Sitio Conte (inclusive: 1992-1996)

General Information	Box 3
Conservation	Box 3
Marketing	Box 3
Packing and Crating	Box 3
Shipping	Box 3
Case Information and Case Listings	Box 3
California Academy of Sciences	Box 3
Munsen-Williams Proctor Institute	Box 3
Mint Museum of Art	Box 3
Walters Art Gallery	Box 3
Michael C. Carlos Museum	Box 4
The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art	Box 4
Philbrook Museum	Box 4
Metropolitan Museum of Art	Box 4

Symbols of the Ancestors: The Power of Chinese Bronze and Jade (inclusive: 1992-1994)

Borrower's Agreement	Box 4
General Information	Box 4
Marketing Package	Box 4
Newark Museum	Box 4
Rochester Museum and Science Center	Box 4
Publicity	Box 4
Text Panels and Label Copy	Box 4

Birds and Beasts (inclusive: 1994-1998)

Photography	Box 4
Marketing Packet	Box 4
Folders and Stationery	Box 4
Rejections	Box 4
Condition Reports	Box 4
Floor and Case Plans	Box 4
Contracts	Box 4
Packing Lists and Crating	Box 4
Elizabeth Benson	Box 4
Marketing	Box 4
Object Lists and Mounts	Box 4
University of Pennsylvania Museum	Box 4
California Academy of Sciences	Box 4
Carnegie Museum of Natural History	Box 4
Florida Museum of Natural History	Box 4
Press Info.	Box 4
Mailing Info. and Labels	Box 4
Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History	Box 4
Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis	Box 4
Houston Museum of Natural History	Box 5
Shipping Bids	Box 5
Budget Information	Box 5
Object Lists	Box 5

Ancient Nubia: Egypt's Rival in Africa (inclusive: 1994-1996)

Ancient Treasures	Box 5
Case Drawings	Box 5
Education	Box 5
Grant Information	Box 5
Marketing	Box 5
Packing/Crating	Box 5
Publicity	Box 5
Shipping	Box 5
Text Information and Labels	Box 5
Newark Museum	Box 5
The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art	Box 5
Lowe Museum	Box 5
Rochester Museum of Art	Box 5
National Museum of African Art	Box 5
Kelsey Museum of Art and Archaeology	Box 6
Baltimore Museum of Art	Box 6
Minneapolis Institute of Art	Box 6

Northwest Coast (inclusive: 1993-1996)

General Information	Box 6
Art Space Gallery Contract	Box 6
Marketing	Box 6
Canadian Embassy in D.C.	Box 6
Photographs and Negatives	Box 6
Raven Discovering Mankind in the Clamshell	Box 6
Meeting List	Box 6
Rejection Letters	Box 6
Crating	Box 6
Shipping	Box 6
Text Panels	Box 6
Labels	Box 6

Retablos (inclusive: 1995-1998)

Mexico Fine Art Center-Chicago	Box 6
Marketing Information	Box 6
Orozco Gallery-Mexican Cultural Institute	Box 6
Tohomo Chul Park Gallery	Box 6
Puerto Rico	Box 6
Rejections	Box 6
Photographs	Box 6
Meeting Lists	Box 6
General Information/Venue Lists	Box 6
Object List	Box 6
Packing	Box 6
Publications	Box 6

Searching for Ancient Egypt (inclusive: 1997-1999)

Searching for Ancient Egypt	Box 6
Return to Egypt	Box 6
Egypt Exhibit Extended	Box 6
Dallas General Information	Box 6
Dallas Contract	Box 6
Dallas Shipping	Box 7
Dallas Museum of Art	Box 7
SFAE Conservation Invoices	Box 7
Denver Art Museum	Box 7
Denver Art Museum-Press	Box 7
Seattle Museum of Art	Box 7
Joslyn Museum	Box 7
Birmingham Museum	Box 7
Bass Museum	Box 7
Honolulu Academy of Fine Arts	Box 7

POMO (inclusive: 1998-1999)

General Information	Box 7
Interim Report 11/30/99	Box 7
Incident Report	Box 8
Baskets-Object List	Box 8
Case Lists	Box 8
Baskets-Graphic Information	Box 8
Budget	Box 8
Budget/Expenses	Box 8
Copies of Bills Paid	Box 8
Packing	Box 8
Baskets-Packing/Crating	Box 8
Photography	Box 8
Baskets-Marketing	Box 8
Press Info.	Box 8
Baskets-Text Panels	Box 8
Design	Box 8
Shipping	Box 8
Stuff	Box 8
Color Xerox/Other Images	Box 8
Weaver's Booklet	Box 8
Teacher's Guide	Box 8
Weaver's Album	Box 8
Expenses	Box 8
Original and Revised Implementation-Grand Budget	Box 8
NEH Reports	Box 8
NEH Official Notification GM 25633-96	Box 8
NEH Interim Report	Box 8
NEH (1 of 3)	Box 8
NEH (2 of 3)	Box 8
NEH (3 of 3)	Box 8
NEH Budget	Box 8
Symposium Abstracts	Box 8
Grant-Conservation Concerns	Box 8
Sally Draft and Correspondence	Box 8
Sally McClendon's Salary	Box 8
Sally Receipts	Box 8
California Indian Museum	Box 8
Baskets-Loans	Box 8
Brooklyn Museum-Loan	Box 8
Field Museum-Loan	Box 8
NMNH Smithsonian Museum Loan and Photos (Copy)	Box 9
NMAI	Box 9
P.A. Hearst Museum Loan	Box 9
Lake County Museum Loan	Box 9
DAM Loan	Box 9
SW Museum Re: Lucy's Pony Beaded Basket	Box 9
NMNH Smithsonian Museum Loan and Photos	Box 9
Teacher's Guide	Box 9
Curator's CVs	Box 9
Education	Box 9
Expedition Magazine	Box 9
Press Release	Box 9
Opening Day Photos	Box 9
White Wolf's Album	Box 9
Correspondence with Borrowing Institutions	Box 9
Ukiah Opening and Publicity	Box 9
Video	Box 9
New Liberty	Box 9
California Council for the Humanities-Video	Box 9
Correspondence	Box 9
Show Requests-General Information	Box 9
UPMAA Photo Archives-Graphic Correspondence	Box 9
Basket Weavers-Mashantucket Pequot Museum	Box 9
Mashantucket Pequot Museum	Box 9
Basket Weavers-Field Museum	Box 9
National Museum of American Indians	Box 9
National Museum of Natural History	Box 9
Storage	Box 9
Crate/Storage Information	Box 9
Grace Hudson Museum	Box 9

Roman Glass (inclusive: 1999-2001)

General Information	Box 9
Object Lists	Box 9
Photography	Box 9
Case Drawings	Box 9
Marketing Packet Information	Box 10
Marketing Package	Box 10
Inquiries	Box 10
Rejections	Box 10
Text Panel Information	Box 10
Exhibit Manual Components	Box 10
Packing/Crating	Box 10
Shipping	Box 10
Frank H. McClung Museum	Box 10
Bard Institute	Box 10
The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art	Box 10
Review	Box 10

Chinese Scholar (inclusive: 2001-2002)

General Information	Box 10
MOA with John	Box 10
Incident Reports	Box 10
Chinese Scholar	Box 10
Object Values	Box 10
Mounts	Box 10
PIO	Box 10
Object Lists	Box 10
Marketing	Box 10
Packing	Box 10
Travel Condition Reports	Box 10
Shipping	Box 10
Return to John Fong	Box 10
Loan to Joslyn	Box 11
Budget	Box 11
Slides in Case Order-Working Copy	Box 11
Slides-Incomplete Set	Box 11
Exhibit Design	Box 11
Photos	Box 11
Frank H. McClung Museum	Box 11
Naples Museum of Art (1 of 2)	Box 12
Naples Museum of Art (2 of 2)	Box 12
Joslyn Art Museum	Box 12
Michael C. Carol's Museum	Box 12

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